DIRECTING DYNAMOS | 7.29.11
Carlucci, John. A cool, calm, collected cat. This director has gained notoriety over the years, working with the likes of Radiohead, the White Rabbits and Nine Inch Nails — just to name a few.
LaGanke, Brandon. A super talented smart ass with an artistic edge. The up and coming director/producer/editor does it all. From commercials to films to music videos — there isn’t an arena he hasn’t successfully touched.
Over the last year or so, these two innovators have combined creative forces to produce a refreshing directing tandem that’s just starting to heat up. Kid we do not. Their avant-garde music video “Open the Wormhole in your Heart,” for the band Warm Ghost, was an Official Selection of the 2011 SXSW Film Festival. We told you we weren’t kidding.
So we caught up with these two to talk about their latest project, working styles and of course inspiration:
THE SOUL DYNAMIC: So how did you guys start off together, how did you meet?
BRANDON LAGANKE: Match.com.
JOHN CARLUCCI: Ok Cupid.
THE SOUL DYNAMIC: Wow, Match.com…
BRANDON LAGANKE: We sat by each other at work…
JOHN CARLUCCI: Yeah, but really we got to talking one day and found out that we had mutual interests. I was doing projects and he was doing projects, so after a while our conversations naturally lead to talks of collaborating.
THE SOUL DYNAMIC: So what would you say was the first project you guys officially worked on?
BRANDON LAGANKE: The Warm Ghost video.
THE SOUL DYNAMIC: Describe your working relationship, like your roles, how you work together and how you feel about collaborating?
BRANDON LAGANKE: John is more technical. I would say he’s more like the art director. I’m a big fan of collaboration, it’s more fulfilling and our formula works. What I like the most about working with John, is that he’s genuinely passionate about our projects and you can see it come through in the work.
JOHN CARLUCCI: Brandon formulates the concepts, he’s the copy writer between us. We build off each other though, it’s like this crazy artistic dance. And if you think about it, in any project you’re always going to be collaborative. Because you’re working with so many different people, from actors to choreographers to AD’s — you’re collaborating in everything you do.
THE SOUL DYNAMIC: Cool, tell us about your latest project.
JOHN CARLUCCI: We’re shooting an awesome music video with Davey Pierce and his new band Yip Deceiver, called “Get Strict” It’s the lead single off their upcoming album that will be out later this year. Their sound is smart 80’s retro pop, they’re fun.
BRANDON LAGANKE: It’s an epic dance video made of vignettes. It’s like a very stylized photo shoot that has nuns carrying around shotguns, Santa vs. the Easter Bunny and even Reggie Watts is in it. It’s like old Beck videos with its subtle humor.
JOHN CARLUCCI: Yeah, we got Elena Vazintaris to choreograph it, she’s done great work on videos for TV on the Radio. We also have hunters being tackled by bears and shot some scenes at a huge pyro ranch. It’s going to be wild.
THE SOUL DYNAMIC: That’s awesome! So our site is about inspiration, that being said, what and who inspires you?
BRANDON LAGANKE: Farts.
JOHN CARLUCCI: Art and farts. Fart galleries. No really, art and video games. I think video games are super under rated, because it takes so many skillful and artistic people to produce them, not to mention the time commitment it takes to build them. So when I see a kickass video game, I’m inspired. I’m also inspired by people, the risk takers, the non-conformist. Inspiration can be found in anything or anybody. I love the underdog too, I root for the underdog!
BRANDON LAGANKE: Shit work and amazing work. Shit work, not because I wish I did shit work…it’s like this…there’s Satan and then there’s God. If Satan didn’t exist, there would be no reason for God. So if shit work is actually being produced and put out into this world, it inspires me to do the opposite of shit work — amazing work. As far as who inspires me, that’s like asking what’s your favorite band. Everything inspires me.
THE SOUL DYNAMIC: I like it. Not the shit work, but what inspires you guys. Now what do you guys see in the future and what’s your ultimate goal?
BRANDON LAGANKE: Prostitution.
JOHN CARLUCCI: I want to keep doing music videos, but I would say film — that’s the ultimate. I’m in this to get into film and produce great work.
BRANDON LAGANKE: Honestly, I just want to do amazing work and work with awesome people. That’s the ultimate.
Along with their videos for Warm Ghost and Yip Deceiver, LaGanke and Carlucci directed the documentary film 10. A film about advertising and culture on a global scale. It premiered this year in over 40 cities around the world. The directing team is sometimes referred to as Ghost + Cow. Yip Deceiver is a side project from the members of the band Of Montreal. “Get Strict,” will premiere later this year.
The two have already done outstanding work together and more success is what we see in the future.
Writer: Rene Ramirez
Photographer: Rob Boudon
DP for Video: Paul McCarthy
Pyrotechnic for Video: Evan Zeller
