The Painkillers were profiled in a past issue of WOMP3. This time around, Cherish and director Joshua Liberman took time out to chat with us about “I’m Sorry.” WM: How did you get started? Joshua: We combined three editing formats (8/16mm and digital) and attempted to “sweeten” it to give it a more film-like appearance.
WM: How did you get your videos streamed for the net? Cherish: Friends helped us convert from VHS to a CD. From there, we used RealProducer to transform to RealVideo, then downloaded to our server.
WM: What about the shots/wardrobe? Joshua: They (the band) painted the walls purple and covered them with glitter. The entire room’s lit only by Christmas lights and various candles. My ideas for shots were designed around showing off the room’s inherent style, and showcasing the space–to shoot a simple performance video showcasing the band. However, when we finished, we didn’t have enough footage to adequately represent the band. So we (brought out) “I’m Sorry’s” darker, religious, penitent overtones. We dressed Cherish in a tattered ballerina/angel outfit, and she (went out) walking among the more beautiful churches–and seedier streets–Hollywood has to offer.
Click here to check out The Painkiller’s Video: “I’m Sorry”
I shot Cherish performing beautifully against an incredible L.A. sunset, with rush-hour traffic speeding around her. Cherish is such a natural performer, she just went into “entertainer mode” with angelic eloquence, completely ignoring the cars flying by. It’s by far one of my favorite shots.
WM: Last question for you, Joshua. Did the video have a budget? Joshua: Yes–a little money, and a lot of generosity. Thank you to everyone who donated time and equipment, and to the crew and the band for their talent and creativity.
The band is now recording a follow-up CD, and is creating ideas for a new video they hope to shoot by the end of the year. –Jianda Johnson
