Playlist: Leo Aguirre
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We spoke with Park Pictures director Leo Aguirre about his Minolta TC-1 and Korg Kaossilator Dynamic Phrase Synthesizer, experimental jazz playlists, and the inner workings of the promo industry.
What’s the best music video you’ve seen recently and why?
Mitski - My Love Mine All Mine directed by AG Roja, this video really stuck with me. It holds a silent beauty that compliments Mitski’s world so well.
Credits
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- Production Company Park Pictures
- Director AG Rojas
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Unlock full credits and more with a Source + shots membership.
Credits
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- Production Company Park Pictures
- Director AG Rojas
- Executive Producer Jackie Kelman Bisbee
- Executive Producer Cody Ryder
- Writer/Editor AG Rojas
- VFX Pariah VFX & Post
- Managing Director/Executive Producer Mark Tobin
- VFX Producer Gladys Bernadac
- Head of Production Michael Steinmann
- VFX Supervisor Steven Wolff
- Color Royal Muster
- Executive Producer Thatcher Peterson
- Colorist Gregory Reese
- Producer Grace Campos
- DP Evan Prosofsky
- Production Designer Neil Wyzanowski
Credits
powered by
- Production Company Park Pictures
- Director AG Rojas
- Executive Producer Jackie Kelman Bisbee
- Executive Producer Cody Ryder
- Writer/Editor AG Rojas
- VFX Pariah VFX & Post
- Managing Director/Executive Producer Mark Tobin
- VFX Producer Gladys Bernadac
- Head of Production Michael Steinmann
- VFX Supervisor Steven Wolff
- Color Royal Muster
- Executive Producer Thatcher Peterson
- Colorist Gregory Reese
- Producer Grace Campos
- DP Evan Prosofsky
- Production Designer Neil Wyzanowski
What’s the first music video you remember being impressed by?
A lot of director Martin de Thurah’s work had an effect on me in high school, which is when I started to take more of an interest in music videos. There is always something so nebulous about the worlds that he crafts, always inviting you to witness something strange and unexplainable.
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And what’s your all-time favourite music video?
Really hard to pick just one, but I can keep to it to these three:
Nine Inch Nails - Only, UNKLE - Rabbit In Your Headlights, and Alaskan Tapes - Maybe.
Nine Inch Nails – Only
Unkle – Rabbit In Your Headlights
Alaskan Tapes – Maybe
What other directors/artists do you look to for inspiration?
Every other day, I discover another director or artist who inspires me, but when it comes to music videos, I love to look at photographers and painters when conceptualising. The past few years I’ve been very inspired by Graciela Iturbide, Oskar Fischinger, Josef Koudelka, Saul Leiter and Bill Henson.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Been listening to Joni Mitchell - Hejira and Harold Budd - Avalon Sutra on repeat. Also been listening to a lot of stuff off of 110100100.global’s playlist; this independent Berlin-based label that’s producing some amazing experimental jazz.
What’s your favourite bit of tech, whether for professional or personal use?
My Minolta TC-1 and my Korg Kaossilator Dynamic Phrase Synthesizer.
What artist(s) would you most like to work with and why?
So many really, quite a few who are no longer with us and some who I’ve been in touch with, but our timings haven’t lined up... Susumu Yokota, Jon Hassell, Floating Points, Four Tet, Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith, Sam Gendel, Vegyn, Mk.gee, Jai Paul, Tirzah, Mount Kimble, King Krule, Lawfandah, Nosaj Thing, Emile Mosseri, Wilma Archer, BadBadNotGood, Pharaoh Sanders. The list goes on and on, but those are some of my favourites.
All of those artists create music that spiritually transports me to other places. Some of them inspire simple single-shot journeys. Others take me to spaces that feel expansive, ethereal and painterly. Music is a very essential part of my everyday life so I really value when musicians invite us into their inner world or express an inner dialogue, I think all of those artists achieve that in a very singular way.
Credits
powered by
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- Production Company Stink/USA
- Director Leo Aguirre
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-
Unlock full credits and more with a Source + shots membership.
Credits
powered by
- Production Company Stink/USA
- Director Leo Aguirre
- Executive Producer Ryland Burns
- Production Services Habitant
- Production Services Aguita Films
- Producer Yamel Thompson
- Production Designer Megan Nishiyama
- DP Danyal Niazi
- Producer Veronica Leon
Credits
powered by
- Production Company Stink/USA
- Director Leo Aguirre
- Executive Producer Ryland Burns
- Production Services Habitant
- Production Services Aguita Films
- Producer Yamel Thompson
- Production Designer Megan Nishiyama
- DP Danyal Niazi
- Producer Veronica Leon
How do you feel the promo industry has changed since you started in it?
I haven’t been around it long enough to see much of a change, but in talking to other directors, I’ve learned that over the past couple of years budgets and timelines have shrunk, unfortunately.
Where do you see the music video industry being in five years’ time?
I don’t know enough about the music industry to predict where it is headed. I can really only speak about my experience and where I would like to see it, I’d love to see it in a place where directors and artists can work together more closely. Timelines and budgets are often unrealistic, so it’d be great to see the music video industry lean into facilitating creative conversations and relationships in order to create more purely and boldly.
99% of music video directors aren’t directing music videos for the money; they’re doing it because they see it as a playground to create something unique, so it’d be great to see the pitching process become more amenable to that.
Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know…
Part of my mental health routine consists of playing drums for about an hour almost every day. I am also (embarrassingly) well-versed in sleight of hand and card tricks.
