American band OK Go are inviting young filmmakers to make a video for their new track ‘I’m Not Through’ via a collaboration with Saatchi & Saatchi.
The OK Go Saatchi & Saatchi Music Video Challenge 2013 is in partnership with global creative platform Talenthouse, music video curators BUG, and is the third in a series of Saatchi & Saatchi competitions aimed at young filmmakers. The track is a taster of OK Go’s forthcoming fourth album, with the band taking the unusual step of offering filmmakers free access to the song in order to partake in the Music Video Challenge.
As innovators admired for their work with visual artists OK Go are looking forward to uncovering future talents, the band’s Damian Kulash said of the project: “I'm really excited to see what people come up with for the Saatchi & Saatchi Music Video Challenge. Clearly, making videos is a pretty big part of our lives, but while we're in the studio finishing our new record, our heads are exclusively focussed on the songs. So, it feels right to let other people into the playroom while we're not using it. It's a good way to encourage people to go forth and make. A great idea is a great idea. You don't need us standing in front of your camera to make a great video.”
Kulash will head up a specially selected judging panel, from all submissions received 10 finalists will be selected by the panel and announced on the Talenthouse site at the end of May. From the 10 finalists one Grand Prize Winner will be chosen and invited to a full week at Cannes Lions in June, where the winner’s film will be screened at the Saatchi & Saatchi New Directors’ Showcase.
Running in tandem will be a public vote to decide a People’s Choice Winner with the highest voted filmmaker enjoying promotion and recognition across the Talenthouse site and OK Go’s website.
Saatchi & Saatchi worldwide digital creative director, Tom Eslinger, commented: “Working with OK Go gives the Music Video Challenge a fresh direction: we’ve got a great new song from an innovative band who are inspiring creative people all over the world. Add in a creative platform and lovely bunch of folks over at Talenthouse. Then, on top of that, Damian and the band are involved in the process and selection at a level we’ve not had before. It makes my head hurt in a good way thinking about the results.”
Amos Prizzey, founder/president of Talenthouse, added: “OK Go exemplify all that is great about free creative expression while Saatchi & Saatchi are one of the leading creative agency's in the world. At Talenthouse our mission is to help liberate all artists by creating life changing opportunities for the next generation of talent worldwide. This is an amazing opportunity and Talenthouse is proud to be a part of it.”