The Valves Light It Up On Woodford Glen's Infield

30th January 2008
Author: Angela Pyke c/o NZ Musician
The car-crazy crowd attending Radio Sport Woodford Glen Speedway found some different types of valves floating around the infield during the speedway's annual fireworks night. Christchurch rock band The Valves were there, making use of the explosive atmosphere and an NZ On Air grant to film a music video for their latest single Light It Up.

Guitarist Marc Royal says the idea of filming the video at Woodford Glen came about after the band agreed cars go well with rock 'n' roll and that a speedway would suit the style of the song - which he describes as "an upbeat party anthem, a feel-good summer song".

Around 30 were involved in the production process, taking their cues from the director and producer of Light It Up Richard Bell. It was Bell's third video for The Valves, having also produced videos for One in Ten and Walking in the Rain, the two earlier singles from their album 'Liberty Angel'.

Bell arrived in New Zealand from the UK five years ago. As founder of UK-based company State, he already had credits for producing over 500 music videos for international acts including U2, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana, Johnny Cash, Red Hot Chili Peppers and The Pixies. Since moving to Christchurch he has directed as well as produced for Shuriken, with his local music video credits including Paul McLaney, Carly Binding, Phoenix Foundation, Shocking Pinks, Minuit and Gramsci. He has also been responsible for a number of short films, documentaries and commercials.

With all that experience Bell was the ideal professional to tackle the logistical challenge of filming a live performance on the infield of an even more live race track. His reference was to create an outdoor, live situation - he says he had a '60s or '70s Led Zeppelin concert or outdoor music festival in mind.

Filming took from 2pm to 12am with only three performances of the song in that time. Bell says the short time frame added to the live effect.

"The fact that it was live and we only had three chances to get it right added to the real, live atmosphere of the video. In a studio you know you can film it over and over until it's right but it loses some of its edge. While the audience will never know what went on at that race night, the aim was to provide a kaleidoscopic view of the event."

The filming was, as he says, full of unexpected occurrences. "No one ever knew what was coming but that was part of the desired effect. All the sensations were new and that made me and the band all the more alert." The video was shot on Super 16mm film then went to Peter Jackson's studio in Wellington to be converted to digital. There were five days of editing before it was sent back to band.

Bell says there is "something fantastically inspiring" about working in rock 'n' roll and it is constantly surprising and creative. He says the key to success is a video's having the right feel for the song. "A song's lyrics can have nothing to do with the video - Light It Up had nothing to do with cars - but it must have the right feel."

Bell says he and the band have received a lot of positive feedback about the video, and found the whole experience a complete hoot.

Watch the finished music video on YouTube.

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