Interview with Amir — the Director
Hey dear readers!
This is the very first interview I make with a video director! I think it all went pretty well, straight over the web and all ! Amir Chamdin is our main man ´cos he made the grand video for "For What It´s Worth" Please enjoy this piece of excellent journalism :-) (I have added my thoughts on his answers as well!)
Magnus: Hello Amir!
Amir: Hello Magnus!
Question 1
Magnus: How did you get in touch with us in the first place?
Amir: I’ve known Peter for a while but this time your record company contacted me.
Magnus' Thoughts: OK answer
Question 2
Magnus: What thoughts came to your mind when you first heard "For What It´s Worth"?
Amir: The first thing that hit me was that it sounded very organic and honest. Then when you start to really listen to the lyrics the song shifts gear one more time. I really dig this song!
Magnus' Thoughts: wisely spoken
Question 3
Magnus: What about Eric the rabbitman, wasn´t there a story behind the influence of choosing a rabbitman?
Amir: That’s true! The last two years I’ve struggling to shoot a short film about a rabbitman. Eric on the other hand, has always wanted to play a rabbit, so there you go. The Cardigans made both of our dreams to come true!
Magnus' Thoughts: we like making dreams come true and we like animals, except snakes and lice
Question 4
Magnus: How did the work go down in South Africa, being quite far from good ole´Sweden?
Amir: It went really good! I mean to shoot a music video for 4 days, you almost except that something really goes out of hand! The best crew, the best food and the rest are history.
Magnus' Thoughts: right on! Monkey Films rocks!
Question 5
Magnus: What are your fave parts/shots in the video?
Amir: I must say the performance parts in the magic tunnel! I love psycadelik stuff.
Magnus' Thoughts: I go for the Hitchcock-esque part where Amir himself plays the bartender who serves the carrot juice to Rabbitman
Question 6
Magnus: How much did you pay for that super cool army-supply outfit?
Amir: $7.50 with boots and everything!
Magnus' Thoughts: Enormously well spent money!
Question 7
Magnus: What made the biggest impression on you during the stay in Capetown?
Amir: To see the creation (Rabbitman) of a madman run around in the middle of Cape Town.
Magnus' Thoughts: We missed that part of the shooting.... Must have been great.
Question 8
Magnus: Any plans for the future?
Amir: My plans are to finish up the album where working on with my group Infinite Mass.
Magnus' Thoughts: full respect!
Question 9
Magnus: Wouldn´t you say that we are very nice people to work with?
Amir: You always get surprised when you meet a band that’s very down to earth, that’s uncommon now days, probably the best band I have worked with!
Magnus' Thoughts: very good answer !
Question 10
Magnus: What other cool bands have you worked with? Were they as cool as we are?
Amir: I have worked with my band Infinite Mass, The Hellacopters, Titiyo, Yvonne,The Ark, Lambretta……..
Magnus' Thoughts: Some competition there...
Question 11
Magnus: What´s your fave ice hockey team?
Amir: In Sweden it’s AIK, Detroit Red Wings or L.A. Kings when it comes to NHL.
Magnus' Thoughts: A touchy subject since AIK is down in second division..
Magnus: Thanks Amir! I think we´ve got what we needed. Any last thoughts for the readers?
Amir: Peace in the Middle East, See ya!!!
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Interview with Henrik — the Producer
Question 1
Magnus: What impressions made the biggest impact on you in South Africa?
Henrik: Amir and Mattias avocado war.
Question 2
Magnus: Which bandmember is the hardest to get in line? Anyone tried to mess up your work as a producer for the video?
Henrik: No one is hard to get in line.
Question 3
Magnus: What´s your favourite punishment method when musicians don´t do what you tell them to do?
Henrik: I don´t think punishment to people get you anywhere. A film crew of 50 people working for the artist is a good way of telling someone that they should act a little different. The only artist I have punished is Amir for the avocado war.
Question 4
Magnus: What´s your favourite hockey team?
Henrik: Djurgården(stockholm), but I believe fotball is the name of the game.
Question 5
Magnus: How long have you been working with Amir and Mattias?
Henrik: 2,5 years, the first job together were for The Hellacopters in year 2000.
Question 6
Magnus: How was it, working with Monkey Films?
Henrik: It was a pleasure working with the monkey´s, can´t wait to get back with a new production.
Question 7
Magnus: Wouldn´t you say we´re a very nice band to work with?
Henrik: Your attitude after giving us the mission to make your video, the way you trusted us in all decision is the best inspiration we could get to do our best. You are a very nice band to work with.
Question 8
Magnus: What´s your fave part of the video?
Henrik: The first wide shot on the train when the band are moving through the shadows from the trees, it sets the mood of the song and video for the viewer directly.
Question 9
Magnus: Some says that Magnus likes to talk a lot of rubbish, especially when doing interviews. How do you find that accusation?
Henrik: I´ve heard that I talk a lot of rubbish my self, what should I say...idiots.
Question 10
Magnus: Any last thoughts of wisdom to the readers?
Henrik: Stop the war.
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Interview with Mattias — the Photographer
Since I have lost the answers from Mattias, the photographer, I will make up his answers myself.
Magnus: Hej Mattias!
Mattias: Hej Magnus!
Question 1
Magnus: First of all, a question from Nina. How important is make-up foundation for you as a photographer?
Mattias: Well, foundation is the core to my work. No foundation really ruins my craftman ship. I wear some myself, just to be 100% sure.
Question 2
Magnus: What´s your fave hockey team?
Mattias: Since you´re such clever and nice guys, I have decided to start supporting HV 71 ! You seem to know these things about hockey!
Question 3
Magnus: Is it true that Amir lied about the price of that funky army outfit?
Mattias: yeah! totally! But then again, he´s an arab :-) ( Mattias actually wrote this by himself! )
Question 4
Magnus: What´s your fave part of the video?
Mattias: I liked the sight of Thomas; (the make up artist) bare chested in the gazing sunset over False Bay
Question 5
Magnus: Which bandmember reflects your artistery craftman ship the best?
Mattias: All of you really gets the best of me, you all have that certain aura, like all great geniuses in history!
Question 6
Magnus: Some say that Lasse is unfocused from time to time, did you find it especially hard to get him in focus?
Mattias: Well, you got to give credits to a big artist like Lasse. Even Einstein was dyslexic and had a hard time focusing on stuff. (not that Lasse is dyslexic, by any means)
Question 7
Magnus: Nina thought you looked like a mother-in-law dream come true, how do you respond to that? ( Nina refuses to have asked that question by the way)
Mattias: Well, it´s nice to be a object for people´s desires! I am a nice guy and mother-in-laws can see that!
Question 8
Magnus: What is your opinion on auto focus?
Mattias: hmmmmmm....
Question 9
Magnus: How many meters of film turned out as rubbish cause we looked like dorks?
Mattias: Just like sharks in the sea, they are plenty....
Question 10
Magnus: Would you like to pass out some last words of truth to our readers?
Mattias: yeah, I would like to say that you are a very nice band to work with! And you´re good looking and very well mannered! A perfect set of young fresh people, really!
Magnus: Thank you Mattias!
Mattias: Thank you Magnus!
Magnus: Like I said, I made up all his answers, but mine are better than his were, so we´ll go with these!
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Now you´ve all learned something new today, right? We will continue these in your face interviews with the director for the next video. And that my folks, was your daily dose of excitement and entertainment!
Take care- Magnus at the controls
