Behind-the-scenes of the music video NOVA shot at Pixipixel’s Studio
Behind-the-scenes of NOVA shot at Pixipixel’s Studio. Photo credit: Steven Spicer
Director Bailey Tom Bailey and cinematographer Simon Stolland worked together once again to create a music video for the new song NOVA by top songwriter Guy Chambers and his band The Lemon Trees.
The NOVA music video was shot at Pixipixel’s new studio facility in West London. Pixipixel provided a comprehensive package that included studio space, plus camera and lighting rental equipment to meet the creative and budgetary requirements of the production team.
The Inspiration
The music video draws inspiration from the iconic fashion magazine NOVA – a groundbreaking feminist publication that revolutionised women’s publishing during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
The director-cinematographer duo aimed for a look that pays homage to the retro magazine style while seamlessly integrating it into a modern music video. Using the magazine's format to blend graphics and live action, director Bailey Tom Bailey got creative with layout, framing, and pacing, resulting in a fresh yet nostalgic feel.
The music video NOVA inspired by the iconic fashion magazine
The Collaboration
Simon Stolland, the Director of Photography, was eager to jump on board when Bailey Tom Bailey approached him for the NOVA music video. “Bailey reached out and told me that he had a project coming up with the legendary Guy Chambers. I’ve had the honour to collaborate with Bailey on a bunch of music promos and a couple of shorts which I’ve always really enjoyed, so whenever I see his name pop up on my phone, it’s always exciting!”
The creative process began with the concept of the NOVA magazines, known for their eye-catching, arty covers adorned with pastel tones and retro text. This served as the foundation for the video's look. “The vintage aesthetic of these magazines was the perfect template for us. The pastel colours and the retro typography were key elements we wanted to replicate,” explains Stolland.
The Creative Approach
The project had budget constraints that ruled out elaborate set builds and extensive production design.
“Bailey came up with an ingenious idea to shoot key moments that would establish the world of NOVA and then navigate through various 'articles' within the world of the magazine. This approach allowed us to combine vintage fashion with commercial looks, using pastel colours and older lighting techniques to emulate the feel of those classic magazines.”
Director Bailey Tom Bailey at Pixipixel’s Studio. Photo credit: Steven Spicer
The Technical Choices
When it came to camera and lighting choices, practicality and creativity went hand in hand. “We opted for a zoom lens to cover a large range of focal lengths, which saved us time on set,” Stolland noted. “The Fujinon Cabrio 19-90mm T2.9 was our lens of choice. It’s a fairly clean lens with decent colour rendition which provided a good base for us given the amount of VFX that was to come later on. The occasional 'crash zoom' added a dynamic touch, injecting some life into certain moments and keeping the story moving.”
Cinematographer Simon Stolland shooting at Pixipixel’s Studio. Photo credit: Steven Spicer
“We shot on the Alexa Mini LF, which provided the full frame look and helped us gain some extra depth within our shots while working with the Fujinon,” Stolland shared. “The larger sensor also allowed us to push our ISO when necessary, compensating for the slower lens. Additionally, we used a peewee dolly and some rails to help us create some dynamic camera movement and move efficiently in between set-ups.”
The Studio
Filming took place at Pixipixel’s new studio facility, which Stolland praised for its ample space and supportive team. “The guys at Pixipixel were great as were their facilities. The team were always on site to help with last second kit additions. It was incredibly reassuring to know that they were only next door should we need anything.”
Guy Chamber’s new music video for NOVA featuring The Lemon Trees is out now. Watch now on YouTube.