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Blackboard - music video

Music video for the song "Blackboard" by Jaco. The song is the first single from Jaco's debut alt rock album entitled You Know, out 7.19.19.

  • Jake Waitzman
    Director
  • Arik Sokol
    Director
  • Jake Waitzman
    Writer
  • Jake Waitzman
    Producer
  • Arik Sokol
    Producer
  • Tim Casper
    Key Cast
    "The Investigator"
  • Caprenia Anthony
    Key Cast
    "Agent"
  • Tony Diliberto
    Key Cast
    "Agent"
  • Lester Nuby
    Key Cast
    "The Prisoner"
  • Project Type:
    Music Video
  • Runtime:
    5 minutes 5 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    April 26, 2019
  • Production Budget:
    1,100 USD
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Black & White
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Jake Waitzman, Arik Sokol

Jaco (Jake Waitzman) is a recording artist (and drummer for Vulture Whale). An 11-song debut solo album You Know will be released 7.19.19 on Cornelius Chapel Records.

Arik Sokol is a seasoned go-to professional in Birmingham (and beyond) for camera, production, and casting work. He is also a member of the Ugly Baby Improv comedy group. facebook.com/uglybabyimprov

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

My PR person was asking for some background on the video, and this is the answer I gave:

"Between you and me, I think of Blackboard as kind of a 'fuck Trump' song in disguise. The narrator of the song is hoping someone will get busted, give away too much info, and incriminate themselves. Kind of a Mueller report fantasy ending.
But I really am not trying to be explicitly political or try to talk politics as an artist (yet). It's an anti-establishment, anti-hypocrite song in general maybe, lamenting that too much at high levels of government is shrouded from public view.

But the video is slightly askew from all that. I just tried to do a take or impression of the song, going with the secrecy, coercion, spy stuff.

I just wanted to show some different layers of investigator work, copying TV tropes. Wanted to show investigators investigating investigators and the craziness of that cycle. You’re not really sure who’s good or bad.

Basically I have access through work to this old, out-dated office building and figured we could make something work. I knew I wanted the lead character to have one of those crazy, investigation rooms with stuff on the walls. I knew I wanted him to sort of lose his mind and hear the keyboard solo and then hallucinate that the captive was playing guitar."

-Jake/Jaco