Experiencing Interruptions?

Musta Been Bad

A woman lets go of someone who is still inlove with their former love.

  • Lee Fitzjames
    Director
  • Lee Fitzjames
    Writer
  • Lee Fitzjames
    Producer
  • Jack Woon
    Cinematographer
  • Ambra Succi
    Choreographer
  • Project Type:
    Music Video
  • Genres:
    Pop, RnB, beach, feminist, poc director, music video, pacific island, female director, female producer, new zealand, alternative, dance, female narratives, Los Angeles
  • Runtime:
    3 minutes 50 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 29, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    New Zealand
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Lee Fitzjames

Lee Fitzjames is a global artist who is known for her physical comedies and vocal dexterity. An actor, musician and director/writer maker hybrid, this mixed race creative explores themes around gender, death and economic injustices. Alongside commercial video productions, she has directed several plays internationally and is now developing a series of films and music videos.

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Director Statement

Musta Been Bad was shot on Piha beach, New Zealand. It's a special place where the positively charged ions in the black sand make people happy. Even so, I see my inescapable sadness in this video.

The video that was shot by one of my first ever film collaborators, Jack Woon who directed two musicals that I choreographed in 2007.

The song was written over a period of four years. Obsessively. I lost nights of sleep perfecting the snare drum. What started as a quick sing along to a loop I found online became dozens of iterations with different tempos, grooves, lyrics, instrumentation and production. I maintained the same melody throughout the entire process. With each iteration came the unhelpful advice that I should find a 'real' producer to finish the song. I took the advice but found myself starting over again no matter how many producers I worked with.

Lyrically, I wanted to talk about what it meant to reject someone because they were still in love with their ex.  I wanted to explore what it means to be responsible for your own pain and loss.

I paid a lot for the music production. The video itself cost quarter of a tank of petrol (AKA 'gas' depending on who's reading). Even the red jumpsuit was returned back to the seller for a refund.

The choreography came from Sweden's leading Ambra Succi who is behind some of Sweden's most successful Eurovision performances.