TURN ON YOUR TV: Sean Lennon "Friendly Fire" in HD

Director Michele Civetta's dreamlike music video suite for Sean Lennon's 2006 album Friendly Fire is getting the HD treatment all month on HDNet.

Previously available as a DVD add-on with the CD release, this is a pretty sweet opportunity to revisit one of the more ambitious and unusual music video efforts in recent years. And, it's damn star-studded with appearances by Hollywood gossip regulars Lyndsay Lohan, Bijou Phillips, Asia Argento, and Devon Aoki. 

Tune in this Sunday, January 20 @ 7pm ET or Monday, January 21 @ 5am ET.

And, be sure to check out the Video Static interview with director Michele Civetta about Friendly Fire.

NEWS: PromoNews and BUG In The UK

My kindred spirit David Knight over in the UK has climbed out from under the wreckage of discontinued UK video trade Promo with the creation of Web site PromoNews.tv. It's been up for a little while now, but seems to just be hitting its stride now.

As a typically short-sighted American, the  news of the world will always be slightly out of my reach. So, if you want to be fully informed of music video news over in the UK, I suggest you add it to your bookmarks. Just don't visit it more often than Video Static.

Also, if you're in London, I suggest you pop in on David Knight's BUG: The Evolution Of Music Video program at the BFI Southbank on January 31. Full details and links to previous videos featured in BUG at bugvideos.co.uk.

QUICK CLIP: Exit Clov "MK Ultra"

Exit Clov is a Washington, D.C. indie act fronted by twin sisters Emily and Susan Hsu. MK Ultra is the notorious C.I.A. mind control program best known for its early experiments with LSD. The video is about as trippy as it should be, depicting the Hsu's backing band as a squad of Hazmat clad agents out to give the frontwomen a dose of disreality. --> watch "MK Ultra"

Exit Clov "MK Ultra"
Joe Brener, director | Terrance Green, producer | Windom Zoo!, production co

NEW RELEASE: Blake Lewis "Break Anotha"

It's the best of times and the worst of times for American Idol. The new series debut this week was the most-watched TV show of the season thus far — garnering more viewers than those who tuned into competing fare on ABC, CBS, NBC and the CW combined —  but was still down 11% percent from last year's bow. Season 5 fave Chris Daughtry has found massive success with his rock outfit Daughtry — four million albums sold and a few Grammy nominations, for good measure — but previous finalists Katherine McPhee, Taylor Hicks and Ruben Studdard all found themselves dropped after falling short of expectations. It is into this tenuous situation that 2007 runner-up Blake Lewis unleahses his debut video "Break Anotha." Odds are stacked against him: He's known for his human DJ "skills" and the choice of "Anotha" over "Another" in the song title is a potential red flag. On the other hand, the video is directed by creative, yet underappreciated Sanji — check his Lauryn Hill "Everything Is Everything" and Maxwell "This Woman's Work" videos for a reminder — and there's a likable lo-fi, '70s vibe to the whole effort. Beat Box Blake performs in front of the tried and true simple effect of floating ink explosions — see Bright Eyes "Hot Knives" for a recent example — while surveillance style shots capture a couple on the verge of a break-up due to his unceasing desire for strange. --> watch "Break Anotha"

Blake Lewis "Break Anotha" (19/Arista/J)
Sanji, director | Gina Leonard, producer | Siblings, production co | Yell Productions, rep | Eric Whycoff , DP | Sanji & Jason Dopko, editors | Ariana Nakata, production designer

NEW RELEASE: Kelly Rowland "Daylight"

Here's a smart move by Kelly Rowland: Rather than compete in an escalating glamor competition with her fellow Destiny's Child member Beyonce, Rowland goes for a casual downtown NYC vibe in this video for "Happy."  She hangs at a decidedly simple and ordinary rooftop party with some friends, played by the oh so personable  Travis McCoy and his fellow Gym Class Heroes. It's win/win for all involved: Rowland seems a whole lot happier in this kind of laidback video, while McCoy gets some mainstream experience that may come in handy if he decides to see if anyone has been tapped yet to be the new generation's Will Smith. --> watch "Daylight" via MySpace

Kelly Rowland f/ Travis McCoy
"Daylight" (Columbia)
Jeremy Rall, director/editor | Gina Leonard, producer | Anonymous/Siblings, production co | | Yell Productions, rep | Joe Zizzo, DP

SHOT: Editors - Paul Minor, director

artist: Editors 
song: "Push Your Head Towards The Air" 
label: Fader/Epic
director(s): Paul Minor
production co: Streetgang Films

SHOT: The Script - Charles Mehling, director

artist: The Script
song: "We Cry"
label: SonyBMG UK
director(s): Charles Mehling
production co: Streetgang Films

SHOT: Enrique Iglesias - Paul Minor, director

artist: Enrique Iglesias
song: "Donde Estas Corazon"
label: Universal International
director(s): Paul Minor
production co: Streetgang Films

NEWS: NY Presentation On Musicals To Michael Jackson

Let's get ready to moonwalk...

NY Press Film Critic Armand White continues his series of music video lectures at NYC's Lincoln Center this Friday, January 18, with Pop Video Artists And The Hollywood Influence. The 90 minute presentation will trace the journey of choreography from film musicals to the early, epochal music videos of Michael Jackson and his sister, Janet Jackson.

Tickets are $11 each and the event is co-presented by the Dance On Camera Festival and Scanners: The New York Video Festival. Full details at filmlinc.com.

QUICK CLIP: Debilorithmicos "Gigolo"

Barcelonian production crew Delborithmicos collaborate with Americano rapper Clint Malik, creating something that splits the difference between Jose Gonzalez and blissed-out hip-hop. The sunny, largely split-screen clip was shot in Barcelona by local director Santi G. Aguado. --> watch "Gigolo" (YouTube link)

Debilorithmicos f/ Clint Malik "Gigolo" (Pulpa)
Santi G. Aguado, director | Sergi Portabella, DP

QUICK CLIP: Andy Davis "Brown Eyes"

Three panes and the city of Dallas looming in the background make for an interesting and simple perspective in this rooftop, love story of a video for independent singer-songwriter Andy Davis. --> watch "Brown Eyes"

Andy Davis
"Brown Eyes" (bigHelium)
Walter May, director/DP/editor | Jay Breaux, producer | Wild Plum, production co

NEWS: DNA Signs Lil X

Director Lil X has signed with DNA for all music video and commercial work. He will be repped by Inga Veronique of Sugar Management, in addition to DNA's in-house team of executive producer Missy Galanida and rep Isaac Rice.

X's latest and/or greatest includes...

• R. Kelly & Usher "Same Girl"
• Korn "Coming Undone"
• Kanye West "Workout Plan"
• Usher "Yeah"
• Sean Paul "Gimme The Light"

BOOKED: What Made Milwaukee Famous - Daniel Gibbs, Director

artist: What Made Milwaukee Famous
song: "Sultan"
label: Barsuk
director(s): Daniel Gibbs
production co: C3
commissioner: Jill Kaplan/Skyway Productions

SHOT: Julius Petty - Bobby Yan, director

artist: Julius Petty
song: "Get Out of My Way"
label: Feels So Good Ent.
director(s): Bobby Yan
production co: Immigrant Film

MTV Adds for the Weeks of 1/21/07

MTV Adds:
Kate Nash "Foundations" (Fiction)
Kid Rock "Amen" (Atlantic)

MTV 2 Adds:
Kid Rock "Amen" (Atlantic)
Soulja Boy "Yahhh!" (Interscope)

mtvU Adds:
The Cliks "Complicated" (Silver Label/Tommy Boy)
Hezekiah f/ Bilal "Keep Looking Up" (Soul Spazm)
Hurricane Chris f/ Boxie "Playas Rock" (Polo Grounds/J)
Maps "To The Sky" (Mute)
The Pipettes "Because It's Not Love" (Interscope)
The Raveonettes "Dead Sound" (Vice)
Secondhand Serenade "Fall For You" (Glassnote)
Simian Mobile Disco "Hustler" (Wichita)
Webbie "Independent" (Asylum)

MTV Jams Adds:
Pop It Off Boyz "Crank Dat Batman" (Universal Motown)
Rihanna "Don't Stop the Music" (Island Def Jam)
Sean Kingston "Take You There" (Beluga Heights/Epic/Koch)

VH1 Adds for the Week of 1/21/08

Vh1 Adds:
Chrisette Michele "Be Ok" (Island Def Jam)
Colbie Caillat "Realize" (Universal Republic)
Daughtry "Feels Like Tonight" (RCA)
Kate Nash "Foundations" (Fiction)
Matt Costa "Mr. Pitiful" (Brushfire/Universal)
Rihanna "Don't Stop the Music" (Island Def Jam)

Vh1 Soul Adds:
Janet "Feedback" (Island Def Jam)
Rihanna "Don't Stop the Music" (Island Def Jam)
Mario "Crying Out For Me" (Arista/J)

BET Adds for the Week of 1/21/08

BET Adds:
Ciara f/ Lil Jon "That's Right" (LaFace/ZLG)
The Dream "Falsetto" (Island Def Jam)

Rap City Adds:
Big Noyd f/ Kira "Things Done Changed" (Koch)
DJ Felli Fel "Get Buck In Here" (So So Def/Island Def Jam)
Dolla f/ T-Pain "Who The **** Is That     " (Konvict Muzik/Jive/ZLG)
Plies "I Am The Club" (Slip-N-Slide/Atlantic)

Fuse Adds for the Week of 1/21/08

Adds:
Cobra Starship "The City Is At War" (Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen)
Rihanna "Don't Stop the Music" (Island Def Jam)

Oven Fresh Adds:
Airbourne "Too Much, Too Young, Too Fast" (Roadrunner)
Cobra Starship "The City Is At War" (Decaydance/Fueled By Ramen)
Fat Joe f/ J. Holiday "I Won't Tell" (Imperial)
Flo Rida f/ T-Pain "Low" (Atlantic)
Radiohead "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" (TBD)
Rihanna "Don't Stop the Music" (Island Def Jam)
Shiny Toy Guns "Rainy Monday" (Universal Motown)

Music Choice Adds for the Week of 1/21/08

Adds:
Alter Bridge "Ties That Bind" (Universal Republic)
Baby Bash "What Is It" (Arista)
Birdman "100 Million Dollars" (Cash Money/Universal Motown) 
Omarion & Bow Wow "Hey Baby" (Columbia)
Boyz II Men "The Tracks Of My Tears" (Decca)
Chuck Brown "Party Roll" (Full Circle)
Editors "The Racing Rats" (Fader/Epic)
G.T. "Beat The Trunk Up" (Key Players Ent.)
Heavy Vee "I Don't Need A Hook" (Razor & Tie)
I Nine "Seven Days Of Lonely" (Arista/J)
James Taylor "You've Got A Friend (Live)" (Concord)
Babyface "Not Going Nowhere" (Island)
Kenny Chesney "Shiftwork" (BNA)
Kia Shine "Wow" (Universal Motown)
Luke Bryan "We Rode In Trucks" (Capitol Nashville)
Martina McBride "For These Times" (RCA Nashville)
Matt Nathanson "Car Crash" (Vanguard)
MGMT "Electric Feel" (Columbia)
NLT "She Said, I Said (Time We Let Go)" (Geffen)
Paul McCartney "Ever Present Past" (Hear/Concord)
Rick Ross f/ R. Kelly "Speedin'" (Def Jam)
Shiny Toy Guns "Rainy Monday" (Universal Motown)
Sia "Day Too Soon" (Astralwerks)
Simple Plan "When I'm Gone" (Atlantic)
Webbie "Independent" (Asylum)

CMT Adds for the Week of 1/14/08

CMT Adds:
Brooks & Dunn "God Must Be Busy" (Arista Nashville) - from CMA Awards
Garth Brooks & Huey Lewis "Workin' For A Livin'" (Pearl)
Steve Earle "City Of Immigrants" (New West)
Willie Nelson "Gravedigger" (Lost Highway)

CMT Adds:
Garth Brooks & Huey Lewis "Workin' For A Livin'" (Pearl)
James Otto "Just Got Started Lovin' You" (Raybaw/Warner Bros.)
Levon Helm "Poor Old Dirt Farmer" (Dirt Farmer/Vanguard)
Willie Nelson "Gravedigger" (Lost Highway)

MuchMusic Adds for the Week of 1/14/08

Adds:
Alias Donmillion "Industry"
Ashlee Simpson "Outta My Head (Ay Ya Ya)"
Elise Estrada "Ix Nay"
Gee Wunder "Gather Round"
The Trews "Hold Me In Your Arms"

BOOKED: V.I.C. f/ Soulja Boy - Dale "Rage" Resteghini, director

artist: V.I.C. feat. Soulja Boy
song: "Get Silly"
label: Collipark/Warner Bros.
director(s): Dale "Rage" Resteghini
production co: Raging Nation
rep: Yell Productions

NEWS: Picture Vision Signs Speer & Lazzaro For Country

Nashville production company Picture Vision is welcoming a couple "I'm From Hollywood" directors for representation in the country market.

Scott Speer — Signed with HSI for mainstream work. Credits include:

• Paris Hilton "Nothing In this World"
• Switchfoot "Stars"
• Brandi Carlile "The Story"

Brian Lazzaro — Credits include:

• Rilo Kiley "Portions For Foxes"
• Rooney "I Should've Been After You"

NEW RELEASE: Lenny Kravitz "I'll Be Waiting"

Perhaps having pushed his futuristic glam rock superstar vibe as far as possible, Lenny Kravitz gets back to something very organic and basic in this fist video off It's Time For A Love Revolution. The simple b&w clip finds Lenny handling all the instruments in the studio except for the orchestra, which he merely conducts. --> watch "I'll Be Waiting" via YouTube or Vh1.com (the YouTube one has a short intro)

Lenny Kravitz "I'll Be Waiting" (Virgin/Capitol)
Philip Andelman, director | Magali Selosse-Bishop, producer | Partizan, production co |Max Goldman, DP | Ken Mowe, editor

NEW RELEASE: Jack Penate "Spit At Stars"

There are very few artist about whom you could say, "Sounds like a punkier Billy Bragg, but dances like a giddier Snoop Dogg." In fact, pop/punk British singer songwriter Jack Peñate may be the only one. This stutter-start-stop performance video uses some Invisible Man trickery and stop-motion editing quirks to give life to the instruments and amps. All in all, a clip that lives up the energy of the track. --> watch "Spit At Stars"

Jack Peñate "Spit At Stars" (XL)
Jim Canty, director | HSI , production co

BOOKED: Bayside - Josh Horowitz, director

artist: Bayside
song: "Carry On"
label: Victory
director(s): Josh Horowitz
production co: Film Orange

BOOKED: Hawk Nelson - Christopher Sims, director

artist: Hawk Nelson
song: "Friend Like That"
label: Tooth & Nail
director(s): Christopher Sims
production co: DNA