MTh Directors, Grady Hall and Mark Kudsi joined forces for Katy Perry’s ‘Roar’ to transform this pop star into Queen of the Jungle.
*** What challenges on set did you face throughout the development of the video?**
Our vision was always to make the biggest, best jungle video we possibly could, limitations be damned. We as a whole group just took on the challenge of getting all of it — a complete Woman vs. Tiger storyline, a “Woman Meets Monkey” friendship … not to mention a bunch of action that involved swinging from vines, standing on waterfalls, animated cave paintings and working with all of those animals … and just the “Katy being Katy” scenes in which she paints the elephant’s toenails, brushes the alligator’s teeth, and all those other “Glamazon” moments we loved. See? It’s hard to even summarize it in a quick way — so imagine trying to shoot all this complex stuff in a couple of days.
*** What was your main goal when creating Katy Perry’s “Roar” music video?**
We wanted a video that was not just a shallow performance piece but a full-on story with heroes, villains, action, struggle, tension, and of course, the victory of Katy becoming the Queen of the Jungle in the biggest way possible. Like a full Tarzan movie, only in four minutes, and with a half-clothed Katy Perry.
*** What piece of advice were you given when you started a career in production that you still follow to this day?**
[Grady]: For me, it was that storytelling and emotion always come first. Visuals should just be an extension of those core elements. This should be made into a mandatory tattoo written on the hand of anyone involved in filmmaking.
[Mark]: I think the biggest piece of advice I have received, and continue to follow, is being as prepared as possible in order to create an environment that allows you to be successful. When I am able to go into a shoot, having done as much prep work and planning out as much as possible, it allows for those extra pieces of magic that you did not plan for to happen.
*** What pieces of equipment are a must-have for you when on set?**
[Mark]: I think the most important piece of equipment for me on set is my iPad. I like to put all my prep work on there so I can have it with me at all times and quickly reference it through out the shoot. It is a great tool for me to remember, references, and take notes with, and also extremely helpful to communicate with others. As the saying goes, a pictures is worth a thousand words, so it is great to have any type of visual material readily available to share with the team.
[Grady]: For me, the must-have piece of equipment was just a very detailed plan and an ability to stay in the moment to get the most out of every scene. And tiger repellent.
*** What was it like collaborating on set with superstar Katy Perry?**
Not just on the set, but during development and during post, Katy was creatively engaged, brilliant, fun, and funny. And especially on set, she’s so creative in her performances — always bringing something new to each take. We actually wish we could think of something negative so it doesn’t sound like we’re blowing smoke, but this is a woman who’s a superstar for a reason: she’s talented and extraordinary.
*** Who inspired you towards starting a career in directing?**
[Mark]: My directing career was never quite mapped out in a traditional manner. I studied visual communication in school, and started out my career as a graphic designer. My passion for moving images, music, story telling, and design led me to change courses from the static medium of print, to the emerging industry of motion graphics. Once I immersed myself in this new world, I fell in love. I wanted to do more then tell stories with just graphics, but through human experiences. I continued through the ranks of the industry, and spent many years as an apprentice, learning the ropes from the directors I worked collaborated with. Through these experiences, I was truly inspired to tell my own stories.
[Grady]: For me, it was bad directors messing up screenplays that I had written for a television show where I was a staff writer.
*** Anything else you would like to add?**
[Mark]: This was an extremely fun experience, and is the type of job that inspired me to direct in the first place, combining all of my passions. It also was a perfect opportunity to collaborate with my long time friend and colleague Grady, who I admire. Occasionally we have done some commercial projects together in the past, but this was the first time we have come together to work on a music video. I am really proud of what we were able to accomplish in such a short time, and even more proud of the positive responses we have received. I also want to thank the whole team, from the label, production, and post-production side. Without their tireless efforts, this video would not be possible.
[Grady]: I agree with everything Mark said. Projects like this live and die on the team’s passion and talent. Oh, also, if you’re ever stuck in the jungle, don’t try to out-roar a tiger.
