University video debut is no puzzle

Tees Valley-based band Das Wanderlust needed a music video for their new single Puzzle. So they came to our new digital TV and sound studio.

The studio is in the Phoenix Building, off Woodlands Road, Middlesbrough, and is a collaboration between our Institute of Digital Innovation and the School of Computing.

In addition to state-of-the-art broadcast quality surround sound and high-definition video production facilities, the studio has a green screen set for video effects.

Amazing visual effects The studio’s £75,000 high definition track-based motion control camera system is capable of creating amazing visual effects, from simple crowd duplications to highly detailed complex artificial live action based sequences. The facility also doubles up as a sound studio and includes a mixing desk called an ICON D-Control.

Mark Buschbacher is the Studio’s Video Engineer. Originally from Arizona, Mark has 12 years’ experience of working for visual effects companies in Los Angeles and London. He moved to Teesside earlier this year with wife Sarah, a Teesside design graduate who is originally from Middlesbrough.

One of the only systems of its type in UK education Mark said: ‘Our type of equipment is regularly used on many major movies to create effects and is one of the only systems of its type in UK education. We wanted to test the facilities so when Das Wanderlust approached us we offered them the chance to create the video for no cost. They came up with the storyboard and it took just one day to shoot. I think we’ve produced something that’s different, colourful and fun to watch.’

Das Wanderlust was first formed four years ago and their line-up is: Laura Simmons, 24, originally from Enfield, London and now living in Marske, Andy Elliott, 26, originally from St Albans, and also in Marske, and Wesley John Stephenson, 32, from Yarm. They are currently touring the UK and will undertake a three-week European tour later this year.

Andy said: ‘Due to line-up changes since the song was recorded, we decided not to appear in the video for Puzzle. Instead it features Laura’s little sister Louise and a friend’s daughter, Natalie, playing ghosts doing distinctly un-ghostly things such as chopping vegetables and playing the piano. We've been a little obsessed with ghosts for a while now, and we managed to get plenty of mileage out of quite a simple visual idea - although making the video was a really steep learning curve for all of us!

‘This is the first time we’ve had a proper video and we’re really happy with the way it's turned out. Mark did a great job and we'd love to work with him again. We think it has a real charm about it, and the fact it was shot for free was an amazing help for a relatively new band like us. Puzzle has been played on Radio One and 6 Music and we’re also hoping the video will be screened on MTV2 - although you can see it now on YouTube.’

Puzzle will be released on Monday 6 October in MP3 and 7 inch vinyl formats.

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