by Claudio Tassone for Comunità Queeniana Italiana
This was the second music video I have directed. My first was for The New Electric - a Canadian band and that video was well received and won lots of awards. Roger and Sarina saw I and approached me to work with them on Journey's End.
Were you friend with Roger or Sarina before this collaboration?
I had worked with Sarina on three movies prior to this - she's wonderfully talented! And had got to know Roger socially. This seemed like the perfect opportunity for us all to work together. As soon as I heard the music I knew this could be something very special.
We have read something from the press release, anyway where have you recorded the different scenes for this video? Are there specific inputs for the scenes, I mean, did anyone come with some specific idea to be developed in the final cut?
We filmed the majority of the shoot in Cornwall, but also have footage from around the world. Cornwall is an excellent place to film. So many locations, beautiful scenery and most importantly: wonderful people.
The great thing about working with Roger and Sarina was that they are both very creative people. The piece has ideas from all three of us. When one of us had an idea for something, another would add a twist and the third would give it wings. As a director it was my job to guide it all together, but the creation was the work of the three of us, most definitely. It was so much fun!
We all worked so hard on this film and really put a lot of thought into every frame. You never know how it will be received, but I think to go number one in four countries and chart so highly in twenty others - that was very special. I know it meant a lot to Roger to see this work so well received, it was great for all of us.
Thank you for your time Stuart. Last but not least, you have visited our country right while the single was being released. Where have you been and what did you like the most?
I am in love with Italy. The people, the culture, the places. I want to shoot my next movie here. I was in Pescara when the film was released, it had been a dream of mine to visit the vineyards in the Abruzzo region. So the film coming out and going to number one - I had two dreams realised at the same time! On that journey I also visited Florence, Rome, Trieste, Udine and the monastery at Moggio. Some was research for my next film, some was for pure pleasure. I am so proud that Italy liked the film!
We have spotted you dancing with Sarina Potgieter (Taylor's wife) in the brand new video from Roger Taylor called Journey's End.
How did you get in touch?
Sarina Taylor found me via my webpage. Knowing who Roger Taylor and Queen were, I was speechless when Sarina approached me.
The official short-video for the song, directed by BAFTA awarded Stuart Brennan, reveal some mentions from other works. Did you take inspiration from anything else for your part? We know you are also the coreographer behind it?
Yes, I am also the choreographer of the routine. Each time I choreograph, I take inspiration from the music and the subject given to me and go with my feelings. Sarina and Roger gave me some topics to work on with the music, so I designed the dance around it. The music itself gives has a dream-like fantasy feel and also a bit of nostalgia, which I reflected in the dance. The whole idea of the devil and death also fits perfectly. I never thought Argentinian Tango moves could go so well with soft rock music. It was a brilliant idea of Sarina to use Argentinian Tango moves, and it shows that this very distinct dance style can be interpreted in any musical language. The whole production was fantastic - the costumes, the make up and the set. It all matched beautifully with the dance.
Where have you shot the dance scene, and when? Did it take much time to complete?
The dance scene was shot at the beautiful Truro Cathedral in Cornwall, UK. We shot it in one day, or even less as we had breaks as well. Working with such great and professional people, the work was very efficient also very enjoyable. Sarina and I started working on the dance a few months before the shooting, with not much time for rehearsals. However, she is an excellent dancer so picked up the routine in no time.
It was such an honour to work with Sarina and Roger Taylor, Stuart and the whole team. I have to say it was the most enjoyable film work I have done, and the whole team was great from the beginning to the end.
Stuart Brennan seems to love Italy and he's been here lately. Have you ever visited our country?
Oh yes, I have been to Italy a few times and have wanted to visit Venice and Rome since I was a teenager. A few years ago, I finally went to Venice, Lake Garda and Verona on holiday. Last year I, took my sister to Rome and it was amazing.
Wow, fantastic! And what did you like the most?
The food was wonderful and the architecture is amazing too. I have a few Italians friends and they are such nice and friendly people.
Great, now we can consider ourselves friends as well, don't you? Hope to meet you one day. You are really brilliant and we love dancing, even more if taught by a great dancer...
Thank you very much, I would be delighted to meet you all and show you some moves.
Il brano JOURNEY'S END è distribuito in formato download audio digitale dal 2 giugno 2017 tramite i principali circuiti mondiali, ai quali si aggiungeranno i consueti servizi in streaming: | iTunes | Amazon.co.uk | Google Play | Video musicale acquistabile su iTunes |