From editing on TV shows to a string of staggeringly crafted stop-motion promos for his brother's band, Fleet Foxes, Sean Pecknold has built a cult online following for his intriguing and beguiling visuals. We spoke to the autodidactic Seattle-resident to see just how Vimeo killed the video star.
Images have always been the love of Sean Pecknold's life, but it wasn't a degree in Fine Arts or studying at a prestigious institute for animation that kick-started his career - it was his first digital single lens reflex camera.
"I taught myself how to animate," he explains. "It's a natural desire for anyone making images to want to bring them to life and it really helped when I got the camera because I was able to try things that I normally couldn't afford."
Pecknold's dual role as both teacher and student has resulted in some remarkably sophisticated animation. His music video White Winter Hymnal for Fleet Foxes is a poignant and whimsical retrogressive journey which sees an old man reversing time via a magical crank. The stop-motion animation is beautifully hand-crafted from clay and takes out the prize as the most laboured in an extremely labour intensive process. "We spent about three months on it, and that was working most of the day and into the night for at least two of those months," he reveals.
The Seattle-based artist and director has worked with the Fleet Foxes on a number of their music videos but the collaboration is more than just professional - Pecknold's younger brother Robin fronts the band which has provided both the Pecknold boys with a platform to showcase their work. "I spent a great deal of my childhood wiping boogers on the wall with Robin while watching TV," he reminisces, "but maybe we also collaborate well because where we're from it rains a lot and encourages us to stay inside and create other worlds to escape into."
Those other worlds included The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, Monty Python and the Wizard of Oz, which were all influential and formative inspirations in the North American's mind. His father also worked as an editor of music videos in the 90's and Pecknold fondly remembers his dad bringing them home on VHS before they aired on television.
The younger Pecknold followed his father into directing music videos after working as an editor "for a couple of years" on some television shows and documentaries while shooting a lot of photography in his spare time. "Directing music videos was something I had wanted to do since I was a kid," he remembers, "but wasn't sure exactly how to get into it, so I just tried to learn as much as I could and then started out making stuff - short films with some friends and writing stories. One thing lead to another."
'Making stuff' belies the complexity and skill of his videos. Each video takes around two months to complete, and that, he says, is rushing every process. The director has a team of trusty sidekicks whom he can call on to in some way. "There is a small community of people in the Northwest who are making music videos, and who usually end up helping out on each others' projects. It's a small town and we've kind of gravitated towards each other," comments Pecknold.
All of these music videos have been launched from the creative networking site and launch-pad Vimeo. The site supports the sharing of video footage and has been used by a number of prominent musicians like Kanye West, Moby and Britney Spears, who reportedly launched her music video Radar on the site. Pecknold is a massive fan of Vimeo and credits it with providing a credible platform for emerging film-makers.
"Vimeo is great. It seems like all of the more interesting shots online these days are finding their home on Vimeo and the community is so much better than others," he muses. "The comments are constructive not just blatant snark and it's been great to watch the community grow and evolve."
Pecknold has just finished a promo for band Beach House and is trying to finish an animated series for a gallery show. As well as "trying to make Christmas presents for the family, what with the economy being what it is and all," he says wryly. His advice to the young and aspiring promo director is simple: find a band you like and convince them to let you direct a music video. "If the video is unique, and stands out from the thousands of music videos that pop up every month, then you'll be fine".
White Winter Hymnal - Making Of from Grandchildren on Vimeo.
White Winter Hymnal from Grandchildren on Vimeo.
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