The Vampire Music Video is OUT NOW!
I'm Trying Not to Hyperventilate!
Holy Cow! The time has finally arrived! Everyone in the world can now see my newest film project! You can click below to watch it all, but if you read past this point, there will be a spoiler or two.
Between the song and the video itself, I have put countless hours into this project. It would mean the world to me if you can share it with friends and on social media. Here are links you can copy and paste:
YouTube: https://youtu.be/dagETLM1b78
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/music-video/vampire/1724655636
Tidal Video: https://tidal.com/browse/video/338777907
The Details:
Last July, I was talking to my friend Kyle, with whom I went to film school, and I mentioned that I had a song about a vampire that was close to finishing up production. Being the horror enthusiast that he is, he said, “Dude, let’s make a music video!” Everything came together quickly from there. I picked a location and was able to find performers who were willing to play dead. Kyle roped in our friend and fellow film school grad Nathan to be the DP. They both worked out acquiring a huge load of camera gear and the gas-powered generator for the shoot. I was able to secure several fog machines.
Almost all the footage was shot in one day across the fading light of an afternoon and late into the evening on a warm day in early September of 2023.
We filmed primarily in a 100-year-old barn, and then we captured the piano shots in a room in my house. I filmed the shots of the moving fabric by myself on a different day.
I know how to make different kinds of fake blood and guts now. Yay.
A friend of mine named Purvy is a dancer, and we worked together over an afternoon at her place. I taught her the dance choreography, and we figured out her costume for her role as The Witch Who Summons Power. She performed with self-possession and grace.
The role of The Healing Witch was given to my friend Just Lisa (who I originally hoped would be willing to do it), and she kindly (and enthusiastically) agreed. She gave such a strong and committed performance and moved her body exactly as I envisioned.
These witches give healing strength and power to a beleaguered and downtrodden vampire, and he wreaks his special brand of havoc as a result.
I was able to cast two performers, Josefine and Lauren, to be The Slaughtered Lesbian Couple, and my dear husband MaxZine agreed to be The Slaughtered Woodsman. (There are back stories to these characters.) I have to say that it is very difficult to play dead. They had to hold their bodies perfectly still for long stretches of time while barely breathing.
I spent a full afternoon at my friend Spice Rack’s house mulling over different costume options for the vampire. I brought over a few pieces of red garments and faux fur used in the video, and Spice literally hacked away at the fur with large scissors until we found the shape it needed to inhabit my body.
But the crown jewel of it all was the long red and black fabric that I used to portray flowing blood. Spice Rack showed me a storage shelf full of fabric reams and scraps, and I happened to notice a gash of red in the pile. I pulled it out and draped it over me in front of a mirror. Spice and I looked at each other and saw some real potential with it. I had not figured out the full extent of its use at that point yet, but my instinct told me to run with it. Obviously, all of it eventually came together.
The shoot was, in some ways, exhausting. I even tripped and bruised my knee in the woods when we were hauling equipment back out late in the night. The best part of the experience was how everyone was so easy to work with. Nathan was quite skilled and versatile with the cameras. Kyle was the backbone of the shoot and worked out so many technical details. All the actors took my direction extremely well.
In post-production, I spent a long time editing all of this together before sending it over to Nathan for coloring. Even though we originally filmed in full color, he was adamant that we should make all the reds in each shot pop against a monotone background. This detail is what makes this video vibrant and stark simultaneously. (Thanks Nathan!)
This music video would not have happened without my friend Kyle Van Patten pushing it forward. When he secured the gear and Nathan as our DP, this project became unstoppable. Everyone should have a friend like Kyle.
Special thanks to my dear husband MaxZine for serving us healthy and delicious food for the shoot, for letting me feast on his guts, and for the emotional support through it all. (I certainly needed it.)
I am so happy with how this turned out. I never imagined I would create something like this, but I believe that art should come with some level of risk and vulnerability. Back in film school, there was a wave of enthusiasm for making horror films among many of my classmates. I was nonplussed and uninterested at the time, but well, never say never.
Last but not least, this music video is dedicated to all the enchanting witches in my life who extended their powers of love, healing, friendship, and generosity when I did not have the strength or the sense of safety to hold myself up. I hope you know who you are because I do. (There’s one in the Seattle area, some in Charlotte, NC, and quite a few here in Tennessee and in my neighborhood.)
I hope you enjoyed this bountiful feast I have prepared for you. It has been the most amazing journey. Its release marks the end of the year-long break I have taken from filmmaking.
As you can guess, there is so much more to come.
—Roqué
Here are the film credits:
Vampire: The Music Video
Crew:
Directed by Roqué Marcelo
Music and Lyrics by Roqué Marcelo
Produced by Roqué Marcelo and Kyle Van Patten
Director of Photography: Nathan Nance
1st Assistant Director: Kyle Van Patten
Editor: Roqué Marcelo
Colorist: Nathan Nance
Foley: Roqué Marcelo
Production Assistant: Spice Rack
Practical Effects: Roqué Marcelo
Costuming: Spice Rack and Roqué Marcelo
Craft Service: MaxZine Weinstein
Filmed in Liberty, TN
Special thanks to Bill Steber and Pat Casey for lending us their fog machines.
Cast:
The Vampire: Roqué Marcelo
The Witch Who Summons Power: Purvy
The Healing Witch: Just-Lisa Martin-Bowman
The Slaughtered Lesbian Couple: Josefine Parker and Lauren McEntire
The Slaughtered Woodsman: MaxZine Weinstein
You can hear my new song Vampire on every major streaming platform including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Tidal.
Give it a listen, share it, and add it to a playlist if you want. Search for Roqué Marcelo or visit any of the following links:
Spotify
Apple Music
Tidal
Amazon Music
Deezer
Other music sites where you can hear it include Anghami, MediaNet, Boomplay, Instagram/Facebook, Adaptr, Flo, iHeartRadio, Claro Música, iTunes, Joox, KKBox, Kuack Media, NetEase, Qobuz, Pandora, Saavn, Tencent, TikTok/TikTok Music/Resso/Luna, Yandex Music (beta).
Snow-mageddon 2024 is currently in full force here in the woods of Middle Tennessee. As such, I have not left my house in what feels like forever. Technically, I could not go out for an artist date this week, but it sure is pretty outside. In lieu of accessing civilization, here are the lovely views of snow from where I stand
My kitten Chopin had his first snow day. He did not love it.
To listen to my music, watch my films, or see my visual art, please visit:
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