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UK Band Make Themselves Stars of Surveillance Cam TV
Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 12:20 AM on May 10, 2008
Though it's not such a familiar phenomenon in the US, the UK is now awash with closed-circuit TV cameras, one for every 14 or so people— hell, even the Lollipop Lady crossing guards are getting them. You could choose to see this as good for public safety, or as an Orwellian invasion of privacy...or even an opportunity to get your music video filmed for free. Which is exactly what unsigned Manchester-based band The Get Out Clause did, by performing their single in public in 80 locations in front of CCTV cameras. How did they get the footage, though?
Luckily the UK has the Data Protection Act (1998) and Freedom of Information Act (2000), which are a little like the US Freedom of Information Act, allowing anyone the right to view the data that an organisation holds about them. Usually that's things like personal information, but in this case it was video footage of their performances on surveillance CCTV systems, both privately and publicly owned. Not all of the organisations the band approached using these laws came up with the goods, but many of them did: enough to make the video.
Now, you may be thinking "no, I don't believe it... all that CCTV stuff is just Hollywood, Bourne Identity nonsense," but sadly, you'd be wrong. Sure, there's no central collection office where The Man can choose among millions of camera streams at will, but the cams really are everywhere. Some cameras are black and white, some infrared, some colour, some are fixed, some can even be panned and zoomed in real-time by local police, and some are in taxis.
In their final compiled video, The Get Out Clause can be seen performing in shopping malls, on the street, on a type of pedestrian crossing where cars have to wait for you, on a bus and tram and in the back of a Hackney Carriage taxi. Sure, there's a bit of personal camcorder action in there, but mostly the video is CCTV, and for that bit of lateral thinking I applaud you, chaps. Clever. [The Telegraph via Boing Boing]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
uberfu
Posted 12:57 AM 10/5/08
Not my choice in music - but I give them appluase for putting a positive spin on the use of the "Orwellian" Ideal_
@Johnny Chimpo: At least they got out and did something good or bad - where's your video?
uberfu
Johnny Chimpo
Posted 12:41 AM 10/5/08
@buzzwizard: I know, I know. It wasn't entirely fair to rip their music, but come on! Did you hear how cookie cutter safe their sounds was?? Heck it wasn't even recorded live. But again, big props for the idea!
Anyhoo, on a somewhat-related/good-link-for-a-friday here is a need video by Vampire Weekend loose in the streets of Paris. It was recorded for a french music blog back in feb.
+ Watch video
Johnny Chimpo
buzzwizard
Posted 12:35 AM 10/5/08
I love how commenters gotta whine about the music, when the article is about the brilliant use of CCTV video! :) I think it's the coolest thing since the reverse video effect, and soon everyone will be doing it... Yay for lo-res video!
buzzwizard
Darrone
Posted 12:34 AM 10/5/08
That really is actually creatively awesome for a video. not a fan of the music, but still.
Darrone
Munch
Posted 12:33 AM 10/5/08
At least the music and footage are of similar quality.
Munch
ideaman2020
Posted 12:31 AM 10/5/08
That is brilliant. [And kind of disturbing in that Big Brother way...]
I feel for the guy who has to lug the drum kit around everywhere, though.
ideaman2020
ANoel
Posted 12:30 AM 10/5/08
Finally *sigh* insipid music is all over.
ANoel
Johnny Chimpo
Posted 12:28 AM 10/5/08
Now only to translate that innovative thinking into something that sounds better then generic emo-rock...
Johnny Chimpo
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
Posted 1:21 AM 10/5/08
@Trowble (XBL/PSN): Ack! I forgot to mention that within the first 5 seconds of the video the only thing that came to mind was The Truman Show, great movie.
I didn't really pay attention to the song more than I did the video with the locations used, the song isn't my cup of tea.
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
NNTPgrip
Posted 1:19 AM 10/5/08
I guess they can tide Coldplay fans over until their next album... Not my thing really.
I call shenanigans on the CCTV use. The quality was too good, angles too good. It would be just too easy to use a tripod, zoom lens, and some post-filters in Final Cut to achieve the effect. If they really wanted to capture the "police state" feel, they should have intercut shots of police (not necessarily in riot gear - thats been done over and over)
All that said, I'm glad to anytime see a new video that is not rap or country. Too bad America won't see it on TV, we seem to think music television involves a spoiled-rich 16 twat's birthday party.
NNTPgrip
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
Posted 1:04 AM 10/5/08
+ Watch video
Truman Burbank: Good morning, and in case I don't see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and good night!
Trowble (XBL/PSN)
Johnny Chimpo
Posted 1:34 AM 10/5/08
@NNTPgrip: "we seem to think music television involves a spoiled-rich 16 twat's birthday party."
Are you implying that the Paris Hiltons of the world aren't compelling television!?!
Johnny Chimpo
Johnny Chimpo
Posted 1:31 AM 10/5/08
@uberfu: Point taken - I'm about as musically inclined as a deaf Ringo Star!
But like I said, I give 'em an A for innovation and a C- for musical talent. Again, just my opinion.
Johnny Chimpo
boofighter
Posted 1:52 AM 10/5/08
i doubt that they know that they are stealing this idea from a small Canadian band called "the bare naked ladies". this is how they got noticed back in the '90's they would go to a speakers corner both and sing their songs until they got media attention.
[url
+ Watch video
boofighter
MIKEAWESOME
Posted 3:03 AM 10/5/08
@Johnny Chimpo: La Blogotheque!
Their "The Take Away Shows" series is amazing, which is where that video is from.
[www.blogotheque.net]
Also, I say you check out the Arcade Fire's Take Away Show. It's absolutely brilliant.
[www.blogotheque.net]
MIKEAWESOME
evan_phi
Posted 2:53 AM 10/5/08
@Johnny Chimpo:
that blog is "Concerts a Emporter" or "Take Away Shows"
they do a podcast, and its pretty awesome. I am not really an indie fan, but just the idea of mobile concerts is cool.
[www.blogotheque.net]
evan_phi
christophski
Posted 3:13 AM 10/5/08
"on a type of pedestrian crossing where cars have to wait for you".
Wait, does that mean you guys in America don't have Zebra crossings/know what they are?
christophski
dontforget
Posted 3:35 AM 10/5/08
[en.wikipedia.org] now you have me thinking, but i'm pretty sure we go with the one labeled standard on this pic
dontforget
Johnny Chimpo
Posted 3:53 AM 10/5/08
@MIKEAWESOME: Thanks! I see they have one on Sufjan Stevens too. Consider me officially checked out for the weekend...
Johnny Chimpo
Dunny0
Posted 5:01 AM 10/5/08
Nice video, shame about the song.
Dunny0
hudsong
Posted 5:46 AM 10/5/08
@Dunny0:
I think Trent Reznor doing this kind of thing would be a little more interesting
hudsong
vagrant
Posted 7:37 AM 10/5/08
Hey kidZ! Have fun this weekend and tap into the wireless video in your own town.
1. Pick up a room to room video transmitter. You'll only need the receiver bit.
(Don't forget the batteries)
2. Hook up your camcorder via the RCA jacks on the receiver and set your camcorder to monitor/record the incoming video feed.
3. Adjust the channels as you drive around, but you'll find that one of the two is used predominantly.
4. Enjoy B&W as well as color video from traffic cameras, restaurants, government buildings, neighbors baby cam, your other paranoid neighbors security camera.
It's fun for the whole family!
vagrant
Roflgoat
Posted 8:28 AM 11/5/08
Superior
[i7.photobucket.com]
Roflgoat
somekindarobit
Posted 3:12 AM 10/5/08
It's a shame Hard-Fi never did something like this... seeing as how their album was called CCTV.
somekindarobit
bungalistic
Posted 7:18 PM 14/5/08
Not an entirely original concept as the comedian Mark Thomas did this many years ago now recording himself and others dancing and performing infront of many different CCTV cams. I'm sure he said that he had to pay for the footage though.
bungalistic