OK Go and Extravagant DIY Music Videos
OK Go has a reputation for creating elaborately choreographed, one take videos requiring dozens of behind the scenes helpers, and sometimes even dogs. Their videos, often set in empty warehouses, with a DIY aesthetic seem almost seem more like elaborate school projects than music videos. They prominently feature fun, collaboration and inventiveness. I am always surprised by what OK Go comes up with, and I would probably watch their videos even if I didn’t particularly care for their music. However, my all time favourite is probably the Writing On the Wall, for it’s extraordinarily executed and widely diverse uses of supergraphics.
Wait, what are Supergraphics?
According to Wiktionary, Super Graphics are “Big graphics that are applied with colors, usually in geometric shapes, over walls or floors and ceilings to make the illusion of altered space.” I like to think of them as large graphics applied in three dimensional space that take advantage of how we see things in perspective in order to create optical illusions. I would also argue that the graphics don’t have to be applied with paint on to walls, ceilings and floors, but can also be created using 3d objects, as many of the graphics in The Writing on the Wall are. The most common type of supergraphic is probably sidewalk paintings, often creating the illusion of a gaping hole.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″]
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What’s special about these Supergraphics?
Supergraphics are usually observed in person or through photographs (an example of both these sidewalk chalk masterpieces). OK Go has accomplished something incredible by creating an environment chalk full of these illusions, which is then navigated through the video. This requires a huge amount of coordination, teamwork and practice to execute, especially considering that the video is also filmed in a single shot. The effort is well worth it when the final result is considered. The video is not only entertaining, but makes you think about we perceive perspective and the way our brains can leap to incorrect conclusions when it comes to vision. This is achieved by first creating, and then subsequently breaking, the illusions, something that photography isn’t capable of doing effectively.
This reminds us, seeing needn’t always be believing.
How are Supergraphics made?
Supergraphics are most often made by using projectors to project the graphic into a 3D space or collection of objects. Then the shapes can be painted or traced easily. The placement of the projector is very important, for the final image will only look correct to someone looking from that same vantage point. To learn more about how the OK Go video specifically was made, check out the behind the scenes video on the left.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]