Tim Halperin approached us about directing a music video for a new song he was about to release, “She Runs”, and mentioned he only had $500 — challenge accepted.

I leaned into the fact that we had no-budget and came up with the idea of a heart-broken Tim performing his song as narration to a school play with a DIY look as though it was created by kids (cardboard, found items, messy, slapped together)…and it would be one continuous shot. The team as on board and we jumped into the work.

It took 3 days to build all of the stages using donated scraps of wood & other items with a team of about 10 people. We had 1 day to choreograph & shoot with a cast of crew of about 40 people. It was the height of a sweltering Texas summer We did something like 14 takes and this was the second to last one — made during the height of a sweltering Texas summer. Rolling set moves, multiple wardrobe changes, lots of moving people, so much happening.

After the video was complete I knew we needed coverage to amplify the video, so I reached out to dozens of publications and sites pitching the story of this “one take music video made for $500”. It worked.

The video was viewed nearly 100,000 times in 24 hours — amazing for a then-unknown new singer/songwriter from Fort Worth, TX…in 2010 — and I was able to get it featured on sites including Mic.com, Cinema5D, Vulture, NY Mag, No Film School, Planet5D, Dallas Observer, Peta Pixel, CineD, Laughing Squid and more.

Not long after we released this music video, Tim sent an audition tape to “American Idol”, was called to Hollywood to audition, nailed it, became a contestant on the show and then went on to make it to the Top 12 — check out his TV debut & AI audition! While on the show he sang an original song “The Last Song” and when he returned to Texas we created a music video for it.

Peek Behind the Scenes

Here’s a clip captured during one of the takes. There was so much happening.

CREDITS

• Musician: Tim Halperin

• Director, Editor: Joe Childress

• Director, DP: Jonathan Combs