Over the last 18 months a group of people in the West Midlands (United Kingdom) have got together to produce a music video for singer songwriter Nick J Townsend’s underground act WEAK13. Their collective aim is to enter it in all the major music video and film competitions around the world to show off their work as film and music makers and to win the recognition of their work with awards, which are sure to follow.

Nick J Townsend

Producer Craig Leonard and director Chris Stone with Nick J.Townsend on machine gun tower

Craig Leonard, Producer and actor, from Kidderminster (UK), Chris Stone, Award winning Film Director, from Staffordshire (UK), and Nick J. Townsend, singer and songwriter aka WEAK13, from Stourbridge (UK), came up with the idea of working together after a chance meeting in a cafe to make a video together.

After settling on a World War One theme, Nick put forward the most suitable track he had to meet the chaos of the film and the action involved. Craig Leonard then spent 12 months building the Trench set in a field in Kidderminster (UK) by hand, and recruiting people from the midlands and in the world of Historical re-enacting in the midlands to take part in it.

Filming was done over several weekends, in the most extreme weather

Filming was done over several weekends, in the most extreme weathers, over the winter months to maintain the realism. Everyone gave their free time to produce an outstanding film to show what could be done on a very limited budget by a group of professional enthusiasts from their respected fields. To put a value on this project, for another well known band to achieve the same results it would cost in the region of £250,000.

The music video ‘WAKE DOWN’ can currently be seen on YouTube as well as on the WEAK13 Official fan site and is about to be sent to film festivals around the world. The stunning special effects, realistic acting, wonderful art direction and powerful soundtrack have already got the attention of many. WEAK13′s WAKE DOWN music video made its debut at the NEC Memorabilia show in Birmingham and amazed everyone in attendance.

BEHIND THE SCENES

The realistic WorldWar 1 look has been achieved thanks to an English company ‘Props resources dept’ which is directed by Craig Leonard.

Props resources dept info:

Craig Leonard realized that many other companies could use his skill, so the name props resources dept was formed

The company was originally started 26 years ago, but the name was only used for the last three years. The props dept was formed to dispose of or hire out ex film props. This soon expanded into wardrobe and equipment. Supplying the BBC with items previously sold via auctions, Craig Leonard realized that many other companies could use his skill, so the name props resources dept was formed.

Working directly as an actor, supporting artist or behind the scenes, the company came with a high reputation as a leading new source to the filming industry. Later the casting resources was formed to supply film extras as well as clothing and props.

The company and its divisions were involved with projects such as Atonement, the new Hovis bread advert, Turpin, Nottingham staring Russell Crowe and the latest Harry potter film due for release. It was the sudden death of a friend of Nick J.Townsend which inspired the new WEAK13 rock video to be shot, Chris Bowel (R.I.P.) who was also a big WEAK13 fan had a big hobby which was dressing up for re-enactment groups. Nick wanted to show his love for his friend by making sure his next music video (Wake Down) featured a lot of his friends re-enactment group members and friends.

Nick J. Townsend fronts this meaningful portray of despair set in the horrific events of the great war. The entire set was specifically built for this rock video, with all props costumes and extras done by Craig’s company.

With top London photographer Martin Brent and Midland-based 2nd photographer Mark H.Roberts, special effects by Matt Harley and directed by top director Chris Stone the scenes truly look shocking. The trench took nearly 12 months to weather in for the look sought before filming could even start. The set is also due to be used for a forth coming 30 minute short film due for filming in summer 2010.

Chris Stone (Director)

Chris Stone, Award winning Film Director, from Staffordshire (UK) with Martin Brent

Film maker gearing up to direct WEAK13′s sixth music video.
Previous projects include music videos for ‘The Black Apples’ and ‘The Cameleonz’. Director of short film ‘His Name Was Ben’
BEST NEW WRITING (Buxton Festival Fringe 2006)
BEST INTERNATIONAL DIRECTOR (LA Film Festival),
BEST DIRECTOR, BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY, BEST SOUND DESIGN (Young Independent Film & Television Awards)

Craig Leonard (Set design/Props/wardrobe)

Director of ‘prop resources dept.’ and ‘casting resources dept.’ supplying actors extras wardrobe and props to the film industry. Responsible for the costumes, set and the realistic look to the music video which is set in 1917 WW1. Over the years, Craig and CRD have been apart of some spectacular productions, which include ‘Saving Private Ryan’, ‘Atonement’, ‘Sharpe’ (tv series) and Band of Brothers – Spooks (tv series). The Props Resource Department has been supplying the TV and Film industry with Props, Weapons and Scenery for over 20 years.

Matt Harley (Special effects)

Trinity Pyrotechnics Ltd provide firework displays, SFX for film/TV and music videos. Plus a huge number of different battlefield simulation effects. We are based in the Midlands UK, therefore idealy placed to cover the whole nation.

Photography

All photos in this article provided with permission by Mark H.Roberts http://www.mhrobertsphotography.com/

WEAK13 fans have their say about the MW2 PS3 map pack by producing their very own Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Wake Down Video and not any sexy girls kissing anywhere!

This Video was made with the song WAKE DOWN used with permission of WEAK13.

Enjoy!

WEAK13 fans in 3 continents have boycotted the YouTube version of the new music video for WEAK13′s new single WAKE DOWN due to the producers decision to change the name of the YouTube title to advertise the latest Sony PlayStation game ‘Mission of war 2′ (CORRECTION May 9th: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2).

We at the official WEAK13 fansite have contacted Nick J.Townsend (aka WEAK13) why this had happened and he gave us the following statement:

“The producer Craig Leonard ordered the filmmaker Chris Stone to change the title. I won’t be talking to them again till they change it back to WEAK13 – WAKE DOWN and keep it as that title. It’s an insult to me, to all the WEAK13 fans around the world and to all my friends and family who have been totally supportive towards this music video. I won’t support them in any way till they reverse their unprofessional actions”
Quote: Nick J.Townsend (May 1st 2010)

Australian DJ ‘DP110′ who has remixed the classic Weak13 – DNA (DP110 RNA Reconstruction) has also shown his anger about the decision and shows his support for English rock star Nick J.Townsend. “What they have done is a disgrace and I’m sure news of this will soon spread around the industry”.

We also talked to a US based media venture who are friends and fans of WEAK13 and asked for their thoughts on the whole affair:

“The WEAK13 Wake Down video is very well done. We do not understand why a professional director would condone this. When we are working on medium and high budget music videos, we simply do our best and if it works – great… if it doesn’t, then we move on”
Quote: Neverever Records (May 2nd 2010)

The Video’s to ‘D.N.A.‘ (directed by Thomas Lee Rutter), ‘LunaTic‘ and ‘Prouder Than U 2‘ (Both directed by Martyn Kilvert) are totally approved by WEAK13 fans and Nick J.Townsend.

The ‘Wake Down’ and ‘Lunatic’ single by WEAK13 are available on Red Monster Records, iTunes, Amazon and emusic.

UPDATE May 8th: The title of the WEAK13 Wake Down YouTube video has again been changed to a more suitable ‘WW1 trench warfare music video for Weak13 Wake Down by Stoke-On-Trent director Chris Stone’ although the descriptive tags still contain things like ‘modern warfare mappack’, ‘chameleon’, ‘sexy girls kissing’, ‘robbie williams’, ‘harry potter’ and ‘james bond’ in a feeble bid to get more views.

UPDATE May 21st: The dust has settled and differences have been resolved – we have been asked to post a more positive WAKE DOWN – WRITE UP – we will link here when published!

UPDATE June 4th: Read the Wake Down – Write Up here.

Nick Townsend is due to release an epic acoustic track entitled ‘LunaTic’ on iTunes in January 2010 from Red Monster Records.
The video was released on YouTube only hours ago as a Christmas gift to all WEAK13 fans and has been pieced together on ZERO budget while being shot in a single day and directed by Martyn Kilvert.

Nick commented on his methods of music videos:

Just trying my best to make video and music work as best together as possible, been trying to make more story based simple ideas for videos these days, i think if you have a theme to work with it’ll work better!

Happy (WEAK13) xmas!

Two new WEAK13 tracks have been recorded for the forthcoming WEAK13 album ‘A WORLD IN EXILE’ and have been premiered on Myspace before the album release.

‘MY LAST PARTNER’ (featuring session Weak13 drummer Ben Newey)

“Probably WEAK13′s most unexpected song yet! Radio friendly and likely to be a Radio hit for real. No swearing, just pure tune. Nick J.Townsend gives us his soul!”

- Independent Review 2009

‘WAKEDOWN’

“WEAK13 doing what it does best. Everything about this song is just manic. To hear music run amok is a rare thing but this is just sheer terror with melody”

- Independent Review 2009

Both tracks are mastered and engineered by ‘Crazy Mule’ from Stourbridge England.
HEAR BOTH TRACKS ONLY ON MYSPACE FOR A LIMITED TIME!