Bradley Beesley
Encyclopedia
Bradley Beesley is an American
independent
film
and video
director
, producer
and cinematographer
. He has long been associated with the alternative music band, The Flaming Lips
.
Beesley first worked with The Flaming Lips filming some promotional videos for the band's album Hit to Death in the Future Head
. Most of Beesley's video work with the band is included on the VOID
video retrospective.
Aside from his work with The Flaming Lips, Beesley has directed a number of award-winning documentaries. His first was 1999's "Hill Stomp Hollar", a one-hour film about the Fat Possum
record label and many of the blues
artists, particularly R. L. Burnside
.
Beesley's next film Okie Noodling
(2001) focused on the unusual practice of catching catfish
using only the bare hand as bait. It featured an original soundtrack by The Flaming Lips and won the Audience Choice Award and was runner-up for Best Documentary at the 2001 South by Southwest
film festival.
In 2005, Beesley released the documentary The Fearless Freaks: The Wondrously Improbable Story of The Flaming Lips. Critics said the film offered an unusually personal and intimate view into the band.
The Flaming Lips also provided the soundtrack for the documentary that Beesley produced and co-directed, Summercamp!, which opened July 18, 2007.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
independent
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
and video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
director
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
and cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
. He has long been associated with the alternative music band, The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips
The Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
.
Beesley first worked with The Flaming Lips filming some promotional videos for the band's album Hit to Death in the Future Head
Hit to Death in the Future Head
-Personnel:* Wayne Coyne - guitar, vocals* Michael Ivins - bass* Jonathan Donahue - guitar* Nathan Roberts - drums...
. Most of Beesley's video work with the band is included on the VOID
VOID (DVD)
VOID is a 5.1 surround sound DVD by The Flaming Lips released on August 23, 2005.It contains new commentary by the band and nineteen music videos made by the band throughout their musical career.-Track listing:# "Mr...
video retrospective.
Aside from his work with The Flaming Lips, Beesley has directed a number of award-winning documentaries. His first was 1999's "Hill Stomp Hollar", a one-hour film about the Fat Possum
Fat Possum Records
Fat Possum Records is an American independent record label based in Oxford, Mississippi. At first Fat Possum focused almost entirely on recording hitherto unknown Mississippi blues artists . Recently, Fat Possum has signed younger rock acts to its roster...
record label and many of the blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
artists, particularly R. L. Burnside
R. L. Burnside
Not to be confused with R. H. Burnside, stage director.R. L. Burnside , born Robert Lee Burnside, was an American blues singer, songwriter, and guitarist who lived much of his life in and around Holly Springs, Mississippi. He played music for much of his life, but did not receive much attention...
.
Beesley's next film Okie Noodling
Okie Noodling
Okie Noodling is a 2001 documentary examining the practice of handfishing in rural Oklahoma.-Premise:As much about the subculture surrounding handfishing, the film documents this practice of wading in murky water and sticking your hand into dark holes hoping a plus catfish will latch onto your...
(2001) focused on the unusual practice of catching catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
using only the bare hand as bait. It featured an original soundtrack by The Flaming Lips and won the Audience Choice Award and was runner-up for Best Documentary at the 2001 South by Southwest
South by Southwest
South by Southwest is an Austin, Texas based company dedicated to planning conferences, trade shows, festivals and other events. Their current roster of annual events include: SXSW Music, SXSW Film, SXSW Interactive, SXSWedu, and SXSWeco and take place every spring in Austin, Texas, United States...
film festival.
In 2005, Beesley released the documentary The Fearless Freaks: The Wondrously Improbable Story of The Flaming Lips. Critics said the film offered an unusually personal and intimate view into the band.
The Flaming Lips also provided the soundtrack for the documentary that Beesley produced and co-directed, Summercamp!, which opened July 18, 2007.
Filmography
- Sweethearts of the Prison Rodeo (2009) - Director, co-producer, co-camera
- Christmas on MarsChristmas on MarsChristmas on Mars is a science fiction feature film from the Oklahoma psychedelic alternative rock band The Flaming Lips, written and directed by the band's frontman, Wayne Coyne and featuring the entire band in the cast, as well as many of their associates, including Steve Burns, Adam Goldberg,...
(2008) - Cinematographer and narrator - Summercamp! (2007) - Producer and co-director (with Sarah PriceSarah PriceThis article is about the swimmer. For the filmmaker see Sarah Price Sarah Price is a former backstroke swimmer from the United Kingdom. She began her swimming career at the Potters Bar club, and turned professional aged fifteen. She set her first British record in 1997 in the 50 m backstroke...
) - UFOs at the Zoo: The Flaming Lips Live in Oklahoma City - Co-director
- Roller Girls (2006) - Co-director (with Dan BrownDan BrownDan Brown is an American author of thriller fiction, best known for the 2003 bestselling novel, The Da Vinci Code. Brown's novels, which are treasure hunts set in a 24-hour time period, feature the recurring themes of cryptography, keys, symbols, codes, and conspiracy theories...
, Tina Gazzerro, and Mark Miks - The Fearless Freaks (2005) - Director
- Okie NoodlingOkie NoodlingOkie Noodling is a 2001 documentary examining the practice of handfishing in rural Oklahoma.-Premise:As much about the subculture surrounding handfishing, the film documents this practice of wading in murky water and sticking your hand into dark holes hoping a plus catfish will latch onto your...
(2001) - Producer and director - Hill Stomp Hollar (1999) - Director
Videography
- The Flaming LipsThe Flaming LipsThe Flaming Lips are an American alternative rock band, formed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma in 1983.Melodically, their sound contains lush, multi-layered, psychedelic rock arrangements, but lyrically their compositions show elements of space rock, including unusual song and album titles—such as "What...
: "Frogs" (1992) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne - The Flaming Lips: "Turn It On" (1993) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips: "She Don't Use JellyShe Don't Use Jelly"She Don't Use Jelly" is a 1993 song by The Flaming Lips, and is their biggest radio hit to date. The song became popular after being featured on the MTV show Beavis and Butt-head, nearly a year after the album's release. It is still their highest charting single to date "She Don't Use Jelly" is a...
" (1993) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne - The Flaming Lips: "Be My Head" (1994) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips: "Christmas at the Zoo" (1995) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips: "Bad Days" (1995) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips: "When You Smile" (1995) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips: "Waitin' for a Superman" (1999) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips: "Race for the Prize" (1999) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips: "Do You Realize??Do You Realize??"Do You Realize??" is a song by The Flaming Lips, released as the first single from their 2002 album Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. It is widely considered to be one of the group's most accessible and popular songs...
" (2002) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne - The Flaming Lips: "Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, pt. 1" (2002) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips: "Fight Test" (2002) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- Biffy ClyroBiffy ClyroBiffy Clyro are a Scottish rock band from Kilmarnock, comprising Simon Neil , James Johnston and Ben Johnston...
: "My Recovery Injection" (2003) - Biffy Clyro: "Questions and Answers" (2004)
- The Flaming Lips: "SpongeBob & Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy" (2004) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips: "Mr. Ambulance Driver" (2004) - Co-directed with Wayne Coyne
- The Flaming Lips: "The W.A.N.D. (The Will Always Negates Defeat)" (2006)
- Mojave 3Mojave 3Mojave 3 are a British band, consisting of Neil Halstead, Rachel Goswell, Simon Rowe, Alan Forrester, and Ian McCutcheon. Goswell, Halstead and McCutcheon previously played in Thames Valley shoegazing band Slowdive....
: "Breaking the Ice" (2006)