Award-Winning Music Video for Dead Mens Tongues

We are proud to announce the music video shot and edited for New Jersey metal band Dead Mens Tongues received a Silver Addy Award at this year's American Advertising Awards.

Recognition like this is always appreciated, especially for a project that stayed true to its original vision from day one. Rather than chasing polished perfection or relying on elaborate post-production, the goal was to create something that felt visceral, energetic, and authentic to the band's sound. Every creative decision - from the lighting to the camera work to the practical in-camera effects - was made to support that raw aesthetic.

Behind the Scenes: Keeping It Raw

The reflective and ghosting effects were all created practically by moving a piece of broken glass in front of the lens during filming. The video was shot on the Leica SL3 with a 50mm lens, all in manual focus. An Aputure LS 600x Pro with a 35-inch dome served as the primary rim light from camera left, while a pair of Profoto B2s with zoom reflectors helped fill in some shadows while keeping the mood intact. Overhead shots were captured with a DJI Mavic 4 Pro to add another perspective to the performance.

The entire video was filmed at Test Your Metal in Easton, Pennsylvania, using their large turf training space as the set. We shot in the middle of July with no air conditioning, so the heat became part of the experience. The sweat and intensity on screen are completely real... especially after making the band run through a dozen takes.

This was a blast to work on from start to finish. Loud, messy, sweaty, and exactly how a metal video should be.