Sydney Opera House and Three Drunk Monkeys recreate an iconic song for an iconic building
Sydney-based creative agency Three Drunk Monkeys has teamed up with
Sydney Opera House (SOH) to create a stunning music project that invites
the world inside the iconic building and positions 'The House' as a
contemporary cultural hub.
Set to a reworking of Nick Cave's immortal ballad, 'The Ship Song', the
film and song release features performances by some of Australia and the
world's preeminent artists including Neil Finn, Kev Carmody, Sarah
Blasko, Angus and Julia Stone, Paul Kelly, Temper Trap, Martha
Wainwright, Katie Noonan and Daniel Johns.
The
following SOH resident companies also appear - Sydney Symphony
Orchestra, Teddy Tahu-Rhodes with Opera Australia, The Australian
Ballet, Bangarra Dance Company, Bell Shakespeare founder and director
John Bell, Richard Tognetti and The Australian Chamber Orchestra.SOH is one of the world's most recognizable buildings and a UNESCO world heritage site. The brief was to open the doors of the building to all and showcase the broad range of artists and performers who create works of wonder regularly inside the famous sails. Substantial developments in the diversity and depth of programming substantiate the role of SOH as an accessible cultural hub for Sydneysiders, domestic and global audiences.
Award-winning director Paul Goldman, who has created music videos for artists such as Kylie Minogue, Silverchair and Nick Cave, shot the project over a 10-month period and it takes viewers on a beautiful, voyeuristic journey through the venue'rehearsal rooms and backstage chasms of the House while capturing each artist in an intimate performance of the same song before his or her evening show. Some are in final rehearsal, some in a quiet moment of reflection.
The
music video will be shared on YouTube, social media channels and
traditional broadcast, while composer Elliot Wheeler's outstanding new
arrangement of 'The Ship Song' will be released on I-tunes and other
selected channels today - July 26.
Says the Monkey's creative director Noah Regan: "This project has been a
true labour of love. Throughout the process two things drove everybody
involved; their deep love of The House and everything it stands for and a
passion for the beautiful Nick Cave song and how fitting it is for this
concept. We feel we've created something every Australian can be proud
of and share and the world can appreciate."
Says Sydney Opera House director marketing and communications Victoria
Doidge: "We set out to create a piece of content that would celebrate
the House's role in the global creative community and as an icon for
Australia. Our content strategy aims to democratise the creative
experience for as wide an audience as possible no matter where they are -
in doing so we take performances beyond the confines of our stages to
be enjoyed online, mobile or watching television. The calibre of the
artists who volunteered in this project is testament to the House's
special place in our national psyche. We couldn't be happier with this
beautiful interpretation of one of Australia's most beloved love songs".
In addition to this, documentary maker Greg Appel who filmed classic
Australian documentaries "Long way to the top" and "Bombora" has
directed a 30 minute documentary featuring behind the scenes interviews
with the artists, residents and creators of The Ship Song project, to be
screened this month on FOXTEL. The story is narrated by Australian actor, Guy Pearce.
The
Ship Song Project is a love song tribute to Sydney Opera House's place
in Australia's cultural fabric. It is a celebration of the artists,
architecture and interior workings of this building which has arguably
the world's most famous exterior. It is also a call to arms to the
community at large to come and experience 'The House', to come and 'make
a little history' with the artists and performers that inhabit the
iconic landmark.
THE SHIP SONG PROJECT
FILM
Executive Creative Director: Justin Drape/Scott Nowell
Creative Director: Justin Drape/Noah Regan
Art Director: Noah Regan
Copywriter: Noah Regan
Copywriter: Simone Louis
Head of Broadcast: Thea Carone
Production Co-ordinator: Lauren O'Shea
Group Account Director: Dan Beaumont
Content Director: Suzy Coman
Content Manager: Kate Behne
Director: Paul Goldman
Production Company: Exit Films
Producer: Caroline David
Music Director and Arranger: Elliott Wheeler
Music Producer: Emma Hoy
Music: Turning Studios
Editor: David Gross
Definition Films
Head of Marketing, Performing Arts SOH: Stephen O'Connor:
Director, Marketing, Communications and Customer Services SOH: Victoria Doidge
PRINT
Executive Creative Director: Justin Drape/Scott Nowell
Creative Director: Justin Drape/Noah Regan
Art Director: Noah Regan
Copywriter: Noah Regan
Designer: Mike Witcombe
Art Buyer: Alice Quiddington
Group Account Director: Dan Beaumont
Content Director: Suzy Coman
Content Manager: Kate Behne
Photographer: Simon Harsent
Retouching: Cream
Producer: Cameron Gray
Head of Marketing, Performing Arts SOH: Stephen O'Connor:
Director, Marketing, Communications and Customer Services SOH: Victoria Doidge
Beautiful work Mon.
Awesome. Gave me goosebumps.