Alumni Spotlight
Chris Marrs Piliero, 2001
BFA Film & Television
Founder, Marrs Attacks Video Production Company
www.marrsattacks.com
There was no speech to be made, no sitting in anticipation as the nominees were announced, or running up to the stage hi-fiving celebs along the way. Instead, alum Chris Marrs found out his music video “Tighten Up” by The Black Keys won the 2010 VMA Breakthrough Video through a google search on a cell phone at an after party. “MTV had announced it online during the show, but seeing as my phone was dead, I never got everyone's calls, texts and emails letting me know the video had won,” says Marrs. “I started screaming and running around in circles… I was shocked and super stoked.”
It seems his decision to start his own production company after graduation has paid off. He got connected to Warner Bros. Records after shooting some concerts and behind the scenes videos for bands signed with the label. His work was noticed and he spent the next three years shooting documentaries for them, and then moved into directing music videos and commercial spots.
“Music videos are shot very fast with usually not a whole lot of prep time, so it's definitely a much different experience than working on films.”
What decision led you to opening up your own production company? How did you start your company?
I've always been a very entrepreneurial type person and enjoy being my own boss, so it was kind of natural for me to go the route of starting my own production company. I'm kind of a control freak when it comes to my work… I saved up a bunch of money and my dad gave me a little bit as well. With that, I was able to buy a couple of cameras, sound equipment, lights and computers and got cracking at it. I started off shooting weddings and then I filmed a couple of concerts and behind the scenes for a few bands on Warner Bros.Records. The record label dug my work and started hitting me up directly. I spent three years doing documentary work for Warner Bros. and then progressed into directing music videos and commercial spots.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love that my job is also my hobby and my passion and that I get paid to do something I love.
How did you connect with The Black Keys? Where did the inspiration come for Tighten Up? How much collaboration was there with the band?
Based on my working relationship with Warner Bros. Records, they asked me to do two starter videos for the band that I created that star a puppet I named Frank the Funkasauras Rex. When it came time for the official video for “Tighten Up,” I wrote a treatments and the band really liked my concept and asked me to direct the video. I wanted to make a music video that starred kids and was charming with a little bit of an edge, inspired by my love of films like The Goonies, The Monster Squad and The Sandlot. The band was really into what I wanted to do, so collaboration was super easy.
How is shooting music videos different than or similar to working on films?
Music videos are shot very fast with usually not a whole lot of prep time, so it's definitely a much different experience than working on films. I'm a big fan of doing a lot of narrative for my music videos, so I mentally treat them like short films, but we're busting them out in one to two days total.
Were you able to attend the MTV music video awards show? How was it? What was your reaction when “Tighten Up” won best video?
Yup, I went to the VMAs. It was a damn good time. For some odd reason, they didn't announce my category at the awards show, so the show ended, and I was still clueless as to whether or not I had won. Instead, MTV had announced it online during the show, but seeing as my phone was dead, I never got everyone's calls, texts and emails letting me know the video had won. It wasn't until I was at an after-party where I asked someone to google it that I saw the good news. I started screaming and running around in circles… I was shocked and super stoked.
Where do you go from here? Future career aspirations?
Well, I'm going to continue making music videos and I want to break into doing commercials on a steady basis. I hope to have my first feature-length film off the ground by the end of next year. And I want to become the world's first singing mime.
How would you describe your experiences at Chapman? What advice would you past down to students pursuing careers in the entertainment industry?
I loved going to Chapman. The film department has grown like a bazillion times over since I was there, so I can only imagine how rad it is to go there now. The thing about Chapman is that it's very hands on. From your freshman year you can start actually filming stuff and that's how you grow and become the filmmaker you want to be.
I would say the best advice would be to build solid relationships with your fellow students so you can have reliable crew to work on your projects after you graduate. And don't spend a ridiculous amount of money on your senior project because there's still so much growth to be done. Pay attention in cinematography class. Even if you just want to be a director, it's still a very important field to understand.