C.B. Miller & Mark Seliger for Avicii

Co-directors Mark Seliger and Whitehouse Post editor Barney Miller, under his directing alias C.B. Miller, have co-directed the new video “Wake Me Up” for Swedish electronic superstar Avicii.
 

C.B. Miller and Vanity Fair photographer Mark Seliger have worked together for over a decade, with Miller cutting Seliger’s celebrated music videos for the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Elvis Costello, and Gillian Welch, among others.  The editor’s transition into the directing chair came a few years ago, eventually leading Miller to helm four episodes of Mark Seliger's Emmy-nominated photography web show Capture. The progression to helming a project in tandem was a natural one, with each having a clear understanding of one another’s creative vision.   

 

 
Avicii (real name Tim Berg) and his manager Ash Ponuri conceived the original storyline for the “Wake Me Up” mini-movie, about sisters rendered outcasts in a backwards town. Shot over the course of two days, Miller took on the role of sketching out the storyboard. Miller oversaw the narrative thread using Mark’s ideas on the major visual aspects of each shot, as he does when shooting the world’s most high-profile magazine covers. DP Marcus Bennent helped to capture the action in a filmic way, navigating the set’s challenges and lensing beautiful frames among a variety of backdrops. The result is a visually stunning piece that directly ties the journey of the characters to the energy of Aviccii’s live performance. On becoming a tight directorial team with the project, Miller says, “Mark's great to work with because he knows what he wants, but he's a true collaborator and really wants the best idea to win.”
 

On set was the added presence of Avicii’s relationship with Ralph Lauren as brand ambassador of the label. Avoiding the usual out-of-place product placement, the video unfolds as a co-sponsored showpiece of both Avicii's music and the Ralph Lauren Denim & Supply line, while staying true to the story being told.

 
Miller revisited the footage in his editing suite at Whitehouse Post as Barney Miller; a seamless process, having already been familiar with the scenes from his role behind the lens. Company 3’s Tom Poole, colorist of Drive featuring Ryan Gosling, added what Miller calls, “His Midas touch, which really glued the whole thing together.” David Steinberg at Shout It Out Loud studios mixed the dialogue sections with the music for the final touch.
 

Avicii’s “Wake Me Up” is steadily climbing the US and European charts, with plenty of buzz surrounding the track for the EDM powerhouse’s departure to a more rock-influenced sound.  With an equally exciting video to accompany the song’s success, C.B. Miller says he couldn’t be happier with what Mark Selinger and he have created together, “I'm really excited to be a part of such a huge event.”

Credits

Production Company: Totally LA Productions
Director: Mark Seliger, C.B. Miller (Barney Miller)
Producer: Monica Monique
DP: Marcus Burnett
Production Designer: Andy Henbest & Stephanie Mace
Editorial Company: Whitehouse Post
Editorial Co. Location: New York
Editor: Barney Miller
Editorial Company EP: Lauren Hertzberg
Producer: Nick Crane
Assistant Editor: Matt Schaff
 

Flame Artist (freelance): Simon Chan
 

Telecine Company: Co.3
Colorist: Tom Poole
Telecine Producer: Bernice Veloz

Composer: Avicii
 

Audio Production Company: Shout It Out Loud Music
Audio Production Company Location: New York
Mixer: David Steinberg