Banned NZ music video is big winner at awards

November 28, 2008

Banned NZ music video is big winner at awards

It was the first music video banned by state broadcaster TVNZ since 1987 but that didn't stop filmmakers The Downlow Concept from emerging victorious at the nationwide music video competition Handle the Jandal.

The winners of the prestigious Golden Jandals at the 2008 Radio Active 89FM Handle the Jandal DIY music video competition were announced at a lavish awards party in Wellington last night.

The overall winner went to Auckland's The Downlow Concept, directors of a controversial video for The Hot Grits song Headlights. That video, featuring children drinking milk as if it was hard liquor, was reportedly banned by TVNZ for exploiting children. Unsurprisingly, that video also won the category award for Best Exploitative Tactics.

Radio Active 89FM's Handle the Jandal is the annual competition for Do-It-Yourself New Zealand filmmakers to create music videos for local bands and artists. All videos must be completely self-funded and may only use New Zealand music. This year, 122 entries were received, of which 15 were selected as finalists.

The category winners for the 2008 Handle the Jandal DIY Music Video Awards were: (Director's name, Band, Song)

Best Use of Exploitative Tactics to Promote A Band: The Downlow Concept: The Hot Grits, Headlights

Best Editing: Curtis Baigent: The Bonnie Scarlets, It's Getting Me Down

Best Cinematography: Logan McMillan: Flip Grater, Ring Around The Rosie

Best Concept: Daniel Alexander Fowler: Denmark Street, Will You?

Best Animation: Marco Vidaurre: The Ruby Suns, Tane Mahuta

Rising Star: Daniel Alexander Fowler: Denmark Street, Will You?

And the 'Golden Jandal' for People's Favourites:

2nd Runner up: Curtis Baigent: The Bonnie Scarlets, It's Getting Me Down

1st Runner up: Ben Forman/Judah Finnigan: Deep Sea Regret, So Far So Good

The Golden Jandal: The Downlow Concept: The Hot Grits, Headlights

Event director Hadden Morrison said this year's event continued the legacy of creative craziness and 'number-8 weirdness' set from previous Handle the Jandal events. "Many heeded the call, but only the strongest few were chosen," he said. "In many cases these videos were shot on a shoestring budget but made with the most fertile minds imaginable.

"For the filmmakers of tomorrow, the Handle the Jandal is an important step in their career. It was thrilling to help get these videos, from the awful to the sublime, to the big screen where they will probably never be shown again.

"And if their career hits the skidmarks, at least they can be proud to have fought and possibly won a most magnificent prize: The Golden Jandal. It kind-of looks like an Oscar, you know?"

ends

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