This episode of Boing Boing Video is brought to you by http://www.wepc.com/.
Director Craig Brewer (Hustle and Flow , Black Snake Moan ) talks to us about his latest project — the MTV online series $5 Cover, which chronicles the internet-age lives and dreams of struggling musicians in Memphis, Tennessee.
$5 Cover is described as “a rough-and-tumble show set in the clubs, bars, and all-night cafes of present-day Memphis,” and follows “young musicians as they fight for love, inspiration, and money to pay the rent.”
These are real people, but this is not reality schlock.
When I first saw clips of the series in production during a visit to the MTV offices, I knew it was going to be great. I grew up on MTV as a teen, but am not generally a fan of MTV’s current on-air programming. I’ve felt for some time like the network no longer produced stuff I’d find interesting.
But this is different. Maybe part of what allowed something this authentic and engaging to incubate at MTV is the fact that this is primarily an online series.
And then there’s the fact that Brewer is at the helm. I’m a big fan of his big-screen work, and he clearly loves the stories at the heart of $5 Cover — the lives and art of musicians who are his own community, in Memphis.
Boing Boing asked Brewer how the internet is changing what it means to be an independent artist, and how technology is changing the nature of what “local music” means. He talks to us about why he created the show, how this is different than directing for film or television, and why all of this matters so much to him.
When MTV sent us a DVD of the completed episodes, Boing Boing Video’s editor and I watched them all, back to back, and then vowed to buy some of the music online. I’m not kidding, it’s that great. We went particularly nuts about Amy Lavere, an artist featured in the first part of the Boing Boing Video episode. She’s from Memphis, by way of TX and Louisiana. Al Kapone was another personal fave.
- XJ
Boing Boing Video post: http://www.boingboing.net/2009/05/12/bb-video—5-cover-c.html
Five Dollar Cover online: http://www.mtv.com/fivedollarcover/
Duration : 0:7:38
[youtube HbcXqYHXzoQ]
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
This n That by Muck …
This n That by Muck Sticky
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
amy lavere i think …
amy lavere i think is the name
search her + $5 cover and you’ll see the one about her
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
what is the song in …
what is the song in th episode with muck sticky, when the girl is on stage….where the song starts at 3:20 on this video???
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Hi I came across …
Hi I came across this interview via the Episode 10 to hot to handle for MTV. Love the ethos and hope to see the European versions you mention get made online.
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
who was that first …
who was that first band that played?
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
The best music out …
The best music out there is sometimes the local bands around your town. I know we have some great local bands that have made it huge from here. like ‘The Matches’ and ‘train’ sad to see them split. Oh and ‘Counting Crows’ awesome music.
I definitely look forward to seeing this show.
by the way if anyone want to check out my videos. wouldn’t hurt. teehee
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Way back in 1894, a …
Way back in 1894, a little girl named Madeline Crothe was skipping through the woods when a mysterious man in black snatched her. He brought her to his house, tourtered her, and starved her to death. Send this to 6 videos in the next 30 min. and you will be safe, but if you don’t… at approximately 1: 34 tonight you will wake up to see an aneorexic child holding a bloodied up knife and she will kill you
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
1.Cubra sua boca …
1.Cubra sua boca com a mão
2. Faça um desejo
3.Feche sua mão (punho)
4.Ponha sua mão no coração durante 5 segundos
5. Envie isto para mais 3 vídeos
6. Amanhã vai ser o melhor dia da sua vida
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
SORRY SOME ONE SENT …
SORRY SOME ONE SENT THIS TO ME AND IT SCARED ME SO I HAD TO DO IT PLZ FORGIVE ME BUT IM SCARED OF WHAT IT SEES in 1908 a lady named sally rusa was in the woods looking for a dog until a ghost came and killed her so if ur reading this u will find a bloody body in your closet hanging there haunting you and will kill you and ur family and if u want to stop this just sends this to 6 videos in 30 mins or this will happen good luck
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
porfavor no lea …
porfavor no lea esto (me obligaron)
el 13 de octubre de 1991
un niño llamado nick se tiro de un puente devido a problemas familiares
si ya leiste esto deves copiar y pegar
en otros 5 videos mas o si no
nick vendra por toda tu familia
haslo o moriran porfavor hasme caso
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
wish it was a full …
wish it was a full 30 minute show
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
very very good
very very good
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
have so had that …
have so had that whole Goku forgot the saiyans were coming Oh-crap moment before, in real life it’s not that funny Is this the first o second time the ricola dude got attacked?? Now his genuis show’s up where was it for his training (to Gohan).
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
well i know it’s a …
well i know it’s a series but it was shown here in memphis all together in the theater as a movie.
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
this is actually a …
this is actually a great movie. it depicts the memphis music scene on point. i love it.
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Search “Happy Rob …
Search “Happy Rob Buy” by google ,and you will find amazing.
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
So in other words …
So in other words another stupid reality show. MTV.
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
Search “Happy Rob …
Search “Happy Rob Buy” by google ,and you will find amazing.
January 30th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
The actor that …
The actor that speaks at 2:13 is one of my favorite from Hustle and Flow. Dude is straight up from the south. Reminds me of people fresh out of the hoods in East Texas or here in Houston. He brings a raw feel to these projects.
Tieuel Legacy! aka DDAd…Filmmaker