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Paul McCartney 'Early Days' by Vincent Haycock

David Knight - 10th July 2014

Sir Paul's reflections on the start of his relationship with John Lennon gets a thankfully non-literal but parallel interpretation by Vincent Haycock in the video for Early Days.

It captures the energy, excitement and vibrant creativity of a group of kids getting together to play music and becoming a band. The era is also the same as when McCartney met Lennon - the mid to late 1950s. But Haycock has transposed the story of the origin of The Beatles to the cradle of rock 'n roll, in the Mississippi Delta, where the director spent a month scouting locations.

He directed the performance element with McCartney in Los Angeles, where Sir Paul jammed with a group of veteran blues musicians including Del Atkins, Roy Gaines and Lil' Poochie - plus his pal Johnny Depp, appearing (very briefly) in his third Macca video. But its certainly the dramatic element, beautifully photographed by Evan Prosofsky, that resonates.

“It's a memory song for me, about me and John in the early days," McCartney said in an interview with Rolling Stone. "But Vince came up with this great idea: Instead of having young lookalikes of me and John walking the streets of Liverpool, guitars slung over our backs, and literally acting out the song, what if it was any two aspiring musicians? I thought that was such a cool idea." 

 

VINCENT HAYCOCK:

“Their (Paul & John’s) story at its core is a universal one, two young kids who bond over their passion for music and form a band and friendship. This video is about them, and every band, and every kid who has suffered the ups and downs of starting a band, whether or not they became successful.

"The universality of their story was a big inspiration of setting the film in Mississippi during the 50s. This is a time period that inspired The Beatles – American Rock and Roll and the Mississippi Delta Blues of the 50s. Early Days is about the spirit and inspiration young musicians find in each other."

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David Knight - 10th July 2014

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  • Narrative
  • Performance
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Credits

Production/Creative

Director
Vincent Haycock
Producer
Anna Rau
Producer
Corbett Jones
Production Company
Production Coordinator
Geoff Walker

Camera

Director of Photography
Evan Prosofsky

Art

Production designer
Jay Hougaard
Production designer
Josiah Bultema

Wardrobe

Stylist
Natasha Newman-Thomas

Casting

Casting director
Carmela Makela

Editorial

Editor
Vincent Haycock
Editor
Shane Reid
Editing company
Whitehouse Post

Grading

Colourist
Arnold Ramm
Colour Producer
Jordan Freedman
Colour grade company
Ntropic

Commission

Commissioner
Paul McKee

Other credits

LOS ANGELES CREW:

1st AD

Aaron Paulson

2nd AD

Chris Gonzalez

Steadicam

Ari Robbins

1st AC

David Edsall

2nd AC

Gary Bevans

Loader

Dustin Miller

Gaffer

Robert Lowe

Best Boy

Craig Molsberry

Electric Driver

Juan Barroso

Key Grip

Bodie Hyman

Best Boy

Douglas Blagg

Prop Master

John Bakken

Leadman

Chris Miller

Set Decorator

Mandy Cheng

Painter

Jedediah C Voltz

Wardrobe Assistant

Tatiana Valentin

Hair & Make Up

Lauren Cohen

Hair & Make Up

Joel Harlow

VTR

Dave Schmalz

Sound Mixer

Durand Trench

Assistant Sound Mixer

Kent Vederico

Audio Playback

Justine Marine

Location Manager

Jonathan Lynch

Craft Services

Adam Berman

Production Assistant

Ben Westley

Production Assistant

Garret Ives

Production Assistant

Raphael Xexeo

Production Assistant

Bart Taylor

Production Assistant

Damien Lang

Production Assistant

Marcus Huerta

MISSISSIPPI CREW:

1st AD

Johnny Radcliff

Steadicam

Ari Robbins

1st AC

Mike Valentine

2nd AC

Alicia Fischmeister

Gaffer

Mike McLaughlin

Key Grip

Gilly Charbonnett

Art Director

Everette Eglin

Prop Master

Will Eastin

Set Dresser

Keith Wall

Car Wrangler

Blane Bernard

Hair & Make Up

Tenia Hill

Local Production Support

Sally Durkin

Production Assistant

Andrew Baker

Production Assistant

Adam Sherman

David Knight - 10th July 2014

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