U2’s Bono chose acclaimed director Vincent Haycock of Park Pictures to helm the video for the band’s emotional new single “Song for Someone.” Starring Academy Award-nominee Woody Harrelson, the film viscerally captures the experience of an inmate who is startled by freedom when released from a lengthy prison sentence. “Song For Someone” premiered on the Sundance channel on July 9th.
Known for forging powerful cinematic journeys in videos for the likes of Paul McCartney and Florence and the Machine, Haycock contrasts the inmate’s reflections in his tiny yet familiar cell, with his ‘long walk to freedom’ through a fenced pathway in the open air. Defying stereotypes, Haycock’s prison landscape is one where guards are unimposing family men, and Harrelson the prisoner is not hardened but vulnerable in the face of the unfathomable change that freedom presents. The clip concludes with the inmate being reunited with his grown daughter whom he hasn’t seen since she was a tot, convincingly played by Harrelson’s real life daughter Zoe Harrelson.
“Song for Someone” is a single from U2’s current album Songs of Innocence (Interscope).
Vince explains, “Bono is very respectful of the [directing] process. He was a close collaborator but at the same time let me pursue what I wanted. I did a lot of research and preparation to tell this story in an authentic way, and what I found was that some freed prisoners feel like they can’t survive on the outside. For some it’s harder on the outside than on the inside, because the regimented prison life is so ingrained. With the reunion of the freed father and his estranged daughter, I wanted to explore what these characters would be feeling.”
Haycock shot the video on location in California in two days and edited the video himself. Some of the extras he cast for the prison setting are former prison guards.
Haycock notes that he is excited to be among a new generation of filmmakers at Park Pictures. Prior music video work from Haycock includes award-winning pieces for Florence and the Machine, Raffertie and Calvin Harris, among others.
Credits:
Artist: U2
Title: “Song For Someone”
Production Company: Park Pictures
Director: Vincent Haycock
Executive Producers: Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Mary Ann Marino, Paul McKee, Pete Vitale
Line Producer: Pete Vitale
Supervising Producer: Alex Fisch
Associate Producer (for Maverick): Jesse Peters
UK Agent :: Alexa Haywood
Director of Photography: Steve Annis
Production Designer :: Jay Hougaard
Art Director: Nic Kelley
Editor: Vincent Haycock
Colorist: Arnold Ramm
Sound Designer: Tom Paolantonio / Lime Studios
Sound Mastering: Scott Cedilla
Casting Director: Richard Mento
Telecine from Ntropic
Colorist :: Arnold Ramm
Producer :: Jordan Freedman
Special thanks to: Tracy Harshman