Will + Fox? Dayum

Director's take on the video. He has such respect for Will.

 

WIZ and Will Young have been making music videos together for almost a decade, coming up with exceptional, often surprising work. But now the video for Brave Man is arguably Young's most talked-about video ever. We talked to WIZ about how he distilled the courage of a young transsexual's journey from one gender to another, into a naked walk through the streets of Brighton.

 

How did the idea for the video come about? Were you wary about proposing an idea to Will Young in which he is not a central character?

 

For good or ill, I have a David and Goliath complex. Every day I walk past a LGBT suicide memorial. Every day I walk past the ocean and reminded of the aching Who lyric: "The beach is a place where a man can feel, he's the only soul in the world that's real." I have a transgender friend who I’ve watched successfully navigate their transitioning journey, which I found incredibly inspiring and humbling.

 

Last year I wrote a short film with these and other feelings in mind. Will came to me wanting to make a transgender-themed video, I showed him the script which he loved, and then he improved it. Also of course he brought to the table his emotive song Brave Man. By the way, isn't Will Young one of our truly great British soul voices?

 

 

"I have a transgender friend who I’ve watched successfully navigate their transitioning journey, which I found incredibly inspiring and humbling."

 

Initially Will didn’t want to be in it as he felt his presence would distract, but I insisted knowing that between us (and this comes from mutual trust) we could pitch a performance that was sincere, informed the narrative but without overpowering it.

 

Also it’s important to say that along with Will, his management and Island Records committed 100% to the concept. ‘f*** the Daily Mail!’ was one of the conversations. As I’ve said before to my mind Will in his own way is as provocative and important artist as a Lady Gaga or a Nick Cave.

 

How did you cast your main character – did you cast from the transgender community?

 

We all understood from the beginning that this project needed to be conducted with utmost authenticity and integrity, so there was no question of not using real locations and not casting a trans actor. And this would have been impossible without the authority and collaboration of Fox Fisher, a highly respected trans activist and filmmaker. As soon as Finn the lead guy walked into the casting I knew we were blessed and our aim was true. His inscrutability and inner grace personified the character.

 

"As soon as Finn - the lead guy - walked into the casting I knew we were blessed and our aim was true. His inscrutability and inner grace personified the character."

 

You shot the video in the middle of Brighton. When did you shoot it, and how did you overcome the challenges that came with shooting the idea? And did you have any difficult moments?

 

The biggest challenge is it’s a work of fiction, expressing very real experiences and engaging real people. We wanted to show the defiance of a character as he is met by vulgarity and brutality, resolving with a catharsis. And achieving this unflinchingly yet with sensitivity and without sensationalism was a great responsibility. Will, Fox, producer Scott O’Donnell, excellent commissioner Tamara Brooks, the actor Finn and myself, shared many rigorous meetings discussing the issues at length.

 

Regarding the actual shoot, initially for realism I wanted to shoot on a weekend. The brilliant 1st AD Dan Gibling strongly persuaded me against and we went for a Thursday. However we didn’t know that it was a Fresher’s night, so it was just as heaving and inebriated as any Saturday. Thankfully our robust security helped life from getting to dangerously close to art. Having said that, overall Brighton was very generous and accommodating, something I think pertinently we would have struggled with in London or other cities.

 

The idea of exposing of oneself and then having to face what that brings – embodies the idea of being Brave. Is there any other message that you’d like people to draw from it?

 

It's often unhelpful to spell out one's intentions for a film, as the meaning resides in the viewer and how they react – as well as the risk of reducing complex issues to sound bites. But we’re encouraged with the way the film has modestly stimulated further debate, which along with showing a human story was one of our aims.

 

You’ve recently been working as a theatre director (and won a prize). Is that the first time you’ve worked in live theatre, and did that experience have an impact on how you approached this video?

 

Well, maybe I thought it was time to do some real directing. And it was terrifying as it was exhilarating. No producer to wipe your bottom, no camera or editing to hide behind. But ultimately the principles are the same: a cast, a story and you. And perversely I plan to adapt one of my all time favourite movies (clue: it deals with gangsters and gender fluidity) into a play for the Soho Theatre.

 

http://www.promonews.tv/interviews/walking...brave-man-video

Thanks to Sandra.

 

First radio 2 play of Brave Man. :dance:

 

Brave man now on Graham Norton .

When the song had finished he said next month will is going to do a couple of shows about his favourite r and b .

 

Maybe the radio work he talked about in the Newcastle interview.

Edited October 31, 20159 yr by truly talented

So Capital have played Brave Man.

 

http://comparemyradio.com/tracks/Will_Young/Brave_Man

So Capital have played Brave Man.

 

http://comparemyradio.com/tracks/Will_Young/Brave_Man

 

That's strange, maybe it was in a showbizzy/music news context because of the video? :unsure: can't see them suddenly jumping on board and playlisting him.

That's strange, maybe it was in a showbizzy/music news context because of the video? :unsure: can't see them suddenly jumping on board and playlisting him.

 

Me neither but would love them to prove me wrong. It must have been played very recently as it had no plays a couple of days ago when I looked.

B listed on radio 2. :)

B listed on radio 2. :)

 

Goody,thanks TT. :D

I see radio 6 and Free Radio have given Brave Man a spin. Not much I know but hey ho it's good to see anyone playing his current music.

I see radio 6 and Free Radio have given Brave Man a spin. Not much I know but hey ho it's good to see anyone playing his current music.

 

 

Thats good TT as radio 6 ever played his music before cant remember seeing them.

Thats good TT as radio 6 ever played his music before cant remember seeing them.

 

I vaguely remember seeing a spin for another track. It may have been Thank You but I'm not sure.

Graham Norton played Brave Man earlier and Jeremy Vine yesterday. Good to have some day time plays. I wonder if it will move up to the A list or stay on the B list with it being the 4th single.

There's a new single now? The Burt Bacharach cover

Great review from the Guardian.

 

Just putting it out there: Brave Man is better – and braver – than anything on Adele’s 25. Granted, it’s easier to take the odd risk with your power ballads when the future of the entire music industry doesn’t hinge on your next release, but kudos to any Radio 2-friendly artist who opens their single with 13 seconds of minimal techno pulsing and accompanies it with a powerful video denouncing transphobia. Will even leans in for the full growl on the second chorus. Maybe he’s more George Michael than Michael Crawford after all.

 

Changing perceptions yet again. So sad that this great track has received so scant AirPlay. :(

Edited December 4, 20159 yr by truly talented