On the set of "Do You Want To."

It’s July 29th and in New York’s Skylight Studios Franz Ferdinand are shooting a video for the first single from their sophomore album: ‘Do You Want To.’ Undaunted by the heat of summer and eager to be part of what surely will be regarded as their return to the scene, DIY is on the set to capture the mayhem, the madness, and the cinematic magic in action.

Following in the footsteps of some of their earlier videos such as ‘The Dark of the Matinée’, Franz decided to recruit fan extras in addition to the paid variety. Even Alex‘s girlfriend Eleanor Friedberger of The Fiery Furnaces is spotted later in the evening. The extras are a colourful bunch: there’s several scantily clad models made up to look like mannequins, quite a number of older ladies and gentlemen who look fit to be grandparents, a few sleazy looking characters, and a full assortment of people dressed for a night of partying and misbehaving. On the whole though, there’s much more idle wondering and waiting rather than partying – but that’s the normal order of business.

“Well, here we are at the Transmission party,” mimes Alex Kapranos. And perhaps we are. A blow-up astronaut almost as tall as the light rigging and tables full of strange mechanical knickknacks seem to indicate that we are.

Transmission PartyDressed in identical red and black striped shirts, tight black jeans, embroidered Japanese jackets, and pointy-toed boots (in other words: the usual fare), the band are jovial: playfully shoving and jostling when the camera's not rolling. When it is, they dutifully perform take after take of their drunken 'crashing in on an art gallery party'. It gives a new meaning to 'art rock', that does. At one point guitarist Nick McCarthy is sighted trying to peel the 'o' off "Count Duckula" stenciled on one white wall alongside a host of other cartoon villains. That takes care of the misbehaving nicely.

From the fragmented shots that were filmed under the direction of Diane Martel, the video looks very exciting and strange, but pieced together it will look even stranger. There’s dancing involving bottles of pills and grandparents in evening wear, a man set on fire, scores of extras dancing as one in a mechanical fashion, a very spirited live performance – even from the normally stoic bassist Bob Hardy, Kapranos climbing a ladder comprised entirely of bicycles, as well as drummer Paul Thompson wearing what looks like a black cat suit and a blond wig. Which doesn’t suit him at all.

Well, do you want to?

Tired after a very long day, some having been on set for 18 hours, some for 12 (the fortunate ones only 6), and having heard bits of the song far too many times to count, there is still enough energy to bop enthusiastically whenever the track booms through the speakers once more. In fact, the song belongs to the rhythm section. Precise and stomping, while the guitars pinwheel around frantically, there’s even a slight resemblance to ‘Michael’ lyrics-wise.

There is a general air of camaraderie and tired contentment when the extras are finished with their final take. Shouting, applause, and a rest for sore feet followed soon after.

Now all there’s left to do is wait for the video to air on a TV screen near you on August 16th to see the finished product in all its colourful glory. You may even see DIY in it – so watch closely!

Previously published on This Is Fake DIY.

Tags: Feature, franz ferdinand

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