Sierra Leonean technologist teams with an American sculptor to create Gif inspired stop-motion Afrobeat music video.

The video was produced and directed by Joey Foster Ellis (an American living in between Mexico, Qatar, India, Nepal, and China). Technical help in the post-editing process was provided by Aroon Prajapati and Dipesh Maharjan, two digital artists based in Kathmandu: Aroon is a founding member of CatManDew LABS.

The project was funded, in part, by grants from the Council for the Arts at MIT. An abridged 1-minute version was first premiered at the 2015 TED Fellows retreat in Monterrey, California.

Read “Around the World in a Music Video” by Dustin Driver on Adobe Creative Cloud

The article talks about how Ellis is a filmmaker who creates stop-motion films with a unique style and that this was CatManDew LABS's founding video. He uses handmade art, vintage photographs, and curios collected from around the world to create films that pulse with diverse cultural and artistic influences.

Ellis has a sculptural approach to his filmmaking, which involves creating each scene one at a time and layering multiple shots together. He uses traditional stop-motion techniques by snapping one shot at a time and employs natural light when possible. He imports photos from each day's shoot into Adobe Photoshop Lightroom and labels them as he goes. Every frame in his films contains multiple shots layered together, so Ellis shoots several sets for each one.

In addition to stop-motion techniques, Ellis also incorporates animated Gifs into his films. He uses high-quality source material when possible and remakes the Gifs from high-definition video footage. He then uses Adobe Photoshop to erase distracting backgrounds from those Gifs, one frame at a time. Ellis merges everything - Gif frames, photos, and scans - into massive Photoshop files, many with hundreds of layers. He erases and adjusts layers before fusing them into the final frames. Those final frames for each scene are dumped into a document, put in order, timed using Photoshop's Timeline window, and exported as movie files.

"Ar Don Go" is a music video that highlights themes of progress, upward mobility, youthfulness, and global travel. Ellis created the video's storyboards while in Qatar, Turkey, Mexico, and India and spent a lot of time reflecting on the music's meaning to him. As a result, everything in the video has a personal and literal interpretation. He relates to these themes as a self-proclaimed "professional foreigner."

Ellis synced the footage with the music in After Effects and tried to stick to a standard 24 frames per second, but in some instances, he was forced to either stretch or compress the footage to match the music. This gives his videos a unique syncopated feel.

For Ellis, this work feels perfect as he can make it anywhere, and it takes everything he's learned. Whether it's sculpture, music, or acting, it all comes together in his stop-motion films.

Overall, Joey Foster Ellis is a talented filmmaker who uses a blend of traditional stop-motion techniques and new technologies to create visually stunning and unique films. His personal interpretation of themes and global influences make his films even more captivating.

In other news:

Agyeman-Fisher, Abena. "YACE Honoree David Sengeh Releases Music Video for ‘Ar Don Go’." Face2Face Africa, 25 Jan. 2016

Mufson, Beckett. "Watch a Surreal Rap Video from Sierra Leone: When two TED fellows get together, they can make something truly different." Vice, 22 Jan. 2016

Eng, Karen. "Listen to a new afrobeat anthem for the 21st-century nomad." TED Fellows Blog, 21 Jan. 2016

Artists who worked on this video:

Joey Foster Ellis

Aroon Prajapati (LinkedIn + Instagram)

Dipesh Maharjan

Want more? Well there is this great article about the video on VICE, “Watch a Surreal Rap Video from Sierra Leone: When two TED fellows get together, they can make something truly different” by Beckett Mufson

The article on VICE talks about "Ar Don Go" ft. Kate Krontiris, the new rap song by Moinina David Sengeh, as a masterpiece that showcases the beauty of Sierra Leone's music scene. The song is an anthem that encourages the youth of Sierra Leone to be connected with home and to be a part of positive change. The music video for the song, created by mixed-media artist Joey Foster Ellis, is a stunning visual experience that defies easy categorization.

Moinina David Sengeh is a Ph.D candidate at the MIT Media Lab who is working on a process to create comfortable prosthetics for the many Sierra Leonian amputees who lost limbs during the brutal massacres of the 90s. In addition to his work as a researcher, he has founded an NGO, been selected as one of Forbes' 30 under 30, and is known for his Nyali fashion line. Sengeh is a true creative force whose work is focused on nurturing his country.

The music video for "Ar Don Go" is a perfect complement to the song's message. Joey Foster Ellis used a blend of traditional stop-motion techniques and new technologies to create a visually stunning amalgam of internet history, Gifs, sculpture, and animation. The result is a kinetic sculpture that is both beautiful and complex. Ellis's artistic vision perfectly captures the essence of the song's message, showcasing the vibrancy and joy of Sierra Leone's culture while encouraging the youth to be a part of positive change.

In an interview, Joey Foster Ellis revealed that when he first heard the song, he envisioned "an orgy of objects, text, and imagery" and knew exactly which materials he would use. He wanted to create something that was fun and complex on multiple layers, while avoiding being overly serious like an Adele video. In the end, he created something that defies easy categorization and is a true work of art.

The song's lyrics encourage Sierra Leone's youth to "fight for Justice, like Malcolm X or MLK" and to be a part of positive change. The song's message is particularly relevant to Sierra Leone, which is in need of positive change. The country has faced numerous challenges over the years, including civil war, the Ebola epidemic, and poverty. But the song's message is one of hope, urging the youth to be a part of a brighter future.

In conclusion, "Ar Don Go" ft. Kate Krontiris is a beautiful rap song that encourages Sierra Leone's youth to be a part of positive change. The accompanying music video is a true work of art that defies easy categorization. Moinina David Sengeh, Joey Foster Ellis, and their team have created something that showcases the beauty of Sierra Leone's culture while encouraging the youth to be a part of a brighter future.