Music Videos

Victory in Death

Role

Director / Director of Photography

Client

Mellow Code

Year

2026

Discipline

Music Videos

Serving as both Director and Director of Photography for Mellow Code's "Victory in Death," I had the opportunity to craft a fantastically fun and highly conceptual visual narrative. The creative direction tied together the rebellious, youthful energy of The Lost Boys with the rugged, weathered aesthetic of desert-faring pirates. Shooting out in the high desert always presents its own unique environmental and logistical challenges, but the cinematic payout is consistently worth the effort. To ground the raw aesthetic of the environment, I frequently utilized a hard, single lighting source, carving out striking, high-contrast imagery against the barren landscape. Drawing directly from Mellow Code's actual thematic focus on fabricating custom instruments and devices, we wove that maker-centric vibe deeply into the video. The narrative visually documents the meticulous process of crafting tools from other tools, which are eventually forged into weapons. However, the story intentionally subverts the traditional use of these weapons. Instead of directing this arsenal outward at enemies, the weapons are turned inward for a deeply personal fight. The core of the video captures Mellow Code on a mission to confront and metaphorically slaughter his own preconceived notions of masculinity. It is a visual exploration of dismantling internal barriers, illustrating that the most important battles are often fought within ourselves—ultimately making room to replace those outdated notions with the strength and love of the surrounding community.