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twoshadegrey - X-MEN Music Video
- Eric Peters
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
X-MEN by twoshadegrey is not built around heavy narratives or flashy effects. Instead, this project focuses on presence, mood, and controlled intensity. From the beginning, the creative direction centered around a gritty, performance-driven visual blending raw street energy with stylized studio moments and moody architectural interiors.
The Vision
The foundation of this project was simple:
Keep the focus on the artist
Let lighting and framing do the heavy lifting
Balance lo-fi texture with polished cinematic visuals
Avoid overcomplicating the concept
The goal was to create something grounded but elevated — intimate but bold
twoshadegrey carries the frame. The camera simply supports that presence.
Visual Style & Mood
The visual direction leaned into:
Low-light, high-contrast environments
Heavy use of colored lighting — reds, blues, greens
Practical light sources (overhead fixtures, screens, ambient city light)
VHS-inspired textures layered with clean cinematic imagery
Subtle lens distortion, bloom, grain, and restrained movement
The result feels urban, late-night, and introspective — but still confident.
Rather than chaotic movement, we focused on slow push-ins, composed frames, and minimal handheld motion. Every shot feels intentional.
Location Strategy
To create visual depth without losing control, we structured the production around:
One primary studio space (full lighting control)
Two to three architectural interiors for texture and scale
Locations such as modern galleries, dramatic public interiors, structured stairwells, and controlled indoor environments provided strong geometry, contrast, and silhouette opportunities.
The studio acted as the visual anchor — allowing us to experiment with textures, projections, and controlled colored lighting.
Performance Direction
Performance was everything.
The direction emphasized:
Direct-to-camera presence
Confident but restrained body language
Natural movement — no over-choreography
Moments of stillness contrasted with subtle gestures
Occasional off-camera looks to add realism
The energy is controlled. Focused. Commanding without being exaggerated.
This restraint creates tension — and tension creates impact.
Editing & Post
In post-production, we leaned into rhythm:
Tight pacing cut to the beat
A mix of longer performance takes and quick inserts
Moody color grade with controlled highlights
Film grain, light bloom, subtle motion blur
Minimal effects — everything intentional
Nothing flashy. Nothing unnecessary. Just atmosphere and performance working together.
Deliverables
The project includes:
1 × Cinematic 4K music video
Optimized 1080p delivery
2–4 vertical social cutdowns (15–30 seconds)
3–5 high-resolution stills for thumbnails, press, and promotion
This ensures the visual extends beyond a single release — adaptable for Reels, TikTok, Shorts, and future campaigns.
The Goal
The objective for X-MEN was clear:
Deliver a cohesive, cinematic visual aligned with twoshadegrey’s sound and presence
Capture authenticity through lighting, framing, and restrained performance
Create scalable assets that work across platforms
This project reinforces a focused aesthetic — intentional, moody, and memorable.
At DIRXECP, we don’t chase spectacle for the sake of it.
We prioritize:
Lighting over gimmicks
Composition over chaos
Mood over noise
Performance over overproduction
X-MEN is a reflection of that philosophy.
If you’re an artist looking to create something that feels like film — not just content — let’s build something intentional.
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