SPRINGSTEEN WALKED OUT AFTER DISCUSSION WITH CINEMATOGRAPHER
Stephen Pitalo, a music video historian, has a terrific blog called The Golden Age Of Music Video. Today, he posted "The Untold Story Of Bruce Springsteen’s Original 'Dancing in the Dark' Music Video." Pitalo spoke with Daniel Pearl, the award-winning cinematographer who shot the abandoned footage, and also with Jeff Stein, the director. Stein takes absolutely no credit for directing this video, however, telling Pitalo, "I love Bruce, and I had nothing to do with it. I usually take the blame, but not for that (laugh).” And when you read Pearl's story, you'll understand why (click the link above to read the original story in all its glory-- I'm just going to kind of summarize it here). Pearl says that it was Stein's idea to have Springsteen dancing in a completely dark space. When Springsteen appeared, Pearl saw that he had been working out and looked very manly, so he lit him very hard, "and just really chiseled him with light," he told Pitalo. Springsteen, nervous about creating a hit after his sparse release Nebraska, suggested a big silk lighting filter that reminded Pearl of the way he had shot Stevie Nicks. According to Pearl, he told Springsteen, "You’re not a pussy, you’re quite the opposite. You’re super manly here. I can’t light you like I would light a woman." Springsteen responded that that was what he wanted, and Stein suggested trying it Pearl's way. After shooting a few takes, Pearl told Pitalo, Springsteen went to the green room and never came back. Pearl blamed himself, and for years and years, avoided working with Springsteen. But that story has a twist ending that I won't reveal here-- read it here.
Updated: Thursday, August 4, 2011 8:48 PM CDT
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