Prism Prize Eligible Video: Dear Criminals - Lala

By External Source

The 2020 Prism Prize for Best Canadian Music Video was awarded to Peter Huang, for his clip for Jessie Reyez's Far Away. We will continue to profile noteworthy Canadian videos that were eligible for the prize, including this one from a Montreal trio.

Dear Criminals - Lala

Dear Criminals are a Montreal based electronic band composed of Frannie Holder, Charles Lavoie, and Vincent Legault, and they have been making and releasing music since 2013. Not only do they create for themselves, the trio has scored for a variety of different projects, including theatre, cinema, and contemporary dance. 

Their music video for Lala was directed and edited by Fred Gervais-Dupuis, and follows the dark and brooding style he uses in all of his projects. The visuals tell the tale of a young boy faced with many terrors in his farmstead home, giving off a sort of Wizard of Oz feel. He’s seen walking around the community first with two girls with dark circles and Joker-like smiles hunched over a large deceased animal. Quickly trying to remove himself from the situation, he is faced with another terror, which does not seem to let up. 

It all comes to a head when the young boy sees his parents from afar, running toward them you feel a sense of a happy ending. The video closes out with the three of them (mom, dad, and young boy) lying on the ground together again. 

Directed and edited by Fred Gervais-Dupuis

Producers: Nancy Grant, Nicolas Fontaine

Executive producer: Fred Gervais-Dupuis

Cinematography: Kristof Brandl

Focus puller: Steven Turcotte

Set photographer: Juliette Lossky

Key grip: Brice Bodson

Best boys: Philippe Saint-Laurent, Robin Hernandez, William Brandl

Art director: Mathilde Donnard

Art assistant: Joannie Primeau

Costume: AJ Hélie

Makeup and special effects: Nina Anton

Grading: Simon Boisx

Sound design: Samuel Gagnon-Thibodeau

VFX artist: J-F Ferland @Alchimie 24

VFX artist: Guillaume Chaboud

Production coordinator: Juliet Vauconsant

Assistant to the producers: Catherine Boily

Unit manager: Robin Maurais

Production assistant: Étienne Brisson