Ian McCuen Lonesome Homesteader
542films presents the official music video for Lonesome Homesteader by Ian McCuen.
The setting, the former Ockawamick Central School, presently sits vacant after decades of use and serves as a reflection of flawed self-sufficiency, endless options, and countless fears——a direct response to the lyrical narrative of Lonesome Homesteader:
I’m trying so hard to prove my own self-worth. Make something from nothing on this godforsaken earth. But what if I put up a fight just to keep myself alive, and it’s nothing like I visualized? And what if, in the end, I find that I have fucked up my life? Is it really worth it to even try?
The visual effects behind the video stand unmistakably practical and imperfect——but honest——a contrast to a strictly digital and calculated workflow through post-production. A custom-fabricated sliding mask was attached to the front of the camera and frequently obscures a significant amount of the picture. In real-time to the music, the mask was manually slid back (or forth) on a well-oiled drawer slide, occasionally uncovering the scope of the environment and its lost state.
Cast & Crew
Director & Editor / Karl Frederick Mattson
Music / Lonesome Homesteader by Ian McCuen
Composed, performed, recorded, and produced by Ian McCuen, featuring Lissa Reed on the cello, mastered by Alex Wieloszynski
Tech Specs
Released / 2022
Runtime / 5 min 12 sec
Aspect Ratio / 2.39:1
Format / Digital
Camera / Panasonic GH5
Lens / Urth Nikon F to M4/3 adapter, Carl Zeiss Planar T 50mm f/1.4 lens, semi-flocked Kowa Prominar 16-S anamorphic projection lens, Rapido FVD-16a variable diopter, SIMMOD variable neutral density filter
Custom / Purpose-built slider mask w/ lightweight foam core light-shield & repurposed 6:7 film negative carrier; DIY camera dolly.