‘In Bed With,’ (http://www.in-bed-with.com) a live performance video series created by Leo Burnett creative director Debbie Mudd, and video director, Jake Brusha, celebrates music in a whole new way, by bringing bands and banter together in the bed of an old pickup. Currently airing on the ‘In Bed With’ website and YouTube, the show’s raw, authentic tone is set by stripped down performances of an eclectic mix singer/songwriters. Mudd and Brusha tap the talents of editor Keith Kristinat, out of The Colonie, and sound recorder/mixer, Nealle DiPaulo to create a music series with a distinctive style and live-concert feel that engages its audience.

A shared passion for music and belief that everything is better in a truck - the view, the music, the conversation -  was the creatives’ impetus for turning a 1973 Ford pickup into a stage for a series of one-of-a-kind concerts by an eclectic mix of blues, folk, rock and hip-hop groups.

 Performance by Griffin Peterson and a roster of artists that include Jelly Roll, Jimmy Burns, Marc Scibilia, Sidewalk Chalk, Elephant Revival and Leagues - showcase the kind of sessions that the series tries to capture. 

Brusha, the director, and DP, uses three cameras to shoot the series: A Canon 5D3 (EOS DSLR) with Magic Lantern Raw firmware, the Canon 7d (EOS DSLR) and an ARRI Alexa Mini camera.  Once the initial shows are in the can, Kristinat is tasked with shaping the footage into an intimate concert with an organic feel. The Colonie also provides color correction services for the series.

“The biggest challenge when editing 'In Bed With’ is trying to weave three takes of one song, each played at varying speeds, into one seamless performance," says Kristinat, who cuts the series in The Colonie’s Avid suite. “Maintaining the integrity of the live performance is paramount to our team’s approach.”

Every webisode is shot in a different location that gives the series context and texture. Sound record and mixer, Nealle DiPaulo’s choice of equipment is dictated by each unique sound environment, as much as the specific needs of the group that he’s recording. An arsenal of audio equipment, which includes various models of Sound Devise recorders, dynamic microphones, condenser mics and Sennheiser G3 wireless equipment - enables him to maximize the quality of sound for each music video.

 â€œThere’s something so real about turning an old beat-up pickup into a musical venue,” says Mudd. “It just seems to bring out the best in people and their music."

Producing an acoustic, live show out in the real world has not been without its challenges. Mudd once had to find a free piano on Craigslist to make a performance. The team also had to take over an old auto body shop so they could work through Chicago’s winters. 

Along with her creative roles as producer, copywriter and CD, Debbie Mudd is also the on-camera host of the show. A mid-Missouri gal, she developed an affinity for old pickup trucks and music as a child, during weekend visits to her Granddad’s farm. He’d drop the tailgate; she and her siblings would hop in back, and they’d barrel down old country roads with the radio blaring, enjoying the simple pleasure of listening to great tunes while taking in the view.

“We’re always shooting under less than ideal conditions, with a limited timeframe, fighting for daylight, etc. -- so editing is key to making everything come together,” says Brusha. “Keith's an exceptional storyteller with a filmmaker’s eye for editing. He’ll experiment, use the resources available to him at The Colonie, and consistently deliver a final product that wows us.”

 â€˜In Bed With’ is a unique way to see the world with a one-of-a-kind soundtrack playing. It's a snapshot of a city, a place, a time, that helps frame the stories every musician wants to tell," says Mudd.

Currently, the project is a true labor of love,” says Brusha. “Our team does it because we believe in the idea and want to help champion these amazing musicians; not to mention it’s a heck of a ride!” 

To date, Mudd, Brusha, and Kristinat have wrapped over a dozen videos, which can be viewed on the show’s website as well as on YouTube.

For more information about The Colonie and its services contact executive producer Marry Caddy at 312-225-1234, or Sonia Blum or Hillary Herbst at Hilly Reps, 312.944.1100.

CREDITS:

 PROJECT: Music Video Series (web)

Title: “In Bed With” (http://www.in-bed-with.com)

CLIENT: In Bed With / Chicago

            Producer: Debbie Mudd, Jake Brusha                                                  

            Creative Director: Debbie Mudd

            Art Director: Kailyn Downen

            Copywriter: Debbie Mudd 

PRODUCTION: In Bed With 

            Director/DP: Jake Brusha                                                    

            Producer: Debbie Mudd, Jake Brusha

            Host: Debbie Mudd

            Photographer: Bruno Pieroni/Emma Arnold

EDITORIAL COMPANY: The Colonie / Chicago

            Creative Editor: Keith Kristinat                                                 

            Finishing: Keith Kristinat 

           Color Correction: Lauren Malis                          

           Executive Producer: Mary Caddy

Editorial Equipment: Avid

AUDIO: Mixer:  Nealle DiPaolo   

Additional Mixing: Ali Cedroni

TALENT/FEATURED ARTISTS (To Date):

        Griffin Peterson (pop)

        Jelly Roll (hip-hop)

        Jimmy Burns (blues)

        Marc Scibilia (pop/rock)

        White Mystery (rock)

       Sidewalk Chalk (hip-hop/funk)

       Dawn & Hawkes (folk)

       Elephant Revival (folk)

       Leagues (rock)

AUDIO EQUIPMENT:

Recorders:Sound Devices 788, Sound Devices 664, Sound Devices 633

Microphones:Dynamic Microphones:SM 57, SM 58, SM 7B,Audix OM2,AKG D112

Condenser Microphones:AKG 460B,Sennheiser MKH 416,Sanken CS-3,Rode NTG-3

Wireless Equipment: Sennheiser G3

Mixing and Mastering: Pro Tools (versions 10 and 11) Waves Plugins