Good Day RVA is a relatively new non-profit film crew that has devoted its skills and time to presenting the variety of local music Richmond has to offer through their newly created film series. The second installment of Good Day RVA features locals Houdan The Mystic performing their song “Sleeping or Worse”, a tappy, fun, and intimate song about friends, family, and sleeping.
Good Day RVA is a relatively new non-profit film crew that has devoted its skills and time to presenting the variety of local music Richmond has to offer through their newly created film series. The second installment of Good Day RVA features locals Houdan The Mystic performing their song “Sleeping or Worse”, a tappy, fun, and intimate song about friends, family, and sleeping.
Interestingly, the video is shot in the middle of the woods by the river (a process that included a day of scouting, and an hour of lugging music gear and generators into the woods). The video is an homage to Houdan The Mystic’s first release, the album cover of which was photographed no more than 100 yards from the video shoot, according to guitarist Reid Lapierre.
The creative force behind Good Day RVA is more than one might expect. As Lapierre puts it, the guys at GDRVA “went above and beyond.” Showing up with a full film crew, “six or seven cameras, and a roller dolly. It was the most professional thing that you can get for free. Ever.”
Why would a group of talented young videographers do the shoot for free? Because it’s not about money, it’s about showcasing the beauty that is Richmond, says GDRVA’s Chris Damon. “There’s no money involved whatsoever. Actually, if there’s any money being involved at all, it coming from us,” Damon added. It seems that GDRVA is honestly committed to showcasing Richmond and all that it has to offer.
“We met these guys on a whim actually,” Damon says of their decision to showcase Houdan The Mystic. “They were playing at Gallery 5, and I thought damn, these guys really need to get filmed by us and get more exposure, because they’re extremely talented and have such a unique sound.”
One thing the band couldn’t get over was how nice and accommodating GDRVA was during their shoot. “They were just super super cool dudes. They seemed to really like the music and I am really glad they approached us to do this video,” says drummer Ethan Johnstone.
What’s next for the good fellows at GDRVA? More local band shoots and beyond. Damon says that he and the crew hope to branch out to shoot such things national touring bands and restaurant promos. Damon’s optimistic view of Richmond leaves one with a sense of hope for our city’s future.
“It’s just amazing how much natural beauty that RVA has to offer. Even the murals that went up are really awesome,” says Damon. “It’s kind of feels like we’re on the brink of this creative explosion. We’d like to be a catalyst to expose everything, to really show how unique our city is. And that starts with local bands.”
As far as who’s next on Good Day RVA’s list, there was mention of locals No BS Brass Band, Gull, and Nelly Kate. With the music and the medium ever-changing, it will be exciting to see what comes next. Damon adds, “There’s always more options. No matter what the genre and no matter where, it’s always gotta be unique–and it always will be.”
By Will Hooper
