Manipulating the Red Hot Chili Peppers into marionettes was a creative decision made by filmmaker David Fincher.
Informal, Original Version
Hit the Stage Again: Red Hot Chili Peppers Go From Rock Legends to Puppet Superstars
Who'd have thought the Red Hot Chili Peppers would tackle their iconic "Can't Stop" performance with some marionette magic? That's right, folks, the legendary band has swapped their human forms for some string-wielded puppet versions in the latest episode of Netflix's "Love, Death + Robots" anthology series.
Back in 2003, the Chili Peppers put on a killer show at Slane Castle, Ireland, when they played for 80,000 fans. The event was captured on film as part of a concert movie, marking a resurgence in the band's career after their mid-'90s slump. jumped back into the limelight with the critically acclaimed albums "Californication" and "By the Way."
Fast forward to 2023, and we've got none other than master filmmaker David Fincher bringing that breathtaking performance back to the small screen - but this time with a puppet twist. A-list Fincher, known for directing heavy-hitters like "Fight Club" and "The Social Network," dived headfirst into the world of marionettes, taking viewers on a six-minute animated ride that's hard to forget.
"Why on earth would I do this?" you might ask. Well, Fincher himself humorously admits that his original motivation was simply to get his hands on a Flea bobblehead. But he also confesses that there's just some stuff you want to see.
The Chili Pepper puppets bring a staggering level of realism to the screen, even doing justice to the wild energy that once set fans' lighters ablaze (though we're glad no actual fires happened this time around). The band dances, jumps, and busts moves that we've come to love, all while playing our favorite tune.
So how did Fincher and his team bring this lap of charisma to life? It all started with capturing the moves of the human Chili Peppers through motion capture technology before entrusting them to the animation pros at Culver City's Blur Studio. Creating a sense of suspension in the marionettes was the hardest part, as it required blending the actions of characters with self-determination with those of objects controlled by unseen handlers.
The episode eschews AI, but Fincher isn't too worried about the growing 'gotcha' trend surrounding its use in filmmaking. He predicts that the buzz surrounding AI will die down in a couple of months, arguing that nonlinear editing had a similar impact on the industry back in the day, eventually becoming the new norm.
With "Can't Stop" under his belt, Fincher reflected on the evolving world of music videos and the influence of MTV in the past. The opportunity to create innovative music videos for a fraction of the cost seems like a thing of the past, but Fincher remains hopeful that the spirit of experimentation lives on.
As "Can't Stop" takes the chocolate sprinkles where no variety show has gone before, fans can't help but wonder what other unlikely collaborations await. Stay tuned!
For Your Ears and Soul:
Flea on Faith, Band's Low Points, and Missed Vices
Flea, the iconic bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, is busier than ever these days. With a new infant son, a stadium tour, and a podcast finale dropping soon, he's got his hands full. But as the band gears up for a puppet rendition of their classic performance, it seems Flea has caught the spirit of contagious creativity.
Flea's personal connection with Fincher goes way back, reminding him of those naughty elfin villains from old Rankin/Bass TV specials. The duo even discussed "Can't Stop" at a get-together before filming began. Flea had always been fond of his physicality on stage, but age had made him more cautious about diving headfirst – a worry Fincher soon put to rest by assuring Puppet Flea could still work his magic.
Fincher and his animators spent about 13 months crafting the marionette masterpiece, starting with motion capture sessions with the band at a Valley studio. But mimicking the characters' movements wasn't the only challenge. Giving the puppets a convincing sense of suspension - something humans possess effortlessly - proved particularly tough.
It's unlikely that "Can't Stop" marks the end of Fincher's foray into puppetry. With an English adaptation of Netflix's "Squid Game" and a Quentin Tarantino "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" sequel on the horizon, we can't wait to see what the acclaimed director Dreams up next!
- The Red Hot Chili Peppers, famous for their hit "Can't Stop," have made a surprising move into the world of puppetry, working with David Fincher to create a marionette version of their performance for Netflix's "Love, Death + Robots" anthology series.
- The band's switch to puppet formats took place in Los Angeles, California, in collaboration with Culver City's Blur Studio, as they sought to bring a sense of realism and energy to the small screen.
- Fincher, known for directing films like "Fight Club" and "The Social Network," was initially drawn to the project simply to get his hands on a Flea bobblehead, but admits that the fascination with marionettes ran deeper.
- The University of Southern California (USC), located in the entertainment capital of Hollywood, played a crucial role in the process, providing a Valley studio for motion capture sessions with the band.
- With the success of the "Can't Stop" performance, Fincher is unlikely to abandon puppetry in the future, and fans are eagerly anticipating his next innovative project in the realm of entertainment and music.
