Look Who it Was Random video

W-=M=-D - NIN Ghosts

3,718 views · Published 2 April 2008 · 2:24 · Indexed 11 October 2026

Channel: Escape the Clouds · 2008 · News & Politics

Watch on YouTube

My entry in the Nine Inch Nails "Ghosts" Film Festival, featuring Ghosts I - Track 7.

Intent: To illustrate the construction of a well-designed and purposely assembled media weapon that exists only in black-and-white terms. The USA is a country of many "shades", yet there are some that view things in only black and white terms.  

When open discussion is trampled upon, popular opinion ignored, and any dissent silenced, the end result is hardly "fair and balanced". By defending and promoting those who seek to curb our rights and our ability to choose - all supposedly in the name of "freedom" - Fox News Channel has become an enemy of the American people.

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." 
- Benjamin Franklin

Some answers to questions I've received:

1) Why didn't you just make the whole video the assembly of the gun? 
A weapon or machine that goes unused does not truly fulfill its purpose. I felt it would have been anti-climactic and a cop-out to spend all this time building a weapon and not use it. From a film maker's perspective, it would have been a violation of the "Chekhov's gun" principle: if you show a gun on set during the first act, it better be used by the last act.

Then again the video is not about the gun itself, but about how a unified group can meticulously craft a device (whether it's a gun, a television program, or otherwise) to bend or force people over to their own point view. The weapon is a metaphor.

2) Are you suggesting someone needs to be killed?
First of all, watch the video again. Bush is the one behind the trigger and aiming the weapon. Secondly, I do not want anyone killed. I would just like someone to stand up to this administration and the people who back them. They get away with so much and put the cost back on the American people. The only thing being killed in the video is our right to express our opinion.

3) What kind of gun is it?
It's an SKS, a Cold War battle rifle firing the 7.62x39mm round used by the ubiquitous AK-47. It's my very favorite gun. Her name is Vera. (a cookie to whomever gets that reference :P )

4) Why the 'message' at the end?
I debated long and hard whether or not to include that. Several times I rendered it out without it. In the end, I left it in there in the interest of clarity. When you're creating a video that involves a hated Prez, a rifle, and a sniper scope, i think it's best to say flat out what your intentions are to make sure no ones misinterprets it. (and some have already).

5) Regarding criticism: If you want to criticize, that's fine. I'm open to discussion and other folks' perspectives. However, do it in a mature intelligent fashion. Comments like "This is a fucking piece of goddamn pathetic shit that should burn in fucking hell." will be deleted, just on principle. They contribute nothing to any discussion.

More from this channel