The Work of Stobe Harju

Q: Do you also shoot commercials?

A: Yes I do. Nitro is the production company representing my work in Finland. You need to contact the Nitro offices and the producers for commercial work.

Q: Why isn’t there any TV commercials on your web site?

A: For practical reasons. Even though I’m quite fresh to the industry, and there is yet not so much commercial work done, it’s almost impossible to keep updating all the information on my web site. I prefer to keep it simple.

Q: Do you work outside Finland?

A: Yes I do. Nitro is representing my work in Finland and the Baltic countries, but as you may know many directors are represented all around the world and I will gladly discuss the options.

Q: Can I get your biography and show reel please?

A: Yes you can if it’s for business purposes. I don’t mean to sound rude, but some day I would be mailing tons of dvds to everyone if I wouldn’t draw the line somewhere.

Q: Why have you done videos for only for a few bands?

A: I do get lot of requests but I’m kinda picky when it comes to music... Not really. I’m still quite young you know, in the film industry at least, but The main reason for that is that the music video budgets in Finland aren’t very realistic and mostly there is too much work and money put up to a music video by production companies. If the budged on the other hand is too low and the band is great, there’s no reason for showing video that doesn’t match the quality of the song. There is also so many productions going on other than music videos, that it’s very hard to find time for them. I would have the energy to make 20 of those in a year if I only could.

Q: Would you like to direct a movie some day?

A: I don’t know a director who wouldn’t if the screenplay was perfect. The first feature film would have to look precisely like my work and have the special atmosphere in the screenplay before I would jump into doing it. Directing feature films requires a lot of patience and devotion for the project. That means you have to know that you’ll love the project from the very beginning to the end.

Q: What kind of movies do you like?

A: There are hundreds of movies and various genres that I love so I will not mention any.

Q: Where do you get your ideas for music videos?

A: From various things; the song and the lyrics at first and probably somewhere from my personal little world. Poets of the Fall’s ”Carnival of Rust” was a combination of different ideas that I gathered along the way. Then again Nightwish’s ”The Islander” pretty much told the exact story in the song and the idea was there. I guess I got the idea of the of the flying ships and the rocky desert while flying on a plane. Wait… it could have been my little daughter who gave me some ideas. She threw her toy boat flying down our backyard rocks…

Q: Can I visit you while you’re shooting a video?

A: As much as I would like to see you there, locations and studios are working environments as any. There are certain rules and guidelines that need to be followed. Plus everyone is always busy and grumpy so it wouldn’t be that cool anyway.

Q: I’m doing an article on your music videos. Is it okay to use the material on your web site?

A: The website contains some copyrighted material and you need to ask before using any of the content. Besides the material quality on the website is not the best you can get for your article. I can easily be reached by email.

Q: What cameras do you use?

A: That always depends on the production. I prefer film cameras, but it all depends on the nature of the production. On some occasions the digital cameras are much better.

Q: Why do you use so much CG (computer graphics)?

A: I do not use cg intentionally. Although I have a background for using cgi, I have always thought that it should be the last resort in film making. Some of the visions cannot be staged on live sets and the only option is to use cg. I would gladly shoot a real set of flying elephants if I had the chance.

Q: Can you tell me what the stories and metaphors in your videos mean?

A: No. I get to hear and interpret some of the most personal stuff that people have to offer in their songs. It’s better for the artist and me that I keep the information to my self.

Q:You used to play basketball huh? How tall are you?

A: Not as tall as most people think. I’m only 192cm (6.3 feet)… with bb shoes on.

Q: Why don’t you put high resolution videos on your website?

A: I will put some videos on the website in the near future, but not the high resolution ones. It would in the long run kill my website or turn it to something else than it is.

Q: I have an idea for a TV commercial can I send it in?

A: There’s no point for that. Advertising agency creatives usually create the ideas and it’s only my job to interpret them as well as I can.

Q: I have an idea for a video. Can I send it to you so you could comment on it?

It would be a cool idea to share ideas with one another but I base everything on trying to figure out a new vision every time I sit down to write a treatment.