NZHPT Information release
10 November 2011

The Naked and Famous - video winners

photo: courtesy of Naked and Famous

Staff at Highwic – the NZ Historic Places Trust property in Newmarket – have passed on their congratulations to Kiwi Indie rock band the Naked and Famous for winning five awards at the recent Vodafone NZ Music Awards – including NZ on Air Best Music Video for their song Punching in a Dream.  

The award-winning video was directed by Joel Kefali and Campbell Hooper of Special Problems, with parts of the clip shot at Highwic last year – and not in the easiest of circumstances.

“The group filmed the video during the dead of winter, and used Highwic’s Ballroom, corridor and one of the bathrooms in the video for the song,” says Highwic’s Visitor Services Coordinator, Christiane Pracht.

“In one of the scenes lead singer Alisa Xayalith was filmed lying in our bathtub in a lovely white dress – which sounds fine until you realise that we only have cold water in our bathrooms. We heated hot water in our large water urn and poured it in the bathtub so that she wouldn’t catch pneumonia.”

The band’s perseverance paid off resulting in some dramatic footage that clearly gave the video an extra surreal edge.

“We’re thrilled that the band did so well at the music awards – and of course we’re delighted to be connected with the award-winning video in this way,” says Christiane.

Cameras will soon be rolling again at Highwic, with the 149-year-old house temporarily closed on November 23, 24 and December 1 for filming of a Historical Drama for TVNZ.

Follow the link to see the award winning video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCcUXEC5_eU