SANTIGOLD
The Ace Hotel's Liberty Hall was abuzz Tuesday evening, thanks to Spike Jonze and the Beastie Boys (who, we should mention, feature prominently in Interview's upcoming August issue—check it out). Longtime pals and collaborators, the party marked the unveiling of their latest team-up. The invite termed it an "Epic Length Gala World Premiere," but we think a publicist just got a little overzealous. The actual event was more manageable: friends and family of the filmmaker and the band gathered to enjoy an extended music video for "Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win," featuring Santigold. It was a hit.
Guests mingled and munched on caramel corn and pepper potato chips, patiently awaiting the presentation. At 8:30, the room went silent as Jonze introduced the project. Starring what looked like Ken dolls and a solitary black Barbie, plastic caricatures of Ad-Rock, MCA, Mike D, and Santigold sprang to life onscreen. Throughout the flick, they battled assassins hell-bent on the band's termination, outsmarting them at every turn. Chase scenes, explosions and zombies abounded. Brimming with hilarity, subtitles referenced random subjects, like wine coolers. There was even an abominable snowman. Winter scenes especially made us chuckle, inspiring the ridiculous and wholly fictional notion that it might be a comedic mini-translation of Jerzy Skolimowski's Essential Killing.
We felt it only right to ask Mike D about his fashion savvy. "What are you trying to say? I know a lot of people associate me with high-end fashion," he joked. Of the production, Mike D told us, "It [was] communal. It was a lot of fun, to be honest." About Jonze, he said, "We've been friends for so long. It was kind of like summer camp." As for the combat theme and the decision to utilize toys, he explained, "I think all of us are kids. This is our fantasy, what we would have wanted to make when we were in school. Mentally, we really haven't progressed much from that and it shows." His message to readers? "If they are in search of an immature action picture, this is what they should watch."
We were curious to hear how the Beasties linked up with Santigold. "I don't even know how, but somehow I had an advance of her album. I was playing it all the time," said Mike. "I called her and asked if she wanted to do something. She was into it." We asked him to which record he was referring, admittedly envious if he had access to her forthcoming release. "Her first album," he reassured us. "That's how long ago we made this!" he laughed. "It took a while."
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