When Southern Reel was given the opportunity to shoot and create Blackberry Smoke’s music video for “Pretty Little Lie”, we knew we had to come up with something that not only captured the band’s attitude, but also veer from the live performance we’re used to seeing from the boys.

The most exciting part of “Pretty Little Lie” was Southern Reel’s opportunity to create a music video from concept to completion with constant input from the band.

Southern Reel’s director and videographer, Cole Cassell, tells the behind-the-scenes story about how it all started:

I remember the night. Behind a venue in Madison, WI on the Zac Brown Band Tour, I walked on Blackberry Smoke’s bus holding a few folded papers with a love triangle of sorts typed out. As I entered the bus, Charlie and Brit sat there staring back… They knew what was next. “Oh, it’s that time?” Brit asked.

After I dropped the treatment and they read through it, Charlie had one thought. He asked, “Can we have a bar fight?”

Naturally I said, “Sure,” having no idea exactly where this would take place.

Brit chimed in, “What about a cymbal crash during the middle of it?”

“Done,” I said.

Charlie came back swiftly, “Can we also add the word “Band” to the Blackberry Smoke sign and then have the “D” fall off the marquee?”

I laughed halfway, and then realized he was serious.

“Easy. Anything else?”

After hashing out more details, like using Brit’s sweet Camaro SS for our main ride and his tricked out truck for our Roadie’s vehicle, I left the bus with what I thought would be a perfect video for “Pretty Little Lie”: a video where every important shot tells the story while simultaneously capturing who Blackberry Smoke is on stage.

Ten days later, we had a quintessential music video with sweet cars burning out, a bar fight, sex scene, and a cliffhanger to boot.

We hope you enjoy!

Southern Reel

Pretty Little Lie was shot on Canon’s C300 on L-series glass along with an assortment of Canon 5D Mark III’s on a Glidecam 4000HD, 7jib, and Kessler Cineslider.