Synopsis

Against the glow of New York City at night, tiny space goblins emerge inside blurred points of light and begin spreading through the streets. Their journey eventually leads them to a cigar flame, where they enter the body and soul of a cigar-smoking pedestrian. Combining live-action night footage with miniature moving silhouettes, the video turns ordinary lights, headlights, and fire into portals for a strange invasion. The playful story follows the creatures as they move from one glowing source to another.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Solidified" features rapper Jay Fresh and appeared on Gramatik's 2012 release "#digitalfreedom."

• The video was filmed in New York City and runs for approximately four minutes.

• Its unusual creatures were created as small paper cutouts placed directly in front of the camera lens. Out-of-focus streetlights then became circular backdrops containing the silhouettes.

• The production used a Canon C300 and fast lenses, including a Canon 85mm f/1.2, to create large, bright bokeh shapes in low light.

• The visual technique originated from an accidental effect noticed while filming through plastic bags. A sharp edge from a bag appeared as a silhouette inside out-of-focus lights.

• Some puppets had separately mounted eyes and mouths, allowing the tiny figures to move independently and appear more expressive.

• The cigar-lighting sequence was particularly difficult because wind repeatedly weakened the flame. The crew needed several takes to coordinate the flame, focus change, actor movement, and lighting.

• The music video received a Vimeo Staff Pick, helping draw attention to its practical in-camera effects rather than relying entirely on conventional post-production animation.