Jake Shiptenko – Searching

We had the opportunity to interview Jake Shiptenko, the filmmaker behind the music video Searching. Searching is an official selection at the 12th annual Utah Film Festival. 

A music video for the unplugged version of Z by Z’s breakout hit “Searching”. This is the first music video for the solo artist, Z by Z. Step into his creative void and experience the song in galactic wonder as Z searches for signals amongst an ever expanding universe.

What inspired you to make Searching?

When I first heard “Searching” it was the completely produced version. Its meaning and message was completely universal, and Harrison’s vocal performance was focused, emotional, and honest. I asked him if I could do a music video for the song, but he was interested in making a music video for the stripped down version. I was hesitant at first, but after hearing the track I embraced the challenge because I still felt those key elements from the original version were there.

What challenges did you overcome to make Searching video a reality?

The hardest challenge was conceptualizing a music video that could engage an audience member even though the song was simply voice and piano. Most music videos in this genre are simply performance based. So I decided to embrace that as the base for the video and use effects and specific camera movements and practical effects to enhance the vocal performance.

What did you learn about the music video creating process when you finished with this project?

I learned about collaborating with the artist. Harrison was great and green-lit my concept immediately after I pitched it, but when we showed him the first cut he had a lot of thoughts and requests. I learned just how conscious musical artists are about the way they are depicted and to take that piece of the process seriously to make sure they like the way they look. It worked out for Searching in the end, and he really loves the final product.

What are your favorite parts of the creative process when you create a music video?

It has to be conceptualized. I just listen to the song over and over and live with each moment as it leads me to the next. The way the confetti shot came out in this video is probably the closest I’ve come to pulling something straight out of my brain and onto screen. Seeing that come to life is so rewarding, so I know to always make sure I love what I’m conceptualizing and have fun with that process.

What are you working on now and when do you expect to release it to the public?

I am working on my second feature film called “An Awfully Human Being”. It is the story of a young man trying to become happy over the course of a year. We are shooting 3 days each month for the entirety of 2023. It’ll be at least another 2 years before it is finished, but a friend and I made a short film over the summer called “The Last Advil” which should be available in a few months.

How can readers find out more about you and follow your journey as an artist?

I really encourage anyone to reach out to me. I’d love to talk to anyone, not just about myself, but their lives and dreams as well. My instagram @jakeshiptenkofilms is a great place to reach out. You can check out my past films at jakeshiptenkofilms.com as well!

What are your Social Media Handles you would like us to use?

@jakeshiptenkofilms and @harrisonashofficial on Instagram. Fun Fact: Harrison rebranded from Z by Z to Harrison Ash shortly after the release of the video. I encourage anyone to go and check out his new music. He has 3 new songs that have come out in the past few months, and they are awesome!