A select few of us here at CoS and Cluster 1 have attended film school. Some of us even graduated! So, naturally, we’re always open to the idea of getting some of the great film programs scattered all over the country involved in the future of the industry. And of course, it’s wonderful to involve music, as well. That’s why we’re pretty jazzed about our recent collaboration with Roll Call Records. Together, the two of us have assembled what we’re billing the “Four Play Video Contest”, all for Chicago’s own Scattered Trees.

Here’s the deal: We’ve chosen four schools in the NYC area — Princeton, NYU, Columbia, and School of Visual Arts — and have tagged one director at each university to participate in a music video contest, where you, the reader, will choose the winner. Simple enough? Here’s a little more background. Each director has been given a set of ingredients by Roll Call Records and with that they’ve assembled a video for Scattered Trees’ delectable single, “Four Days Straight”. As a reader, or viewer if you will, all you have to do is head on over to Cluster 1 (or click on the director’s names below), where you can peruse the respected videos, and comment on which one you think is best. See? It’s simple.

Winner takes home $1,000 dollars and Scattered Trees’ Jason Harper (also a former employee of Weinstein Co.) will be documenting the contest for an upcoming film. How’s that for building a resume? Pretty snazzy.

Click all the director’s names to see their respective video!

Evan Cohen (School of Visual Arts): Growing up on the outskirts of Philadelphia, PA, Evan Cohen first picked up a camera at age eight to begin telling stories to the world. After getting accepted to school, he mastered his craft and began working freelance in the metropolitan area. Ever since, he and his partner, Chris Cortez, have been working as a DP/Director combo taking their projects by storm.

Chris Daker (NYU): Originally from the south side of Chicago, Chris Daker is a multi-talented musician (playing guitar, banjo, piano, etc.), but believes that film comes first – specifically music videos. In fact, his love for the medium took him all the way to Ireland to film a video for the band John Blek and the Rats. More recently, however, he’s been working on a toilet-related break-up film called Dumped, which he both wrote and directed.

Markus Kneer (NYU): Born in Germany, Markus Kneer has been all over the world at this point, with stops that include Cuba, England, France, and the US. With degrees in Economics and Philosophy behind him, Kneer decided to champion on and is currently working towards his Master’s in Film. To date, he’s shot shorts and documentaries in Argentina, China, and the States. Not too shabby, eh?

Jack Thornton (Princeton): Hailing from the place where the sun never stops shining, aka San Diego, CA, Jack Thornton has constantly been involved with the arts. She fell in love with the craft during her sophomore year of high school, and was eventually able to pursue her love in education to become a videographer. With a major in Anthropology, and a minor in Video Production, Thornton hopes to become a social issue film maker, and firmly believes film is the best medium to communicate to the masses.

Their careers are in your hands. Oo, frightening.