In our continuing efforts to take you — the loyal music lover — deeper into the minds of today's artists, MTV News presents "Frame by Frame." Each week, we'll get a musician to give you the inside scoop on their latest music video.
By Matt Harper
Last week, we showed you an inside look at the first half of 30 Seconds to Mars' epic video for "Kings and Queens." We now present the conclusion of the video with insight from band members Jared Leto and Tomo Milicevic.
The band's other videos have taken us around the world, from China to the Arctic. And while "Kings and Queens" is certainly less international in scope, it is no less grand or cinematic.
"In the song, there's a feeling of atmosphere. It's a bit of a dream," Leto says. Soon after he makes that observation, a lone horse appears in the video, running down a Los Angeles street in slow motion. Clearly we are dealing with a surreal and fantastic vision of downtown L.A.
Of course, Leto then goes on to explain that despite the horse doing a great job in the end, they were really worried about not being able to get the take right. "We only had three takes that we had time to do," Leto recounted. "The first take it went sideways, second take it went the other way. Third take? Perfect."
Despite the minor stress caused by the horse, it sounds like the video was fun to make, and that Leto (who directed under the pseudonym "Bartholomew Cubbins") considers the project an accomplishment. "It was exciting to have ownership of these public spaces ... to reclaim ownership, and to ride down both sides of the street."
And as "Kings and Queens" comes to a close, we see the group of bikers make their way onto Santa Monica Pier as the sun rises — suitably epic conclusion to an impressive video.