Retreat The Back Story

Singer-songwriter Joe E. Daddario had a dream to make a music video for one of his most intimate songs, Retreat.  In 1993 he joined the Orange County Multimedia Users Group to find the appropriate compatriots to share in his vision.  After a few false starts the music video still hadn’t materialized.

In 1995, through a contact from OCMUG, Joey found himself working on a multimedia-authoring project with Producer/Writer Todd Portugal.  Todd was an employee with the Video Production Company that had contracted out Joey’s services.  Immediately Todd and Joey developed a synergistic working relationship.  When the project ended they both looked forward to working together again.

After learning of Todd’s filmmaking background and goals, Joey brought up the idea of creating a music video together.  As the breakdowns went out to the trades for casting, the production ran into a new delay.  Todd was in pre-production on his feature film debut. As his film schedule became more hectic and intense, Todd and Joey agreed that it would be best to postpone the music video rather than rush it.  Todd went off for nine months to complete his feature film, Flooding (debuting at the Newport Beach International Film Festival), and as promised returned to work on the music video in late 1997.

Everything quickly got underway.  The cast was set, shooting took place, and post-production was completed.  Nearly five years after bringing up the initial idea, “Retreat – The Music Video” was completed.  For its world’s premiere it was chosen for multiple screenings at the Laguna Beach Film Festival in March 1998 where it consistently elicited extreme emotional response from audiences.  This premiere venue couldn’t have been more appropriate since the subject matter of Retreat focuses on the cycle of domestic violence and the Film Festival is a major fund raising event for the prevention of child abuse.  Sometimes things work out just the way they are supposed to.

Click HERE for a full length RealVideo clip.

©2000 songman.com. All rights reserved.