The Oklahoma-based punk band Ben Quad returned with another explosive visual — this time for their single “Painless.” Directed by Alex Scalzo-Brown and shot on 16mm film, the video was brought to life right here inside Black Valve’s Studio J in Cleveland, Ohio.
The shoot took full advantage of film experimentation — with overcranking and undercranking across takes at 4, 8, 11, and even 120 frames per second. The team pushed the creative boundaries of analog filmmaking, speeding up and slowing down playback “more times than a Subaru CVT transmission,” as Scalzo-Brown joked in his post.
The result is a dynamic, textured, and visually kinetic piece that perfectly matches Ben Quad’s sound — gritty, heartfelt, and loud in all the right ways.
Credits
Director: 🇮🇹 Alex Scalzo-Brown
Director of Photography: @jackson.c.clark
1st AC: @fanofcelebrities12
Gaffer: @ericmartingaffer
Art Director: @ithappenedinmonterey
Swing: @hillarytakacs
PA / BTS: @kinkade_ruppert
Studio Rental: @blackvalve
Gear Rental: @brighteyegripelectric, @greencorolla_, @liminalspacecle
Film Scanning: Nicki Coyle at @preservefilm
Shot On: @kodak_shootfilm
Label: @purenoiserecs
Management: @kevingnarsha
About the Shoot
This project embodies everything we love about hosting creative teams at Studio J — bold filmmaking, analog experimentation, and collaboration between talented crews from across the Midwest. From the overcranked 16mm frames to the inventive lighting setups, “Painless” showcases what’s possible when passion meets technical precision.
Watch “Painless” by Ben Quad now on Pure Noise Records’ YouTube channel and stream the song everywhere you listen to music.
