The Mess Hall – ‘Bell’ video

www.myspace.com/themesshall

Usually I don’t copy and paste pressers, but these words from the filmmakers help explain this clip:

‘Bell’ follows a day in the life of the eleven-year-old preaching phenomenon, Minister Terry Durham – also known as “The Little Man Of God”. Hailing from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Pastor Terry started preaching at the age of four, and was ordained by his grandmother Pastor Sharon D Monroe at the age of six.  In his short lifetime, he has travelled to 38 states in the US, as well as making several overseas trips to the UK, South Africa and more, to preach.

‘Bell’ was shot over a weekend in LA where the Minister had travelled to give a guest sermon at a small church in Compton – in and around where the entire film was shot. Before each LA sermon, Terry likes to buy a new suit, and has it tailored to fit, accompanied by his grandmother. This routine is beautifully captured in the video. What unfolds from there is best seen and not explained.

Director Justin Kurzel, who is the brother of The Mess Hall’s singer/guitarist Jed, has directed all of the band’s previous videos, including ‘Keep Walking’ and ‘Pulse’ which won the Audience Award and Best Music Clip respectively at the 2008 St Kilda Film Festival.

“Jed told me that ‘Bell’ was about someone who knocks your socks off, someone who amazes you,” says Justin. “Having chanced upon Terry on the net, we were immediately fascinated by his story. After some lengthy phone conversations with Pastor Monroe, we were lucky enough to be granted three days with Terry, and unlimited access. The idea was to capture an incredibly powerful performance and to simply record it, without judgment or commentary, and get the impact that he has across on film.”