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Phoenix Foundation accused of forgery

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Phoenix Foundation frontman Samuel Flynn Scott

Phoenix Foundation frontman Samuel Flynn Scott

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:00a.m.

A music video for New Zealand band Phoenix Foundation has been met with accusations of plagiarism.

The video for "40 years" was shot by director Taika Waititi, whose short film, Two Cars One Night, was nominated for an Oscar.

Christchurch musician Thomas Coffey told the Sunday Star Times he was surprised how similar it was to a low-budget video for his song A Memory Of You, which was shot in 2005. While it did not enjoy a great deal of exposure, the clip was entered in a competition for which Waititi was a judge.

Both were filmed using a single shot, following a moustached jogger wearing a retro tracksuit and headband.

"My heart dropped when I saw it," Coffey said.

"It seems too similar to be a coincidence. I just went, `you know, this is an issue'."

Waititi said he had not seen Coffey's video and any similarities were a coincidence. "Headbands, tracksuits and moustaches? That's not original," he told the newspaper.

Waititi said the jogger's look in both his and Coffey's films was based on a character from the film The Royal Tenenbaums , released in 2001.

Phoenix Foundation frontman Luke Buda said none of the band had seen Coffey's clip and any similarities were an "unfortunate accident".

He said joggers were a recurring theme in Waititi's films.

"I think it's just one of Taika's funny things, he likes to run in adidas (style) tracksuits."

NZPA

 

 

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Comments [4]

Ted
25 Aug 2009 5:59p.m.

I'm not sure thats the issue here RC. Whether or not the motives Thomas' actions were to get attention to further his own music remains to be seen. Naturally there is bound to be attention on BOTH fronts so I dont think anyone really loses out. After watching both vids, I can see his point - and right of protest. Also, Taika Waitit has been accused of using the ideas of Napoleon Dynamite to influence his Eagle Vs Shark movie - if so, then it won't be the first time he has done something that lacks real originality.

You like PF sound? I don't its - 80's rehash heard all before - much like Thomas' fading 90's pop rock, but each to their own. I guess the 90's os now the new 70's or 80's.

R.C
22 Aug 2009 4:28p.m.

i couldn't agree more with j.b, it's a shame that people feel they have to drop to this level in order to further their commercially driven crap and get it out to as many of the great unwashed as possible, classic artist screaming for attention saga. the phoenix foundation have a sound, thomas coffey sports a fading copy cat approach to 90's based pop rock of the counting crowes. way to go J.B, you know whatsup.

KB
11 Aug 2009 7:15a.m.

Hey JB,

I have worked with Thomas off and on for a few years now. I don't think he's difficult at all. He's a great song writer and needs a solid backing band. Its funny that some of those who have worked with him actually cover his material or use it for their own and alter it.

Cheers.

j.b.
11 Aug 2009 1:09a.m.

Thomas Coffee is well known in the chch music scene, sadly not because of his music. He has built himself a solid reputation as the worst person in the industry to work with and I'm not surprised he's approaching the media trying to kick up a fuss over nothing hoping to further his own name.

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