The council estate or housing project has become de rigueur in the modern music video—but where it might sometimes be called upon to add an easy edginess to a band’s image, Andrew Douglas’ film for Jake Bugg’s new EP “Messed Up Kids” uses the location as a metaphor for the 20-year-old singer-songwriter’s position in the world. Having sold 1.5m albums since the release of his eponymous debut in 2013, Bugg feels estranged from the surroundings that nurtured his songwriting: “I don’t really live anywhere at the moment as I’m always on the road,” says the Nottingham-born guitarist, whose latest release from Rick Rubin-produced second album Shangri La comes as he tours the US, before heading to South America, Australia, New Zealand and Japan. “On the first record, I talked a lot about my hometown because I was still a big part of it. Now after everything that has happened, going back feels crazy: I’m somebody looking in from the outside.”

TALES FROM THE SET

Location
In the shadow of a council block in Bow, east London. “We wanted something gritty but ordinary so it would stand in for the Clifton Estate, where Jake is from, or indeed anywhere in the UK,” says Andrew Douglas. “Jake didn’t want to feature too much in this film, feeling that it would be disingenuous for him to still play a ‘messed up kid’ where he grew up. But he liked the idea of being the author or observer.”

Duration
A week’s scouting, casting and equipment testing; a day to shoot.

Execution
Shot at a high frame rate while tracking across the action very fast. “Justin Brown risked life and limb to hurtle across the streets of Bow, on camera. The wonderful editor Sam Ostrove at Cut and Run then found a cool way to forensically review the footage for details.”

Inspiration
The work of British social-realist photographers such as Chris Killip.

Pre-order “Messed Up Kids” EP on iTunes and vinyl. Shangri La is available now.