The official music video for country music duo War Hippies’ explosive second single, “The Hangman,” has garnered a 2023 Silver Telly Award for Craft Videography/Cinematography (Non-Broadcast). Upon its release last fall, the video was featured on The Country Network and the VEVO True Country playlist and has racked up over 1 million views on YouTube alone. Watch it HERE.
Produced by band members Scooter Brown and Donnie Reis and directed and edited by Paul Gaehring, the video is set in 1875 and follows the story of a good man-turned-outlaw who is forced to go on the run to try to protect the “angel” he loves. With its stunning cinematography and tragic ending, the video embodies the throwback country sound and penchant for authentic storytelling that have earned War Hippies critical acclaim and solidified the pair’s status as one of country music’s most promising new acts.
“This song was inspired by a conversation we had around a campfire with Kurt Russell about his character, The Hangman, in the movie The Hateful Eight. Our drummer on tour also happens to be an incredible cinematographer, which made it easy to shoot the video while touring out West, and everything was done in-house, from concept to filming to editing,” said Brown.
Added Reis, “This was an amazing collaborative effort, with friends and family generously allowing us to film with their horses, props, farm and cabin. They cooked for us, built the gallows and even dressed up and appeared as extras in the shoot, while a combat veteran friend of ours, Gamble Alexander, starred in the video alongside his now-girlfriend, Lauren Payne. We’re proud to share this award with all of them and everyone on our team who supported the video’s creation.
The duo’s other latest music video titled “Make It Out Alive” aired on Country Rebel for Memorial Day, honoring our troops with a song that speaks on the Veteran suicide crisis while encouraging those who are fighting to hold on to hope. Check it out here: youtube.com/watch?v=Sl3qO0Bsmqw.
Founded in 1979, The Telly Awards annually showcases the best work created within television and across video, for all screens. Receiving over 12,000 entries from all 50 states and five continents, Telly Award winners represent work from some of the most respected advertising agencies, television stations, production companies and publishers from around the world. The Telly Awards recognizes work that has been created on the behalf of a client, for a specific brand and/or company or self-directed as a creative endeavor.
For a full list of all the 2023 Telly Award Winners, click here.
About War Hippies
War Hippies – the country music duo and lifestyle brand from USMC and U.S. Army combat veterans Scooter Brown and Donnie Reis – arrived on the scene in 2022 with a bang and have already garnered widespread critical acclaim for their genuine songwriting and stellar live performances.
With a combined 25 years of touring experience and more than 20 million streams, neither is a stranger to musical success. An award-winning songwriter, Brown has collected numerous industry accolades and toured extensively with Charlie Daniels, Travis Tritt, the Marshall Tucker Band, Whiskey Myers and others, while Reis is a world-renowned violinist who has spent years on the road playing violin/fiddle, keys and guitars and written and recorded hit songs for a variety of artists as well as film and TV projects. The pair’s throwback country feel, unique stories and positive message resonates with both fans and fellow artists alike – Randy Travis joined War Hippies on stage for their debut headlining performance and Tritt, along with Chris Janson, added the duo to their 2022 ‘Can’t Miss Tour’ months before War Hippies even released their first single.
On tap for 2023 is new music and more shows, all while War Hippies continue their advocacy work supporting fellow veterans and military families. WarHippies.com
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