BARNES & BARNES⧸ SOAK IT UP (with BILL PAXTON) - Directed by Rocky Schenck

What this video is

Released in August 1983 on Boulevard Records, 'Soak It Up' sits at the intersection of the early MTV novelty-video boom and the Los Angeles art-underground scene. Barnes & Barnes — the duo of actor Bill Mumy (Lost in Space) and musician Robert Haimer — had already achieved cult status via Dr. Demento's nationally syndicated radio show with 'Fish Heads' (1979). 'Soak It Up' was the title track of their third EP,…

Why it matters

A key artifact of early-MTV surrealist comedy-rock video aesthetics, 'Soak It Up' demonstrates how micro-budget DIY filmmakers leveraged Super 8 technology, theatrical costume, and optical in-camera effects to produce visually ambitious content competitive with major-label productions. It also…

The director

Rocky Schenck (born April 18, 1955, Austin, TX) is an American photographer, filmmaker, and music video director. Raised on an 800-acre ranch near Dripping Springs, TX, he began painting at age 12 and sold work professionally at 13. He attended North Texas…