Behind The Scenes”Simple Country Life
In April of 2007, Digital Studios West traveled to Florida to produce the music video for country artist Nick Ashton and his award-winning song Simple Country Life. From the start, Ashton had a clear vision — he wanted something different.
”Nick came in knowing exactly what he didn’t want — and trusted us to help find what he did. That trust made the entire production flow.” – paul sadler
Rather than leaning into traditional rural imagery, he imagined a Florida-inspired take on “country life.” Beach scenes, warm coastal light, and a relaxed pace shaped the visual language of the video. Miami became the backdrop, offering a fresh contrast that still felt authentic to the song.
To support that vision, the production was shot entirely on 35mm film using Panavision cameras, lenses, and support. Equipment was coordinated through Florida, with crew flying into Orlando to handle logistics while the core team staged out of Miami. The shoot required cranes, specialized lighting, and a highly coordinated crew — all operating on a tight music-video schedule.
Director Paul Sadler and key production members arrived weeks early to cast locally, ultimately finding two actors who fit the story perfectly. Hair, makeup, and principal camera crew later joined from Los Angeles, blending local talent with an experienced traveling team. The result was a smooth, focused production that allowed creativity to lead without sacrificing precision.
Nick Ashton was a pleasure to work with throughout the process — collaborative, enthusiastic, and fully engaged in the creative direction. His trust in the team allowed the production to move confidently, capturing visuals that matched both the tone of the song and the unexpected setting.
Once shooting wrapped, the exposed film was carefully shipped back to Los Angeles for processing and color finishing. Editing and final post-production were completed at Digital Studios West, bringing the project full circle from concept to delivery.
Looking back, Simple Country Life remains an early example of the studio’s approach to storytelling — helping artists translate personal vision into visuals that feel cinematic, intentional, and memorable.
Music Videos as Short Films
Music videos that resonate often do so because they tell a story. At their best, they function like short movies — blending narrative, performance, and visual tone into something that lives beyond the song itself.
Simple Country Life is a reminder that with the right preparation, tools, and collaborators, even a compact production can achieve cinematic scale. It’s a philosophy that continues to guide how we approach projects today — helping artists and creators bring meaningful stories to life, regardless of format.
