The music video “Hell or High Water” is a freshly made stop-motion passion project created for Mike Campbell, former guitarist of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.
Shot in evocative black and white, the film channels a distinctly Western cinematic atmosphere. It tells the story of an intimate, fateful night at a small hotel, where a lone guitar slinger crosses paths with a mysterious woman. Their encounter, set against a backdrop of music and whiskey, unfolds in a “he said/she said” narrative that leaves much open to interpretation.
The lo-fi visual aesthetic — built from cardboard and various handmade cut-out materials — elegantly mirrors the uncertain, winding journey of the video’s flawed and troubled characters.
Nolte told Cartoon Brew:
This production was a dream from start to finish. My brother, Brad, gave me the album Full Moon Fever by Tom Petty when I was 12. Ever since then that band has been a huge influence …