born on third base by wrb
animated music video
This music video, created for a song by a local singer-songwriter, explores the stark divide between inherited privilege and systemic poverty. The artist wanted to depict the wealthy elite—those who were “born on third base”—singing along to his song, highlighting the injustice of their effortless success while others struggle to survive.
As artistic director and designer, I developed two distinct visual approaches before collaborating with my team from Cerebral Lounge in bringing the final video to life.
Concept 1: “Family”
This collage-style concept centered on the idea that wealth and power are passed down through generations. The prelude, reflecting on poverty, is drained of color, with stained, desaturated textures reinforcing the weight of hardship. Once the song shifts focus to the privileged elite, the palette shifts dramatically—rich reds, golds, and warm lighting envelop ornate framed portraits, placing these figures in the heart of inherited luxury.
The chorus was initially envisioned with cartoon lips superimposed onto these portraits, making them sing along in a surreal, satirical way. This approach emphasized both the absurdity of their inherited influence and the performative nature of their presence in society.
Concept 2: “Bubble”
This approach explored the idea of wealth as an isolating force. Found archival footage of poverty, layered with transparency and news clippings, created a blurry, dreamlike effect—as if these struggles were distant or unseen by those in power. Meanwhile, a glossy pink bubble floated through the frames, symbolizing the detachment of the ultra-rich.
As the chorus began, the bubble carried its privileged inhabitants— the Trump family—above New York City, shielding them from the reality below. Their mouths, animated in a puppet-like fashion, opened and closed on pastel and diamond-patterned backgrounds, transforming them into exaggerated caricatures of themselves.
Final Video & Evolution of the Project
The final animation retained much of the collage aesthetic from the “Family” concept but evolved significantly throughout production. With a team of animators and designers at Cerebral Lounge, we expanded the visuals to accommodate the full 4.5-minute song. The chorus, originally planned with cartoon lips, took on a new dimension—our team recorded and keyed our own lips onto the figures, creating a more unsettling and surreal effect.
Every element of the video was crafted from public domain imagery, requiring extensive research and media collection. The sheer volume of layered visuals pushed our equipment to its limits, requiring creative problem-solving to maintain the detail and energy we envisioned.
Ultimately, we struck a balance between pointed social critique and an engaging, almost theatrical presentation. The artist’s list of featured figures and tone preferences guided our direction, while we took creative lead in designing the flow and execution of the animation.
This project wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible team at Cerebral Lounge, whose dedication and collaboration made it all come together. I hope to work with such inspiring creatives again in the future.
Born on Third Base by WRB – Music Video
role: lead designer, animator