John C. Reilly Convinced Jack White to Make This Music Video

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Recently, John C. Reilly found himself cruising through Los Angeles on a rain-soaked day when a profound moment struck him. “I couldn’t help but exclaim, ‘This song is simply incredible!'” he shared with me. “I couldn’t get enough of it.” The captivating tune was none other than “Archbishop Harold Holmes,” a powerfully emotional single from Jack White’s 2024 album titled “No Name.” Reilly and White have been long-time friends, having first crossed paths backstage at a White Stripes concert. Intrigued to see them cover “Mister Cellophane,” one of Reilly’s iconic numbers from Chicago, he made sure to catch the performance. As he reminisces now, they shared many commonalities: both hailing from the Midwest, both coming from large Irish Catholic families. Their friendship has stood the test of time, with Reilly always making an effort to see White whenever he’s in town and the pair maintaining a strong bond. Sharing a sense of humor, White would later make a bizarre Elvis Presley appearance in one of Reilly’s most memorable films.

Reilly, a musician known as Mister Romantic, shared with White the origins of his song “Archbishop Harold Holmes.” The inspiration came from a religious chain letter found on someone’s wall. Reilly described how he utilized the letter’s words to create the song’s lyrics. Impressed by this unique backstory, Reilly persistently urged White to produce a music video based on it. White had shown interest in directing before, so Reilly suggested they collaborate, with him taking on the role of the preacher or vice versa. However, White expressed his reservations, stating that touring takes up most of his time, and when he’s off tour, managing a video shoot drains his energy. He lamented that not many people are interested in creating videos nowadays.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=watch?v=ru5afNNSPeU

Although Reilly had assured him that the video would be quick, appealing, and entertaining, White remained unconvinced. The decisive moment came last month when “Archbishop Harold Holmes” started gaining popularity on alternative radio stations. Eager to persuade his friend once more, Reilly attended Holmes’ performance at the Hollywood Palladium. He shared with him, “Jack, I must confess, this radio success is quite fulfilling for me.” Reilly had been discussing the song with Holmes for months and encouraging him to create a video. He added, “Whatever you decide, I’m ready and it would be an honor for me.” With director Gilbert Trejo, who was mentored by frequent White Stripes video director Autumn de Wilde, also showing interest in the project, White eventually gave his approval.

In my role as a supporter, I’d rephrase the given text as follows:

Reilly was granted full creative freedom to explore any idea he deemed most suitable. Given that “Archbishop Harold Holmes” revolves around a religious group using letters for recruitment – “Dear friend, if you want to feel better / Don’t let the devil make you toss this letter,” is how it starts – I saw myself as a charismatic preacher embodying White from the pulpit. As Jack has such a distinct style in his color choices and interests, it was like creating a Prince video for Prince himself. Laughingly, I described it as a video tailored specifically for him.

Jack’s fascination with electricity and Nikola Tesla intrigued me. He incorporates electric design into amplifiers and guitars, which are passions of his. This sparked an idea for the video. I thought, what if this character isn’t entirely reliable? That’s why we came up with the concept of him being a madman in an asylum, and all the electrical phenomena he experiences are related to his hospital treatments. It’s almost like living out a fan’s fantasy. When you listen to a song and imagine a video that complements it, I got the opportunity to make my dreams a reality.

On a sunny May day in Los Angeles, Reilly and Trejo filmed the video at a local church. The supporting actors played dual roles as both churchgoers and mental hospital patients. According to Reilly, Jack’s record label provided some funding for the video, but they managed to keep costs lower than expected. He likened learning the lyrics for “Archbishop Harold Holmes” to memorizing a lengthy monologue from one of his films. He observed that the song was structured like a hip-hop piece, filled with rhymes and verses. Once they began working on it, he found himself quickly memorizing the lines. Despite their apprehension about Jack White’s feedback, they didn’t have to wait long for his response. White was thrilled with their work, expressing that it was the first video since Michel Gondry worked on some of their White Stripes videos that he hadn’t had any notes on. Reilly and Trejo were overjoyed by White’s praise and remain amazed at how well everything came together in the end.

Reilly acknowledges that if not for their long-standing friendship, he might have felt more anxious about collaborating with White on the project. Nevertheless, there were instances where he grappled with self-doubt on set. He admitted, “It’s almost like asking myself, What makes me think I can capture this man’s vision for his song?” However, due to their close relationship and years of knowing each other, Reilly felt assured that they could produce something that would at least be in the same league as what White was aiming for. If the success of this music video eventually leads to White Stripes being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year, it’s a role he would be thrilled to play. “I’d do anything for Jack,” he said. “I truly respect the quality he brings to music, the attention and thought he puts into every aspect of his work, and of course, his incredible talent.

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2025-06-17 17:54