Post uncovered – 1185 Films on Mantra of the Cosmos pop promo

1185 Films has unveiled a pop promo for band Mantra of the Cosmos’s track Domino Bones (Gets Dangerous), what it describes as a “3.5-minute visual odyssey blending toy theatre, digital collage, and an unmistakable punk energy”.

The project is the latest in a decade-long creative relationship between Zak Starkey and director/editor/VFX lead Nick Franco.

The brief was loose — but sparked with potential. “Zak and I have been working together for over 10 years,” said Franco. “From day one, we’ve been trying to invent new ways to present music visually — especially for artists we’ve worked with through Trojan Jamaica who might be older or living on the other side of the world. Without relying entirely on AI or flying people in, we’ve used animation and mixed-media as a solution.”

This time, the origin was deeply personal: Zak filmed his daughter’s toys using his iPhone, struck by how they resembled the band members of Mantra of the Cosmos — Noel Gallagher, Bez, Shaun Ryder, Andy Bell, and Zak Starkey himself. “There was something weird and wonderful about it,” said Franco. “He called me up and asked if I could edit it. The footage had charm, but we needed to keep viewers hooked for six minutes — the length of the original extended mix. That’s where we had to expand on his vision without losing its spirit.”

Franco — directing, editing, and leading the VFX — collaborated with longtime creative partner Simon Wilkinson to evolve the raw footage into a visually rich, surreal experience. “Simon is excellent, and we’ve developed a kind of shorthand,” Franco explained. “Together we started layering up the imagery — using everything from adapted stills and 3D models to hand-treated film overlays that we purposely allowed to break down and pixelate in places. The chaos becomes part of the aesthetic.”

The promo is built on chain reactions — visually and creatively. “Every decision sparks the next,” Franco said. “If I try this, then I can do that, and once I’ve done that, I can push it even further. It’s like a domino effect — appropriate, really. It’s experimental, and it can feel like you’re tumbling through your own ideas, but somehow it all clicks into place.”

And we’re especially proud of the googly eyes — an idea from our brilliant intern, Scarlett MacPherson. “It was such a simple idea, and I loved it. It added this surreal, offbeat personality that we kept running with.”

Created using Blackmagic Design’s Resolve and Fusion, with Wilkinson working across After Effects and Photoshop, the film carries a layered, handcrafted feel. “Some scenes have over 200 layers. Others only 10. It’s not about plot — it’s about feeling,” said Franco. “When the energy’s right, you know.”