Written by Taillight's Mandy Goenner & Hannah Bach
In 2000, Sara Evans’ first lyric “I’ve been tellin’ my dreams to the scarecrow” from “Born to Fly” spiraled into almost 25 years of work with Director Peter Zavadil. Inspired by the reference to a “scarecrow,” Zavadil sent a treatment of Evans turning into a modern-day Dorothy from “The Wizard of Oz.” “Born to Fly” became the first of 13 music video collaborations between Sara and Peter, over half produced by Taillight, and 2001’s CMA Music Video Of The Year.
Today, the “A Little Bit Stronger” singer releases a new song titled “Pride,” giving honest and authentic glimpses into Evans’ experiences with love and loss. The video tells the story of a younger Sara, played by daughter Audrey, who stands against emotional abuse and domestic violence. This emotional track resonates with viewers on a deeper level, unlike anything Sara has previously released.
There is no director better than Peter Zavadil to help Sara Evans translate this empowering message into a music video for “Pride.” Sara describes Peter as a director who is “not only creative and capable of giving incredible instruction but also [someone that makes her] feel super comfortable.” This is demonstrated in “Pride,” as well as the many videos they’ve worked on together.
“A Real Fine Place to Start,” the first of many videos to be directed by Peter through Taillight, made an impression on Peter when looking back on the years of experience together. After finishing the ACM awards the night prior, Evans showed up early to film in a mesmerizing, desert landscape. Zavadil laughed about how filming in the extreme conditions of a desert made memories that would last a lifetime including encountering a baby rattlesnake and almost setting Sara on fire.
During a 2020 Instagram Live series titled “Closet Chaos” with her daughter Olivia, Peter spoke about some of their fun on these sets. When asked about the future, Peter, Sara, and Olivia laughed about how fun it would be for one of Sara’s daughters to play a younger version of Sara. Sara responds by saying it would need to be the “perfect song,” and for Audrey, “Pride” was that song.
The new music video aims to captivate viewers as Audrey (a young Sara), Sara and the cast work together to demonstrate some of the real scenarios women are in daily. Audrey performs as an exotic dancer witnessing subtle domestic violence at a strip club, while shots of Sara and the cast are intertwined. Throughout the video, Audrey’s character encourages victimized women to stand up for themselves.
Shot at a local bar in Nashville, Taillight and Director Peter meticulously assembled a talented local team for the music video. Among them was DP Diego Cacho, esteemed for his knack in capturing raw emotion through innovative camera angles, a signature style evident in the forthcoming video. This collaborative effort not only promises a visually stunning experience but also sets the stage for a new chapter in Sara's music journey.
With the release of her empowering album "Unbroke" slated for June 7th, this partnership marks the dawn of a fresh musical era for Sara. Peter Zavadil's creative direction in "Pride" perfectly complements the song's emotional lyrics, ensuring a flawless integration of visuals and music that is poised to deeply resonate with viewers.
Sara Evans’ Music Videos Produced by Taillight
Special thanks to the crew for their hard work on Pride:
Client: Sara Evans/One Spark Entertainment/Melody Place Records/Born To Fly Records
Director: Peter Zavadil
Executive Producer: Matt Houser
Producer: Nick Lantz
Prod. Coordinator: Taylor Campbell
DP: Diego Cacho
1st AC: Josh Boyd
2nd AC: Kenneth Herron
Key Grip: Braden Payne
G&E Swing: Tyler Manual
Gaffer: Paul Williams
Young Sara: Audrey Evans
Featured Extra: April Fisher
Featured Extra: Dakota Shanes
Extras: Kansas Bedford, Chloe Wilder, Rob Way, Duane Trapp, Dominic Mercer, Jerald Winston, William Beller, Chad Joyce, Evan Williams, Jimmy Sullivan
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