Behind The Scenes: Architectural Genocide - Leave It To Cleaver! (Official Video)

Working on the set of the Leave It to Cleaver music video was fast-paced and high-energy. The production ran with a five-person crew, with the musicians also stepping in as actors for the narrative portion of the video. With only one day to shoot, there was a lot to accomplish, so every take had to count.

We filmed across two locations situated right next to each other, which made transitioning between sets seamless. The performance segments were shot in a soundstage studio, where we had full control over the lighting to create a range of visual effects. The narrative scenes were filmed on a morning talk show set that we transformed into a suburban family home.

The concept for the video grew out of listening to an unhealthy amount of true crime podcasts—and crafting our own murder story (shout out to JCS!). We wanted to highlight the contrast between the image of a wholesome family gathered around the dinner table and the aggressive nature of the music. Taking a comedic approach, we cast the band members as the family themselves, amplifying both the humor and the unease.

With the help of Alix LeMieux on SFX and the efficient, dedicated crew—Vincent Lewis (Camera), Ben Jefferson (Producer), JT Bounds (Lighting Tech/Grip), and Jade Day (Coordinator)—we were able to bring the concept to life and create something entertaining that still carries a sense of weight to match the music.