While it’s easy for someone to feel anger and resentment because of how life has changed as a result of suffering from any physical adversity, trying to make the best of the situation and to use it as an inspiration for others in a similar position can seem equally difficult. That’s not to say, though, that it isn’t doable, and for one talented performer it’s a mission that he hopes to achieve while living out his dreams of success in the worlds of music and break dancing.
Having premiered February 1st, the new 3 episode series NE’PAIN stars rapper/songwriter/dancer ‘Ne’Pain’ in a series of hilarious and brilliantly performed music videos that not only display his talents as a performer but also as the best break dancer in South Central Orange County (Newport Beach, California specifically). He’s accomplished all of this despite suffering from a debilitating arthritic condition called gout, which produces high levels of uric acid that result in intense joint pain throughout the body.
In this case, the main culprit is Ne’Pain’s love of french fries and the tangy sauces that come with it (like ketchup). Nevertheless, he not only maintains a successful career despite his condition, but also uses his talents and story to serve as an inspiration for all those who suffer from gout and to make more people aware of its devastating effects – including, most importantly, how to treat them and how to live with them. The first video in the series, 187 ON A SIDE OF FRIES, is now streaming both on Youtube and via the popular comedy video site Funny Or Die (see links below), and the second of three episodes (“Sauce”) will debut later this summer on both channels.
The series also stars Megan Farquhar (who has also served as the motion capture model for the latest Lara Croft video game) as Ne’Pain’s main squeeze LaRoux, who’s always been there for him but is quickly becoming tired of his love of foods like french fries that only serve to make his condition worse every time. Now, she’s out to stop him from destroying himself, but her pursuit may soon send her over the edge. Shadowing Ne’Pain is his loyal bodyguard, played by Timothy Shirley III.
The series was developed by Ne’Pain’s twin brother Joe Lyman, a talented celebrity fashion photographer who saw both the potential in his sibling as a performer and an opportunity for his brother to bring a greater awareness of gout as a physical condition via his music videos. Yet, according to both Lyman and series associate producer Brandon Seger, it wasn’t easy trying to bring the young performer out of his shell.
“For years Ne’Pain remained in hiding, suffering from interminable pain due to his rich food addiction and subsequent gout. Joe has always had an eye for talent and saw the proverbial diamond in the rough. He brought to Ne’Pain the idea of raising gout awareness through popular music videos and the rest is history,” they say.
With a budget of only $200 (plus condiments paid for by Lyman), Ne’Pain and his team went to work on creating the first of three music videos that are not only incredibly funny, but are also visually stunning. “You will be hard pressed to find any flatly lit images in any scene whether we were shooting with a DSLR, GoPro or iPhone. Joe imagined this as a series of short films with the music acting as a score rather than standard music first videos,” Lyman and Seger say.
Those videos are also enhanced by great choreography, starting in the opener, and viewers can expect even more of those elements in the upcoming two videos. Just as incredible is the fact that each video was meticulously planned from the opening frame to the final fade out. “Every single shot in the video came to Joe in a dream one night two months before production. He then enlisted the help of some talented friends and generous dancers to make his vision a reality,” they add.
Inspired by director John Landis’ (ANIMAL HOUSE, THE BLUES BROTHERS, TRADING PLACES, etc.) collaboration with Michael Jackson on the classic, cinematic 1983 music video for THRILLER, NE’PAIN does more than just entertain and make people laugh. Its main goal is quite simple – to make viewers aware of gout, no matter if they suffer from it or know someone who does. Even more so, NE’PAIN proves that you can still pursue and achieve your dreams no matter how long the odds or how incredible the adversity. Says Lyman and Seger: “Any financial windfall would be an afterthought. This is the definition of a passion project.”
(Note: The first video is closed-captioned, as will the 2 subsequent videos in the series.)
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFFAz62pOEoS4gO_dQcvrlA
FUNNY OR DIE: http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/0ac3e7f53b/debut-video-from-ne-pain-187-on-a-side-of-fries
TWITTER: @OfficialNePain
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/officialnepain