Noah Banks: Chicago is his Backyard

VIMBY preditor and Chicago filmmaker Noah Banks has been keeping us up on the Chicago scene with his numerous videos. Call it a “movement” or whatever you want, but the Windy City is red hot in terms of the music scene with acts like The Cool Kids, Flosstradamus, Hollywood Holt and Kid Sister leading the way.

VIMBY: Kanye, Common, and Lupe have given Chicago mainstream attention. However, there’s another bubbling scene going on. Tell us what’s happening in Chi-town on an underground level.

What you are seeing in Chicago is a collective of individuals who decided to pool their resources and talent to help each other gain momentum. These guys go to each others shows, sell one another’s mixtapes and really get down for each other.

VIMBY: You’re basically identifying some of best talent coming out of Chicago with your VIMBY videos whether it’s a musician or a clothing label. Tell us how you choose your subject matter.

I am that guy that sits on the park bench eating a salami sandwich and watching people. If “people watching” were an Olympic event I would at least get a bronze medal. I like working with artists who inspire me to be creative and think outside the box. You may not like every person I have made a segment on, but you have to admit they are all mega creative individuals.

VIMBY: You have a distinct style that comes across in your videos.
First, describe your style and second, tell us who or what inspires you?

To put it simply I like to allow the individuals to tell their own stories. Everyone has an interesting story you just have to allow him or her to tell it. I am inspired by everything from pigeons to the guy that sells hot dogs at the Bulls Game.

VIMBY: The VIMBY “preditor” is the all-encompassing filmmaker who can produce, shoot, and edit. Discuss the importance of being a well-rounded filmmaker who can do it all in this era of new media.

Whether you like to direct, shoot or edit - working on each facet of the filmmaking process helps to make you a strong filmmaker. Each step intrinsically affects the next. It takes a lot of focus to interview a subject while checking your exposure and riding the sound levels. It can be difficult, but very fun. The only problem is you can’t blame your mistakes on anyone else like I usually attempt to do.

VIMBY: Biggie, Tupac… or Kanye?

“Super Nintendo, Sega Genesis, when I was dead broke man I couldn’t picture this.”

VIMBY: Need we say more, baby baaaaby!

In case you don’t know, here are few of our favorite Noah Bank’s bangers:
Copperpot, St. Alfreds, Psalm One, and Leaders 1354