Matt Eastin

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Matt Eastin (born June 3, 1979) is an American music video, documentary, and commercial director and editor. [1] He is best known for his work with Imagine Dragons, [2] directing and editing the Wrecked, [3] Follow You, [4] Cutthroat, [5] Believer, [6] Whatever it Takes, [7] Roots, [8] On Top of the World [9] [10] and Shots (Broiler Remix) [11] music videos. Eastin also co-created and directed the AUDIO-FILES TV series, which featured documentaries and live performances of indie bands in their home cities, such as The Head & the Heart, Low, Neon Trees, and Mates of State. [12] [13] Matt got his start by doing free music videos for bands in the Utah music scene, [14] which were part of a collective production team called The Occidental Saloon. [15] [16] Matt has also directed and edited a number of commercial campaigns for Lagoon, an amusement park in Utah. [17] [18] In 2017, Matt partnered with Adobe Premiere and Imagine Dragons during the Adobe "Make The Cut" contest, which allowed fans and amateur editors to re-edit the raw footage from the Imagine Dragons "Believer" video for prizes. [19] [20]

Eastin's name was credited publicly, on a display case at The Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, where the astronaut suits, and other props from the Imagine Dragons "On Top of the World" music video were on exhibit, from early 2014 to 2020, when the hotel closed. [21] [22]

In 2018, the "Whatever it Takes" music video, by Imagine Dragons, that Eastin co-directed with Aaron Hymes, won an MTV VMA for "Best Rock Video." [23] The video was shot on the stage of the "O" Theater at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, and included Cirque Du Soleil performers. [24] On February 12, 2025, the video surpassed one billion views on YouTube. [25]

In 2021, Eastin directed the "Follow You" music video, by Imagine Dragons, which was nominated for an MTV VMA, under the "Best Alternative Video" category. It starred Rob McElhenney and Kaitlen Olson and was shot in the Venetian Theater, in Las Vegas. [26] [27]

In 2021, Eastin also directed Benson Boone's first official music video, featuring his song "Ghost Town," which was shot in Boone's hometown of Monroe, Washington. [28]

In 2023, Eastin directed and produced "Imagine Dragons Live in Vegas," a Hulu Original, which showcased an Imagine Dragons concert, filmed at Allegiant Stadium in 2022. It documented the band's rise to fame and how Las Vegas played a role in shaping their sound. [29]

In 2024, Eastin directed the music video for Beautiful Things by Benson Boone, which was filmed near St. George, Utah. The video garnered half a million views within an hour of premiering, and won an MTV VMA for "Best Alternative Video." [30]

References

  1. "Accomplished music video creator Matt Eastin gives invaluable advice to aspiring directors, editors - Features - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. 3 April 2017. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  2. "Matt Eastin Jumps In with Both Feet | Create". create.adobe.com. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  3. Imagine Dragons - Wrecked (Official Music Video) , retrieved 2021-07-15
  4. Shaffer, Claire (2021-03-16). "Imagine Dragons Share Hilarious 'Follow You' Video With 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' Cast". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  5. "Imagine Dragons share video for 'Cutthroat' starring Olivia Munn". NME. 2021-05-05. Retrieved 2021-05-06.
  6. "Behind the Scenes of Imagine Dragons' 'Believer' Video". EW.com. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  7. "Imagine Dragons Debut Wet & Wild 'Whatever It Takes' Video". 2017-10-12. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  8. "Imagine Dragons Face Off Against Dolph Lundgren in New 'Believer' Video: Watch". Billboard. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  9. "Imagine Dragons' fun new video for 'Top of the World': Cue the conspiracy theories". UPROXX. 2013-11-13. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  10. "15 things you didn't know about Imagine Dragons' music video - UtahValley360". utahvalley360.com. 27 December 2013. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  11. "IMAGINE DRAGONS RELEASE NEW VIDEO FOR "SHOTS (Broiler Remix)" SMOKE + MIRRORS HEADLINE TOUR UNDERWAY - Sofa-King-Cool - Magazine - Entertainment News". Sofa-King-Cool - Magazine - Entertainment News. 2015-06-04. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  12. Porter, Mason. "BYUtv's Audio-Files". Salt Lake City Weekly. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  13. "Looking For Great New Music? Strangely, You'll Find It On BYUtv – Reach Provo". reachprovo.com. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  14. "Matt Eastin Jumps In with Both Feet | Create". create.adobe.com. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  15. "Matt Eastin: Music video producer - UtahValley360". utahvalley360.com. 8 February 2014. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  16. "Going places with local film maker Matt Eastin - The Review". The Review. 2012-03-12. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  17. Standard-Examiner. "Neon Trees drummer is new face of Lagoon". Standard-Examiner. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  18. Lagoon Amusement Park (2016-04-23), Lagoon The Movie , retrieved 2018-03-28
  19. "Adobe - Make the Cut". www.makethecut.adobe.com. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  20. "Create your own edit of Imagine Dragons' next video with Adobe's "Make The Cut" competition - News - Alternative Press". Alternative Press. 14 March 2017. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  21. "Photos/Recap: Imagine Dragons celebrated their record-breaking year with a memorabilia case dedication at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on Monday, Dec. 30". Vegas24Seven.com. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  22. Thorburn, Judy. "Vegas Happenings | Imagine Dragons Honored with Memorabilia Case Dedication at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino". www.lasvegasroundtheclock.com. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  23. "Imagine Dragons win Best Rock Video at 2018 VMAs". Alternative Press . 21 August 2018.
  24. David Kalani (2018-06-07). Imagine Dragons | Whatever It Takes BTS Featurette . Retrieved 2025-02-11 via YouTube.
  25. Zwick, Hannah (2025-02-12). "Imagine Dragons' 'Whatever It Takes' Joins YouTube Billions Club". uDiscover Music. Retrieved 2025-02-12.
  26. "Imagine Dragons: Follow You (Music Video 2021) - Awards". IMDb. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  27. Shaffer, Claire (2021-03-16). "Imagine Dragons Share Hilarious 'Follow You' Video With 'It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia' Cast". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  28. Staff, Entertainment Now (2021-10-15). "Benson Boone Reveals Why He Quit 'American Idol' & Drops New Single". EntertainmentNow. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  29. "Imagine Dragons Live in Vegas". Hulu. Retrieved 2025-02-07.
  30. "Best Alternative - Winners for 2024 MTV Video Music Award Awards". vma.votenow.tv. Retrieved 2025-02-07.