The Kardashians are back! Kicking off the series premiere of their eponymous Hulu show for season 3, America’s busiest and most famous family has surprised viewers by creating a dazzling, disco-infused music video to Beyoncé’s chart-topping track Cuff It for its episode 1 debut opening intro.
Beyoncé’s Cuff It has not only inspired The Kardashian clan, but it has also had the world dancing since its release last July and just last month reached a new milestone. After logging 34 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, the Renaissance album bop has surpassed ‘Halo’ has gone on to become Beyonce’s longest-charting solo single on the tally.
Fans may remember that back in September 2022, Kim and Khloe were also guests at Beyonce’s star-studded roller disco skating 41st birthday extravaganza at a Bel-Air mansion fitted for her “Renaissance” era.
Donning sparkles, sequins, and their signature megawatt smiles, The Kardashian and Jenner ladies enlisted SixTwentySix director Arrad to shoot them in a roller skating rink that included all 6 of the successful sisters and their matriarch: Kim, Khloe, Kourtney, Kylie, Kendall, and Kris.
Also making a cameo is Kris Jenner’s beau, Corey Gamble. The vibrant and fun video follows the women not only showing off their skating skills as they effortlessly and glamorously glide across the floor on eight wheels, but the strong bond they share as a family united. Watch below:
REELated:
“I must say, I was totally blown away by Kylie and Kendall’s amazing skating skills! Those two were seriously killing it on the rink, and the rest of us were just trying to keep up with them while we filmed,” Arrad told Reel 360 News.
Behind the Scenes
For the video’s production, the women were seeking a creative vision that exuded a sleek and modern vibe, while avoiding any overt nods to retro skating aesthetics. Dressed in the alluring and fashionable SKIMS clothing line by Kim, the ladies faced the primary creative obstacle of elevating a retro roller skating rink into a high-fashion masterpiece. Achieving this transformation was the ultimate challenge for the team.
A prolific powerhouse in music videos for the last decade, the girls’ video director Arrad is no stranger to working with high-profile talents, having shot videos for some of the entertainment world’s biggest superstars including Missy Elliott, Chloe Bailey, Nicki Minaj, Kim Petras, Tyga, Marshmello, and more.
The logistical feat of coordinating the shoot around the ladies’ packed schedules was nothing short of miraculous for the team in creating the video. Filmed last September at the Glendale Moonlight Rollerway, the video was shot in a mere 4 hours with only 2 cameras – a setup deftly designed to move quickly to get every shot needed.
The primary challenge was capturing sufficient footage of all six women on the rink simultaneously. With each of the ladies on their own schedule, and the fast-paced deadline-oriented time frame crucial to be mindful of, the team united to achieve a magical result for the girls in what typically demands at least a 10-12 hour shoot day.
The precision for the women’s video had to be super on point. Like most roller skating rinks, the location used in the video felt dated and had too many retro elements ranging from the neon lights to the old carpeting to the 80’s diner-like atmosphere. To achieve a more modern look, the production crew opted to avoid those elements and bring in bold, glossy lighting to veer away from the retro palette to totally transform the environment.
The team had to pre-light the entire roller skating rink and plan the entire day to be shot in a rapid-fire format as there was no time for “resetting” lighting or getting multiple takes. ”If we got the shot, we moved on,” reveals Arrad. “I worked very closely with my cinematographer and 1st AD to make sure that we only filmed EXACTLY the shots we needed when the ladies were ready. They all were on tight schedules, so we had to be malleable to make sure we could accommodate their schedules but still get the shots that were necessary.”
“Time was so scarce that there literally was not even time to ‘second guess’ or have doubts about a shot,” says Arrad. “Filming the Kardashians and Jenners put me to the ultimate test – to be able to nail the shots down rapidly, make sure the cinematography was on point, and most importantly, ensure that all the ladies looked amazing.”
“Being trusted to create this project for the Kardashians meant the world to me. This is a piece of content that’s far outside what you’d normally see from them – it’s fun, humanizing, and still retains their authentic high fashion flair,” shared the video’s director Arrad. “I loved working with all of them and admired the fact that despite their busy lives, they can all still come together as a family for bonding moments like a day at the roller rink.”
