Max Cope is a filmmaker and director who transforms Dublin into a poetic and peaceful stage in the music video for Murubutu’s Nora e James. Filmed on the streets between November 2025 and January 2026, the video highlights subtle movements and the rhythm of the city. The song is part of the album La vita segreta delle città and draws inspiration from Federico Pace’s La gemma esce dalla dormienza. Nora e James recalls the first meeting between James Joyce and Nora Barnacle on June 16, 1904, an encounter that sparked a lifelong love and one of modern literature’s greatest works. In the video, Dublin feels alive, almost as if guiding the lives of its passersby.
Murubutu moves naturally through streets, squares, and quiet corners. Max, the artistic pseudonym of Max Boccalari, directed and conceived the video, while Django Music produced it. Amedeo Sole coordinated the shoot and Chiara Grauso managed promotion. Nowhere Music and Pinocchio Magazine have helped the production facilitating communications and logistics. The production was filmed in 4K 25p using Canon XA60 and DJI Osmo Pocket 3, blending still and moving shots to capture the city’s soft light, architectural details, and subtle gestures of everyday life.
Max also handled music composition, sound design, and motion graphics. This multidisciplinary approach is rooted in a professional journey that began in 1997. Drawing on his Media Arts and Technologies degree from Dundalk Institute of Technology, he connects image and sound seamlessly to convey emotion. His expertise is backed by a career as a Music Composer and Sound Designer for major entities like RAI and Universal Music, and a history of accolades including Winner of Best Short Film at the Royal Television Society Student Television Awards 2016.
Among his recent projects is also the Italian documentary Chapiteau “Un circo, una famiglia”, presented in Italy in a special preview attended by director Adriano Sforzi and producer Alessandro Gallo. The film follows the daily life of a travelling circus, focusing on the artists of Circo Gravity and their commitment to performing together as a family. It also portrays the story of former trapeze artist Silke Pan, whose career was interrupted by a serious accident, presenting the circus as an inclusive community and a powerful creative force. In this project, Max contributed to music and sound design.
The Nora e James music video moves slowly, showing pedestrians, reflections on windows, and shifts in light. Each shot is crafted to create an immersive experience, making Dublin itself feel like a character alongside the music. The combination of visual storytelling and sound design gives the viewer space to notice details and feel the rhythm of the city in harmony with Murubutu’s track.
Max translates urban geometry into a visual state of elegance. His direction does not rush the story but allows the city to breathe, emanating a profound sense of serenity. It is a work that perfectly balances creative soul with an immersive atmosphere.
Read also: Murubutu: The Secret Life of European Cities
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