Geoff Castellucci Reaction | I SEE FIRE | Reaction and Analysis 

It's Geoff! Yep, that says it all!! 🤯

yep, Eli does the lighting design and programming of the light automation for Voiceplay, and also for Geoff when he needs it. the automation makes it possible for them to film their videos with accurate lighting for all takes, no matter how many takes they do, the lighting will always be precisely the same at the exact same moment, making video editing a lot easier, and also making it possible for Geoff to film his clone videos. they are now always filming with light automation, in every video they do.

Yes, he is specific people from the film. The right Geoff, fully bearded and furclad, is representin Thorin Oakenshield, the dwarwed chieftain who becomes King Under the Mountain. The tenor Geoff with long plaited moustaches is his newphew Kili and the third is Bifur, a cousin and member of the dwarf company that set off. Bilbo the hobbit was partly asked to come along to make them 14, avoiding the unlucky number for the adventure. He had other tasks as well, but not being 13 was important.

Good to have you back on our screens. With your interest in the production side, you enable us to really see more of what Geoff has done to set the stage for this. I love the distinct voices and the fact they aren't just the backup voices. Geoff really is amazing.

If you like the piano, that IS Geoff playing. I'm not a very tech savvy person, but he uses a keyboard to capture it in the computer. (For a nice demo or two, see the shorts on his channel.)

Same costumes-and characters- he used in the Misty Mountains video. Kudos for consistency.

The first 50 or so times that I watched this, I concentrated on the vocal artistry and beautiful production. Then I started listening to the lyrics, full of fear, courage, sorrow, and resolve. It was then that I caught a very specific artistic choice he made. At 1:51 he stops and "swallows" then goes on. In my experience that happens when a singer is so overcome with emotion that they have to brace themselves to continue. There is absolutely no reason for that to be included except to convey that emotional moment. You were talking about how closely his clones were seated to one another. In the first cut he sent to his patrons, far left Geoff was swaying his bow. The tip of the bow disappeared, he had to re-edit the video so that didn't happen. He is a master of everything. He does everything except the final mix. Voiceplay's Eli does his lighting and effects. Great reaction!!

The dwarves (and the "clone" names) are, from left to right: Kili (Geoff), Bofur (Jeff), Fili (Goff), and Thorin Oakenshield (Daryl). Geoff says clone Jeoph took the video off. You can always check the video descriptions on Geoff's (and VoicePlay's) videos to see the credits. Rick Underwood did a fantastic job of recreating the looks from Misty Mountains Cold, reusing the actual hair pieces from that video. Kathy pulled the costumes and props together, reusing pieces from MMC, as well as from other videos, such as The Rains of Castamere. Eli did the lighting cues, and Ed Boyer is the mix engineer. Fun fact: The snare drum sound was created using a shovel in dirt and in sand. Geoff is using chest voice for his low notes except for the lovely F1 sub around timestamp 0:30.

This is Geoff's second time getting the Dwarf clones together. The exact same costumes that were in Far Over The Misty Mountains Cold. His wife Kathy did the costumes and props. Rick Underwood did all the makeup, beards, mustaches, and hairpieces that he had kept from the previous video.

While Geoff does an initial mix on the vocals, he has Ed Boyer do the final mix on his solo work. Ed also does the mixes for VoicePlay and (at least used to do it, not sure if he still does) for Pentatonix. I'm not sure about Home Free, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if he did theirs as well - he's pretty well known as a mixer for a cappella singers. If you ever want to know who did what on a Geoff or VoicePlay video, they are very good about crediting everyone who helps with their videos in the description box - I wish other groups did that as well.

It amazes me how you can take in so much on a first viewing....and in this case you didn't even know the original. It takes me several viewings to pick up on half as much as you talked about here. You were able to comment on the lead vocals, the background vocals, the instrumentation, the set, the lighting, the costumes, the production, and even the meaning of the lyrics. What an absolutely fantastic analysis, sir. And thank you for pointing out as much as you did with the lighting. I picked out the obvious like ooohh green, oooohhh now red....but you gave me a whole new perspective and appreciation on how it added so much to the storytelling. And wow, props to Eli for creating that whole aspect of the story.

Yes this is the seoncd of his Hobbit songs. We are now wondering if it will become a trilogy. :) And yes to the best of my knowledge it's all Geoff and his wife Kathy doing these, with Eli on lights, and sometimes Laynes on steadycam. In the first edit patrons got to see, the tip of far left Geoff's bow kept disappearing, but someone pointed it out and that had to be redone. Someone else has since pointed out that the tip pf the same Geoff's cape slightly disappears at times. I haven't spotted it myself yet. I guess that wan't seen before the final cut. But considering he's doing it alll it's almost flawless. And i've seen professional films with worse things. :) I love how older Geoff gives a nod to his brothers to start singsing. Or so it appears. Kathy does the costumes, He has a professional make-up artist and "beard wrangler" for this type of video.

Misty Mountains from the first Hobbit movie is still my favorite just because it’s so gorgeous. But this one is a work of art. The set is relatively simple but very effective. Something about the way that they’re just quietly sitting there pondering their fates makes this almost visceral. Thorin has the deepest voice and he has the darkest lyrics. Several times when he looks over at his “brothers” his look is so melancholy. It’s as if he knows they’re going into battle and will be fighting for their lives and he’s already in mourning. 🥺 🔥🪵❤️‍🔥🪵🔥🪵❤️‍🔥🪵🔥🪵❤️‍🔥🪵🔥

The costumes and characters were used in Geoff's cover of Misty Mountains Cold, also from the Hobbit.

It's about the facing the Dragon Smaug. Great reaction love Voiceplay epic. G'day from Australia.

You provide so much wonderful knowledge in your reactions! Love what you had to say😁 IT’S GEOFF!

Great info from you - as usual. Pointing out how Geoff affected the two different bass voices was really helpful. I could hear he sounded different, but I didn’t know why. Then the info on the light spill was very interesting. I can now even see that beardless Geoff was not hit with the green light spill. I suppose because he has a ‘rock’ directly behind him instead of the green. You got the right idea/context of an upcoming fight. What you might not know is that they are readying to fight a huge dragon. The one in the title of the movie “Desolation of Smaug” also hence the emphasis of that line about desolation in the sky. I also especially loved your pointing out the conflict of light right before the end. For context, it is focused on Dark haired Geoff. That is his portrayal of Thorin, who is the leader of these ‘dwarves’. The decision is his. I just now realized that Geoff left him as the only one with dark hair, whereas the characters I’m guessing he is portraying (by beard styles) are actually also darker haired than portrayed. In the movie I’m pretty sure only Filli (braided mustache) is fair haired. It’s why I’m not positive if he is portraying Bofur (curly mustache) and Killi (beardless) here.

Love to hear your commentary on In The Air Tonight by VoicePlay.

Great analysis! I hadn't caught everything you pointed out about Eli's lighting design. He set it up so Kathy could run the lights and three cameras by herself, as it was just her and Geoff in the studio that day... plus beard wrangler Rick. Those are the same hair pieces they used in Misty Mountains. Essentially the same costumes, too, though Kathy added a few touches and weapons. I love how we get to see each character/range sing lead on camera. Geoff is a master at the storytelling aspect of each song, each video, with his attention to detail. Set design, costumes, lighting, props, acting ... all part of telling the story. Not just the lyrics and arrangement. The Hobbit takes place in Middle Earth. They're on a mountain, in woods. That snare drum sound is not a snare drum, but shovels hitting sand and dirt.

So glad to hear you reacting regularly! I like the break-down style you (and others) do. Sure, maybe its a reaction, but I'm here for the analysis! Pause all you want and give us all the details! For the people that think reactors like you pause too much, there are other reactors that watch the video and make funny faces!!!

I loved this video. So glad to watch your reactions. You should watch the movie. This song is about a group of travelers who won’t abandon this small town and their feeling of brotherhood for each other. Their home used to be in the mountain. The Desolation they sing about is a dragon. He is the fire inside the mountain. He has awoken and is coming to destroy the town and they are trying to save the town while also reclaiming the mountain for themselves.

That was a great reaction ❤ I learned so much! Geoff is amazing every time, but you made me see just how amazing. Thanks 😊

Loved the lighting breakdown. Great analysis too. Thanks.

I LOVE your reaction! I've watched this video so often and lots of reactions as well... your's the best by far (for me)... please do "in the air tonight" by VP. Liked & subscribed - waiting for more mr. C. & VP reactions! Thank you!!🎉😊❤

As Geoff said in his 'teaser' "The Dwarves are Back".....compare these folks to his cover of Under the Misty Mountain Cold.....>^^

Really great reaction! Thank you for teaching us about the production side.

I like Geoff's version, too, but there's another version that I like better (completely different in style). It's from several years back (posted December 14, 2017). It's by Dan Vasc. You can search his channel for, ""I See Fire" - ED SHEERAN cover (The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug)" If you have time, I hope you will react to it. Like Geoff, Dan (along with his brother) does almost all of his own production. Like Geoff's production, you will see multiple Dan Vascs, but not in the same manner. Unlike Geoff's version, Dan has chosen to go high (though not as high as he CAN go, and though he also can go nicely down into a deep baritone range). I think you will really like listening to it, and perhaps reacting. In the meantime, thanks for this reaction. Well done! PS: Another one by Dan Vasc that I'm thinking you will really love, is, ""Nessun Dorma" - GIACOMO PUCCINI'S TURANDOT cover." It really showcases his flexibility in styles. Plus, his, "RHAPSODY OF FIRE - "Son Of Pain" Cover | Ft. A Hero For The World," which is really tremendous. Also, there's his latest post, "Metal singer performs "Amazing Grace"" which is absolutely stupendous.

I've just started saying that I've been Geoffed or Played. 'Nuff said. I still go nuts over his lows but now I'm just as excited to hear his upper range. I love to hear him pushing his limits. He's got to finish out the trilogy and do The Last Goodbye from the third Hobbit movie since he's done one from each of the other two. Having fan girled on Geoff there's a version of Misty Mountains you need to listen to if you haven't. It's done by Colm McGuiness and it's in dwarvish. It raised the hair on my head and no offense to Geoff because he's still my favorite bass all around, but Colm's version is my favorite of Misty Mountains.

Geoff is good but I prefer the sound of Tim Foust's voice. Geoff is really talented. But Tim's bass is really comforting.