30Y
In October 2023, the city of Pécs became the filming location for 30Y’s latest music video, created for the closing track of their then-upcoming album X.
The video, titled Mi ez? (What Is This?), is more than just a visual interpretation of a song—it’s a piece of the monumental story that X tells: a four-part, interconnected video series that together forms the so-called X Saga.
Mi ez? was the most ambitious of the four films, with its complex visual world and intricate production requiring months of planning and an immense amount of creative energy to ensure the result would be worthy of marking a new chapter for the band.
This video doesn’t just reveal something secret from our (inner) world—it also asks questions, leaving the search for answers in the hands of the audience.
The video was directed by Sinco, with the army of tattered-winged angels portrayed by students from the Pesti Hungarian Acting Academy. Mucsi Zoltán appears in the role of the "devil," with Céh Dániel as his loyal assistant. The band itself also appears in the film, wearing unique, custom-made animal masks designed by Márk Kőrösi (Üres Tér). The narrative’s circular structure is reinforced by the return of all the actors who also appeared in the opening chapter of the X Saga, Éhezők jóllakottak (The Hungry Are Fed).
The core concept of the Mi ez? music video is deeply symbolic: it takes place in an empty, dark space where dirty, tattered-winged angels with taped mouths move like visual echoes of a suppressed scream. The band members wear animal masks—dog, pig, horse, and ox—each carrying hidden meanings, as if bearing secret messages. Zoltán Mucsi’s character undergoes a surreal metamorphosis, transforming from angel to devil, becoming the haunting centerpiece of this dreamlike visual world. All of this stands in stark contrast to the song’s lyrical, slow tempo and orchestral arrangement—a sound that is surprisingly new and intentionally different from anything previously known as 30Y.
As the designer, preparing for the Mi ez? video was an exceptionally complex and demanding task. The work began with the creation of thirty pairs of angel wings: I hand-shaped the frames from wire and covered them with a delicate, translucent fabric to achieve the dreamlike, fragile effect Zoli had envisioned. Dressing thirty extras was another major challenge—not only due to the scale but also the visual concept. We chose earthy tones and deliberately incorporated certain costume pieces from the Éhezők jóllakottak video. It was important to us that the angels’ everyday, slightly ragged clothing reflect a cross-section of society—from working-class figures to university students and even a hospital patient. This intentional diversity stood in stark contrast to the band’s clean, elegant appearance and to Zoltán Mucsi’s character, whose costume shifted from pure white to blood-soaked as the story unfolded.
As the designer, one of the greatest challenges during the Mi ez? video shoot was creating the special effects makeup. Each band member had to appear as though they had endured a brutal beating—bruises, cuts, and abrasions were carefully applied with slow, precise work to ensure a perfectly realistic result. Every injury was tailored to the individual: for example, Zaza’s hand was made to look severely damaged as if from punching, and his nose was "broken"; Zoli received a deep black eye and a harsh facial abrasion, as though he had been dragged across concrete; Ádi showed signs of a head trauma, while Papa had injuries around his ear and glasses. I was supported in the makeup execution by Tóth Erika and Moldovan-Benedek Henrietta.
Another major makeup and costume challenge was Zoltán Mucsi’s transformation: his character shifted from a pure white angel into a living nightmare in four distinct phases, all executed on set. His costume was hand-painted between takes, and his face was gradually altered—through both makeup and lighting—to convey the full emotional and physical depth of his metamorphosis.
The idea of recycling merch was born from the open-air production of As You Like It at the Városmajori Theatre, where I first collaborated with Zoli Beck—and which also laid the foundation for the costume world of these music videos. Much like the recurring characters, the costumes intentionally reappear throughout this visual universe, playing an active role in the construction of the X saga. As a result of nearly three years of creative collaboration, these garments have stepped beyond the boundaries of stage and screen, now offered to the public as one-of-a-kind, unrepeatable pieces. These costumes don’t just carry the spirit of 30Y’s artistic vision—they are that spirit, woven into fabric. You could say we’ve flown from the Forest of Arden to Kobuci Garden.
Photoes: Zoltán Kovács
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