Music video filmed in New Ulm, MN

Dick Kimmel released a music video on YouTube on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 last year. The video features his original song, “Homeless and Heartbroken,” from his 2011 album “Dreamin.” In the first four days online the video received more than 1,000 views and brought attention to the plight of the homeless.

Kimmel came up with the idea for the song following a tour of the United Kingdom, where he saw many homeless individuals in London.

“I thought any of those people you could write a song about,” he said.

The writing process was fairly simple, because this song came to Kimmel quickly. Although he recorded “Homeless and Heartbroken” four years ago, he said the tune recently grabbed his attention again, and he has started playing it during solo performances.

The idea to create a music video for the song came from Mark Martinez, coordinator for New Ulm’s Cable Access Television (NUCAT). Martinez, who has worked at NUCAT for nearly three years, has a background in music. He first heard Kimmel’s song in 2010 while helping record the “Dreamin’” album.

“I am really into original music,” said Martinez. “So, I was drawn to this song. With the lyrics alone it was a very cinematic song.”

Martinez immediately suggested creating a video for “Homeless and Heartbroken,” but the key to start the project was finding the right actor to play the homeless person who is the song’s subject.

He found his actor in Alan “Smiley” Wiltscheck, a local musician known for his concertina playing expertise. “I would joke with Smiley about how he had a great character face. All of sudden, the light went off and I realized he could play the homeless man,” Martinez said.

The rest of the cast fell in place. The video features the acting talents of Lori Jean Mathiowetz and her daughter, Andrea Lyn, and Justin Gehrke.

The video took two years to produce. Most of the video was recorded in the autumn months, with location shootings taking place in the New Ulm area.

Several key scenes take place outside of George’s Ballroom. Another flashback sequence involving a tree swing was filmed at Morgan Creek Vineyard.

The final pieces for the video came together this year. Martinez said that the editing process went unusually fast. He is excited about the finished product.

Kimmel suggested tying the video in with the real world struggles of the homeless population.

Since his trip to London, Kimmel has encountered people all over the world working for pocket change on the street. He hopes to raise awareness of homelessness with the video.

Because homelessness is an issue that affects many American veterans, the video was purposely released on Veterans Day. A tag at the end of the video states: “Homelessness is an international problem, consider being part of the solution.” The video directs viewers to the National Coalition for the Homeless at nationalhomeless.org

Kimmel and Martinez have received significant positive feedback since the video’s release.

To view the video, search YouTube for “Dick Kimmel – Homeless and Heartbroken.”