PARK CITY, Utah -- Jonas Akerlund wanted an opinion and landed a composer.

Akerlund, one of the most sought after and visually distinctive music video helmers of the past decade, was considering making Spun his feature-film debut, though he passed the script onto friend and former Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan.

"We had worked together before many times, so I gave him the script because I wanted to see what he thought about it. And he came back and said, 'I'll do the music.' So I said, 'OK.'

"But he had one condition. He wanted a role in the movie, so he's got a brief scene where he's this doctor under this wig."

Corgan ethereal sonic landscape has been winning praise as a haunting juxtaposition to the graphic drug-induced horrors depicted on screen.

"His music really added to the overall impression. The weaknesses I have in the film, he helped with his music."

Akerlund says he hasn't quit shooting videos, although he says breaking new ground with them has become virtually impossible.

"It's harder than ever to be different and get your video on MTV. MTV was supposed to be like, this new media, showing new bands breaking through, but now advertising is running it."


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