Behind every music video is the director, and in this post I would like to talk about a music video director who is very well-known as well as a director who has particularly affected me and why.
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The director I will be talking about who is particularly well known is:
Hype Williams
Hype Williams (previously known as "HYPE") is a music video director, born in 1970 in Queens, New York in the US.
It seems little is known about Williams' start in his career, but he has been active since 1991 and is still working today. Over the years Williams has worked with a large number of famous musical artists such as, "2pac", "Jay Z", Christina Aguilera, "Coldplay", "Ne-Yo" and more.
Throughout Williams's career some signature styled has emerged. He showed a tendency to use a "fisheye" lens when filming, seen in music videos for songs such as "Gimme Some More" by "Busta Rhymes" and "The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly" by "Missy Elliott" but he dropped this in 2003 after experiencing his lowest production activity since the start of his career. However since 2003 another signature style has emerged; combining a center camera focus on the artist/actor's body from the torso upward and a solid colour background with a soft different-colour light being shown in the center of the background. This can be seen in music videos for songs such as "Gold Digger" by Kanye West, and "Digital Girl" (Remix) by Jamie Foxx. One other signature style is his use of postitioning shots in regular widescreen ratio, while a second shot is split and placed in the upper and lower bars, such as in music videos for "So Sick" by "Ne-Yo" and "Gomenasai" by "t.A.T.u.", William's also uses aerial and tracking shots which often move backwards or forwards, seen in "Rock the Boat" by Aaliyah and "Not Myself Tonight" by Christina Aguilera.
In terms work outside of his career as a director of music videos, Williams has worked on much less. Williams was a writer for couple of pieces as well as a producer for others. One piece he worked on was called "Belly" which he was both a writer and producer on. Williams also worked as an actor on the TV movie "Lil Jon Makes a video: Snap Yo Fingers". Despite Williams' other work he is still arguably known for his work as a music video director.
Some of the videos that Williams' has worked on can be seen below:
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And now, the director who has particularly affected me is:
Steven Barron
Steven Barron is a music video director, born in 1956 in Dublin, Ireland.
Barron made his debut in 1979, and went on to direct some of the 1980s most memorable music videos including "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson, "Take On Me" by "A-Ha", and "Money For Nothing" by "Dire Straits". Because of these, and other music videos, Barron is also arguably well-known.
Barron not only directed music videos though, he also directed films such as the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles" movie and the film "Coneheads", as well as several award miniseries including "Merlin", "Dreamkeeper", and more.
The reason Steven Barron has affected me is because of his famous music video for "Take On Me" by "A-Ha". I saw this music video when I was much younger and it has always stuck with me because of the amazing animation the video uses. When I was thinking of ideas for my music video I was watching all of my favourite bookmarked music videos on 'YouTube'. When I came across "Take On Me" I was instantly inspired to use animation within my own music video. This is why this video has affected me, because without it I wouldn't have been inspired by animation when I was so young and been inspired to use it in my music video.
Some of Barron's most well known music videos can be seen below:
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That raps it up for this post everyone :)
Be sure to comment saying what directors have affected you and why.
Until next time everyone :)
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