Mika’s Blame It On The Girls by Nez
Tuesday, 27. October 2009 - 11:30 am
For Mika’s second single from his The Boy Who Knew Too Much album, Nez gives the singer a massive stage – just about big enough to contain his personality and ambition – to live out his song and dance fantasies.
A big choreographed number that fits the song with lots of clever split imagery to hold the attention – and echoes of Gondry’s Chem Bros classic for Let Forever Be.
Mika
Blame It On The Girls (Island)
Director: Nez
Producer: Sally Campbell
Production Company: Colonel Blimp
DoP: Ross McLennan
Art Director: Sam Tidman
Choreographer: Alex Reynolds
Costume Designer: Hannah Edwards
Hair and Make Up: Deanna V’Lcevska
Editor: Joe Guest at Final Cut
TK: Mick Vincent at The Mill
Lead Flame Op: Paul Wilmot at The Mill
Commissioner: New Selecta
Watch: here
27. October 2009 - 3:30 pm
Nice one Nima! Even though you are repeating yourself somewhat
27. October 2009 - 3:47 pm
wow, i’m not sure if ‘echoes’ quite describes it. What happened to good old ‘copying’ or maybe ‘ripping off’ even.
27. October 2009 - 4:03 pm
Easy there Andrew… what happened to good old copying is the fact that so much stuff these days references, or pays homage to seminal works. This video has taken some of those ideas, sure, and the treatment was no doubt laced with the word Gondry, but that shouldn’t detract from the fact that this video is frankly awesome. Very well conceived, lovely movement, and a very fluid feel. What really impressed was the planned sequence of events, and how well this all fed into itself. Shame about the fact that Mika is quite obviously a complete tosser and the song is shite, but a damn fine video.
so there.
27. October 2009 - 4:10 pm
Well said bernard, in fact i am going to watch this video over and over.
27. October 2009 - 5:41 pm
I think everyone should chill out… i’ve seen the treatment for this promo. The girls where referenced from Kate Perry’s outfit at the VMA’s ( not to forget the reference in the track) the green screens where from Ford commercial ‘Kinetic designs’… the dancers from Gondry’s Chem Bro’s.. and the genius from NEZ.
I think everyone should remove there heads from Nima’s £$%!….
xx
27. October 2009 - 6:47 pm
As we’re on the subject of ‘good old copying’ and ‘ripping off’ let’s not forget Nima’s Santa Gold video is the ultimate rip off from Jodorowsky’s, masterpiece, The Holy Mountain…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GxqxnH0QvI
Now this is what I call a damn good copy!
Well done nez, love love love the opening b&w shot. saweet!
27. October 2009 - 6:59 pm
How many music videos has Jodowrowsky (if that is his real name) done? None! Clearly, nobody wants to work with the guy, so who’s ripping off whom?
This doesn’t make sense does it?
27. October 2009 - 9:33 pm
I don’t really see the Let Forever Be/Gondry comparison…. unless you’re referring to the dancing style which both borrow from the 1930s Busby Berkeley style.
27. October 2009 - 10:17 pm
Jesus christ. I love they way people chuck about the term ‘genius’ these days. The dinner lady at my old school used to heat up the school dinners that were cooked at the factory – GENIUS!
27. October 2009 - 10:23 pm
Ah… you guys forgot to mention the rip of of Clockwork Orange.
From where do you guys think the “round hat- sitting on a chair with crutches-camera travelling backwards” comes from? And how about the triangles shapes all around the set, that Mika accidentaly pose in front of in one of the scenes?? Should it be a rip of of the cover of the film?? Humm… to think of…
Honestly guys you’re paying to much attention on silly things. The video is awesome. Congratz Nez. Full of references, noticeable, but no copy at all. Doesn’t matter from where you took your references but how further you push them.
And how silly and narrow mind of someone, dunno who, “claimming copyright to Nima” for the outfit of the girl. Jezus Christ… have you never seen batman??
And sorry Ready to the Floor, but you really made a pretty unlucky comment. It’s the same of saying “Has this Almodovar directed any promo? None! Nobody wants him. He sucks…!”
Never seen a promo of Spielberg either, but well…
Btw, I’m a big fan of Nima’s work.
XX
27. October 2009 - 11:28 pm
You’ve got to admit the Jodorowsky is a stunning rip-off, so thanks to Cap’n Anorak for raising that one.
Q. Is Sarah Chatfield a plagiarist for referencing Gondry so heavily in that Freemasons video for Rain Down Love or is she simply paying ‘oh-marge’ to the master?
Or is The Blimp becoming a knock-off factory?
My own opinion is that working as a director you inevitably end up watching hundreds and hundreds of videos, many of which have very similar elements and you just pick em up. Rightly or wrongly, if something worked you’re going to want to repeat that.
Is it anyone’s fault that a popeyed rapper happens to look so goddam good wearing shades, pumping into a fisheye with a ringlight. It’s actually criminal not to do it now, because everything else just looks weak.
Thanks Hunter. Thanks Hype. We’re all plagiarists now.
Here endeth the lesson.
Nez rocks.
28. October 2009 - 10:52 am
does anyone else smell sour grapes? amazing video and without doubt the best one we’ve done for mika. nice one nezza.
28. October 2009 - 11:09 am
i doubt anyone would smell of sour grapes over a mika video
28. October 2009 - 11:57 am
we’re thinking of putting him in an ice cream van for the next one
28. October 2009 - 5:13 pm
Dieego, i’ve heard of Spielberg (obviously) but Almodovar or whatever? Are people just making these names up to look cool?
28. October 2009 - 11:42 pm
Wow, so much talk about rip offs. This video isn’t bad. And it’s not nearly as much a “rip off” as many others.
How come no one has never mentioned the very strong similarities between Gondry and Zbig Rybczynski? Many comments regarding this video are just pathetic.
29. October 2009 - 12:07 am
We only just found out who almodovar is and now your on about some guy who’s name begins with Z ???!!! Give us a break.
31. October 2009 - 6:48 pm
Great Job, Mika!
I’m your biggest fan! this video is very UNIQUE and ONE OF A KIND.. so proud! we’ve been a long way : )
love,
your carolina girl!
Kaitlin
4. November 2009 - 1:34 pm
gondry / zbig is a good mention. everyone has their influences and that’s how stuff progresses. I hate MIKA though – he should fuck off.