Lady Gaga’s Bad Romance by Francis Lawrence
Thursday, 12. November 2009 - 2:30 pm
Hey Gaga, what big eyes you’ve got… Lady Gaga, not only a director’s dream but a stylist’s, a choreographer’s… you name it. This really quite amazing Francis Lawrence promo for the brand new catchy-as-hell single Bad Romance (from the forthcoming Fame Monster album) is indeed a feast for the eyes.
Lady Gaga
Bad Romance (Interscope)
Director: Francis Lawrence
Producer: Heather Heller
Production Comapany: DNA
DoP: Thomas Kloss
Editor: Jarrett Fijal @ Bonch
Stylist: Nicola Formichetti
Hair: Cyd Curry
Make-up: Billy B
Choreographer: Laurieann Gibson
Production Designer: Charles Infante
Visual Effects: Skully FX
Telecine: Dave Hussey @ Company 3
Commissioners: Nicole Ehrlich/Kathy Angstadt
12. November 2009 - 3:14 pm
so mega amazing it renders everything else irrelevant
12. November 2009 - 5:17 pm
Absofrigginlutely. By far the best thing out there.
And good to see somebody spending some money and reminding peeps what you can achieve.
12. November 2009 - 6:10 pm
jesus. just when you think it’s spewed up everything it’s got to give it suddenly turns on you and heaves up another mind-blowing setup. all departments at the top of their game. fair play. can I have some money now please?
12. November 2009 - 10:15 pm
Just…beyond amazing. The Americans really are leadin’ the field and taking monumental chances, across all departments.
Talk about putting the British music video industry to shame…
12. November 2009 - 10:35 pm
Big generalisation there actually… there’s some cracking stuff being produced over here, for a miniscule proportion of the budget spent on this, genuinely inventive because it has to be. But it’s the detail and the sheer balls of the artist to embrace some bold decisions that sets this one apart.
13. November 2009 - 8:49 am
I couldn’t watch till the end.
Yeah, the styling is nice, but…
She’s anoying and the track… terrible.
What’s the “Raaa, ra, ra, ra-a-aaa” she starts around 0:30??? I’d say countryside music, for the lack of finesse.
13. November 2009 - 1:27 pm
what’s the big deal? We’ve seen all this before surely. It’s just a pop video with money.
13. November 2009 - 1:55 pm
I was mainly speaking about the field of pop, Mr Rubin.
And British pop videos these days are by and large incredibly jaded and timid in atyling and art direction, or else they try and ape their megabucks American counterparts and fail dismally. You would think small budgets would foster creativity, but I personally think the opposite has happened in pop…Commissioners and record companies aren’t willing to take stylistic chances as there’s too much at stake financially. And if I have to hear another pop brief stating that the video’s look needs to be “Box friendly and relatable”, I think I’ll scream. It’s music video, people!
Forget reality!
13. November 2009 - 2:11 pm
british videos are not timid in art direction! Art department and wardrobe are expensive todo correctly and need lots of prep & resources. the Art Directors here are great but they are never given the opportunity to show it with a meaty project. The false eyelash allowance on this would have blown most UK entire art dept budgets
13. November 2009 - 6:26 pm
Hahaha, Mr. Big-American-Dollars-America-is-the-Best, you’re so funny…
Do you work in a post office to talk like that about music vids? Go back to your ranch.
13. November 2009 - 8:01 pm
The most creative and inventive videos are british, you don’t need an amazingly large budget to create something great, Lady ga ga’s vid is okay but nothing out of this world, just look at Dave Ma’s video for the Foals for evidence
13. November 2009 - 8:42 pm
Tim is lying, of course.
You can only make really good videos with really, really big budgets.
Serious.
13. November 2009 - 11:23 pm
amazing. speechless.
13. November 2009 - 11:26 pm
Tim, you beat me to it, Dave Ma works his ass off and he pulls off miracles for no money, but the guy understands the craft. If you’re looking for good young chops in pop then I think Nez has a bright career ahead of him too.
13. November 2009 - 11:50 pm
I’m a director myself – and I am speaking specifically in the field of major market pop music video in the UK. And it is hopelessly and undeniably reserved these days.
And t be honest, I am speaking particularly about direction, production design and styling; and it has nothing to do with budgets. Lady GaGa and Francis Lawrence aren’t afraid to push boundaries, shock, or revel in the ridiculous. You just do not find that in major British pop videos. Take a look at any of the big pop hitters these days – Sugababes, The Saturdays, Pixie Lott, etc – and there is nothing challenging, original, progressive or fabulous about the videos or the directors that helm them.
Financial compromise should breed creativity, but I sincerely don’t think that’s the case. And Topshop should never be the reserve of the pop stylist…
13. November 2009 - 11:59 pm
And please – I’m not a fan of American mega budgets…Of course it doesn’t always equal amazing videos – just look at Chris Brown.
My whole argument is that this is an American artist unwilling to toe the line with a big-hitting, take no prisoners, commercial pop video – something the British well and truly led the field in during the 80s. Now they’re falling hopelessly behind.
Show me a current British made pop video that isn’t shamelessly timid, derivative or stylistically toothless and I’ll change my mind.
14. November 2009 - 12:04 pm
Imagineer, please don’t stop there…
The more you post the funnier it gets.
Sugababes, The Saturdays and Pixie Lott are your references in British pop. Good choice, you definitely have a taste for quality pop music!
I understand why you like this video now.
14. November 2009 - 1:25 pm
Perhaps you should read my posts a little more closely – I was referring to “major market pop music video” in the UK, of which those three examples slot perfectly into.
14. November 2009 - 1:32 pm
And Zack, those three examples were also my reference points for UK pop videos that have “nothing challenging, original, progressive or fabulous” about them or their directors.
Before you rush to attack me or my alleged musical tastes, perhaps you should actually read what I have to say first!
Geez Louise….
14. November 2009 - 2:01 pm
Handbags drawn!!!
14. November 2009 - 6:22 pm
Just so great, like me and the great white Malachi all over again, except we were funny! Where’s the big bald one when you need him?
15. November 2009 - 12:03 pm
when the time is right padwan…return i will…
16. November 2009 - 11:17 am
British Film: http://www.showstudio.com/project/garethpughaw09/
US Film: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbGV2_8Yqg4
It’s clearly the UK commissioners who lack the creative vision or courage, not the film-makers. Gaga makes no secret of how she takes inspiration from UK fashion and sub-culture – and let’s not forget that Nicola her stylist is fashion dir of Dazed – a UK mag. She’s also about to collborate with Nick Knight and Ruth Hogben – the makers of the above Gareth Pugh film. It’s her as an individual who is clearly steering her image – not a record company.
17. November 2009 - 5:41 pm
I find it simply marvellous when someone like Anna speaks with such conviction about a subject she clearly has no idea about. It’s like, stupid done stupidly. A gold star for you sweetheart.
17. November 2009 - 7:28 pm
“It’s like” sexism done sarcastically. a gold star right back at you chap x
why don’t you enlighten us all with you pov then?
18. November 2009 - 1:38 pm
Lady Gaga is pile of old shit. End of debate. Who cares where she gets her ‘inspiration’ from?
18. November 2009 - 4:01 pm
Dear Anna, for you to consider Ms Gaga as anything other than a concept dress horse, thought up by some people in a room, driven by a marketing machine striving for profit, is, while cutely naive, a mistake. If it’s inspiration, creative vision or courage you are looking for, I can heartily recommend the Bible.
18. November 2009 - 6:54 pm
no way did the marketing dept come up with her look! marketing always plays safe.
18. November 2009 - 7:35 pm
Holy shit?!!!! The bible!! Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
26. November 2009 - 3:22 pm
This Video blew my mind: it did an absolutely incredible job of artistically representing the sex and violence underlying all these romance and beauty themes in modern culture. The pro-feminist inside of me squeeled with glee at all the intricacies of the representation, the makeup, the innocence in big eyes, the monstrosity of practicing for the dance, then it coming together. Women forcing other women to be raped. Wow. Even more crazy is that people might want to mimic it, though it does such a good job of conveying so much horror. Pop critical of pop. High budget production can be good – and self aware! Who knew?
6. February 2010 - 4:46 pm
An absolutely beautiful piece of art.