Director

Douglas Bernardt

Douglas&nbsp;Bernardt follows up the jawdropping Cobra video with his second, equally gobsmacking video&nbsp;for Megan Thee Stallion - the sequel, in fact. After Cobra comes Hiss...The video&nbsp;features Megan's powerful alter-ego, Tina Snow, and conveys metamorphosis through symbolic set design and alignment with the powerful lyrics in a series of spectacular set-ups. And symmetry is a key element, emphasising the duality between Megan and Tina.The thematic divide is evident in a camera split effect of the pair, achieved through consciously crafted hair and makeup, cinematography and editing. And as you might expect after the Cobra, this&nbsp;video also leans into VFX and complex technical camera work, such as having Megan facing a mirrored room reflecting both of her personas back to the audience.Bernardt&nbsp;again showcases his ability to seamlessly blend cultural nuances with striking storytelling. He consulted with Shibari experts, inspired by Japanese pop culture, and referenced the cult anime film Perfect Blue, which explores the difference between persona and true self.[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2][imgtoken data:3][imgtoken data:4]

United States

Mark Hall

Stink Films

Dom Mckiernan

Romy Jo Waller

Orren Herold

Jonas Morales

Christopher Ripley

Jacob Perry

Mathias Peralta

Miranda Lorenz

Zephyr Beck

Lucas Moesch

Final Cut

Melissa Trindade

dopo Post

Jacquelini Lima

Juliano Storchi

Daniel de Vue

Hip Hop

Megan Thee Stallion 'Hiss' by Douglas Bernardt

Megan Thee Stallion - HISS [Official Video]

Megan Thee Stallion gets ready to shed her skin in Douglas Bernardt's spectacular Director's Cut for Cobra.&nbsp;We open with the artist crawling through the insides of a giant snake, resurfacing in a mysterious jungle. If ever there was a way to do a comeback, this is it.&nbsp;Launching into a montage of slick vignettes which blur the line between fashion and surrealism, the video has a selection of standout moments - including&nbsp;Megan&nbsp;ripping the skin from her face and performing a captivating dance routine in the middle of a prehistoric landscape.&nbsp;Unabashedly confident and unique, the video feels elevated and inspired, and sets the scene for an exciting new era for the artist.[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2][imgtoken data:3]

Tyler Evans

Esprit Casting

Evan Bauer

Jeff Kopchia

Eric Fahy

Todd Martin

Erica Pribble

Matt Sanderson

Angus Bernsen 

Brenden Sheley

Denee Baptiste

Mah Ferraz

Cut & Run

Mikey Rossiter

Bradley Crawford

Thermonuclear

Roc Nation

Megan Thee Stallion 'Cobra (Director's Cut)' by Douglas Bernardt

Katie Lambert captures Georgia on a night out, and caught in 'WhatsApp Hell' in her vibrant video for&nbsp;Some Things You'll Never Know.&nbsp;&nbsp;Georgia is driving around London, hanging out&nbsp;with friends whilst&nbsp;being sucked into a WhatsApp conversation with some guy who is sending mixed messages. The messages are then added to the fabric of Georgia's world, with text encroaching upon&nbsp;on the road, on her car&nbsp;and in different locations across the video.It's cool and conceptual, but it's also&nbsp;about the emotion of Georgia's performance. And the video - DoP'd by director Douglas Bernardt - just looks great.[imgtoken data:1]

United Kingdom

Martha Howe

Oliver Whitworth

Frankie Noller

Katie Lambert

Nycollas Abreu

MrMr

John Moule

Abi Hurcomb

Martha McGuirk

Joshua Jacobs

Matteo Zenini

Bean Harvey Williams

Jamie Oliver Lai

Ciaran Turner

Tamara Ishida

Assembly Rooms

Andi Chu

Electric Theatre Collective

Mikko Ruostila

Domino Records

Georgia 'Some Things You'll Never Know' by Katie Lambert

Georgia-'Some-Things-You'll-Never-Know.-'-by-Katie-Lambert

<h3>This summer, Stink Films' director Douglas Bernardt has relocated from São Paulo to the place that has inspired some of his most creatively rewarding projects - including the recently-released Inside The Blind Iris&nbsp;(above). So&nbsp;we&nbsp;grabbed&nbsp;the chance to talk to him about this remarkable film&nbsp;and other memorable work.</h3>Douglas Bernardt is enjoying his current stay in London, despite a recent cycling accident which has him laid up, nursing a&nbsp;sore knee. This São Paulo native is not in London just for its disappointing summer weather. For him, London is an inspirational place.“Creatively London is the city that interests me the most," he says.&nbsp;"For me, it's a big step, coming from Brazil."It’s also where Bernardt&nbsp;has expanded his scope as a director, exploring the fertile British jazz scene, creating music videos for Tom Misch &amp;&nbsp;Yussef Dayes and Ezra Collective, and extending into live shoots&nbsp;for Misch and Dayes and&nbsp;Arlo Parks. And now he has made a bold step into capturing dance on film which is hugely significant.[vidtoken data:0]The most recent Berhardt-directed project is Inside The Blind Iris -&nbsp;a collaboration with British dancer/choreographer Botis Seva, as part of a commission through London dance venue&nbsp;Sadler's Wells. The 10-minute film&nbsp;fuses Seva’s expressive choreography with Bernardt’s virtuosity in creating memorable images, taking in the span of cinema history in the process. He references German expressionist and surrealist film with powerfully resonant monochrome imagery, but also creates blockbuster-worthy VFX in bringing the story behind Seva's choreography to life.&nbsp;Bernardt turned his hand to filmmaking in his early 20s,&nbsp;having established himself as a photographer. Both his photographic and film work can be described as&nbsp;ambitious, realistic yet lyrical - and it's always cinematically framed. He incorporates serious themes that are relevant to Brazilian life, through promos for the likes of Tagua Tagua,&nbsp;Baco Exu Do Blues and Nego Bala.With&nbsp;Inside The Blind Iris he employs a different palette and toolkit to confront&nbsp;issues of&nbsp;oppression, alienation and mental wellbeing. Our conversation began with his collaboration with Seva and Sadler's Wells, discovering why it was such an invigorating and creative experience -&nbsp;and how it differed to his more musical work.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]Above: Douglas Bernardt (left) on set of 'inside The Blind Iris' shoot with dancer/choreographer Botis Seva (right)<blockquote>I came up with an idea... to visually interpret the&nbsp;troubled mind.</blockquote>How did the dance film Inside The Blind Iris come about?It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Sadler's Wells created an initiative supporting filmic collaboration between directors and choreographers. There were three commissions available on the project, and Botis and I won one of them.Botis found my work online and he invited me. I didn't even need to do a treatment. We had one initial chemistry call, and we just bonded from there. It was really nice. And then we had complete creative freedom on the job&nbsp;- we just had to do a dance film that was abstract, and didn't have a structured&nbsp;narrative. That was the commission briefing.It’s a fantastic piece of work. When did you shoot it?We filmed in August and September of last year. Then there were three months of post production. So the final&nbsp;film was delivered in February, but it wasn't released until June.&nbsp;So how did the collaborative process work?I researched Botis's portfolio and found his choreography really inspiring especially because his movements are so strong. He always incorporates a lot of emotion in his dances, and it can feels like his dancers are trying to overcome&nbsp;something. We decided to use movement to explore what rebellion feels like, of fighting&nbsp;against oppression and the system.&nbsp;I came up with the idea of filming in black and white, and creating a known space - the hangar in the film - to resemble&nbsp;the character's mind. It would be an artistic interpretation of the troubled mind: to document&nbsp;pain or anxiety&nbsp;and imagine what it's like&nbsp;to fight your own demons.[imgtoken data:2]<blockquote>I love Buñuel, German Expressionism... and how much easier&nbsp;it is to light when you're shooting black and white.</blockquote>The dancers inside the building represent&nbsp;the haunted spirits following Botis. It's like a nightmare, but it ends up with a sense of hope, once Botis opens the&nbsp;portal and rips the wall out. It's a moment of freedom.I'm not sure&nbsp;that Botis fully understood&nbsp;all of my ideas at the conception stage&nbsp;– but he trusted me. Once we found the shoot location, things started to make sense. The venue had a great exterior,&nbsp;which&nbsp;felt like a place that could be magical and surreal. Yet inside it felt really oppressive,&nbsp;with its huge concrete walls.What and where was the location?It was a former aerodynamics test site, for aeroplanes in the Second World War. So there have this&nbsp;big wind tunnel, where they used to hang the aeroplanes to test their capabilities.And what about the references to classic cinema – including surrealism and even German Expressionism? Was that all there from the start?Stylistically I wanted to do something different to my previous work. I come from a DP background, so the aesthetic is really important to me. The visuals can&nbsp;to enhance the narrative or convey certain feelings. But I’m a bit tired of the stereotype that Brazilian directors only use tropical colours!I want to do something different that felt more European. I love Buñuel, German Expressionism and black and white movies - and I love how much easier it is to light, shooting in monochrome. It means you can focus on other stuff. By throwing a huge light source, you can&nbsp;draw amazing shadows and really focus on the movement, or think about how the dance arrangements fit into the narrative. It wasn’t the main reason we chose it, but in the end it helped so much.Our DP Harry Wheeler, is a master with 16mm. I wanted to invest to shoot in real black and white 16mm inside the building, rather than grade it&nbsp;from colour – because we were using the film as a narrative tool as well. It meant we could separate what is real stylistically from what plays out in his mind's eye. To bring the sense of oppression.[imgtoken data:3]<blockquote>Once you’re on set you also improvise a little bit - it's a nice way of incorporating dance into a narrative.</blockquote>Onto the performance aspect - how did you figure out the balance&nbsp;between the choreography, the camera and direction?The choreography was a really organic flow. Initially I didn't really know how to kickstart the process. So I began by presenting&nbsp;shapes to Botis, and he liked it. Once we had the location, we applied the shapes inside and started building outlines for each location – one circular setup, one was a line, a triangular setup and a square.We created five dance setups, and spread them through the locations, and&nbsp;Botis adapted the choreography to fit the venue. Then we focussed on the music, and made five tracks relevant to each setup too.&nbsp; It was a constantly evolving process - and we continued to improvise on-set. So it was a really nice way of incorporating dance into a narrative, because usually it’s the other way round - you bring the choreography in when everything else is set up.Of course the classic payoff shot is Botis encountering the whale in the middle of the City of London…So the idea behind the whale is that it represents this feeling of not belonging. It's abstract, of course, and there's room for interpretation. But how I see it&nbsp;is that&nbsp;this guy is so dislocated in the world that he feels outside and separate from reality - like a fish out of the water. And whales are so different&nbsp;from us, but at the same time, they're super-close to us - they're also mammals, the closest ally&nbsp;from the water.<blockquote>The only warmth&nbsp;in the film is when he looks at the whale, and the whale is about to die.</blockquote>So visually it's&nbsp;impactful and it builds an empathetic bond with Botis. No one looks at Botis with empathy, during the whole film. It’s the only moment of&nbsp;warmth in the whole film, when he looks at the&nbsp;whale, and the whale is about to die. It seems the animal understands the human’s struggle -as&nbsp;it’s dying in the middle of the centre of&nbsp;capitalism. Buses pass, people cycle on and continue to live their lives. No one has the capacity to really care or&nbsp;look at it.&nbsp;It's an abstract ending, but I think it does resonate with audiences, and that was the intention overall.This provided you with more freedom than some of your music videos, and definitely any commercial jobs. When you're making something for Nego Bala or Tom Misch do you have to become a different type of&nbsp;director to who you are commercially?Sort of. Every project has a goal that you need to reach. The Sadler’s Wells film was very much about how me and the choreographer worked together - a&nbsp;much more personal environment than my work for Nego Bala, for example. That’s&nbsp;his story, and I'm shooting on his behalf, so I have get into his mind as much as possible.[imgtoken data:4]Above: Bernardt (left) and Seva on the location of the Inside The Blind Iris shoot.<blockquote>Botis didn't always understand my initial ideas&nbsp;– but he trusted me.</blockquote>Working with Nego Bala was about understanding his reality,&nbsp;what he went through. That meant interviewing him many times, getting important details,&nbsp;and considering how to present these on camera. We were trying to summarise&nbsp;his childhood, his feelings,&nbsp;his perception of growing up in prison.Of course, I weaved in my own feelings, to&nbsp;make it feel more intimate. But its more about trying to translate what he told me about his reality. And It had a really important political side as well. There's a really important social aspect behind it to inspire Brazilian youth.The <a href="https://vimeo.com/391086313" target="_blank">Tom Misch video [for What Kinda Music</a>] was more like the traditional process for a music video. I received the music, and loved it, then slowly&nbsp;found the visual to make the music stronger and tease out a story to match the lyrics.You shot the narrative video in Ukraine, which led you to making live videos for Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes. How did that come about and how different are live videos?From the get-go we agreed to do the two video concepts - the&nbsp;narrative for What Kinda Music and live video for Lift Off. I was more excited about the narrative one. But I alos thought it was cool to do a live shoot with a smaller budget and capture the band’s synergy without a fixed storyline to follow.[vidtoken data:1]<blockquote>I didn't know I would have so much passion for shooting live performance.</blockquote>But when we got on set of the live performance video, and I saw Yussef and Tom play, it was mesmerising. They are&nbsp;so soulful together, and it's just beautiful to watch them perform.It was my very first time shooting a live video, and I didn't know I would have so much passion for it. But you're&nbsp;so in&nbsp;the moment. You have to be present, to find the right elements for the shot, including the right lighting and camera movements in the right moment of the track. I had to really get into&nbsp;the music, and try to translate that on-screen. It also felt I was playing with them while they performed. My instrument was the&nbsp;Steadicam.I just got into the zone on set. And after that, I wanted to do more of these sort of jobs.&nbsp;It just has to be with a truly exceptional&nbsp;performer – because its 100% about the performance.And that collaboration led to the Arlo Parks live video, for Softly?Yes, Arlo is amazing&nbsp;and has a wonderful voice. So that was a natural fit. For that shoot&nbsp;we found a&nbsp;location in New York, while I was shooting a commercial in Mexico. It meant I had to do a one day trip to New York just to shoot this. I was testing for COVID the entire time, and then&nbsp;on the day we were meant to do the shoot, I tested positive.&nbsp;I didn't&nbsp;have any symptoms (and I still think it was a dud result) but I couldn't go.&nbsp;[vidtoken data:2]<blockquote>It was more about Arlo’s expressions while singing. So the camera is much more about her.</blockquote>I called a director friend of mine in New York, to help me out. I was going to direct remotely, but I needed someone there on set, to feel out the space.&nbsp;He was my eyes, and at some point our visions synced up.It was a completely&nbsp;different experience to my first live video. With Arlo, it was all about the voice. We didn't need to navigate between instruments, we just wanted to capture Arlo's emotions and how she expressed herself. So having her front and centre in shot was essential. Even when moving around the band, she's always looking to the camera.As you’re spending the summer months living in London, what are you enjoy most about being here?Not the food. I’m joking...I love the intersection of art in London.&nbsp;Music video-wise and commercially, the most creative work takes place here. You can see it in the&nbsp;fashion. I lived in New York before, and the two cities have a similar vibe. But I think in London it’s a little bit more… true. People really build a scene here, and that’s interesting.It's quite hard for me to explain, but it’s a place where I fit, where I have friends. It's been easy for me to make friends here.&nbsp;I also like that the whole city is flat and I can ride my bike.&nbsp;São Paulo is full of hills, so cycling is much harder!&nbsp;[vidtoken data:3]<blockquote>My music videos have been like short films - now my treatments are getting more surreal.</blockquote>I still do a lot of photography. That's how I started and though&nbsp;I gave it up for a few years, I came back to it recently. I'm investing in my photography more actively at the moment, and taking&nbsp;street pictures as I walk about. I love it.I'd love to express myself in an easier medium. Films take a long time, so photography allows me to express myself immediately, every day. While I've been here I've been&nbsp;organising my pictures, creating series, and taking more. It's been fun, discovering new neighbourhoods, and feeling connected to people.What else is in the pipeline for you in terms of films?My ideas now are different to what I’ve been known for. The dance film has spurred a new career direction. My music videos have always been more like short films, with a fleshed-out narrative, like for Bluesman&nbsp;and Nego Bala. My treatments are becoming more surreal, and feeling-led. And I'm trying to nurture&nbsp;this new wave of thinking.• Douglas Bernardt is represented by <a href="https://stinkfilms.com/united-kingdom/" target="_blank">Stink Films</a> for music videos and commercials.

Douglas Bernardt on 'Inside The Blind Iris' and finding fresh inspiration in London

INSIDE THE BLIND IRIS

Tom-Misch-&amp;-Yussef-Dayes-'Lift-Off-(feat.-Rocco-Palladino)'-by-Douglas-Bernardt

Arlo Parks - Softly (Live)

Nego Bala – "SONHO" com Elza Soares (Filme Oficial)

Douglas Bernardt's new 15 minute short film/music video Sonho tells the extraordinary story of&nbsp;Brazilian musician Nego Bala, who was incarcerated in a terrifying juvenile jail when he was just 12 - but&nbsp;survived, and managed to pull his life around.Now Bala is a pop star with a message of hope, which Bernardt has brought to the screen with a level of skill and ambition that has become a hallmark of his work.&nbsp;Starting in the jail - where the twelve year old boy starts to hum the melody that will become the song Sonho (or Dream), and is punished for it - the story advances through different chapters, and different forms of narrative,&nbsp;representing the artist's life: from the São Paulo favela, where the performance by his group of friends resembles a dance by an African tribe;&nbsp;to great portraiture of ordinary people;&nbsp;through to a surreal version of a friend's death - and finally Bala talking to his younger self, about his redemption.[vidtoken data:0]The film was a produced by Stink Films in Brazil, in collaboration with&nbsp;AKQA\Coala.LAB - the same partnership responsible for Bernardt's short film&nbsp;Bluesman&nbsp;for&nbsp;Baco Exu do Blues - winner of the first Brazilian Grand Prix at Cannes Lion for Entertainment for Music&nbsp;in 2019. And the script for&nbsp;Sonho&nbsp;was&nbsp;devised using testimonials from Nego Bala, written in collaboration with Douglas alongside the AKQA\Coala.LAB team.We spoke to Douglas Bernardt about the project - that was two pandemic-affected years in the making - and discovered that just like the film itself, the production process assumed epic proportions.[imgtoken data:1]<blockquote>The story of the creation of the song was as strong as the track itself.</blockquote>How did the project begin? Was it always the plan to make something bigger than a normal music video for Sonho?The project began with an invitation from old time partners AKQA and Coala.Lab to create a film that would be part of the release of Nego’s first album,&nbsp;Da Boca Do Lixo.&nbsp;&nbsp;As I got the track and started to write the script, we understood, talking to Nego Bala, that the story of the creation of the song was as strong as the track itself, and we could deliver a bigger message to the audience.&nbsp;I’ve been trying to mix formats on my personal projects, so that was the perfect fit.&nbsp;A musical short film about the creation of a song. This is where we ended up.[imgtoken data:2]How close was your collaboration with Nego on developing the story? What did he want to convey with the film?Me and Nego always wanted to shoot something together.&nbsp;We never knew if it would be fiction, music video or a documentary, but the intention was always there, since the very first time we met four or five years ago.&nbsp;But none of us ever imagined it would happen that way, with support, sponsors, PR, etc. It was a genuine willingness of collaboration and inspiration. Me on his words and him on my visuals.He wanted to convey his story in a way the majority of the population would connect, not only in our industry bubble. A film in which people could see themselves and&nbsp;their potential of reaching their dreams. No matter how far they seem to be from his reality.[imgtoken data:3]Where did you shoot the video – and how long did it take?We shot all over São Paulo state.&nbsp;From nature, to urban downtown, to Favela do Moinho.&nbsp;It was all around the city where chaos and inequality of opportunities are translated by Nego’s body of work.The film is comprised of different sections, or chapters. How would you describe the purpose of each chapter?&nbsp;I thought about acts that together would poetically stitch the timeline of Nego’s trajectory.&nbsp;From an oppressed kid locked up in jail, who discovers in music a tool for freedom, to the projection of a new world of dreams and hope.[imgtoken data:4]<blockquote>The location we chose used to be a prison for political dissidents.</blockquote>These sections are in different styles - from gritty reality to magic realism. How do you reconcile the different styles so they work together?Each section had one intention, and we had to find a way of navigating between them, keeping an unique and homogeneous look. There’s a few key visual and sound transitions in the film that were meticulously thought out, to drive the audience from one sense to another.Like the hole in the jail that takes us to nature, or the candle scene where Nego projects himself saving the life of a friend. I'm not the biggest fan of how transitions are being used nowadays. They have been so overused without a reason. I try hard to keep them always as a tool within a narrative motivation.[imgtoken data:5]The first section in the prison is brutal, but has its own beauty. How did you create that?That was one of the toughest scene to conceive visually. The image the world has of Brazilian poverty and general jail scenarios are always inhumane and overly rough. I didn’t want to put kids into this stereotyped visual.&nbsp;But we also couldn’t be naive and not show the struggle that is being in prison.To find this balance, together with Pierre Kerchove (DP) and Carol Ozzi (PD), we thought about an overall&nbsp;overhead soft light that would not create a dense atmosphere. We also painted all the location in the same blue color as the kid’s uniform. These two things together brought a sense of oppression in a visual that was meaningful and strong yet beautiful.&nbsp;The location we chose used to be a prison for political dissidents, during the Brazilian dictatorship, and later on was also an actual juvenile correction center. A lot of people were physically and mentally tortured in there and the place has a strong oppressive energy itself.&nbsp;It's also impossible to not mention our casting director Giovana Rouvier, who found all the boys that shaved their heads and lived this unique experience on set with us.[imgtoken data:6]When the young Nego looks out of the prison, you cut between a tribal dance and Nego and his crew in the city in a similar formation. What’s the significance?This scene was created with choreographer Gabb Cabo-Verde and involved a lot of research and conversation with specialists. We wanted to show that rhythm and music are practically engraved in our DNA.&nbsp;Brazilian funk, the genre where Nego mostly draws from in this album,&nbsp;is seen with a lot of prejudice by conservative people in Brazil. So the scene has the intention of showing that Brazilian funk actually has cultural heritage that comes from the deep roots of Brazilian ancestry.Hand beats have been used as a musical door for transcendence since a long time ago, and it was brought here during the African diaspora, by enslaved people.&nbsp;The same applies for the circular formation, that is seen in so much cultural manifestations in Brazil that has strong African roots: from samba, to candomblé and capoeira. They all have circular rituals, in which energy flows from one individual to another.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:7]After the realism of the car journey, there is a series of almost classic portraits. Who are the people or characters portrayed in this section?Those scenes were based on the interviews we did in the casting sessions and tapes. The same simple question was made to everyone: “What's your biggest dream?”, and we heard stuff that showed the effects of inequality of opportunity and structural racism."Making a beautiful birthday party to my daughter"&nbsp;,"Walking in the streets with my dog without being chased by cops" -&nbsp;and so on.&nbsp;It leads to the part where Nego interrupts a death. How did you achieve this dreamlike scene? Was there personal significance in this scene for Nego?- “And what if you could dream about changing the past?”&nbsp; - “I would save my friend Bebezão from being murdered.”This question came up in one of the many meetings I had with Nego while conceptualizing and writing the script. This scene was entirely based on his answer.[imgtoken data:8]&nbsp;<blockquote>Nego wanted to convey his story in a way the majority of the population would connect.</blockquote>We wanted to deliver a sense of hope for the future. Of a new world, where people are not killed by the colour of their skin, by the clothes they wear, by the hood they live in. Where newborns will have the freedom of dreaming, of being who they are without prejudice and fear.The technical achievement was pretty complex. It was a mix of in-camera and post-production VFX.&nbsp;We had to&nbsp;compose both shots of Nego holding the candle and the drone in the alley. The rain and the bullet were 3D. And the actor that plays Nego’s friend was sitting on a rig hidden inside his outfit.[imgtoken data:9]You end on a message of Hope. It's directed by Nego to his younger self, but how much is that also directed towards the people of Brazil?The idea was connecting past and present to deliver a message of hope for the future. Nego wrote the monologue, but everything changed when we were shooting the scene. The emotion was so real and Nego just improvised what came out from his heart.I think it’s directed not only to the people of Brazil, but the whole world. The penitentiary system is questionable everywhere. It&nbsp;shatters the perspective of the future for so many people, even more for kids.&nbsp;What were the biggest challenges in making the film?&nbsp;Putting&nbsp;it all together in the middle of the pandemic. We had many setbacks because of the lockdowns. We shot most of the film in mid-2021 when Brazil was really bad in case numbers, and following very strict health protocols. On many occasions I thought the project would never be finished.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:10]<blockquote>It was a challenge to deal with time, ambition and expectations.&nbsp;</blockquote>And what were the biggest highlights of the experience of making the film?Being part of something that I really believe in.&nbsp;Filmmaking is a powerful tool of communication. And it is very fulfilling when you put out work that really tells&nbsp;something to the world.I feel like we are living a “release-driven” generation, where the amount of work/awards are more important than the content of the pieces in itself.&nbsp;This project took more than two years to be made, and it was a challenge for me to deal with time, ambition and expectations.&nbsp;In the end I learnt that what really matters is being honest to the story you are portraying, and translating truth through your visuals and storytelling.• Douglas Bernardt is with <a href="https://stinkfilms.com/" target="_blank">Stink Films</a> for global representation.&nbsp;

Douglas Bernardt on his epic video for Nego Bala's Sonho - "We wanted to deliver a sense of hope for the future."

Doug Bernardt's video for Masego is a lovely&nbsp;performance piece, featuring the&nbsp;Jamaican-American musician with a companion - the Mystery Lady of the song's title - with the song inspiring her and two other women to reveal their remarkable command of Latin dance styles.Characteristically for the Brazilian director's work, it is beautifully photographed by DoP Andres Arochi, characterised by sweeping moving shots as Masego performs in a courtyard, and the women come from interiors to dance in the sunshine.[imgtoken data:1]And the location is a key part of the chemistry of the video, with Bernardt also making this a celebration of the place where it was filmed - Mexico City."I've always been a big fan of Masego and it’s a pleasure to be releasing this first collaboration with him," says the director.&nbsp;"I'm happy we kept a true and representative Latin atmosphere in the video - our choices of locations and casting were always mindful in order to portray Mexico City with its true character."

Ryland Burns

Tess Anastasia

Andres Arochi

Flor Hart

Matt Schaff

Cabin Edit

Oscmar Junior

Robert Bruzadin

Marcela Murer

Nash

Dalia Xiuhcoatll

Tia Swing

CineBuró

Masego 'Mystery Lady (Sego's Remix)' by Douglas Bernardt

Masego-'Mystery-Lady'-by-Douglas-Bernardt

Tom Misch and Yussef Dayes return with Lift Off,&nbsp;a song that infuses jazz and funk through modern sensibilities, complete with a lovely video from&nbsp;Douglas Bernardt documenting their live performance of the track&nbsp;with Rocco Palladino, shot on 16mm film in Kiev.&nbsp;DoP&nbsp;Adolpho Veloso utilises drawn-out Steadicam&nbsp;shots, which float through the warmly-lit studio as an&nbsp;orange&nbsp;sun orbits the artists&nbsp;on a track. In the background, a couple are performing choreography as the guitar and bass lines crescendo to an addicting groove.It's a simple and clear concept, and Bernardt finds the magic within the hypnotic performances.&nbsp;

Vadim Yuzba

Adolpho Veloso

Vlad Dobrik

Leonid Sidorenko

Max Halushka

Timothy Stipan

Company 3

Flavia Gannam

Nash Tv

Hands 

Connie Meade

Duncan Murray

Radioaktive Film

Valentyn Petyshkin

Kate Galytska

Jazz

Funk

Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes (ft Rocco Palladino) 'Lift Off' by Douglas Bernardt

Paranoia takes hold in&nbsp;Douglas Bernardt's thrilling vision for Tom Misch &amp; Yussef Dayes.&nbsp;Traversing an&nbsp;subway station in Kiev, the lead character - played by&nbsp;Demian Piatakov -&nbsp;snaps his neck back and forth, trying to catch a glimpse of the eyes trained on him. Everyday people morph into threatening figures as they glare and gossip, and all Piatakov can do is keep walking.Moments later, Piatakov is running through&nbsp;a vast forest, representing his confused emotions and the labyrinth that is his mind. Inside this world, he has a chance to pause and consider his surroundings, a juxtaposition to the dark&nbsp;city and its cacophony of noise and violence.&nbsp;DoP&nbsp;Adolpho Veloso contrasts the two locations through considered lighting and composition:&nbsp;the forest shots utilise slow zooms and breathtaking natural lighting, whilst the train has pulsing artificial light and lots of close-ups. A judicious use of VFX add a huge amount of production value to the project, and help create the haunting and ethereal world inside the character's mind.&nbsp;

Tim Stipan

Cinelab Film and Digital

Alternative

Indie

Tom Misch & Yussef Dayes 'What Kinda Music' by Douglas Bernardt

Tom-Misch-&amp;-Yussef-Dayes-'What-Kinda-Music-'-by-Douglas-Bernardt

A young man shifts in scale as he traverses the city in&nbsp;Douglas Bernardt's video for Gregory Porter's Revival.&nbsp;The visual opens with a shot of the man -&nbsp;played by Jemoni Powe -&nbsp;watching footage of the LA riots from 1994. He shrinks to the size of a mouse,&nbsp;and slides from the sofa, feeling deflated and isolated from society. There is an overarching theme of the battle between oppression and living your truth as an individual, and this sets the scene for what's to come.&nbsp;A contemporary spin on the "eat me" and "drink me"&nbsp;treats in Alice in Wonderland, Powe's journey involves him growing and shrinking dependent on his situation and emotions. One thing&nbsp;that lights his fire&nbsp;is dance, so when he bursts into a club where Porter is playing live on stage, he immediately becomes his usual form, performing knee-breaking choreography on the dancefloor. Ending with a shot of him both as a giant&nbsp;towering over his house, and as a small man at his door, there are clear metaphors about chasing your dreams and finding something that fills you with joy.The VFX from&nbsp;Nash are impeccable, handling the shifting scale and various elements with ease and quality, really helping to sell the concept and ground the story in reality.&nbsp;

Danilo Abraham

Osmar Junior

Universal

Gregory Porter 'Revival' by Douglas Bernardt

Gregory-Porter-'Revival'-by-Douglas-Bernardt

Douglas Bernardt&nbsp;finds&nbsp;beauty amid devastation in this poignant and emotive video for the Sao Paulo-based Loïc Koutana.This piece, for Koutana's&nbsp;L'Homme Statue focusses on the aftermath of a tragedy:&nbsp;in February this year, Koutana and his partner&nbsp;Raphael Lobato's apartment caught fire, and they lost everything they had in a matter of seconds. In the video they return to the apartment - this was shot in the&nbsp;six&nbsp;hours they had to find what was left inside the apartment, before it was taken over by authorities.&nbsp;Instead of focusing exclusively on the damage and wreckage, Bernardt - who's groundbreaking video Bluesman was nominated at the UKMVAs this year, and won at Cannes Lions - focusses upon the small things. When we see Koutana and Lobato embrace in their bedroom, surrounded by black, charred surfaces, the sense of loss of a beloved home is overwhelming. But it's also a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit, and the love around them - friends and family have helped to get them on their feet again.[imgtoken data:1]Hailing from the Côte d’Ivoire, but based in Brazil for the last five years, Loïc Koutana&nbsp;has already become a significant figure in the fight&nbsp;for free expression in the LGBTQ+ community. Douglas Bernardt does a great service to the artist by focussing upon the brave response to his and his partner's personal disaster&nbsp;in such a poetic fashion -&nbsp;and cements his own reputation as a formidable image-maker.&nbsp;

Brazil

Ingrid Raszl

Tico Cruz

Douglas Bernardt, Vitor Duarte, Pedro Tejada

Loïc Koutana 'L'Homme Statue' by Douglas Bernardt

Loïc-Koutana-'L&#039;homme-Statue'-by-Douglas-Bernardt

Brazil-based director Douglas Bernhardt has directed a beautiful, discursive portrait of Rio life through the eyes of a gregarious&nbsp;young man, for the Brazilian artist Baco.With breathtaking cinematography, the narrative cuts back and forth from past to present - his happy-go-lucky, joy-filled&nbsp;progress&nbsp; through his day counterpointed with his dramatic sprint through the streets, as if being chased. On all sorts of levels, this is a&nbsp;thrilling experience,&nbsp;and an illuminating insight into Rio culture, as well as a riveting promo for Baco&#39;s track Bluesman.BACO:&quot;What is being a &ldquo;Bluesman&rdquo;? It&rsquo;s been the opposite of what &#39;others&#39;&nbsp;think. It&rsquo;s going against the current, being your own strength, your own roots. It&rsquo;s knowing we were never an automatic reproduction of a submissive image created by them.&quot;I am the first rhythm to make black people rich I am the first rhythm to set black people free Ring on the finger, on each of the five Wind on my face, I feel alive From now on I consider everything blues Samba is blues, Rock is blues, Jazz is blues Funk is blues, Soul is blues I am &ldquo;Exu do Blues&rdquo; Everything that when black was considered devilish And then became white and was accepted, I will call it blues Jesus is blues&quot;

Leonardo Duque

Tiago Cavalcanti

Lucas Oliveira

Peterson Lomovtov, Vinicius Rodrigues Da Silva

Arnaldo Shoyama

Lauren Ferreira

Ana Wainer

Squarehead

Bleach

Kelson Succi, Hilton Cobra

Baco Exu Do Blues 'Bluesman' by Douglas Bernardt

Baco-Exu-Do-Blues-'Bluesman'-by-Douglas-Bernardt

Brazilian director Douglas Bernardt travelled to Cruz das Almas, Bahia to make this compelling, beautifully shot video for&nbsp;Tagua Tagua - the solo project by Felipe Puperi from Wannabe Jalva - chronicling the remarkable Fire Sword War, that takes place in the region every June.As this tradition, to celebrate the St John feast days, involves groups of young men firing off powerful fireworks directly&nbsp; towards each other, it&#39;s incredibly dangerous and expressly forbidden by law. But it&#39;s been&nbsp;happening regardless for decades, involves many local people - and leads to numerous serious injuries every year.[imgtoken data:1]Reflecting the lyrics of the song&nbsp;Rastro de Pó,&nbsp;which talks about memory, light, shadow and legacy, Bernhardt&#39;s film&nbsp;tells the story of how mothers and children can get caught up in this dangerous tradition. Bernhardt&#39;s video presents a slighty dramatised version of events, but there is no question about the veracity of this &#39;Fire Sword War&nbsp;as its shown in the video.&nbsp;Those are definitely real fireworks fired at real people.[imgtoken data:2]&nbsp;&ldquo;We were amazed by the strength of the tradition, the legacy, what is passed from generation to another &ndash; it&rsquo;s very powerful in this town,&quot; says Bernhardt.&nbsp;&ldquo;I was always fascinated by cultural manifestations that are typically Brazilian and the challenge of how to portray them through a cinematic perspective. When we came across the Fire Sword War in Cruz das Almas, we felt that the song had such a strong connection to the essence of the tradition. It was a perfect match.&quot;[imgtoken data:3]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Douglas Bernardt

Director

2 interviews featuring Douglas Bernardt

10 videos featuring Douglas Bernardt

2024 (1)

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