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Stormzy ft Fredo 'Toxic Trait' by Femi Ladi

Rob Ulitski - 5th July 2023

When Stormzy does videos, he does them big, and the video for Toxic Trait, directed by Femi Ladi, is no different, boasting a tour de force of set builds, visual effects and cameos - delivered with a mesmerizing motion controlled camera move.

What's more, there's a dramatised therapy session featuring guest artist Fredo - with his therapist played by TV royalty Alison Hammond.

The video fictionally contextualises a plethora of 'toxic' situations that Stormzy refers to in the track, honing in on gambling, violence and the glorification of luxury lifestyles. And as the camera shifts between multiple versions of the grime superstar, Ladi introduces significant, historical cultural moments from over the years, including the iconic 1968 Esquire Magazine cover of Muhammed Ali and Kehinde Wiley’s prominent painting, A Ship Of Fools.

When the action breaks for the therapy scene with Fredo and Hammond, it's a welcome development of the theme that also adds a touch of humour. Then it concludes with a group-therapy session which features further cameos from a range of British figureheads including Ivorian Doll, Wretch 32 and Specs Gonzalez.

Filmed in London earlier this year, the majority of the visual was shot on a high-speed, cinema robot camera, capable of horizontal and vertical movement speeds of up to 2 metres per second.

“After listening to the lyrics, I wanted to have fun with this video," Femi Ladi has stated. "I liked the idea of bringing a Renaissance-style painting to life, whilst still feeling grounded in the world of Stormzy.

"We collaborated on all the scenarios together which was great - as well as being able to bring in the
likes of Fredo and Alison Hammond for their own toxic therapy sessions!"

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Rob Ulitski - 5th July 2023

Tags

  • Motion control
  • Grime
  • Rap
  • Performance
  • Cameo
  • VFX
  • Theatrical
  • Cinematic
  • Set Build

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Credits

Production/Creative

Director
Femi Ladi
Producer
Tom Gardner
Production Company
Executive Producer
Saskia Whinney
Executive Producer
Chris Watling
Production Manager
Max Harrison
1st AD
Chris Kelly
Production Assistants
Sophie Dembitzer, Bella Meyer
2nd AD
Affi Robbani
Runners
Edie Kelly, Ted Kelly, Anisay Taha
Accounts
Amy Barber, Brian Mullen

Camera

Director of Photography
Ruben Woodin Deschamps
1st AC
Tuncer Ozdemir
2nd AC
Andre Pinto
Trainee
Arnau Pepin
DIT
Ash Daniyan
MoCo Technicians
Rammy Anwar, Andrew Rider

Lighting/Grip

Gaffer
Leo Olesker
Desk Op
Frankie Shields
Electricians
Cleo Vogler, Nathan Rubins, Deepan Thavarajah, Yeh Htoo Love
Key Grip
Ed Livesey

Art

Production designer
Hatty Ellis-Coward
Production designer
Studio Augmenta
1st Art Assistant
Asya Peker
Art Assistants
Gabriel Healy, Roisin Jenner, Wing Lock, Lettice Gatacre

Wardrobe

Stylist (Artist)
Melissa Holdbrook-Akposo
Artist Styling Assistant
Cherelle Miller, Natalia Caldarasan
Artist Tailor
Majula Laitinen
Additional Styling
Barbara Fu Safira
Additional Styling Assistant
Roberto Frusciante
Additional Styling Assistant
Blessing Ayozie
Artist Groomer
Bianca Simone Scott
Hair Stylist
Shamara Roper, Villane Walcott
Hair Stylist Assistant
Donica Campbell
HMU Assistants
Courtney Recce-Scott, Maisie Boyd

Editorial

Editor
Amber Saunders
Editing company
Cabin Edit
Edit Assistant
Craig Griffiths
Edit Executive Producer
Kayt Hall
Edit Producer
Ruth Minkley
VFX Executive Producer
Johnny Fairburn
VFX Producer
Thom Godsill
2D Lead
Nick John
2D Artists
Callum Wellby, Alfie Vaughan, James Belch, Laura Smith
3D Artist
James Henaghan
Sound Designer
Jack Hallett @ Factory
Executive Producer/Head of Production
Deborah Whitfield
Title Design
Kieran Mistry and Destinie Paige

Grading

Colourist
Lewis Crossfield

VFX

VFX Supervisor
Luke Todd
Post production company

Commission

Commissioner

Misc

Head Of Production
Georgina Fillmore
Music Video Representation
Andre Reid-McKinley
Motion control
G6 Moco

Other credits

Wire Supervisor

Andy Thompson

Wire Riggers

Grant Taylor, Chris Rackley

Photographer

Elliot Hensford

Merky Videographer

Jordan ‘Zebie’ Boza

Video/Audio Playback

Von Adams

Video/Audio Playback Assistant

Jack Preston

Sound Recordist

Don Nelson

SFX MUA

Red Girl FX / Suzi Battersby

SFX MUA Assistant

Ashra Kelly-Blue

Fight Choreographer

Julian Spencer

Animal Handler

Animals Work / Trevor Smith

Animal Trainer

Barbara Howes De Marquez

Vet

Adrian O'Meara

Armourer

Marshall Baron

Assistant Armourer

Eleanor Cole

Catering

℅ Red Hot Box

Location Manager

James Khoury

Medic

Coffee Medic

Rob Ulitski - 5th July 2023

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