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THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: Dora Paphides

THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: Dora Paphides

Promonews - 5th Sept 2024

In our latest Snapshot, the KODE director talks about why pop music is so exciting right now, her obsession with a classic Jonathan Glazer video and feeling like Timothee Chalamet.

Having made start as a music video director with promos for Eaves Wilder and Fred Roberts, Dora Paphides joined KODE almost exactly a year ago. Since then she's directed videos for The Last Dinner Party and Chinchilla - working with fellow KODE signing Harv Frost - and Ella Eyre and Sports Team.

She's also a photographer, working with brands like Juicy Couture and JD Sports, shooting album artwork and artists for magazine shoots. So she's busy - but Dora still found the time to spill some beans about what's going on in her life for the Snapshot Q&A...

Name: Dora Paphides

Birthday: 05/02/2001

Where did you grow up? North London!

Place of further eduation and course (if any)? I left education at 18, after attending The BRIT School (16-18) to specialise in film.

Where do you live now? Bethnal Green!

What were the important first projects for you, in terms of a learning experience and getting noticed?

I’m still at the beginning of my journey, but My Lady of Mercy [for The Last Dinner Party]. The band were honestly sensational, really magnetic and so clear in their vision. They’re a band with real artistry and it was such a pleasure working with them and being a part of their world.

Best film you’ve seen this year? Harold and Maude [directed by Hal Ashby, 1971].

Favourite song/album/music artist this year? It really feels as if club music is coming back and I’m so here for it. I’ve currently got The Dare, Shygirl, Elkka and Tove Lo and SG Lewis’s EP on repeat.

Favourite music video/videos you’ve seen this year? Everyone is saying it but Aube Perrie’s Angel Of My Dreams for JADE blew my mind. To direct a commercial pop video that is dark, so stuffed with symbolism, glossy in some respects but offbeat, with such a tight narrative arc (and world) is unbelievably impressive. It taps into this thing currently where I think people want to see real, messy popstars (hence the rise of BRAT). Pop music currently is the most exciting it has been in years.

I watched America's Next Top Model when I was a kid - and became hooked on fashion photography.

It didn’t come out this year, but I’ve been obsessed with The Universal by Jonathan Glazer for Blur. Damon is absolutely captivating, and it’s a real absurdist love letter to people and life, but tinged but such a deep sadness (as well as a homage to A Clockwork Orange). It made me able to rehear The Universal away from The British Gas adverts lol..

I went to Marina Abramović’s exhibition in the RA, and the video of her partner pointing the arrow into her heart is maybe the most visceral pieces of art I’ve ever seen. Watching her art is like drinking from the original source, you can see how much her art has changed the world.

What has been (or usually is) your favourite night out this year? I had an amazing Glastonbury this year. I’ve been slacking on nights out - I normally invite people to my house to drink with me and play games and chat.

Name a film or video or other creative work that had a huge influence on your career choice?

Honestly, I remember watching America’s Next Top Model when I was a kid, and I was so obsessed with seeing how the photos would turn out at the end. After that I became hooked on fashion photography.

My teenage bedroom was covered in HP printed images of Tim Walker’s, Ryan McGinley’s, Elaine Constantine’s and David LaChapelle’s work (I also liked normal teenage things like The 1975. But yes, I was basically like Timothee Chalamet’s role in Lady Bird).

Photo: Tim Walker

In terms of music video-related jobs of the past year or so - what was the most rewarding creatively, and why?

I really loved making Ain’t No Love That Blind by Ella Eyre. It was the first time really where I felt confident in my own abilities and felt really sure in myself about the decisions I made. I had loads of people around me who believed in me, but if I’m honest (not to sound cheesy) before then I didn’t believe in myself. Making the choice to back my decisions and my ideas, has changed my approach to directing and pitching for the better.

OBVS this was also helped by Ella being amazing the most EGOT performer ever. She really put the work in learning and perfecing that choreo, we only had a two-hour window to shoot all the dance stuff and she just absolutely nailed it. We were all screaming on the other side of the monitor. She’s AMAZING.

Making the choice to back my decisions and my ideas, has changed my approach to directing and pitching for the better.

What are your favourite other (non-mv) projects of the past year or so?

I just shot the cover for Gay Times with Kate Nash, who’s now a long time friend and collaborator. She’s absolutely amazing, a genius and a total force — the cover we shot is really special. 

What’s the most surprising thing that’s happened this year? a) Falling in love
b) Not being able to stop making car-based videos. I’ve made two so far this year, and hoping to move into more vehicles before 2024 is out.

Your top suggestions to change and improve how the music video industry works? I saw Pedro Takahashi’s Snapshot and I think paying directors for writing treatments would definitely help. I think also having more regulations and transparency around the pitching process. Music videos directors are the only directors in the industry not to have unionised, which really doesn’t give us a voice.

What are you looking forward to most for the summer and/or the rest of the year? 
I've planned a few personal shoots which I'm excited about doing and I'm also off to New York for a couple of weeks!

• Dora Paphides is signed to KODE and represented for music videos by Mouthpiece; watch more of Dora's work here

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Promonews - 5th Sept 2024

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