A modern-day production company. Producers, Creators, Directors and Idea-Makers with Brands, Agencies, Record Labels, TV &amp; Film

Andy @ Las Bandas Be Brave

Production Company

Common People Films

Ben Newbury directs an out-of-this-world promo for Biffy Clyro, where frontman Simon Neil is an astronaut floating free in Earth's orbit - and not out of choice.&nbsp;Newbury's 'lost in space' premise is not unfamiliar, but it's highly appropriate for a track as heartfelt and contemplative as Biffy's Goodbye. And the success of the video also rests on the unexpected dramatic twist, where Earth explodes in a&nbsp;flash of red-hot flames.&nbsp;After glimpses of his past appearing in his helmet visor, the final moments are a compendium of glitchy memories that pull on the heartstrings. And we end on Neil's face in close-up,&nbsp;leaving his fate as a mystery. The result is a powerful visual, which makes the most of great VFX,&nbsp;creative cinematography and above all, an emotional core to anchor it all.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]Director Ben Newbury confirms that the concept of the video was influenced by&nbsp;Alfonso Cuarón's groundbreaking movie&nbsp;Gravity&nbsp;- a film that was ten years in the making due to the need to develop the technology to make it work. By contrast, the video for Goodbye happened very quickly.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We received the brief for Goodbye less than 48 hours before Biffy Clyro and their team were reading a treatment - thanks to the wonderful <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/profiles/las-bandas-be-brave-1/31930" target="_blank">Andy Roberts at Las Bandas</a>."Seven days later we were at Twickenham Studios in their VP stage, with Unreal worlds built by the 'quite brilliant'&nbsp;company Quite Brilliant, lights and camera plotted and positioned by guru Thomas English, and an enormous motion control arm expertly captained by Rammi from G6, with Simon from the band in a full space suit attached to one end - with a huge grin on his face.[imgtoken data:2]"That only happens when you are working with the most fantastic young production company in London. Ramy, Tony and Erin from <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/profiles/common-people-films/56328" target="_blank">Common People</a> are truly exceptional. It is through their skills, their network and the culture they have curated that makes a project like this happen. This shoot simply shouldn’t have been possible, never mind successful. And, with that, a massive shout out to everyone involved for going above and beyond what is normally possible to help get this made."With questions ringing around the industry about what value music videos have in 2025, this was a clear reminder that, at the minute, their only lifeline as an artform is bands and artists that are passionate about them being made, record labels and managers that can see their effectiveness as brand building tools and production companies and their teams who are willing to put their own time and money into projects they believe in. However illogical and unsustainable that is…"Alfonso Cuarón had 10 years and $100 million to create Gravity. We had £20K and three weeks. Which leads to one question, what on earth did Alfonso do with the rest of the $100 million? :)" &nbsp;

United Kingdom

Ben Newbury

Ramy Dance

Andre Wooz

Las Bandas Be Brave

Jen Ivory

Sachin Parmar

Thomas English

Jay William Whittington Barrette

Matthew Hollis

Lily Purbrick

Common People Studio

Cam Sender

Rock

Biffy Clyro 'Goodbye' by Ben Newbury

Biffy-Clyro-'Goodbye'-by-Ben-Newbury

Darri Thorsteinsson and Rufus Tiger Taylor co-direct a rip-roaring, all AI-generated video for Justin Hawkins' veteran pomp rockers&nbsp;The Darkness that goes way over the top - and then just keeps on going.Just as the band specialize in old-fashioned&nbsp;classic rock - sprinkled with&nbsp;self-knowing tongue-in-cheekery - the video for Rock And Roll Party Cowboy is an epic that plays like an an unearthed rock video from the days of big hair and even bigger budgets. It's as big and bombastic as the music. Actually even more so.3D artist Thorsteinsson (aka Darri 3D) and Taylor drop The Darkness (their AI-generated&nbsp;avatars, that is)&nbsp;in a club in neon-drenched Vegas venue, performing to a large crowd before the anti-hero biker star of the video arrives to kick off an ever-escalating riot of devastating mayhem. And then... the flying saucer arrives. Plus the band zoom off through the desert continuing to perform whilst on their motorbikes.It's ridiculous, it's hilarious and it's very Darkness. It's also remarkably well achieved&nbsp;(for a track that's over four minutes), drawing on a host of influences from 80s videos to big budget Hollywood blockbusters onwards. And it may certainly leave you with mixed feelings: awe at the quality of the product created via the latest AI technology; trepidation, even terror, that the capabilities of the tech are potentially as apocalyptic as the content of the video.But ultimately the video is so ludicrously entertaining&nbsp;that although you may not quite forget its AI, you may feel you can rest easy. This is not an Uncanny Valley type of video. It could basically be done in other forms of animation too - if you had all the time in the world.[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2]

Darri Thorsteinsson

Rufus Tiger Taylor

Future Creatives

John Hassay

Cooking Vinyl

The Darkness 'Rock And Roll Party Cowboy' by Darri Thorsteinsson, Rufus Tiger Taylor

The-Darkness-'Rock-And-Roll-Party-Cowboy'-by-Darri-Thorsteinsson,-Rufus-Tiger-Taylor

Kevin Hudson directs an atmospheric promo for the auspicious collaboration between grime masters Chip and Scorcher.&nbsp;The video for Talking To is a&nbsp;stripped-back, cinematic promo, which places the focus squarely on these two heavyweights. No gimmicks. Just sharp lyricism, commanding presence, and powerful visuals, set to a thrillingly disruptive&nbsp;edit.With an underground, enigmatic feel, Hudson’s intentional use of framing and atmospheric lighting immerses us in the history and mutual respect between two of the UK’s most enduring voices in the game.Interspersed with glitchy textures and off-kilter angles,&nbsp;the video moves at a breathless pace, creating a stirring, memorable aesthetic.[imgtoken data:1]

Kevin Hudson

Jack Stangaard

Themotionists

Fin Meehan

Dom Lake

Luke Demetri

Bdot

Chip ft Scorcher 'Talking To' by Kevin Hudson

Chip-Ft-Scorcher-'Talking-To'-by-Kevin-Hudson

In our latest Snapshot Q&amp;A, the CMN PPL director reflects on a very busy year so far with Soft Play, getting the call from&nbsp;hip hop legends, loving Edgar Wright's cult TV classic, and why the music video pitching process needs fixing.Thomas (or Tommy) Davis picked up a camera when he discovered skateboarding at 12 and hasn't looked back - but his work still holds true to his roots. Davis directs music videos that are bursting with raw energy, colour and humour, creating great vids for the likes of Frank Carter &amp; The Rattlesnakes, Willow Kayne, NOISY and the band fka Slaves, who he has been working with this year.&nbsp;&nbsp;He is also an accomplished live video director, working with Beabadoobee, Sam Fender and others. And with a few year's experience under his belt now, his skillset also includes creative direction, commercial directing and documentary making. And&nbsp;photography - so it's great that Tommy could do another kind of Snapshot for us...Name: Tommy DavisBirthday: May 1997Where did you grow up? Essex, UKPlace of further education and course (if any)? London Southbank Universty, BA HONS Film PracticeWhere do you live now? Essex, UKWhat were the important first projects for you, in terms of a learning experience&nbsp;and getting noticed?I think the important first project would have had to be the video I directed at the start of my career with my good friend RAT BOY. At the time I had never directed&nbsp;anything more than a few kids rapping/spitting bars at the local skatepark. So after&nbsp;building my relationship with RB and the commissioner at Parlophone [Sam Seager], I directed my debut video - for Get Over It - in the&nbsp;middle of the desert in Spain.It was very exciting - a mental experience for me. And then a few months after its release it got&nbsp;nominated for Best Music Video at the NME Awards in 2017. So that's what kicked it&nbsp;all off.[vidtoken data:0]Best film you’ve seen this year? A24’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0uS3t6nFgY" target="_blank">Maxxxine</a>&nbsp;- or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQlr9-rF32A" target="_blank">Despicable Me 4</a> (ha)Favourite song/album/music artist this year? Fontaines D.C. - Romance;&nbsp;Beabadoobee - This Is How Tomorrow Moves; SOFT PLAY - Heavy JellyFavourite music video/videos you’ve seen this year? The favourite&nbsp;from me has&nbsp;to be <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2024/04/24/fontaines-dc-starburster-aube-perrie/86239" target="_blank">Aube Perrie for Fontaines' Starburster</a>. Surreal narratives - always so much fun to be explored with videos like this.What has been (or usually is) your favourite night out this year? Corrr, anything spontanious with friends. Or any evening at Glastonbury.<blockquote>Too many directors pitch on videos and just get completely ghosted on their ideas.</blockquote>Name a film or video or other creative work that had a huge influence on your career choice?This is a hard question. But in terms of television, it would have to be <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/spaced/on-demand/26708-001" target="_blank">Edgar Wright’s debut TV series Spaced</a>,&nbsp;from the early 2000s. It was the production that put Edgar, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost on the map.The show is amazing, but <a href="https://www.channel4.com/programmes/spaced/on-demand/26708-006" target="_blank">Season 1 Episode 6</a> in particular. If you’re new to music videos or already making them, pay close attention the relationship between the sound and image in this show. You could learn something[vidtoken data:1]In terms of&nbsp;music video-related jobs of the past year or so - what was the most rewarding creatively, and why?Over the past year, I took on the role of creative director for the punk band SOFT PLAY, formerly known as SLAVES. I led the entire rebranding process, including bringing their name-change to life. In addition, I directed four wildly unique music videos for each of the singles on their album: Punk's Dead, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPmbtbuzDks" target="_blank">Mirror Muscles</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0WqeDa5ihE" target="_blank">Act Violently</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6IVRizF-iw" target="_blank">Everything &amp; Nothing</a>.[vidtoken data:2]<blockquote>I led the entire rebranding process, including bringing their name-change to life.</blockquote>My work also involved creating a one-hour album documentary, photographing the album artwork, and managing two press campaigns, along with capturing moments from multiple festivals and two tours. It was incredibly challenging work with tight budgets, but thanks to my amazing team, we were always able to push the boundaries as far as possible.What are your favourite other (non-mv) projects of the past year or so?Directing the commercial for the long awaited KORN x Adidas clothing collection. We shot it in Vegas in two days with the band. So dope.[vidtoken data:3]Most annoying/irksome thing that’s been going on this year (work-related or otherwise)? TIK TOK &amp; AI… HA! Nah, but the amount of hate in the world is obviously something that is just beyond too far. Palestine, the UK riots. We all gotta start coming together and spreading more love across the world xWhat’s the most surprising thing that’s happened this year?&nbsp;<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2024/07/25/eminem-dr-dre-forgot-about-dre-thomas-davis/87471" target="_blank">Getting the dial-up to shoot Dr Dre, Snoop &amp; Eminem all performing together in London</a>.[vidtoken data:4]Your top suggestion to change and improve how the music video industry works?Fix the pitching process. Directors write a short pitch/ bio. Commissoners/Artist pick two or three to meet with. Then the all directors agreed to bid write on the video. Cancellations on the chosen video will incur a late fee. Too many directors pitch on videos and just get completely ghosted on their ideas.What are you looking forward to most for the summer and/or the rest of the year?Summer has been awesome. Live music has been pretty damn spectacular. Now I’m looking to focus get writing &amp; make some non-music related projects too.• Tommy Davis is a director at <a href="https://cmnppl.com/" target="_blank">Common People Films</a>, represented for music videos by Andy Roberts at Las Bandas Be Brave - check his showreel <a href="https://cmnppl.com/directors/thomas-davis" target="_blank">here</a>.

Thomas Davis

THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: Tommy Davis

RAT BOY - GET OVER IT

spaced s1-6 part 1

Soft-Play-Feat-Robbie-Williams-'Punks-Dead'-by-Thomas-Davis

KoRn x Adidas Originals [Official Collab]

Eminem-'Forgot-About-Dre'-by-Thomas-Davis

Thomas Davis directs a brilliant live multicam promo for a rare live performance in London by Eminem and Dr Dre.Davis and the team at Common People Films did not have much time to pull this one off. They had eight hours notice. But they certainly have done a great job, capturing the performance of the classic Forgot About Dre - and more tracks&nbsp;from a concert which also featured Snoop Dogg - in mesmerizingly visceral fashion.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This truly was a once in a lifetime moment for me and CMN PPL," says Davis. "To witness three GOATS of hip hop play a show after 30 years was something I could only dream of. Experiencing Dre, Snoop and Eminem perform live, playing every one of their classic tracks was mindblowing and quite overwhelming in all honesty."We were utterly speechless when the call came in. My jaw literally hit the floor. This had to be epic so I wanted the best DP’s &amp; cam-ops we could pull together with eight&nbsp;hours notice. I wanted this to feel cinematic and not like your typical live capture so we chose Alexas, the best glass and had focus pullers on each camera."You only get 'one shot' to get this right. Overall I’m really happy with the result and have loved the reactions online and from our peers."The HUGEST of thanks to Ali and Emily from Polydor for bringing us on. We really value our collaborative relationship with them, having shot numerous projects together over the years. So we're very grateful to them for entrusting us with this historic moment in time. Overall, this was a little reminder that moments like this are the reason we love what we do."

Jake River Parker

Emily Jeffery

Arran Green

Emma Stevens Broyd

Toby Mckay

Harry Coleman

Olly Bingham

Charlie France

Cam Sander

Ali Tant

Eminem & Dr Dre 'Forgot About Dre' by Thomas Davis

Thomas Davis directs a last hurrah for Soft Play - and what a way to go out.&nbsp;The video for Everything and Nothing is a feverish monochromatic vision, shot on 16mm in the band's hometown of Tunbridge Wells.&nbsp;The track was written about a friend of Soft Play's Isaac and Laurie who passed away in 2020, and the video ponders this theme, gathering their nearest and dearest&nbsp;in a local partk to remember their mate, Bailey Churchill.&nbsp;A change of pace, to match the folky arrangement of the track, but just as impressive as the other collabs between Davis and the boys.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;

Fingal Green

Heba Elgamal

Sonny Horell

Oliver Hill

Sammy Johnson

Rosie Rayner

Dom Phipps

Company 3

Soft Play 'Everything And Nothing' by Thomas Davis

Soft-Play-'Everything-And-Nothing'-by-Thomas-Davis

Soft Play's Isaac&nbsp;Holman laments e-scooter culture - personified by bandmate Laurie Vincent&nbsp;- in the duo's latest entertaining collab with Thomas Davis.&nbsp;As Isaac suffers from the thoughtless behaviour of Laurie's scooter-hooligan, the video for Act Violently develops into a rousing call to arms to the virtues of wreaking revenge - with that comedic, offbeat twist that has become the hallmark of Davis's videos for the band.&nbsp;Imbued with dark comedy and a delightfully British passive-aggressive vibe - the&nbsp;video was filmed in that bastion of middle-class stuffiness that is Tunbridge Wells -&nbsp;it's a punchy visual elevated by fun cinematography and impassioned performance.Another splendid visual from Davis, his third after the&nbsp;videos&nbsp;for Punk's Dead and Mirror Muscles,&nbsp;since the name-change of the band formerly known as Slaves.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;

Arron Green

Sarah Anderson

Oli Hill

Oliver Bingham

James Huthwaite

Michelle Koops

Okay Studio

Katie Dymmock 

Alternative

Soft Play 'Act Violently' by Thomas Davis

Soft-Play-'Act-Violently'-by-Thomas-Davis

Thomas Davis reunites with Soft Play for another highly entertaining&nbsp;adventure - this time within the strange, obsessive&nbsp;world of&nbsp;bodybuilding.&nbsp;Having survived a horde of super-aggressive kids in the <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2023/09/04/soft-play-ft-robbie-williams-punks-dead-thomas-davis/83040" target="_blank">marvellous Punk's Dead video</a>, Isaac and Laurie of Soft Play (fka Slaves)&nbsp;have repaired to the relative safety of the gym for Mirror Muscles - even if this is a place where size definitely matters.&nbsp;With a supporting cast of super-ripped bodybuilders, capable of flexing their pecs to the percussive beat of the track, the duo and the director&nbsp;weave&nbsp;lyrical cues and visual motifs resonating with the song in a succession of scenes featuring bench-pressing, oiled-up flesh, tight-fitting (and virtually invisible) attire, and&nbsp;laugh-out-loud moments.It's a characteristically slick and vibrant world from Davis, featuring his trademark talent for visual humour and quick-read cameos, while focussing on the&nbsp;personality, wit and verbal dexterity of the band, as singer Isaac Holman&nbsp;delivers in a quick-fire barrage of bodybuilding-related quips.And although Isaac and Laurie look small&nbsp;(ie normal) next to the hulking figures around them, they eventually strip off to reveal their own gym-work. Impressive![imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2]

Jake Erland

Charles Gamble

Soft Play 'Mirror Muscles' by Thomas Davis

Soft-Play-'Mirror-Muscles'-by-Thomas-Davis

We've all been there - breakfast with the parents, as the environment slowly slips into a nightmarish hellscape with demons and horse-headed strangers eating your food...Oh, you haven't?&nbsp;Well, Amber Van Day has, and let's just say things only get weirder from there, in Jamie Neal's video for Bug Eyes.&nbsp;The video is an exciting, evocative feat, with brilliant art direction and a peppering of fun visual effects. A great&nbsp;match to the otherworldly track, climaxing in a&nbsp;thought-provoking ending&nbsp;has Amber questioning her reality.&nbsp;

Maggie McDermott

Jenn Sanders

Jamie Neal

Erin Sullivan

Charlie Relph

Jack Maddison

Rozemarijn Stokkel

Martina Derosa

Chris Hutchings

Homespun

Jonny Tully

CHEAT

Shivam

Amber Van Day 'Bug Eyes' by Jamie Neal

Amber-Van-Day-'Bug-Eyes'-by-Jamie-Neal

Ruth Hunduma directs a stylish&nbsp;performance promo for&nbsp;Frank Carter &amp; The Rattlesnakes.The video for Self Love is enigmatic, trippy and a little bit sexy, bursting with the same energy the group are known for during their live performances.&nbsp;The use of a garish yellow-red colour palette adds to the hypnotic appeal of the visual, whilst the editorial-style portraits towards the end of the concept give it an elevated feel.&nbsp;A dazzling display of raw energy and a brilliant peek inside the new album.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;

Jade Adeyemi

Katya Bourvis

Taise Kerr

Dan Kreeger

Ruth Hunduma

Natalia Rodriguez

Adam Barnett

George Telfer

Sue King

Amir Moulfi

Joel Rosenberg

Patrycja Cygan

Isabella Furness

Sasha Chudeeva

Dasha Taivas

Raphael Arcadios

Amanda Marie-rose

Assembly Rooms

Max Ferguson-Hook

Time Based Arts

Artist Building

Shivam Solanki

Awal

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes 'Self Love' by Ruth Hunduma

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - Self Love (Official Video)

A pack of unruly kids give Soft Play a proper pasting in&nbsp;Thomas Davis' riotous promo for Punk's Dead.The comeback for the duo - known as Slaves until last year - sees&nbsp;the pair as bouncy castle salesman, setting up shop in a nondescript industrial location for the day.Things soon descend into chaos as the customers - a bunch of kids - start to grapple and beat down the pair, leading to a rather whimsical fever dream... starring Robbie Williams in the clouds. Yes, really.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]It's all rather brilliant. Plenty of daft charm and channelled aggression, with fine performances by the band and the kids (and Robbie) elevated by a distinctively gritty and raw aesthetic, for a track that satirises the backward thinking in Brexit Britain. It's a proper banger.And on this evidence, Punk is alive and well...&nbsp;

Hara Spyrou

Tatyana Alexandra

Chris Anthony

Julie Martins

Maddy Williams

Seven Mgmt

Luke C Harper

Rowan Mackintosh King

Tony Roberts

Cerys Kenneally

Kai Newton

Dylan Jones

Hebe Wallace

Joey Henshaw

Trim Editing

Dominic Phipps

Punk rock

Soft Play ft Robbie Williams 'Punk's Dead' by Thomas Davis

Eyelar is stuck in a loop of jealous comparison, in Thomas Davis' fantastic&nbsp;promo for Obsessed With Your Ex.&nbsp;In a handful of slick yet grimy vignettes, we see Eyelar stalking her boyfriend's ex over the internet, in her imagination and in a hauntingly surreal support group setting.&nbsp;Injected with Davis' keen eye for edgy pop aesthetics, the video is a rip-roaring good time with a brilliant central performance and a captivating dreamworld environment... and the ending will leave viewers questioning just how far Eyelar will go to keep her boyfriend's eyes solely on her.[imgtoken data:1]

Suzie Walsh

Kat Cattaneo

Jonny Boomer

Tom Patrick Coley

Dan Huntley

Sam Harding

Lea Aubigne

Rose Moya

Laura Chadwick

Maya Man

Eric Glez

Sony Music

Eyelar 'Obsessed With Your Ex' by Thomas Davis

Eyelar-'Obsessed-With-Your-Ex'-by-Thomas-Davis

Jake River Parker directs a second promo for NOISY, this time for riotous track Desire.&nbsp;In an enigmatic red industrial space, we see a mysterious character studying a screen, which is linked up to something behind a curtain in the distance.&nbsp;Eventually revealing the NOISY boys, the video cuts between a mixed-media performance setup and an on-screen display of&nbsp;hidden desires, running straight from vocalist&nbsp;Cody Matthews' brain.&nbsp;The atmospheric video balances snapshots of a narrative with a glitchy, textural aesthetic, all encapsulated in an intriguing concept.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2]

Katie South

Ruby Cara

Brandon Quan 

Giulio Piccirillo

Max Tuite

Montgomery Smith

Indie Rock

NOISY 'Desire' by Jake River Parker

Noisy-'Desire'-by-Jake-River-Parker

Najeeb Tarazi directs superb promo for&nbsp;Arrdee &amp; Cat Burns that merges a very smart visual technique with real emotion.The innovative concept for Home For My Heart intertwines various portrait shots - of the artists and several narrative characters - with a clever mirrored transition, which blends together a series of 360 degree rotating shots.The video also packs an emotional punch, with heartfelt, intimate performances and enough narrative vignettes&nbsp;to make the lyrics feel really relatable and universal, and hint at the themes behind the track.&nbsp;Beautiful work and a timeless visual.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2]

Jinjo Casting

Nubia Lima

Najeeb Tarazi

Ahmet Husseyn

Philips Nortey

Stephan Knight

Rob Barlow

Samuel Harding

Chris Cole

Shani Mushington

Sunny Cradock

Zach Stone

Kristopher Smale

The Mill

Island Recordings

Arrdee & Cat Burns 'Home For My Heart' by Najeeb Tarazi

Arrdee-&-Cat-Burns-'Home-For-My-Heart'-by-Najeeb-Tarazi

In the latest in our series asking British music video-makers about their experiences last year and thoughts on the coming year, we grab some time with Ramy Dance, Managing Partner at <a href="https://www.commonpeoplefilms.com/" target="_blank">Common People Films</a>.&nbsp;Ramy recalls how 2022 went by in a blur of hectic activity in Common People's busiest year since it formed in 2018; and why he is optimistic about what 2023 will bring, both for the company and the industry as a whole.2022How would you describe last year in a few words?Exhausting.&nbsp;Well, exhausting but great in so many ways too! We got to work with some brilliant new acts with amazing music so I feel fortunate to have had a satisfying year in that sense.<blockquote>I sometimes feel like an addict looking for and unearthing new talent, so it was good to get my fix.</blockquote>What was your favourite project or projects you worked on last year?They were all brilliant in their own way to be fair. But if I had to name a few...- Cruel Santino's Beautiful Nothing – amazing track and Santi was awesome to work with as an artist and director.[vidtoken data:0]Above: Cruel Santino's Beautiful Nothing ft Gus Dapperton, directed by Santi- Kawala's&nbsp;Jesse Cmon – it's always an absolute pleasure being guided by the amazing mind of <a href="https://www.commonpeoplefilms.com/nysu" target="_blank">NYSU</a>- <a href="https://www.commonpeoplefilms.com/tommy-davis" target="_blank">Tommy Davis</a> had another busy and great year directing really strong videos for; Willow Kayne, Biig Piig, Murder Capital, BeaBadooBee and Joe Unknown. The boy is a machine, so looking forward to another strong year!- Piri &amp; Tommy's On &amp; On – was a fun one directed by the amazing Deadhorses- And lastly it was great to work with <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/07/08/yungblud-don%E2%80%99t-feel-feeling-sad-today-tom-pallant/77246" target="_blank">YungBlud</a>, directed by the lovely Tom Pallant[vidtoken data:1]Above: Kawala's Jesse C'mon, directed by NYSUAny other project you enjoyed that deserved more attention, or went under the radar?Navos's What It Feels Like by <a href="https://www.commonpeoplefilms.com/ben-newbury" target="_blank">Ben Newbury</a> was a joy to produce from start to finish with Alessia. Really clear creative with a great team behind it. We loved working on the XR stage and hope to do more this year. Big love to John Hassay!<blockquote>There seems to be a better joint understanding on the current state of the industry.</blockquote>What were the best aspects of the job last year?Meeting and developing new talent was really great. I sometimes feel like an addict looking for and unearthing new talent, so it was good to get my fix.I know this is debatable but we felt like the dust had settled a bit with regards to crew rates, negotiating and budgeting. Don’t get me wrong, budgets are still really challenging - the world is pretty screwed - but I feel like after we had lengthy discussions with the APA and the record labels, there definitely seems to be a better joint understanding on the current state of the industry and everyone’s approach and expectations. There’s still a few annoying things that need ironing out but we’ll get there.What were the most challenging aspects of the job last year?Negotiating crew rates…kidding! That’s always fun… urm… running a business is challenging. I’ve also got four kids, that’s challenging. Not much else really, can’t really complain.[vidtoken data:2]Above:&nbsp;Piri &amp; Tommy's On &amp; On, directed by DeadhorsesBest or favourite video or videos last year that you weren’t involved with?I really enjoyed the GRIN MACHINE video for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/12/07/aap-rocky-shittin%E2%80%99-me-grin-machine/79633" target="_blank">A$AP Rocky</a>. Greg Hackett’s video for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/07/06/loyle-carner-hate-greg-hackett-loyle-carner/77208" target="_blank">Loyle Carner</a> was great. Also loved Fontaines DC's <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2022/01/17/fontaines-dc-jackie-down-line-hugh-mulhern/74571" target="_blank">Jackie Down The Line</a> by Hugh Mulhern (90's throw back), and I love Labrinth's Mount Everest&nbsp;by Tanu.Anything by Rosalía.&nbsp;We’re still waiting for an email from her… 2023 maybe, R?I do like a performance video but we’re desperate to make a comedy-driven concept idea this year. Come on labels, let’s get mental!What were the trends (creative or otherwise) that you thought were most striking last year?Rightly or wrongly I’ve really enjoyed seeing what everyone’s making with 360 cameras. When used well they’re so engaging. It’s been really great seeing more directors roll up their sleeves in post-production, pulling edits apart using different skills and tools to make engaging videos. Big up Jay Green! I don’t know Jay but always look forward to seeing what he makes next.Any other personal experience that defines 2022 for you?It was lovely being able to network face-to-face again. So we really loved seeing everyone at various events, award shows and in various countries.<blockquote>I hope we see bolder, more wacky briefs come through (with realistic budgets!)</blockquote>2023What are you looking forward to in 2023 – both for work and for other parts of your life?So much to look forward to! We moved into our new Soho office at the end of last year which was surreal for me having ran in Soho back in the day. It has an amazing roof terrace!We’re launching a brand new website very soon which looks great so can’t wait for people to see that. We’re also looking forward to another great year of growth at Common People. We didn’t plan for a pandemic and a war in the middle of our 5 year plan - who did? So it’s been great to get back on track with a strong start to the year so we can continue our growth plan.[vidtoken data:3]Above: Navos ft Galantis's What It Feels Like, by Ben NewburyI love travelling and looking forward to getting away with the family as often as possible. I’ve got a couple of spec ideas I’ve put on the backburner due to Covid, so I’m looking forward to hopefully carving out some time for those this year.Have you set work objectives for this year and if so, what are they?Create even more award-winning work and ensuring our shoots are as green, diverse and inspiring as possible! We take a lot of pride in making our shoots really enjoyable and making sure everyone attending is looked after well, so we want to carry on being known for that. We’ve got to look after each other more.Who are the up-and-coming talents that you think will break through this year – or at least deserve to be successful?Tommy Davis is a hard working legend! He deserves so much success so we really want him to have another strong year. I really hope Deadhorses get some great tracks in production this year. Those boys are very talented! We’re talking to some really exciting talent at the moment, so watch this space…[vidtoken data:4]Above: Willow Kayne's White City, by Thomas DavisWhat is your prediction for the direction of the industry in 2023? And what will be the big trends for the year ahead?I hope we see bolder, more wacky briefs come through - with realistic budgets!&nbsp;That style really suits our roster. Let’s get back to making really fun / memorable videos!<blockquote>History tells us that great videos can really elevate an artist’s success.</blockquote>Any other comments about the current environment for music video production and music video creativity? What are the issues that we should be most concerned with?There’s always ups and downs but currently labels have had to pivot their business models and marketing plans which means everything feels quite reactive and driven by algorithms. Social media is really powerful so I do completely get the sense and value in making a suite of assets for multiple platforms rather than a single YouTube video that under performs or doesn’t reach as many eyeballs (that’s not the case for every video obviously).BUT… history tells us that great videos can really elevate an artist’s success and great creative is what we all strive for. So we need to ensure we protect that quality! I’m confident there’s a way to get both,&nbsp;but it will require really good communication and planning together.[vidtoken data:5]Above: Yungblud's Don't Feel Like Feeling Sad Today, by Tom PallantIf you could ‘make a wish’, and reform or change the environment in which you work in one way, what would you wish for?Nothing. Everyone just needs to crack on.&nbsp;I think we all need to remember that we’re very fortunate to do what we do and we shouldn’t lose sight of that. Of course it’s tough at times but we’re not saving lives here so we really need to face the challenges head on and keep collaborating. We’re constantly grateful to work with such amazing and talented people so I wish for that to continue.Where are the opportunities in the current environment?There are so many! It’s a very well-serviced, fast-moving industry so there’s lots of opportunity to get in. Try and make a bigger noise than everybody else and you’ll be fine.Have you made any personal New Year resolutions? And if so, how’s it going?Snore alert… but stay fit and healthy. Which is going well atm, thanks. And I’m trying to listen to more podcasts and listen to more audiobooks.• Ramy Dance is Managing Partner at <a href="https://www.commonpeoplefilms.com/" target="_blank">Common People Films</a>

State Of Play: Ramy Dance, Common People Films

Cruel Santino - BEAUTIFUL NOTHING (featuring Gus Dapperton) [Official Music Video]

KAWALA - Jesse C'mon (Official Video)

Piri-&-Tommy-'On-&-On'-by-Deadhorses

Navos-X-Galantis-'What-It-Feels-Like-Ft-You'-by-Ben-Newbury

Willow-Kayne-'White-City'-by-Thomas-Davis,willow-Kayne

Yungblud-'Don’t-Feel-Like-Feeling-Sad-Today'-by-Tom-Pallant

Rich Brian has a trippy experience&nbsp;at a golf range, in&nbsp;Grant Spanier's dreamlike promo for Vivid.&nbsp;Boasting slick performance shots with Y2K style overlays and effects, the video is an amalgamation of golf, remote control cars and guns, tied together by a retrofuturistic aesthetic.&nbsp;Cinematic and refreshingly unique, it's a great visual with plenty of engaging imagery.&nbsp;

United States

Rich Brian ft $not 'Vivid' by Grant Spanier