Director of Photography

Diana Olifirova

London-based Ukrainian cinematographer Diana Olifirova has created a mesmerizing dance-based short film, on the subject of identity - in which she is also the sole dance performer.Olifirova enacts&nbsp;an improvised dance performance in a series of beautifully composed photographic portraits - self-portraits, in fact - that were filmed in Kyiv and London. These locked off shots capture her movement&nbsp;within intriguing spaces, interior and exterior, where Olifirova has maximised the&nbsp;impact by her inventive use of framing, lenses and exposure.It's both a traditional&nbsp;and timeless approach,&nbsp;made fresh by the passion which she pours into the piece - on both sides of the camera. And the film is complemented beautifully by a wonderful Ukranian folk-influenced soundtrack, called INTRANCE, created by electronic musician&nbsp;E.M.M.A., violinist/composer Eugene Feygelson, and editor/composer&nbsp;Karel Van Bellingen.[imgtoken data:1]It is, of course, also extremely poignant. We&nbsp;see Olifirova&nbsp;in numerous evocative locations in Kyiv. Although this was started before the Russian invasion of her homeland, it was edited as the war began, so it's also marked by that conflict, particularly as it progresses into its final stages. As such, it also acts as a representation of an indominitable spirit."From Ukraine to the UK and back I find myself spiralling through spaces redefining my identity, memories and future," she says.&nbsp;"From precipice of infinite possibilities comes a self-portrait INTRANCE exploring fear, resistance, bravery and change."The music came first and it was the source of inspiration for me - we went through the process of creating the track from scratch which was very new to me. Having spend ages collecting reference music (from Jon Hassel to Gaspar Claur to Ukrainian folk music) and talking over them in endless selfies videos trying to understand the nature of my interest that I have sent to the team, I finally got brave enough to get on with it and make a real recording session happen."[imgtoken data:2]<blockquote>From precipice of infinite possibilities comes a self-portrait... exploring fear, resistance, bravery and change.</blockquote>Oliferova&nbsp;brought electronic musician E.M.M.A. (whose track Glitter&nbsp;is featured&nbsp;on her previous film Quadrality) and violinist and composer Eugene Feygelson together at her place in London to create the track that became INTRANCE."After an inspiring session of gong bath we played E.M.M.A.'s original arpeggio and improvised on top with violin, guitar and piano, and jammed over and over again to come up with a melody I could use for a dance - that I also partly attempted at the recording session itself!" she explains."There is always an element of the unexpected with unplanned sessions," comments&nbsp;E.M.M.A. "But the shared focus and short timeline were very effective at instilling the parameters we needed for Eugene to apply his violin melodies, like a painter with brush strokes bringing the composition into sharper relief."[imgtoken data:3]Above: Eugene&nbsp;Feygelson (left) and E.M.M.A. recording INTRANCE&nbsp;&nbsp;Feygelson adds that the opening music - &nbsp;in 6/8 time, made of multiple strings - was really emotive for him.&nbsp;"It’s like a nostalgic tragic dance, something you remember from your youth, or an idyllic past, like the way an infant sees the world - or that feeling when you listen to the crackle of a 1920s record. It’s very Eastern European, and it’s something we can no longer access. Maybe it never even existed."That feeling is slowly eroded by these thumps, like a hatchet across a tree, knocking down your sense of hope, of idealism.&nbsp;It then turns into a power up - the electronic sounds from EMMA fill you with this zeal, a strengthening of self, for the fight, whatever that fight is. Driving and driving you forward."Feygelsen describes the music created as "feminine, lyrical, nostalgic and Eastern European, not a surprise, but nothing we had planned before the two days we spent in Diana’s apartment." Meanwhile, EMMA says that collaborating with Olifirova was like&nbsp;collaborating with another musician.&nbsp;"Which is quite unusual in itself. It made it very easy for us to work together as she completely connects to music with her heart and being. We can see this from the final film."But at the editing stage, as she worked with editor Karel van Bellingen, the horrifying events occuring in Olifirova's&nbsp;homeland started to impact upon the film.[imgtoken data:4]"Having been influenced by the war that was kicking off in my home country,&nbsp;I started adding sounds of the military march and bombs which felt correct and very moving," she says.&nbsp;"Karel has also played a lot with the piece and collaborated with E.M.M.A. to come up with amazing and dynamic result.&nbsp;Having someone in the edit that is equally brilliant with music and rhythm made a process even more coherent and collaborative in-between the visual and the audio.""With the war in Ukraine the&nbsp;context in which we were making the score changed," confirms E.M.M.A.&nbsp;"The music shifted in response.&nbsp;Karel, an accomplished musician as well as an editor, heightened the music's sense of urgency for both the film and the times with layers of drums. The final result we are all very proud of."&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Thé film finishes with something so painful, you can feel the steel of the strings against your ear, it’s so desperate as if nothing is left," says Eugene&nbsp;Feygelson.&nbsp;"The way it matches with Diana’s eyes, these are extreme sounds from the violin, performed brutally three note chords, and very close to the bridge, a decomposed version of that strong violin melody."It’s hard to detach from the pain we were all witnessing in the Ukraine war, and the conflict. It’s impossible to separate the composition from the contemporary event."

Ukraine

Simon Walker

United Agents

Anatolii Sachivko

Jovana Gospavic

Karel Van Bellingen

Joseph Bicknell

Alternative

Folk

E.M.M.A., Eugene Feygelson, Karel Van Bellingen 'INTRANCE' by Diana Olifirova

Intrance

In the final episode of Natalie Steiner's film series about the music video community during the pandemic crisis, our panel of interviewees reflect upon what they have missed about their pre-lockdown work routine, and then ponder upon what the industry will look like when things start moving again.[vidtoken data:0]After <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/music-videos-lockdown-episode-4-wonderings-and-worries-exclusive-promonews/64893" target="_blank">Episode 4: Wonderings &amp; Worries</a>, in which Natalie Steiner's interviewees reflected upon the immediate concerns caused by Covid-19, and the bigger issues that have arisen from the crisis, The Future Of Our Industry mixes some fond recollections of the communal experience of filmmaking, from the camaraderie to the adrenalin-buzz, to the practicalities of getting the industry moving again.<blockquote>The discussion in this final episode is a mixture of prediction, hopes and nostalgic appreciation for the music video industry pre-Covid19.</blockquote>This timely episode, edited by Meg Thorne at Cut+Run,&nbsp;features nearly all of the panel interviewed by Steiner and Eleri Evans for the Music Videos In Lockdown series. 'As the loosening of lockdown approaches and shoots begin we’ve got the opportunity to collectively question old habits, and start new ones," says Steiner.&nbsp;"The discussion in this final episode is a mixture of prediction, hopes and nostalgic appreciation for the music video industry pre-Covid19."The interviewees are: 1st AD Clara Paris;&nbsp;Virgin EMI director of video James Hackett;&nbsp;My Accomplice EP Imogen Harrison;&nbsp;wardrobe stylist Terri Higgins;&nbsp;director Aidan Zamiri;&nbsp;directors Zhang &amp; Knight;&nbsp;Knucklehead EP Ore Okonedo; Greatcoat Films' EP&nbsp;Kareem Adeshina; choreographer&nbsp;Simon Donnellon; FRIEND EP Luke Tierney; DoP Diana Olifirova; Envy colourist Jax Harney; director Oscar Hudson; Atlantic Records' director of video Dan Curwin; DoP David Wright; camera assistant Jomar O'Meally; Blink EP Laura Northover; producer Tom O'Driscoll; wardrobe stylist&nbsp;Taff Williamson; OB Management director's agent Sam Davey; hair and makeup artist Jessica Summer; marketing manager&nbsp;Olivier Massey; production runner&nbsp;Amelia Mullooly; Pulse Films' EP Rik Green; director Myles Whittingham; Object &amp; Animal EP Morgan Clement; director Ian Pons Jewell; and runners' agent Julia Patterson.This is the final episode of the five-part series Music Videos In Lockdown about the UK music video community during the crisis, exclusively presented by Promonews. Here are links to the previous episodes in the series:• Music Videos In Lockdown Episode 1: Last Jobs <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/music-videos-lockdown-series-launches-promonews-episode-1-last-jobs/64690" target="_blank">here</a> • Music Videos In Lockdown Episode 2: Spending Time <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/music-videos-lockdown-series-continues-episode-2-spending-time-exclusive-promonews/64744" target="_blank">here</a> • Music Videos In Lockdown Episode 3: Working During The Lockdown <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/music-videos-lockdown-episode-3-working-during-lockdown-exclusive-promonews/64811" target="_blank">here</a> • Music Videos In Lockdown Episode 4: Worries &amp; Wonderings <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/music-videos-lockdown-episode-4-wonderings-and-worries-exclusive-promonews/64893" target="_blank">here</a>

Clara Paris

James Hackett

Imogen Harrison

Terri Higgins

Aidan Zamiri

Zhang + Knight

Ore Okonedo

Kareem Adeshina

Simon Donnellon

Luke Tierney

Jax Harney

Oscar Hudson

Dan Curwin

David Wright

Jomar O'Meally

Laura Northover

Tom O'Driscoll

Taff Williamson

Sam Davey

Jessica Summer

Rik Green

Myles Whittingham

Morgan Clement

Ian Pons Jewell

Natalie Steiner

Eleri Evans

Meg Thorne

'MUSIC VIDEOS IN LOCKDOWN' Episode 5: The Future Of Our Industry - exclusive on Promonews 

Music Videos In Lockdown | EP 5: The Future of Our Industry

In the third episode of Natalie Steiner's series about the UK music video production community during lockdown, she discovers how work has continued, the ubiquitity of Zoom, the resourcefulness of music video creatives - and the resulting phenomenon of lockdown videos...[vidtoken data:0]Natalie Steiner has documented the extraordinary moment created by the pandemic, by interviewing her workmates, contemporaries and friends from the music video community in London. She has spoken to&nbsp;everyone from&nbsp;directors, producers, camera crew, choreographers, commissioners, directors reps, stylists, hair and makeup artists, and more - via Zoom, of course.In Episode 3: Working During The Lockdown, she asked interviewees about how they have managed to keep working through isolation, and&nbsp;discovered that the industry quickly mobilized to find ways to continue to make music videos, via remote directing, artists self-shooting, crowd-sourcing, and placing a greater emphasis on animation.<blockquote>The way we’ve carried on throughout this crisis has highlighted what a bunch of genuinely creative people we are.</blockquote>The interviewees in Episode 3 are directors Zhang &amp; Knight,&nbsp;Oscar Hudson,&nbsp;Myles Whittingham,&nbsp;Ian Pons Jewell, Aidan Zamiri and Will Hooper; directors' agent Sam Davey at OB Management; producers Tom O’Driscoll, Kareem Adeshina, Morgan Clement, Rik Green and Laura Northover; choreographer Simon Donnellon; commissioners James Hackett and Dan Curwin; assistant director Clara Paris; colourist Jax Harney; cinematographer Diana Olifirova and camera assistant Jomar O'Meally.&nbsp;With interviews conducted by Natalie Steiner and Eleri Evans, Episode 3 was edited by Cut+Run editor Meg Thorne.&nbsp;Natalie Steiner says: "During these interviews I was actually surprised by the interviewees and their get up and go attitude.&nbsp;The way that we’ve collectively picked up and carried on throughout this crisis has really highlighted what a bunch of genuinely creative people we are, who are able to overcome challenges and just figure it out."This is the third episode of the five-part series&nbsp;Music Videos In Lockdown&nbsp;about the UK music video community during the crisis, exclusively presented by Promonews. Here are links to the previous episodes in the series:&nbsp;•&nbsp;Music Videos In Lockdown Episode 1: Last Jobs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/music-videos-lockdown-series-launches-promonews-episode-1-last-jobs/64690" target="_blank">here</a> •&nbsp;Music Videos In Lockdown Episode 2: Spending Time&nbsp;<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/music-videos-lockdown-series-continues-episode-2-spending-time-exclusive-promonews/64744" target="_blank">here</a>

Will Hooper

OB Management

Cut+Run

'MUSIC VIDEOS IN LOCKDOWN' Episode 3: Working During The Lockdown - exclusive on Promonews 

Music Videos In Lockdown | EP 3: Working During the Lockdown

In the second of music video producer Natalie Steiner's film series about the UK music video production community during lockdown, she asks people from all corners of the industry about what they are doing, now that many of them have far more time on their hands...[vidtoken data:0]Steiner has documented the extraordinary moment created by the pandemic, by interviewing her workmates, contemporaries and friends from the music video community in London. She and Eleri Evans have conducted interviews with everyone from&nbsp;directors, producers, camera crew, choreographers, commissioners, directors reps, stylists, hair and makeup artists, and more - via Zoom, of course.&nbsp;In the second of the series, she finds out about how they are spending their time now they are not working on film shoots - and elicits a range of&nbsp;illuminating, inspirational and entertaining responses from her interviewees.Episode 2: Spending Time - exclusively presented by Promonews - features directors Ian Pons Jewell, Zhang + Knight, Will Hooper, Oscar Hudson, Myles Whittingham and Aidan Zamiri; producers and executive producers Luke Tierney, Imogen Harrison, Tom O'Driscoll, Laura Northover, Morgan Clement and&nbsp;Rik Green;&nbsp;stylist and makeup artists Terri Higgins,&nbsp;Jessica Summer; colourist Jax Harney; 1st AD Clara Paris; camera crew David Wright, Diana Olifirova and Jomar O'Meally; choreographer Simon Donnellon; and&nbsp;commissioners James Hackett and Dan Curwin.As she told Promonews on <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/music-videos-lockdown-series-launches-promonews-episode-1-last-jobs/64690" target="_blank">the launch of the series with Episode One: Last Jobs on May 6th</a>,&nbsp;Steiner wanted to tap into the communal spirit of the music video community at this difficult time.&nbsp;"My hope was to pull together a film which showcases the full range of people within our industry, and shows commonality and unity amongst us. I wanted to learn something about the industry, the people in it, and what we can do it make it better. Hopefully this series does that and it makes you feel a little closer to normality."This is the second&nbsp;episode of the five-part series&nbsp;Music Videos In Lockdown&nbsp;about the UK music video community during the crisis, exclusively presented by Promonews. Here is the link&nbsp;to the previous episode&nbsp;in the series:&nbsp;•&nbsp;Music Videos In Lockdown Episode 1: Last Jobs&nbsp;<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/interviews/music-videos-lockdown-series-launches-promonews-episode-1-last-jobs/64690" target="_blank">here</a>Future episodes on Music Videos In Lockdown will focus on how work has continued during the crisis, and the impact of the seismic change in the work routines on the industry, both now and when things return to relative normality.&nbsp;

Jess Summer

'MUSIC VIDEOS IN LOCKDOWN' series continues with Episode 2: Spending Time - exclusive on Promonews 

Music Videos In Lockdown | EP 2: Spending the Day

A new film series by music video producer Natalie Steiner about her colleagues in the music video production community as they navigate the current situation in lockdown&nbsp;is premiered on Promonews.[vidtoken data:0]With the Covid-19 crisis and lockdown curtailing normal ways of working, the community of people who make music videos in London - directors, producers, camera crew, choreographers, stylists, hair and makeup artists, and more - have seen their working life suspended, or seriously altered by the unprecedented impact of the pandemic.Like many other people,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.promonews.tv/profiles/natalie-steiner/51397" target="_blank">Natalie&nbsp;Steiner</a>, normally a hardworking producer of music videos (her credits include videos for Dave, Stormzy,&nbsp;Stereophonics,&nbsp;Raye, Ray BLK,&nbsp;Emeli Sande and&nbsp;The&nbsp;Horrors) has had much more time on her hands than usual. So she decided to document this extraordinary moment, by interviewing her workmates, contemporaries and friends from the music video community in London - on Zoom, of course.These interviews (by Steiner and Eleri Evans) have formed the basis of the four-part video series called&nbsp;Music Videos In Lockdown, with the first episode premiered on Promonews today.[imgtoken data:1]<blockquote>I wanted to showcase the range of people within our industry, and the&nbsp;commonality and unity amongst us.</blockquote>"The music video industry is a very busy one," she says.&nbsp;"We spend endless hours on set together pulling through early call times, bad weather, dodgy catering, and night shoots.&nbsp;As lockdown was enforced I was worried about a growing disconnect amongst people who were losing their ability to work and, even more, work together.&nbsp;"My hope was to pull together a film which showcases the full range of people within our industry, and shows commonality and unity amongst us. I wanted to learn something about the industry, the people in it, and what we can do it make it better. Hopefully this series does that and it makes you feel a little closer to normality."In&nbsp;the first episode,&nbsp;Last Jobs,&nbsp;the interviewees&nbsp;discuss&nbsp;the work they were doing just before lockdown - and how work stopped. It features&nbsp;directors Will Hooper, Aidan Zamiri, Myles Whittingham and Oscar Hudson, choreographer Simon Donnellon, DoP Diana Olifirova, camera assistant Jomar O'Meally, commissioners Dan Curwin and James Hackett,&nbsp;makeup artist Jessica Summer, producers and&nbsp;EPs&nbsp;Kareem Adeshina, Morgan Clement,&nbsp;Imogen&nbsp;Harrison, Laura Northover and&nbsp;Luke Tierney.Future episodes, to be released over the next two weeks, will discuss how life and work has changed during lockdown, and its impact on the industry - now, and potentially in the future - with contributions from the above and other interviewees, including&nbsp;Sam Davey,&nbsp;Rik&nbsp;Green,&nbsp;Terri Higgins, Tom O’Driscoll,&nbsp;Ore Okonedo,&nbsp;Taff Williamson,&nbsp;David Wright, and&nbsp;Zhang &amp; Knight.• Episode Two of Music Videos In Lockdown will be premiered on Promonews on Monday, May 11th.

'MUSIC VIDEOS IN LOCKDOWN' series launches on Promonews with Episode 1: Last Jobs

Music Videos In Lockdown | EP 1: Last Jobs

Gracey searches for meaning in a hypnotic club setting, in Aidan Zamiri's video for Gone.Under the pulsating lights, we are introduced to the artist as she stalks the space, looking for someone or something amongst a sea of revellers. Contrasting frenetic high energy setups and shots of Gracey alone in the club, there is a surreal undertone to the visual, which gets stronger as the concept progresses.DoP Diana Olifirova&nbsp;utilises shadow and backlighting to build upon the enigmatic aesthetic, whilst using slow, fluid camera movement to focus on Gracey's emotional performance.

United Kingdom

Object & Animal

Afzal Robbani

Fred Allsop

Lee Trigg

Abbey May

Flaura Atkinson

Homespun

Richard Fearon

Black Kite Studios

Emily Tedrake

Gracey 'Gone' by Aidan Zamiri

Gracey-'Gone'-by-Aidan-Zamiri

Obaro Ejimiwe aka Ghostpoet emerges from the darkness in this oozey, surreal&nbsp;nightmare directed&nbsp;by Thomas James.This is a change-up from James' usual emphasis on narrative, but it is such a singular&nbsp;visceral performance video that is has its own emotional impact. With Ejimiwe performing while covered at times in a treacle-like substance, it's&nbsp;viscerally, uncomfortably&nbsp;gooey - beautifully shot by Diana Olifirova.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Thomas James

Jamie Gamache

Connor O'Hara

OB Productions

Sam Holmes

Joe Starrs

Dan Villanueva

Adam Farquharson

Simon Battensby

Cynthia Lawrence John

Jack Singer

Jonny Tully

Amp; Big Buoy

Alice Clark

Richard

#039; Russell

#039;stretch

Lowkey Films

Sean Mayo

PIAS

Jakob Gierse

Ghostpoet 'Concrete Pony' by Thomas James

Ghostpoet – Concrete Pony (Official Video)

James Slater combines a rampant band performance by London indie&nbsp;band Sea Girls with moments&nbsp;of obscure mid-century US movie stock footage, in his video for Damage Done.&nbsp;&nbsp;

James Slater

Harry Flinder

My Accomplice

Yazz Anderson

Gabriel O'Donohoe

Kate Molins

Sandra Pennington

Ben Ransley

Tottie O'clee

Blane Pearson

TenThree

Tim Smith

CHEAT

Alexa Haywood at Free Agent UK

Andrew Law

Polydor

Indie

Rock

Sea Girls 'Damage Done' by James Slater

Seagirls--'Damage-Done'-by-James-Slater

Joshua Osborne&#39;s latest video for Tom Misch puts him&nbsp;at the heart of a very groovy, funk-era&nbsp;recording session with his band. And De La Soul&#39;s Posdnuos relays his performance via an old tube TV set. The result is a piece for It Runs Through Me with a wonderfully blissful&nbsp;vibe.&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;

Joshua Osborne

Johnny Griffith

Radical Media

Ben Schneider

Chris Malin

James Wicks

Bon Walsh

Luci Ellis

Emma Regan

Hasani Franke

Work Editorial

Julian Marshall

Marisa Garner Associates

Duncan Murray

Kobalt Label

Jazz

Tom Misch ft De La Soul 'It Runs Through Me' by Joshua Osborne

Tom-Misch-Ft-De-La-Soul-'It-Runs-Through-Me'-by-Joshua-Osborne

Millicent Hailes presents Mist and Jessie Ware in a number of visually impressive scenarios in her video for Wish Me Well. This includes a space where they&#39;re only visible under UV light, thanks to hair and makeup FX, and a light tunnel, where they&#39;re captured on a wide-angle lens - very Hype Williams.But the pick of the bunch has&nbsp;Mist towering over the skycrapers of a futuristic city. Don&#39;t think they did that in post.&nbsp;

Millicent Hailes

Joshua Noon

Greatcoat Films

Austin Barbera

Beatrice McHugh

James Evered

Gary Long

Nacho Munoz De Leon

Matt Markham

Elena Isolini

Tona Stell; Kiera Liberati

Red Barbaza

Nick Sanders

Ntropic

Kevin Miller

Glassface

Las Bandas Be Brave

Nathan James Tettey

Warner Music

SixTwentySix

Jake Krask

Simon Oxley

Georgia Day

Kiera Liberati

Hip Hop

Mist ft Jessie Ware 'Wish Me Well' by Millicent Hailes

Mist-'Wish-Me-Well-Ft-Jessie-Ware'-by-Millicent-Hailes

Halifax&#39;s finest The Orielles go on a little outing in Yorkshire in Jack Barraclough&#39;s video for Blue Suitcase (Disco Wrist).It&#39;s an enjoyably breezy affair as the band take shelter from the bleak winter of 2018 in a pub where genuine old-school&nbsp;Northern Soul dancers are putting on the moves, showing they still can do their stuff.Bandmembers Esmé, Sidonie and Henry all get involved, and it&#39;s captured with&nbsp;wonderfully fluid and dreamy camerawork from DoP Diana Olifirova.

Jack Barraclough

Jack Meredith

Karl Hui

Anastasia Romanchuka

Jordan Dubash

Rachel Owens

Caroline Morin

Sammy Dee, Helen Cooper, Neil Harper, Karen Cooper, Carlton Gadsby, Tori Drew, Elaine Sawetz

Heavenly Recordings

The Orielles 'Blue Suitcase (Disco Wrist)' by Jack Barraclough 

The Orielles - Blue Suitcase (Disco Wrist)

Joshua Osborne&#39;s video for Tom Misch&#39;s Movie is a real family affair. From the opening shot, featuring Polly Misch lipsyncing over a sample from Brief Encounter, we follow Tom into a private cinema to run a very special film on the projector.It&#39;s a &#39;home movie&#39;&nbsp;of Margriet and Klaus Misch, Tom&#39;s German grandparents, and the footage shows them just after the end of World War II, in love during very hard times in Europe. It&#39;s fascinating, and provided the inspiration for the song as well as the video. Most importantly, Osborne places this precious footage in a context which feels right for the jazzy cool of the track.&quot;This was definitely a unique experience and process,&quot; he says. &quot;And I thoroughly enjoyed working closely with the whole family to ensure we execute their story in the most respectful way.&quot;

Diana Olifirova

Director of Photography

Interviews featuring Diana Olifirova

Videos featuring Diana Olifirova

2022 (1)

2020 (2)

2019 (1)

2018 (3)

2017 (1)

Popular content

Is this your profile?

Feedback

Latest Videos