Colour grade company

ELMNTL

Leaning into The Jux’s love for streetwear, the Aychibs-directed&nbsp;visual for Dark Lights draws inspiration from Supreme’s iconic colour palette, fused with bold angles and a cinematic vibe.The first visualiser in a&nbsp;yet-to-be-released series of short clips, this one stands apart by using the screen itself to tell the story - a fresh visual twist. A slick, multi-screen setup creates depth and texture, with silhouette performances backdropping the main performance.&nbsp;Highlighting the red colours amongst a sea of monochrome, the visual is brilliantly executed and was turned around at lightning speed, shooting and editing simultaneously on set.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;

Maureen Kargbo

Belle Mcleary

AyChibs

Michael Grant

Curated London

Jordan Young

Simon Stonlland

Simon Oxley

Henry Howard

7wallace

The Jux With Lex Amor 'Dark Lights' by Aychibs

The-Jux-With-Lex-Amor-'Dark-Lights'-by-Aychibs

Jordan Sellers directs another stirring promo for sandy crow - the musical project of actor Jamie Flatters.&nbsp;In the video for Mud Of Emotion, we see the artist&nbsp;move&nbsp;through a house, as projected memories and pulsing lights threaten to slow him down.&nbsp;Eventually, he&nbsp;finds the strength to play music again.&nbsp;With vibrant, grungy cinematography and a sense of mystery throughout, it's another accomplished and affecting piece in the manner of Sellers' previous sandy crow videos for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2024/05/23/sandy-crow-handgun-wisdom-jordan-sellers/89921" target="_blank">Handgun Wisdom</a> and <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2024/08/25/sandy-crow-plano-jordan-sellers/89882" target="_blank">Plano</a>.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]

Jordan Sellers

Collum Smith

Soup Of The Day Pictures

Aashish Shrestha

Klara Simonova

Manu Ausin

Awal Recordings

sandy crow 'Mud Of Emotion' by Jordan Sellers

Sandy-Crow-'Mud-Of-Emotion'-by-Jordan-Sellers

John Wick meets the 9-5 slog in Relta's rousing promo for Jessie Reyez.&nbsp;The video for New York Baby boasts a clash of nostalgic, office-core aesthetics and action film mayhem, building to a bloody, visceral climax.&nbsp;Tied together by a rather breezy, anachronistic performance setup (complete with vintage Macs on plinths), it's a captivating, heart-pounding visual with plenty of standout moments.&nbsp;

Rashi Jain

Amanda Salts

Apecastings

Taise Kerr

Steph Major

Relta

Jolene Mendes

The Corner Shop

Byron Wilson

Anil Rana

Jeremy Thomas

Monty Sloan

Billy Kendall

Katie Taylor

Anna Hashmi

Magdalena Zielonka

Daniel Bennaiem

Zac Stanke

Christopher Velez

Spenser Adelsein

Gyasi Howard

Caleb Philips

Philip Hoang

Raquel Wagner

JaQuel Knight

Sam Allen

The Assembly Rooms

Jessie Reyez 'New York Baby' by Relta

Jessie Reyez - NYB (Official Video)

<h3>The ELMNTL colourist makes a plea for better communication with creatives, reveals Swift-related fun times -&nbsp;and his teeny obsession with Wicked...</h3>Over the past few years Henry Howard has made his mark as a versatile and sought-after colourist in fashion, commercials, and music videos. His passion for colour and meticulous attention to detail have led to collaborations with top agencies, including BBH, Havas, Leo Burnett, and Wieden+Kennedy.After a successful freelance stint, Henry joined ELMNTL two years ago, fully immersing himself in the start-up studio's&nbsp;creative environment in Shoreditch when it launched.&nbsp;And his portfolio reflects a refined approach to grading, with standout work for brands such as Gucci, De Beers, and Dior, alongside Adidas, Nike, Paddy Power, Audi, ASICS, and Tesco. His ability to elevate visuals while remaining true to the creative vision is also evident in his work with music artists like Headie One, High Vis, Skepta&nbsp;and Ed Sheeran.Beyond commercials and music, Henry’s dedication to storytelling extends into feature films, most recently completing work on Jamie Flatters'&nbsp;Shoulders, set for release in April.&nbsp;As&nbsp;ELMNTL&nbsp;moves into its third year, he’s excited to continue pushing boundaries and shaping bold, innovative visuals - so a&nbsp;very good time to catch up with him via the SNAPSHOT Q&amp;A.Name: Henry HowardBirthday: October 23rd 1992Where did you grow up?&nbsp;The now seaside City of SouthendPlace of further education and course (if any)?&nbsp; Film &amp; TV Production at Buckinghamshire New University.Where do you live now?&nbsp;South of the river (Croydon), much to my father’s distaste.<blockquote>MTV was always on in our house, so promos became a huge influence.</blockquote>Name a film or video or other creative work that had a huge influence on your&nbsp;career choice?&nbsp;I grew up with five older brothers so I was subjected to a lot of 80s action movies such as&nbsp;Terminator, Rambo and The Warriors. MTV was always on in our house, so promos became a huge influence. My eldest brother once made me watch all of U2’s music videos. No one needs that much Bono in their life.A film that left a lasting impact on me was <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780536/" target="_blank">In Bruges</a>. It was the first time I saw multiple genres seamlessly blended - comedy, drama, romance, and action. Really ahead of its time.[vidtoken data:0]In terms of promos I distinctly remember being blown away by Foals' Late Night video by NABIL. I’d never seen a video like that and it sent me down a rabbithole of consuming videos akin to a similar style. Great to leave Bono behind.What were the important first projects for you, in terms of a learning experience&nbsp; and being noticed, or a foothold in the industry?&nbsp;I did a lot of freebies from <a href="https://www.mandy.com/" target="_blank">Mandy.com</a> which can expose you to interesting characters. It helped a lot to develop styles and you were exposed to not-great cameras so definitely worth the challenges early on.A stand out was probably a ‘Lyft’ campaign starring Nigel Sylvester and narrated by LeBron James. I follow basketball quite a bit so to be on a project that involved LeBron early on in my career was incredible.[vidtoken data:1]Best film(s) you saw last year?&nbsp;&nbsp;Wicked -&nbsp;hands down.&nbsp;I also loved The Holdovers, the film emulation is phenomenal! Past Lives absolutely floored me. All Of Us Strangers and The Substance as well... but yeah, mainly Wicked.[imgtoken data:1]Favourite song/album/music artist in the past year?&nbsp;Alligator Bites Never Heal&nbsp;by Doechii has been on repeat at the moment. She’s incredible! The consistency of what she’s releasing is remarkable and her rise has been so inspiring.&nbsp;I had the pleasure of working on a lot of <a href="https://open.spotify.com/artist/7Fp843hrgOioL7DBA4PBlC" target="_blank">sandy crow</a> projects this year and I can’t lie, each track has been a banger especially Handgun Wisdom. And the Wicked soundtrack, of course.[vidtoken data:2]Favourite music video/videos in the past year?&nbsp; Miki Matsubara ’Mayonaka no Door - stay with me’ by The Fridman Sisters. Like many, I’m really into Japanese aesthetics right now.&nbsp;The Fridman Sisters made this beautiful, intimate film with such a joyous energy in the performance. It was great to see a classic song get an updated video, hopefully see more like it in the future.&nbsp;[vidtoken data:3]What was (or usually is) your favourite night out last year?&nbsp;I reluctantly admit… The Eras Tour. My wife is a massive Swiftie, which now means I’m a massive Swiftie too. I was surprised at the amount of songs I knew by heart. And yes, I got a T-shirt.Also, the UKMVAs is a really great night to recap and celebrate the work put out in the last year.In terms of the music video-related jobs of the past year or so, what were the most&nbsp;rewarding creatively, and why?&nbsp;I really loved working with <a href="https://vimeo.com/1006214906/85939d0311" target="_blank">sandy crow</a>, as mentioned before. It’s the music project of actor Jamie Flatters and the sound reminded me of late Noughties indie. His videos also complement his style really well.&nbsp;[vidtoken data:4]High Vis’s Minds a Lie&nbsp;was also up there. I’ve collaborated with the band since their first videos and it's been great to see them grow. Martina Pastori did an excellent job directing. Her portrayal of male loneliness and isolation of the working class was spot on.What are your favourite other (non-mv) projects of the past year or so?&nbsp;My favourite would have to be the ASICs campaign I did with Liswaya and Nakama. Liswaya made such a stunning film and it was an honour to be a part of it. It was mainly for the Japanese and Asian market so it was a great experience and to see the work and dedication they put into the project![vidtoken data:5]What’s the most surprising thing that’s happened last year?&nbsp;Wicked&nbsp;not winning Best Musical at the Golden Globes.<blockquote>A lot more can be done...&nbsp;to make senior roles more inclusive.</blockquote>Most annoying/irksome thing that’s been going on this year (work-related or&nbsp;otherwise)?&nbsp;I feel that we’re still lacking in diversity within our industry.&nbsp; A lot more can be done by companies and hiring managers to make senior roles more inclusive. In order for us to progress we need more opinions and perspectives from a variety of class, race and gender otherwise we will plateau and not progress - which is what I think is apparent in many mainstream pockets of the industry.&nbsp;Your top suggestion to change and improve how the music video industry works?&nbsp;Right now, there’s too much red tape between artists and creatives. I find it difficult to speak directly with directors - perhaps a lingering effect of Covid. But greater collaboration and open discussions about creative approaches are essential. Most of the time, I don’t speak to the director until the day of the grade. While we all have busy schedules, a quick ten-minute introduction could do wonders for the creative process.I continue to push for early discussions between artists and directors on ideas and creative approaches, but this doesn’t happen as often as I’d like. We all have busy schedules, but a quick ten-minute introduction before a session can do wonders for the creative process. If a meeting isn’t possible, even a voice note can help establish creative alignment early. It’s all about collaboration to make the work as strong as possible—well worth the investment of time!What are you looking forward to for the rest of the year? Wicked Part 2• Henry Howard is senior colourist at ELMNTL; watch more of his work <a href="https://www.elmntl.studio/colour" target="_blank">here</a>

THE SNAPSHOT Q&A: Henry Howard

Foals - Late Night (Official Video)

It All Started With a Bike | LyftUp

Sandy-Crow-'Handgun-Wisdom'-by-Jorden-Sellers

【松原みき】Miki Matsubara ’Mayonaka no Door -stay with me’ (Music Video)  2023 by Fridman Sisters

High-Vis--'Minds-A-Lie'-by-Martina-Pastori

ASICS - SS25 - DIR CUT

Inspired by Fincher’s Fight Club, Stefano Moscone's video for&nbsp;Nix Northwest &amp; Xadi&nbsp;is an odyssey into the raw and primal violence of the underground fights. It's very hard-hitting indeed.With its atmospheric, cinematic approach - there's impressive&nbsp;cinematography from Will Arcinas and grade from Henry Howard - and a strong&nbsp;ensemble cast featuring the artists themselves, Moscone helms a compellingly visceral experience, traversing the magnetic appeal of the Fight Club, to its unavoidable pitfalls.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;The adrenaline rush, the brutal exchange of blows, the sensation of pain, all serve as a twisted reminder to Nix Northwest and Xadi that they’re still alive, still feeling something in a world that otherwise feels numb. The fights become their escape, but it is a dangerous illusion.The pair lose themselves in this cycle, unable to break free from the downward spiral - transforming into night owls.

United Kingdom

Eunice Leese

Marton Virag

Stefano Moscone

Anna Boronea

27 Films

Omar Radwan

Will Arcinas

Charlie Yuille

Bernardo Freitas

Gesa Pfeiffer

Lottie Holland-king

Leisure Sickness

Xadi & Nix Northwest 'Night Owl' by Stefano Moscone

Nix-Northwest-&-Xadi---'Night-Owl'-by-Stefano-Moscone

Martina Pastori explores themes&nbsp;of class, isolation and loneliness in her video for London-based rock outfit High Vis, featuring&nbsp;Welsh movement artist Sem Osian.&nbsp;The&nbsp;video for Mind's A Lie begins with a jolt: a scene akin to recent turbulent events of unrest and violence in Britain. But writer/director Pastori endeavours to create a rounded portrait of a disaffected and disturbed&nbsp;working class young man, played by Osian, in the film shot in South London.The song itself provided the jumping off&nbsp;point for the creation of Osian's character. In Mind's A Lie, High Vis frontman Graham Sayle says that he wanted to "look at how quickly negative habits can take control when you lack a positive or constructive outlet for your energy." And he makes clear that this is a situation caused by decisions made at government level."While the language of mental health provision has found fertile ground in the churn of social media, access to essential services has been decimated by the indifference of successive Tory governments," adds Sayle. "Further division has been stoked through governmental rhetoric and media scapegoating. Without adequate support in times of crisis, life can quickly spiral into an angry and isolated existence."Pastori makes that political point by focussing entirely on Osian,&nbsp;as a very believable character caught in that spiral.&nbsp;

Ella Marafini

Martina Pastori

My Accomplice

Blue Laybourne

Rafal Rakoczy-gould

Josh Higgins

Sinan Yilmaz

Lucy Berry

Dais Records

Final Cut

Rock

High Vis 'Minds A Lie' by Martina Pastori

AyChibs directs a strong and slick performance piece for Afrobeat star Yung Filly.Working on a tight schedule - there was less than a week from sign off to delivery - AyChibs creates an intiimate space for Yung Filly to deliver a heartfelt performance of Tempted, then creates a series of set-ups to build momentum until a climactic&nbsp;party scene.There's an astute use of colour in different scenes to create simple but classy backdrops. And&nbsp;ultimately its all&nbsp; working to highlight&nbsp;Yung Filly's charismatic performance.[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2][imgtoken data:3]

Ola Christian

Danyal Nwajiobi-deacon

Mic Grant

Andre Reid

Greatcoat Films

Nathan James Tettey

Tristan Chenais

Priscilla Babin

Ismah Ansari

Murray Boden

Hermes Contreras

Bradley Panda

Ibrahim Kanu

Patricia Kerry

Samuel Maton

Charlie Williams

Warner Music

Afrobeat

Yung Filly 'Tempted' by AyChibs

Yung-Filly-'Tempted'-by-Aychibs

Known for his performances in projects such as Avatar: The Way of Water, acclaimed British actor Jamie Flatters is now embarking on a new creative journey under the alias sandy crow. The Jordan Sellers-directed video for Plano - which forms part of his debut EP - follows him on his mission to dance. Turns out that he's pretty damn good.Shot in London, its a charming introduction to the artist that&nbsp;also has a cinematic look,&nbsp;shot by&nbsp;Klara Simonova and graded by Henry Howard.

Omari Frances

Soup Of The Day

Zakarius Harry

sandy crow 'Plano' by Jordan Sellers

sandy crow - Plano

Following her breakout hit, this soulful new star has come into her own with new music that is hopeful and self-assured. Taking inspiration from Joni Mitchell and Lauren Hill, I’m Sorry forms part of her sophomore EP, and the video, directed by&nbsp;Manu Ausín, was shot on location in Kent.

Zoë Daley

Daniel Derbyshire

Victoria Linzenich

Sasha Hunter

Chie Fujimoto

Cordelia 'I'm Sorry' by Manu Ausín

Cordelia-'I'm-Sorry'-by-Manu-Ausín

Plenty of plasma on show in Jordan Sellers second video for Jamie Flatters, aka sandy crow.Blending indie and pop, Handgun Wisdom forms part of his debut EP from acclaimed actor Flatters - known&nbsp;for his performances in projects such as Avatar: The Way of Water - under the alias sandy crow.&nbsp;Shot on location in London and Kent, the video demonstrates various unusual ways in which he can get covered in blood.

Archie Tweedle Williams

sandy crow 'Handgun Wisdom' by Jordan Sellers

Ashwin Noel and Sofia Isabella's video for RV's Play For Keeps is a raw, no-frills portrayal of the UK drill scene, blending street survival with raw aggression.RV, Headie One, and Abra Cadabra trade menacing bars over a dark, bass-heavy beat, capturing the tension of life on the edge. Set against estate blocks and shadowy streets, the video intensifies with brutal boxing scenes, symbolizing the fight for dominance,. both in the ring and on the roads.With fast-paced visuals, icy flexes, and a relentless energy, this is a pulsating visual expertly shot by DoP Terrence Wilkins and graded by Henry Howard.&nbsp;

Ashwin Noel

Sofia Isabella

An Films

Terrence Wilkins

drill

Grime

RV ft Abra Cadabra, Headie One 'Play For Keeps' by Ashwin Noel, Sofia Isabella

RV FT HEADIE ONE & ABRA CADABRA - PLAY FOR KEEPS (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Medieval meets modern in&nbsp;Lucy Werrett's stirring&nbsp;promo for Tlya X An.&nbsp;The video for YDKM features the artist as an enigmatic warrior, performing in a dark studio adorned with&nbsp;otherworldly art direction.&nbsp;Mixing movement and abstract poses, the video has a mysterious aesthetic which feels almost editorial in its presentation. A strong, unapologetically dynamic visual, fresh and contemporary&nbsp;in its execution.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2]