Director's Representation

Las Bandas Be Brave

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

Ramy Dance

Common People Films

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

Lewis Cater jumps from country music promos - with his recent video for <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2025/03/28/maddie-tae-drunk-girls-bathrooms-lewis-cater/90530" target="_blank">Maddie &amp; Tae</a> -&nbsp;to riotous rock visuals, with this rousing video for Shinedown.&nbsp;Following a night across NYC, we follow a stranger from the streets to&nbsp;an enigmatic venue, where Shinedown perform to a frantic audience.Showing his visual breadth and masterful knowledge of the format, Cater is just as&nbsp;comfortable in grungy rock clubs as he is in dazzling Nashville landscapes.&nbsp;&nbsp;"We shot this amongst the backdrop of NYC, creating a video that showcases the city’s dance, fashion and raw energy," Cater explains. "I wanted this to be a sensory overload, packed with adrenaline, sweat and a Berghain aesthetic."He's certainly achieved that and more, bringing a fresh edge to a fun concept which aligns perfectly with the music.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Meghan Chou

Shannon Zhu

Chelsea Eisen

Tara Nichols

Lewis Cater

Sam Millstein

Adam Kinyon

Olivia Kavanaugh

Tuff

Andrew Reid

Elliot Travis

Liam Reardon

Djay Brawner

Max Rose

Desirée Abeyta

Johnny Callaway

Franz Brun

Matt Foundoulis

Dan Rodriguez

Mathilde Suissa

Mariana Soares

Jullisa Bond

Karen Boyer

Theo Kogan

Sam Halleen

Brian Charles

Guy Davies

Zebrafish Media

Aurimas Kislius

Atlantic Records

Shinedown 'Dance, Kid, Dance' by Lewis Cater

Shinedown - Dance, Kid, Dance (Official Video)

A party-sized celebration unfolds in the unlikeliest of places, in Lewis Carter's promo for US country artists Maddie &amp; Tae.&nbsp;It's the scene of plenty of memorable moments - drunken chats by the mirror, pep talks and camaraderie.&nbsp;For Maddie &amp; Tae, the bathroom is a space for celebration and catharsis.&nbsp;Leading to a fun roller-rink party, it's another dazzling promo from Cater - following his team-up with the Nashville-based duo on <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2024/10/10/maddie-tae-free-lewis-cater/88475" target="_blank">Free Like</a> -&nbsp;full of feelgood vibes and glossy vignettes.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Harmony Joy Arthur

Alex Pescosta

Grace Jones

Jarrett Jarvis

Luke Holliday

Djay Brawner 

Troy Jackson

Phil Dudevoire

Trent Millspaugh

Darryl Wilson

Chase Lochamire

Stepheny Miller

Amber Cannon Guarino

Kendall Hudson

Universal Music Nashville

Maddie & Tae 'Drunk Girls In Bathrooms' by Lewis Cater

Maddie & Tae - Drunk Girls in Bathrooms (Official Music Video)

Kacey Musgraves ponders life and the world around us in Lewis Cater's meditative promo for The Architect.&nbsp;Boasting a breathtaking&nbsp;location and sweeping, epic shots of the scenery, the video blends conceptual vignettes with laidback performance setups for Musgraves' Grammy-nominated song, that contemplates the questions of existence: is our world shaped by the hand of a divine creator, driven by the unstoppable forces of nature, or crafted through the intricate workings of scientific phenomena?&nbsp;Building upon the themes of the track, we see Musgraves putting together a giant grass puzzle, and bathing in mud, captured in a drawn-out, breezy way.&nbsp;It's splendid work from Cater and team -&nbsp;a love letter to the world we live in, and an empowering showcase for Kacey Musgraves.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;

Sophie Weir

Eric Cloud

Michelle An

Chelsea Dodson

Alyssa Kamalski

Dimitri Christoforidis

Neema Sadeghi

Yafate Shifraw

Sam Shapson

Garet Jatsek

Zane Tan

Bradley Wilder

Matthew Borek

Moani Lee

Giovanni Delgado

Sfx Mua: Dre Lamparello

Dylan Hageman

The Frender

Max Colt

Interscope

Kacey Musgraves 'The Architect' by Lewis Cater

Kacey Musgraves - The Architect (Official Music Video)

Freya Skye welcomes the spirit of Christmas&nbsp;in her latest promo directed by Lewis Cater.The charming video for the young singer-songwriter and actress's Winter Dream takes place in a cosy, rural house, where she is preparing for Christmas Day with&nbsp;an evening of baking, wrapping presents and getting the decorations up.&nbsp;Following Cater's two previous videos for Skye, <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2024/07/29/freya-skye-walk-over-lewis-cater/87513" target="_blank">Walk Over</a>&nbsp;and <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2024/09/24/freya-skye-someone-love-lewis-cater/88278" target="_blank">Someone To Love</a>, the festive&nbsp;spirit shines in every aspect of this video, from the art direction to the styling.&nbsp;&nbsp;"It’s Christmas Eve and Freya conducts a symphony of holiday cheer," explains Cater.&nbsp;"Through some playful camera angles, we set out to show Freya’s vibrant personality, but the also magic of her festive preparations, with a special cameo from her dog&nbsp;Ruby!"I feel like I’ve been in the festive spirit ever since shooting this video back in June - nothing quite like shooting a holiday video on the summer solstice! We had the fireplace lit and snow falling at peak British summer."

United Kingdom

Laura Little

Dan Hills

Clementine Brown

Emily Clifford

James Dearden

Blindeye Films

Tuff Contender

Craig Cox

Jon Wong

Callum Collins

Miguel Carmenes

Jack Lightfoot

Affy Robani

Adam Fox

Max Bent-Marshall

Lisa Davey

Marcos Gurgel

Peter Oppersdorff

The Mill

Action Studios Tv

Jace Hardwick

Hollywood Records

Freya Skye 'Winter Dream' by Lewis Cater

Freya-Skye-'Winter-Dream'-by-Lewis-Cater

Nashville-based&nbsp;duo Maddy &amp; Tae are free like Thelma &amp; Louise in Lewis Cater's breezy performance promo - shot in their home state of&nbsp;Tennessee.&nbsp;The video for Free Like sees the duo play two rebellious girls,&nbsp;wanted by authorities for living life on their own terms and not giving a damn. The sun-soaked promo features several absorbing performance vignettes, shot in a carefree, cinematic way, on location in the Volunteer State.&nbsp;"We had a lot of fun shooting this out in Nashville," explains Lewis Cater. "The girls were troopers delivering this incredible performance in that Tennessee summer heat."A vibrant, laidback promo with plenty of visual appeal.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;[imgtoken data:2]

United States

Kate Wilson

Contrast Visuals

Barrett Depies

Ryan Berger

Country

Maddie & Tae 'Free Like' by Lewis Cater

Maddie & Tae - Free Like (Official Music Video)

Charles De Meyer directs the debut music video for his musical alter-ego The Chuck,&nbsp;putting him simultaneously behind and in front of the camera for the very first time.The video was shot during a recent trip to Los Angeles, where he met a bunch of&nbsp;young talent who enthusiastically came on board to help him out with this low-budget, toy-instruments performance video.Boasting an idiosyncratic style, peppered with strange props and art-direction elements, the video is a charismatic intro to the project, and a brilliant showcase of De Meyer's talents.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;&nbsp;“I had met Cameron Thistle – who plays the drums in the video – at one of his gigs in a bar in West Hollywood," the director explains. "I was so impressed by the band he shares with his brother Devin (aptly named the Thistle Brothers) I wanted to propose my services as a director should they need a video, but instead asked him to feature in one of mine a week later. He graciously agreed; his contribution lifted the result above and beyond my expectations! That was such a cool experience."De Mayer's output of music videos over a number of years includes acclaimed clips for the likes of Shinedown, Gojira, Amon Tobin, Raveyards, invariably incorporating&nbsp;inventive VFX. - but the video for Mind Over Matter marks a tonal swerve from his previous work.[imgtoken data:2]"The video is something quite different from what I'm usually accustomed to making, my work mostly being known for atmospheric and moody narratives, which attracted more projects in the same vibe," he confirms. "This time around I wanted to make things more light-hearted, a bit absurd, funny without it being a gag-reel."The brief I gave myself was: 50% cool, 50% ridiculous. I hope it shows! I did try to stay on brand by sprinkling just enough VFX to keep people guessing."

Charles De Meyer

Carter Nowak

HK Corp

Chuck Eklectric

Leslie Yang

Justin Perez

Charlie Capp

Lorne Hiltser

David Gitlis

Ariel Lonstein

Cameron Thistle

Kasie Renee Yu

The Chuck 'Mind Over Matter' by Charles De Meyer

The-Chuck-'Mind-Over-Matter'-by-Charles-De-Meyer

Bryan Schlam directs a faithful love letter to the spaghetti western, in this captivating promo for Michigan-born virtuoso guitarist Billy Strings.&nbsp;The video for Seven Weeks In County boasts&nbsp;plenty of style inspiration and iconography from the classic 1960s movie genre: gunfights, jailbreaks and campfire theatrics&nbsp;abound, every frame ramping up the chaos and pulpy drama in a satisfying fashion.&nbsp;As the video starts Billy is locked up in the sheriff's office, then narrowly escapes a hanging - and that's just the start. It's an ambitious feat, and perfectly captures the nostalgia of this&nbsp;cinematic era, including the shooting style adopted by Sergio Leone in his classic spaghetti westerns.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]"We shot at Luck Ranch, which is at Willie Nelson’s house," Bryan Schlam explains of the production.&nbsp;"It actually was the set from <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091834/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_1_nm_1_in_0_q_redheaded%2520stranger" target="_blank">[Willie Nelson '80s movie]&nbsp;Red Headed Stranger</a>. The interior from the bar was renovated so I had our production designer Dakota and his art team recreate the bar from RHS. We even matched the original wallpaper. And&nbsp;we used an amazing stunt coordinator who was a stunt man in Red Headed Stranger. "For super close up shots, we used a filter called a split diopter, which puts both the foreground and background into focus. The most noticeable shot is when Billy tries to get the guards key’s with his guitar. It’s an effect that really isn’t used too often but it’s a technique that I’ve really grown fond of."Schlam adds that everything in the video was filmed as practically as possible, which led to some ingenious solutions by the production team.&nbsp;"The guns had CO2 cartridges and powder, so there were actual pops from the guns," he says. "The close up where the rope breaks was a firework that split it in half. The camera mounted on the gun was practical too - the rig was hilarious. I think it was attached about 6 feet away from the camera on rails. It did the trick but it was a really unique set up that our crew had to figure out how to make from scratch."The close ups of the horse riding with Billy were shot on a saddle rig on the back of a stunt truck. Billy had to practice while we were filming with the other cast members so they would just drive him around the ranch as he learned how to ride a fake horse. It was really funny. "The gunshots - which were really intense - were added in post and our VFX artist Jack even figured out a way to put bullets in the chamber of the gun when it comes out of the bushes in the ambush scene. Then we put together a cut and sent it&nbsp;off to a lab to print it to film. So what you're watching was shot on an Alexa 35, but then was transferred to film, giving it that vintage look that would match Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns in terms of aesthetic. We wanted to stay away from any American western references and keep everything Italian. "The intro credits were our names but I made fake italian versions to make it more authentic. Maybe it was a bad call having it say in big letters “directed by Bruno Sclavi” instead of my name but I had to stay committed. And the audio in the credits scene where Billy plays live was recorded on my iPhone."

Dakota Millett

Melina Perez

Bryan Schlam

Whitney Wolanin

Ghost Robot

Devin Sarno

Ben Oliver

Douglas Porter

Mark Depace

Alexis Kaplan

Zachary Mortensen

Stacy Claye

Brian Murphy

Larkin Mclaughlin

Jesse Wolter

Brooks Birdsall

Erin Mainwaring

Wesley Falk

Cat Lane

Dan Edwards

Jack Sheahan

Americana

Billy Strings 'Seven Weeks In County' by Bryan Schlam

Billy-Strings-'Seven-Weeks-In-County'-by-Bryan-Schlam

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

Jake Nava directs a thrilling monochromatic promo for Quavo and Lenny Kravitz.&nbsp;Shot in Krakow&nbsp;between stops of Lenny's European tour,&nbsp;the video for Fly - a cover of the artist's 1998 classic - boasts some instantly iconic performances, in a slick, hypnotic package.&nbsp;Contrasting the empty industrial space the artists perform in, the video is packed full of energy, from the FPV drone shots to handheld camerawork and mounted GoPros. The stunning footage has been crafted in a breathtaking edit by Jarrett Fijal.Brilliant work from legends both in front and behind the camera.&nbsp;

Jake Nava

Benedict Cooper

Cherry Films

Emmanuelle Cuny

Faye Purcell

Jarrett Fijal

Bonch

David Johnson

Rock

Hip Hop

Quavo, Lenny Kravitz 'Fly' by Jake Nava

Quavo,-Lenny-Kravitz-'Fly'-by-Jake-Nava

Lewis Cater directs an optimistic summertime promo for teen sensation Freya Skye.&nbsp;The video for Walk Over is an upbeat showcase of performance and good vibes, peppered with dance, animation and fun art direction flair.&nbsp;Using the city as a backdrop, the video is a love letter to the strength of the human spirit, packaged in a colourful, endlessly watchable visual.&nbsp;"Embracing that start of British summer energy, this video is all about turning setbacks into celebrations: when the bus breaks down, we dance in the smoke!" Cater says.&nbsp;

Ethan Atkinson

Sam Nutt

Murray Boden

Peter Oppersdorf

Hollywood Records/ The Walt Disney Company

Freya Skye 'Walk Over' by Lewis Cater

Freya-Skye--'Walk-Over'-by-Lewis-Cater

Oliver Jennings directs a Noughties-inspired video for the UK’s newest girl group Say Now. The song Bitch Get Out My Car is about finding the confidence to stand up for yourself, and Olly and the team showcase the girls in various art directed and VFX-based set ups highlighting the theme in a fun and clever way.Featuring playful nods to other girlband videos such as Pussycat Dolls and TLC and other nods to Spice Girls and Britney Spears, it's&nbsp;a great introduction to the trio from London - and also features a cameo from&nbsp;House of the Dragon&nbsp;star Emily Carey.[imgtoken data:1][imgtoken data:2]