1st AD

Oli Hill

Charlie Di Placido demonstrates his command of shooting dance performance, with an&nbsp;absorbing promo for Steven Wilson.&nbsp;Following the exceptional longform project for Jungle's new album Volcano, the video for Wilson's Economies Of Scale plays to Di Placido's strengths in choreographed concepts and awe-inspiring one-takes, and boasts an elevated, emotional experience from the first frame, featuring powerful performances from the two dancers,&nbsp;Sasha Shadid and Salomé Pressac.&nbsp;The concept was centred around the album artwork, and builds on it in an enigmatic, completely captivating way - as Di Placido explains.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]"One of my favourite videos of the year," he says. "It's always such a privilege when an artist has the bravery to give you such scope in terms of how you approach a visual and to allow me to hero these incredible dancers."Sasha Shadid and Salomé Pressac gave such inspired performances and the end result is a real moment in time captured. I wanted to play with the audience expectations on who these characters are and their roles in the Economies of Scale within society, as it were.[imgtoken data:2]"The object which is based around the album artwork is a mystical force which has had a profound effect on our 'business man' played by Sasha. He struggles with it as it forces him to question his place within our narrative in the hall of this grand old building."The nature of the location and small nods in the art direction, a discarded red briefcase, are there to gently guide the viewer to what might be at play here. Sasha is being forced to confront his role within a system which is not in line with his true spirit.[imgtoken data:3]"Salomé's character goes through a mini three part metamorphosis as she watches Sasha's opening freestyle before she takes center stage. These are comments on how women are forced to represent themselves within society. Her final form, her true self is bare footed, almost feral and she's made an outfit out of business men's ties."Sasha &amp; Salomé come together as they are both overcome with a deep longing for the freedom this object provides. The final message 'All Times Leaves Is Me And You' ties back into Steven's original brief for what this song means, namely that your personal connections and the love you have for you nearest and dearest should supercede any attempt to win a rat race because they're the only thing that is real."

United Kingdom

Katie South

Sasha Hadid

Salomé Pressac

Pili Mateos

Charlie Di Placido

Rowan Macintosh King

Carrie Sutton

Contentus Maximus

Conrad Russell

Brandon Quan 

Matthew Craig

Maddy Williams

Ben Eeley

Max Tuite

Dan Howe

Yazmin Khan

Alex Gregory

No.8

Electronic

Steven Wilson 'Economies Of Scale' by Charlie Di Placido

Steven-Wilson-'Economies-Of-Scale'-by-Charlie-Di-Placido

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

Thomas Davis

Common People Films

Seven Mgmt

Charlie Relph

Luke C Harper

Ramy Dance

Rowan Mackintosh King

Tony Roberts

Sarah Anderson

Cerys Kenneally

Kai Newton

Dylan Jones

Hebe Wallace

Joey Henshaw

Trim Editing

Dominic Phipps

Company 3

Artist Building

Punk rock

Rock

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

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

Oskar Brockbank directs a hauting promo for Etta Marcus's Mechanical Bull.&nbsp;Taking the songtitle as the central idea for the concept, we see Marcus ride&nbsp;atop a mechanical bull, surrounded by a group of spectators.&nbsp;The effervescent black and white aesthetic adds a sense of anachronism to the visual - we don't have context for time or place, instead just a set of visual ideas that amalgamate into a captivating vignette.&nbsp;The use of slow shutter speeds and filmic textures enhances the otherworldly experience, and adds flair to the dreamlike event.&nbsp;

Suzie Walsh

Oskar Brockbank

Anonymous Content

Louis Danckwerts

Ryan Delahunty

Miles Ridgway

Suzie Fownes

George Telling

Katie Soper

Emma Regan

Vlad Barin

CHEAT

Polydor Records

Singer songwriter

Etta Marcus 'Mechanical Bull' by Oskar Brockbank

Etta-Marcus-'Mechanical-Bull'-by-Oskar-Brockbank

Following the success of last year's Glue Song, Jake Erland directs a charming single-take promo for&nbsp;beabadoobee.Full of ballerinas, a butler and, of course, Bea herself,&nbsp;the video for The Way Things Go has an artistic, painterly aesthetic, with some truly outstanding art direction and styling.&nbsp;It's an unexpected yet brilliant change of vibe for Bea, who worked closely in collaboration with Erland on the idea, and shows a fascinating ambition for bold concepts and situations that will challenge&nbsp;her as an artist.&nbsp;A must watch, and one that will certainly&nbsp;be on repeat over the summer period.&nbsp;

Angelica Wolanska

Charlie Morris

Sophie Vroom

Jacob Erland

Polly Milner

OB Management

Sam Davey

Ob Management Production

Jon Moore

Massimo Filippi

Jake Erland

Sam Holmes

Marija Djikic

Garcia Sterling

Austin Phillips

Klim Jurevicius

James Burns

Alan Scott

Charlotte Toner

Roxy Attard

Elaine Lynskey

Tim Smith

Dirty Hit

Alt Pop

beabadoobee 'The Way Things Go' by Jacob Erland

Beabadoobie-'The-Way-Things-Go'-by-Jacob-Erland

Charlie Di Placido shows his trademark skill in bringing choreography to the screen in&nbsp;this joyous promo for Jessie Ware.&nbsp;Inspired by Ware’s time in Brazil, the&nbsp;video for Begin Again features Ware as the central figure throughout the concept, as she moves across two polarised spaces embracing shadows and surrounded by dancers.Packed full of energy, the video is terrific showcase for the continued reinvention of Jessie Ware as a great singer having fun with the concept of being a proper diva, in an invigorating and unique way.[imgtoken data:1]&nbsp;"I’m a massive fan of Jessie's music and this album feels like a seminal musical moment for her - so this was real privilege of a project to work on," says Di Placido&nbsp;- a recent guest&nbsp;on The Promonews Podcast.&nbsp;"Her work ethic and personality really shone through during rehearsals and she was a joy to work with and so generous with her dancers."The video for Jessie Ware comes at a hugely busy time for Di Placido, who has been directing videos for the new Everything But The Girl album, as well as continuing his long association with Jungle, co-directing videos with the band's J Lloyd for their new visual album project."Dance is at the centre of everything I do as a director and a huge part of my day-to-day working life," he continues. "The infectious energy and creative boundary-pushing my dancers and choreographers bring to my projects is an endless source of inspiration. This was no different&nbsp;and working closely with Olivier Casamayou from I COULD NEVER BE A DANCER, we found a performance that was both true to Jessie and the uplifting feeling of the music."Pete Bishop is an exciting young cinematographer I hold in high esteem and I love the look he achieved for the video, topped off by another stunning grade from my colourist Alex Gregory of No.8 London.”

Riley Wolf

Kate Collins

Timmy Firmin

Pierre Antoine

Miranda Chambers

Jacob Wye

Patric Kuo

Ella Lucia

Matt Craig

Irresistible Studios

Ailsa Robertson

Greg Probert

Peter Bishop

Harriet-Kate Mckean

Gary Kent

Mike Linforth

Liam Reardon

Olivier Casamayou

Patrick Wilson

Pheobe Walters

Umg (on Behalf Of Emi)

Jessie Ware 'Begin Again' by Charlie Di Placido

Jessie Ware - Begin Again

After a hiatus of 24 years, Everything But The Girl are back, with addictive new release Nothing Left To Lose.&nbsp;Charlie Di Placido's video for the&nbsp;single presents a couple in the middle of a large café,&nbsp;who are swept up by the beat and launched into an energetic display of choreography.&nbsp;The other punters join in, as does the cashier, all joining together as one hive mind, until the music ends and all is back to normal.&nbsp;Shot in one take, the video is a whirlwind of creativity, which takes a familiar concept and elevates it to a new level.&nbsp;

Edwin Brawn

Brandon Quan

Gian-Claudio Calipa

Fynn Greenfield

Melo

Chloe Rose

House

Everything But The Girl 'Nothing Left To Lose' by Charlie Di Placido

Everything But The Girl - Nothing Left To Lose

Thomas Davis directs an enigmatic promo for punk rocker Joe Unknown's gAng.&nbsp;Standing in front of a mirror in a theatrical backstage area, we see a young woman grab a pair of clippers and shave her hair off, as the camera crawls in and out, exploring the space.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]In the corner of the room, we see Joe Unknown in an armchair, half-watching TV and half-watching the girl shave her head.&nbsp;It's a remarkably simple yet powerful concept, that leaves plenty to the imagination - including the context of the situation.&nbsp;

Noémie Tj Phillipson

Charlie Knight

Michael Farrell

Fabio Olgiati

Scarlett Gardner

Jo Barker

Digital Orchard

Jarlenn Severino

Punk

Joe Unknown 'gAng' by Thomas Davis

Joe-Unknown-'Gang'-by-Thomas-Davis

Silence explores the&nbsp;complex nature of relationships, for Tora-i's Lounging.The intimate promo is captured in beautifully pared-back frames, examining the ebb and flow of romantic relationships through a series of heartfelt vignettes.&nbsp;Appearing in the background of the setups, Tora-i observes the characters whilst performing, acting as a neutral party and the visual anchor of the concept.&nbsp;Beautiful work.&nbsp;

Rishy Malik

Silence

Mouthpiece

Spindle

George Tsamis

Miguel Carmenes

Nosisa Majuqwana

Freddie Hill

Tom Colli

Harry Coleman

James Lye

Maha Alselami

Myles Bevan

Time Based Arts

Tora-i 'Lounging' by Silence

Tora-i - Lounging (Official Video)

Jake Parker directs an atmospheric promo for India Shan.&nbsp;Boasting a striking burnt-orange colour palette, the video is formed of several effervescent performance vignettes, which are overlaid with various abstract textures and lighting effects.&nbsp;The understated performance seamlessly binds the setups, and is helped out by a gentle edit which use cross-fades and drawn out shots to match the energy of the piece.&nbsp;

Rhiannon Lagden

Jake Parker

Max Conran

Marti Guiver

Keaton Williams

Jay Gomez

Joe Edwards

Riccardo Angei

Holly Hamilton

Ruby Sandler

Shivam Solanki

India Shan 'Don't Wanna' by Jake Parker

India-Shan-'Don't-Wanna'-by-Jake-Parker

Freddie Wright directs a hypnotic promo for Emir&nbsp;Taha.&nbsp;The video for Kalp Çare Arar ('Looking for a remedy') represents&nbsp;an out of body experience, depicting&nbsp;Taha's discomfort and anxiety as he tries to make sense of his disordered feelings.&nbsp;Switching between shots of him sat outside a building and floating in a swimming pool - apathetic and struggling to keep his balance throughout - the abstract vignettes feel very much representative of the lyrics, and allow viewers to project their own ideas and thoughts onto the concept.Like a hazy, drunken night, snapshots of a memory are present, but the whole story is locked away somewhere in the subconscious.&nbsp;

Freddie Wright

EM Films

Jordi Estapé

Adam Fox

Saskia Dedman

William Pope

Macy Trieu

Lewis Munro

Polydor

Alternative

Emir Taha 'Kalp Çare Arar' by Freddie Wright

Emir-Taha-'Kalp-Çare-Arar'-by-Freddie-Wright

Elderbrook's cinematic track Broken Mirror&nbsp;becomes the vehicle for an authentic story, showcasing the issues facing many Queer people in 2021, helmed by director/photographer&nbsp;Jordan Rossi in collaboration with&nbsp; multi-disciplinary artist and creator Darkwah.Rossi's film follows a day in the life of a Queer performer played by Darkwah, and the reality of their experience, including the aggressions and microaggressions that impact personal safety and mental health.&nbsp;Together with a gut-wrenching sequence where Darkwah is cornered by a homophobic mob, there is also a focus upon the&nbsp;little stuff - small acts where their personal space is invaded, whether its being stared at and photographed in a cornershop, having their hair touched, or being touched inappropriately - that really resonates.&nbsp;[imgtoken data:1]Darwah delivers a charismatic performance which allows moments of happiness, as well as ranges of pain and anguish, and ultimately shows a strength of character, in a spoken-word sequence towards the end, which displays their inner resolve and dignity. Rossi brings this all together superbly well, in a video which features terrific cinematography from DoP Charlie Knight.On the project Darkwah has said:&nbsp;“As soon as I saw the treatment, I knew I wanted to be a part of this project," says Darkwah.&nbsp;"It’s all of the things I’ve experienced many times over. It’s so important that aggressions and micro-aggressions are spoken about outside of the LGBTQIA+ community. We know these things. We experience them - sometimes at the hands of those in our community but more so by those outside of it."Having these occurrences shown at this level in conjunction with an artist like Elderbrook, I hope will not only generate more conversation but result in change for the better as people check the ways in which they interact with performers, Queer performers and Queer people. I’m incredibly grateful to have been part of this project. I’m super excited for the change it will start to incite.”[imgtoken data:2]Jordan Rossi adds: “With Queer culture moving into the mainstream you’d think this would be a great time for Queer liberation but actually it’s far from it. More than ever before, we’re put into a box and forced to try and make our Queerness palatable for so many audiences. As a LGBTQ+ working director and photographer, I’m still excluded from so many conversations and projects which is why it’s a privilege to have the opportunity to craft this narrative and film."A big expression of gratitude goes to Elderbrook, his team and the record label who have let us tell this story freely and authentically, whilst supporting us at every step of the process.”The support from Elderbrook and Parlophone marks the start of a number of LGBTQIA+ activations that support the community. These include an Instagram Live session on Elderbrook's Instagram platform, featuring Jordan Rossi and Darkwah talking about the video, on Monday October 25th at 6pm (BST).

Oli Hill

1st AD

Videos featuring Oli Hill

2023 (6)

2022 (4)

2021 (3)

Popular content

Is this your profile?

Feedback

Latest Videos