Director/ Producer robulitski.co.uk

Producer

Rob Ulitski

Promonews's own Rob Ulitski has created an original music film, based upon his own horror short story Rubber, using an innovative blend of&nbsp;AI-trained models to create both the music and the visuals.Rubber is one of the monthly short stories Rob has written exclusively for indie horror platform <a href="http://www.godless.com">Godless</a>, and contains&nbsp;both cosmic and body horror elements. So he experimented with two AI programs - one for music and one for vision - to see what would happen once he had prompted them with a synopsis of the story.“I’ve seen a lot of different people using AI in both the music and video space, and I was waiting for a project that would suit that kind of work I’m doing,” he says.&nbsp;“I’m focusing on my horror writing work at the moment, but with one foot in horror and one foot in the music video world, I thought this could be a perfect way to combine my interests.”Using music platform <a href="https://mubert.com/render" target="_blank">Mubert</a> to make the track, Rob typed in the synopsis of his book and used the first track it generated, to keep the experiment as spontaneous as possible.“Mubert uses an innovative algorithm which is still musician-first, and as such, whilst the AI does a lot of the work in the generation, musicians still get paid for their work and get a royalty from each use," he continues. "I think this is one reason the music sounds so much more fluid and professional in this case, compared to other AI-only algorithms - the musicians are still front and centre in the process.”The visual elements were made using <a href="https://www.neuralframes.com/" target="_blank">Neural Frames</a>, a software that is growing in popularity worldwide, which allows users to input prompts and change them whilst the visuals are generating."I wanted to work chronologically through the short story, so used the first paragraph of each page of the story to generate the visuals. I tweaked as I went in some cases, when the software went a little off-track or the prompt was too vague. But I kept things as spontaneous as possible, to ensure it was a fun experiment. I&nbsp;wanted the video to look like the old 80s / 90s pulp horror fiction covers, and I think the uncanny nature of the AI works really well for this. It’s almost like the not-quite-real airbrushed paintings that were used back in the day.”He was also mindful of ethical concerns in the AI space as he made this project. "This is very much a not-for-profit experiment. I always pay artists for my book covers and interior artwork, as well as their work in other mediums, and will continue to do so for any project like that. This was a fun way to get involved in the AI space and keep up to date with what’s happening in a world outside of my comfort zone.”

Pastel Wasteland

'Rubber - An Author x AI Experiment' by Rob Ulitski

Rubber-'An-Author-X-Ai-Experiment-'-by-Rob-Ulitski

Promonews's own Rob Ulitski directs a breezy performance promo for earcandy.Shot on the South Coast, the video features the artist in a variety of awkward positions, boasting locations including the seaside, a model village and a disused lido.Interspersed with vibrant cutaways, it's an engaging, dreamy visual for a catchy tune by the Hampshire-based&nbsp;artist.

earcandy 'Better Alone' by Rob Ulitski

Earcandy-'Better-Alone-'-by-Rob-Ulitski

Promonews's own Rob Ulitski directs a lo-fi performance promo for up-and-coming pop artist JaiJai Prince.Shot on location in Husky Studios, the video explores a dance practice fantasy, where Jai transcends the four walls of the rehearsal room, to something much more elevated and... red.Mixing sharp styling with plenty of coloured lighting, it's a stripped-back yet effective accompaniment to the track.

United Kingdom

Jaijai Prince 'Devotion' by Rob Ulitski

Jaijai-Prince-'Devotion'-by-Rob-Ulitski

This introductory short film to the new musical project Who We Are -&nbsp;directed by London-based Australian&nbsp;directing duo Novemba,&nbsp;making their&nbsp;music project debut - explores the everyday heartbreak of being a parent and the deep complex emotions lurking beneath the surface.A creative collaboration between music, film and dance, this is fully realized by two debut Who We Are songs as the short film’s soundtrack – Book At Bedtime&nbsp;and Daydream&nbsp;– as well as Novemba’s signature visual style and enthralling choreographed performances by Dickson Mbi.[imgtoken data:1]Taking place in intimate, familiar settings, the overarching focus of the short film is on the unique pieces of raw, emotional expression from two individual characters: a father who is grappling with the difficulties that come with being a newly single parent, separated from his infant child; and a mother who faces unbearable tension and hostility from her teenage daughter, played by Chloe Hearn.It's a powerful two-parter, with outstanding performances by the dancers, deftly directed by Novemba.

Novemba

Academy Films

Ella Girardot

Melissa Massey

Eno Enefiok

David Foulkes

Luke Jefferson

Connor Hunter

Alex Gibbon 

Jade O Connor 

Millie Glenister

Stephen Dunne

Liam Bachler

TenThree

Richard Fearon

Black Kite Studios

Jade Dunne 

Harvey Eaton

Anna Watkins 

Dickson Mbi

Simon Bass

Who We Are 'Book At Bedtime/Daydream' by Novemba

Who-We-Are--'Book-At-Bedtime-/-Daydream'-by-Novemba

Promonews' own Rob Ulitski pays homage to '90s VHS dating, in his lo-fi promo for California-based Feral, aka Kelsey Ferrell.

Indigo Vintage

Feral 'Loser' by Rob Ulitski

Feral--'Loser'-by-Rob-Ulitski

Shojon is depicted as a modern-day Cupid figure in London, adding feelgood vibes to several out-of-sync relationships, in the Craig Heathcote-directed video for Theorem.Focussing on Shojon's beneficial impact on a number of relationships he witnesses around the city, the video addresses the various types of relationship in modern life, touching upon family, feminism and LGBTQ issues.&nbsp;In successive vignettes, Shojon spreads love with an augmented reality style VFX, dispelling storm clouds gathering above heads. Accompanied by his winning performance of Theorem, the&nbsp;song and visual offer the audience uplifting feelgood vibes, with a hint of nostalgia promoting soothing and healing energies.

Craig Heathcote

Feud Creative

Imogen Odgen

Ross Anderson

Ari Rissotti

Kasia Postaremczak

Sasha Moon

John Shownmi

James Sims

That Sp Studios

Shojon 'Theorem' by Craig Heathcote

Shojon-'Theorem'-by-Craig-Heathcote

Berwyn takes a introspective saunter&nbsp;through late-night Peckham, in Ethan + Tom's video for Vinyl.Tapping into that quietly centred charisma that made his <a href="https://www.promonews.tv/videos/2020/07/27/berwyn-trap-phone-brock-neal-roberts/65800" target="_blank">UKMVA-winning video for Trap Phone</a> so special,&nbsp;Ethan Barrett and Tom Gullum&nbsp;have situated Berwyn's performance of this heartfelt track on an&nbsp;inner London high street that edges between reality and a dreamlike state.The up-and-coming directing duo have already made an impression with their visual inventiveness, but they keep the&nbsp;high-octane trickery of their videos for Flohio mostly in locker here. It's all about Berwyn's compelling performance, framed by excellent cinematography by Terrence Wilkins, and a constantly moving, occasionally rotating camera.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ethan + Tom

Maurizio Von Trapp

Michael Moore

Terrence Wilkins

Marti Guiver

Dante Connor

Hollie Mapp

Ethan Barrett

Tom Mangham

The Mill

Mouthpiece

Dan Millar

Sony Music

Beau Pritchard-James

Berwyn 'Vinyl' by Ethan + Tom 

Berwyn--'Vinyl'-by-Ethan-+-Tom-

The UK Music Video Awards 2020, held in a virtual live show earlier this month, presented an exclusive and hopefully one-time-only award, to reflect the music industry and music video makers' response to the coronavirus crisis: Best Lockdown Video.This prompted the team at Promonews and the UKMVAs to produce an explainer of how the phenomenon of the Lockdown Video emerged, and the various forms it's taken across 2020. The result was this - A Brief History Of The Lockdown Video, which premiered during the UKMVAs show on November 5th, prior to the announcement of the winner of the Best Lockdown Video award.The film takes us through the successive iterations of lockdown video - from early crowd-sourced, Zoom-inspired efforts to the videos about lockdown itself; the&nbsp;boom in DIY videos and&nbsp;remote working by directors; to the evolution of animated videos as lockdown and post-lockdown restrictions kicked in.&nbsp;&nbsp;The video - written by David Knight, edited and narrated by&nbsp;Rob Ulitski - including clips of nearly 40 videos created and released during this extraordinary period, plus additional material from the Music Videos In Lockdown series featured on Promonews in May this year.It was premiered on the evening that&nbsp;Lockdown 2 got underway in England - but hopefully the history of the Lockdown Video will not have to be any less brief.&nbsp;Videos featured:Owen Pallet - A Bloody Morning Directors: Vincent René-Lortie &amp; Brittney CandaThao &amp; The Get Down Stay Down – Phenom Directors: Erin S Murray &amp; Jeremy Schaulin-RiouxChaz Cardigan – Not OK! Director: Will KindrickMajor Lazer ft Marcus Mumford – Lay Your Head On Me Director: Filip NilssonBlink 182 – Happy Days Director: Andrew SandlerThe Academic – Anything Could Happen Directors: Hope Kemp &amp; Ronan CorriganLYR – Lockdown (In Age of Refuge) Director: Daniel BroadleyOK Go – All Together Now Director: Damian Kulash Jr.The Rolling Stones – Living In A Ghosttown Director: Joseph ConnorJ.Views – Featuring Director: Vico Sharabani &amp; J ViewsTom Grennan – Oh Please Director: Tom GrennanSports Team – Camel Crew Director: Sports Team &amp; Ben UnwinGlass Animals – Dreamland Director: Colin ReadElla Eyre – Dreams Director: Sophia Ray&nbsp;Bree Runway – Damn Daniel Director: Gemma YinJonas Blue ft MAX – Naked Director: Isaac RentzGracey – Empty Love Director: Aidan ZamiriDuchess – Blame Director: Ruby &amp; Boya&nbsp;Jeshi ft Celeste – 30,000 Feet Director: Charlie Robins645AR, FKA Twigs – Sum Bout You Director: Aidan ZamiriC Tangana – Guille Asesino Director: Diana KunstLittle Mix – Break Up Song Director: Zac EllaSG Lewis – Chemicals Director: Yousef&nbsp;Katy Perry – Tucked Director: Hoku &amp; AdamIDLES – Model Village Director: Michel &amp; Olivier GondryDua Lipa - Hallucinate Director: Lisha TanTove Lo – sadder badder cooler Director: Venturia Animation Studios&nbsp;Snakehips &amp; Jess Glynne – Lie for You Director: Nicholas LamJorja Smith – Come Over Director: Amber Grace Johnston &amp; Future Power StationBronson – Keep Moving Director: Stylewar&nbsp;Trevor Daniel &amp; Selena Gomez – Past Life Director: Vania Heymann &amp; Gal MuggiaEverything Everything – In Birdsong Director: Jonathan HiggsTravis – A Ghost Director: Fran HealyProspa – Ecstacy Director: Joao RetortaAitch – Raw Director: KC LockeAitch – 30 Director: KC Locke&nbsp;Declan McKenna – Daniel You’re Still A Child Director: Will Hooper&nbsp;Ashnikko – Daisy Director: Charlotte RutherfordAnderson .Paak – Lockdown Director: Dave Meyers&nbsp;&nbsp;

David Knight

'A Brief History Of The Lockdown Video' by Promonews

A Brief History Of The Lockdown Video

YUNGBLUD is going&nbsp;through some hard times in his video for God Save Me But Don't Drown Me Out - until an old friend helps him relight the fire within.Directing his own video for the first time - in collaboration with Gavin Gottlich - YUNGBLUD (aka Dom Harrison) dramatises&nbsp;his own mental health problems, and sense of alienation from his conventional English upbringing in some effective set pieces before the song, and the fun starts. He's joined by a giant teddy bear who becomes the buddy he desperately needs. And this bear definitely has his back.&nbsp;&nbsp;It's a fun ride, intercut with a charismatic performance, in which YUNGBLUD eventually cuts loose in characteristic fashion. That&nbsp;makes this a must for his mascara-wearing massive.

Yungblud

Gavin Gottlich

Samin Saadat

George Nelson

Catherine Derry

Ilaria Fulvio

Oliver Hallam

Kevin Gardner

Elena Muntoni

Andrew Mukamal

Amelia Kildear

Terri Grisdale

Caroline Morin

Wash

Hanan Cher

Locomotion Recordings

Rock

YUNGBLUD 'God Save Me, But Don't Drown Me Out' by YUNGBLUD & Gavin Gottlich

Yungblud-'God-Save-Me,-But-Don't-Drown-Me-Out'-by-Yungblud-&-Gavin-Gottlich

Promonews's very own Rob Ulitski pays homage to lo-fi home videos in his video for Dutch duo Gravity Circus.His video for Shuteye captures&nbsp;the band's Ken Luske and&nbsp;Jimmy Onibi Nagaura performing the song&nbsp;whilst in lockdown, with from friends and fans providing additional phone lipsync footage.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"When I first heard the track, I proposed we make something really lo-fi and 90's home video-esque," says Rob. "Jimmy and Ken are based in Amsterdam, so it was obvious we would need to shoot everything remotely, and on the simplest setup we could."Using Discord to communicate and a rough shotlist of some ideas, we shot (remotely) throughout the day inside Ken's bedroom studio and garden, with one DSLR camera and a couple of small lamps. The aesthetic very much lent itself to distorted textures and VHS-style blur and artefacts, so I think that shooting style worked really nicely within the concept."Both Jimmy, Ken and all of the other contributors were amazing to work with - shout out to those who all learned a lip sync with roughly half-hour notice!"

Netherlands

Adhan Rodrigues De Avelar

Indie

Gravity Circus 'Shuteye' by Rob Ulitski 

Gravity-Circus--'Shuteye-'-by-Rob-Ulitski-

Rob Ulitski - of this parish - shows that he has a talent for directing as well as writing about music videos with this unashamedly nostalgic take on a golden era of dance music for Hospital Records' Unglued.This instalment of dancefloor warfare was inspired by&nbsp;the&nbsp;early Jungle records bequeathed to the producer by his uncle. And Born In 94 harks back to those days, topped with&nbsp;vocals of MC Conrad from a classic ‘93 tape pack.Rob does his own visual mix to present summer festival vibes from past and present. It's a homage to the early 90s, with&nbsp;home video and footage from an iconic Dreamscape event. And that's mashed together with&nbsp;the producer's recent set at Glastonbury, with liberal use of lo-fi VFX.&nbsp;A no-nonsense feelgood celebration of dance culture over the past 25 years.&nbsp;