Sam Smith & Normani 'Dancing With A Stranger' by Vaughan Arnell
David Knight - 31st Jan 2019
Legendary music video director Vaughan Arnell brings his absolute A-game to this collaboration between Sam Smith and future R&B pop queen Normani. It's a very classy, beautifully-crafted belter of a video.
Reflecting the sultry melancholy and brooding sexuality of the song Dancing With A Stranger, solitary Sam Smith is joined in his super modern house in the wintry countryside by ghosts - or holograms who come alive within and around him. It's a very Arnell-esque way to introduce the dancers that haunt Smith, evoking the classic Fastlove video for George Michael he directed with Anthea Benton in the mid-90s.
And then comes the explosively sexy Normani, whose combination of vocals and dance add a new dimension to the song and the video. You can't take your eyes off her. And although they never meet - appropriately considering the song - the production makes the two performers dovetail together perfectly. There's great work here by a whole team of people - including DoP Will Bex and Arnell's regular editor David Webb. A real treat.
Featured sponsors
David Knight - 31st Jan 2019
Credits
Production/Creative
- Director
- Vaughan Arnell
- Producer
- Sue Caldwell
- Production Company
- Moxie Pictures
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Will Bex
Lighting/Grip
- Gaffer
- Craig Davis
Art
- Art Director
- Amanda McArthur
Wardrobe
- Hair & Make-up
- Michele Baylis
- Hair
- Paul Edmund
- Make-up
- Sienree Du
- Wardrobe
- Jonni Fitzgerald
- Wardrobe
- Charlie Casely-Hayford
Choreography
- Choreographer
- Sean Bankhead
Editorial
- Editor
- David Webb
- Editing company
- FC
VFX
- Post production company
- Absolute
Agent
- Director's Representation
- Marilou Bakkenist @ Moxie Pictures
- Director's Representation
- MA
Commission
- Commissioner
- John Moule
- Label
- Capitol Records
Misc
- Playback
- Von Adams
Other credits
Location Manager
Martin Wady
2 nd AD
Albertine Selvik
Runners
Bradley Boorman, Josey Jacobs, Dave Stocks.
2nd AC
Cristina Cretu
DIT
Chris Nunn
BTS
Josh Adams
Stills
Maggie West
Electrician
Ross Duffy & Paul Mulloy
Desk Operator
Jonny Gaskell
Art Director
Amanda McArthur
Propman
George Clark & Alfie Fielding
Stylist
Jonni Fitzgerald
Wardrobe Assistant
Daisy Michie
HMU Designer
Michele Baylis
HMU
Jess Needham
BG Cast Movement Director
Brendon Hansford
Costume Assistant
Adam Winder
Choreographer’s Assistant
Khadijah
MU Stylist
Grace Pae
Hair Stylist
Ray Dodson
Costume Stylist
Law
Costume Assistant
Raeann Hayden
Casting Director
Lesley Beastall
Cast
Theo Maddix, Petra Hajduk, Ziggy, Lilith Luna, Shan Khan, Lee Bridgman
For Normani:
David Knight - 31st Jan 2019