Joy Crookes '19th Floor' by Ebeneza Blanche
David Knight - 7th Feb 2022
Ebeneza Blanche creates an impressionistic portrait of London life, around the charismatic presence of Joy Crookes, in the video for 19th Floor.
With an emphasis on family and community, Blanche's video for 19th Floor echoes his previous video for Little Simz's Point And Kill, set in Nigeria. Here he presents Joy at home with her grandmother, and nods to her part-Irish heritage, and a series of performance vignettes is augmented by her performing a traditional Irish dance, in an abandoned building.
Blanche also highlights an eclectic group of working class people and families in West London, and cleverly connects them as they watch a man falling from the iconic Trellick Tower - and come together to save him.
With Joy Crookes at its heart, the video has a nostalgic and warmth, and an additional touch of mystery and magic, that is captured by DoP Jack Exton and goes hand-in-hand with the beautiful styling of Matthew Josephs and Justin Hamilton.
“By placing Joy Crookes as the voice for the underprivileged, I wanted to create a visual that questions and provokes the viewers by spotlighting the different races and class systems in London," says Blanche.
"I also wanted to pay homage to the community affected by the tragic fire at Grenfell Tower, by showing a male falling off the roof and being caught by the bystanders to symbolise the unity and empowerment of the people.
"The experience working with Joy Crookes felt very organic. She's a hard worker and amazing to work with. I drew a lot of inspiration from the lyrics of the song and the conversations that took place with [her].
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David Knight - 7th Feb 2022
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Credits
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Production/Creative
- Director
- Ebeneza Blanche
- Producer
- Cora Rodriguez
- Production Company
- S
- Executive Producer
- Elizabeth Doonan
- Production Manager
- Sidney Arthur
- 1st AD
- Tom Wynbourne
- 2nd AD
- Niomi Collins
- Runners
- James Williams, Kamran Marzban, Erik Berzins
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Jack Exton
- Focus Puller
- Mike Linforth
- Steadicam
- Gary Kent
- Film Stock
- K
- Film Lab
- K
- Film Scanning
- DO
- Camera Trainee
- Edward Melbourne
- Camera Car Driver
- Dimitri Topalov
- Phantom Operator
- Martin Godward
Lighting/Grip
- Gaffer
- Lee Parfitt
- Electrician
- Grant Campbell, Joshua Loudon, Gary Saunders
Art
- Art Director
- Luke Morris
- Art Buyer
- Ellie Hollis
- Art Assistant
- Rahil Patel
- Art Dept Trainee
- Rose Arthur
Wardrobe
- Stylist (Cast)
- Justin Hamilton
- Stylist (Artist)
- Matthew Josephs
- Hair (Artist)
- Shamara Roper
- Hair (Cast)
- Ryo Narushima
- Make-up (Artist)
- Mata Marielle
- Make-up (Cast)
- Lydia Ward
- Stylist Assistant
- Clementine Saglio
- Joy Manicurist
- Karen Tatiana Mosquera
- Wardrobe Assistant (Cast)
- Gavrielle Weiss
- Hair Assistant (Cast)
- Marta Martineau
- Wings SFX Makeup
- Sophie Moore
- Makeup Assistant (Cast)
- Inga Kunigonyte
Choreography
- Choreographer
- Anna Engerström
Casting
- Casting director
- Camilla Arthur
- CAST:
- Biker
- Louis O'neill
- Chicken Shop
- Sashen Naicker
- Cleaner
- Edie Musker
- Contract Guys
- Kevin Cormack, Andy Hawthorne, Simon Collins, Mark Janicello
- Dancer
- Daniel Blessing
- Designer Trolley
- Alice Killington & Claudia Cumberbatch-Chedzoy
- Grandmas
- Edilia Emordi, Nicholette Yardley-Moore & Taru Devani
- Irish Dancers
- Keelie Cuthbert, Katelyn Mabey & Niamh Rush
- Mechanic
- Hughie Bent
- Nurse
- Funso Folsu Henry
- Trampolinist
- Manuel Pontes
- Bulldog Animal Handler
- Laura Ingall
Editorial
- Editor
- Edward Cooper
- Edit Producer
- Joshua Gochez
- Edit Assistant
- André Rodrigues
Grading
- Colourist
- Jason Wallis
- Colour grade company
- EC
VFX
- VFX
- Facenorth Vfx
- VFX
- B.art
Commission
- Commissioner
- Kat Cattaneo
- Label
- Sony Music
Misc
- Clapper Loader
- James Huthwaite
Other credits
Titles
Jack Pullin
Sound FX
Shane Connolly
Sound Recordist
Matt Greig
Medic
Jamie West Minibus
Security
Richard Johnson, Luis Novak
Catering
Jones And Sons
Camera Equipment
MCX
Production Equipment
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David Knight - 7th Feb 2022