Sam Smith 'I'm Not Here To Make Friends' by Tanu Muino
Rob Ulitski - 30th Jan 2023
Tanu Muino brings us the first outstanding British music video event of 2023 with Sam Smith's unabashed, splendidly theatrical and joyfully outrageous video for I'm Not Here To Make Friends.
Exuberant, eccentric, and defiantly brazen, this sees Sam Smith dispensing with any last vestige of previous public incarnations and embracing their queer superstar status with gusto - but also with a healthy self-knowing nod and a wink.
Sam arrives by helicopter to a historic countryside manor, joining a gregarious crowd to engage is an extravagant costume party for the ages, over an inspirational sample of RuPaul before the disco beat of this surefire smash kicks in. And eyebrows are soon being raised...
There is dancing. There are some extraordinary outfits. There's rowdy behaviour. And there is some very suggestive things going on, including a scene that may possibly be inspired by Frankie Goes To Hollywood's video for Relax!
Throughout is the stunning array of costumes and looks, and Sam's playful and sexy performance, which dazzles in every vignette. They are clearly having the time of their lives.
Bringing together so many different layers and inspirations - including a knowing nod to Steven Klein's promo for Gaga's Alejandro - the video oozes self-love and an excitable confidence, and is the perfect release to complement Gloria, Smith's just-released new album.
It just ticks all the boxes it's supposed to tick - and that is really down to the genius of Tanu Muino. She just knows what a pop video like this should do, and achieved it, from start to finish.
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Rob Ulitski - 30th Jan 2023
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Credits
Production/Creative
- Director
- Tanu Muino
- Producer
- Robert Katz
- Line Producer
- Hannah Cooper
- Production Company
- UC
- Service Company
- JF
- Executive Producer
- Frank Borin
- Executive Producer
- FC
- Executive Producer
- Alexa Haywood
- Executive Producer
- Ivanna Borin
- 1st AD
- Chris Kelly
- Production Assistants
- Rosa Galvin, Lucy Butterfield
- 2nd AD
- Akay Delano
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Nikita Kuzmenko
- Focus Puller
- Sam Rawlings
- 2nd AC
- Ben Cascillo Roger
- Cameras
- Panavision
Art
- Art Director
- Luke Bradley
- Production designer
- Morgan Kennedy
- Prop Stylist
- Jacki Castelli
Wardrobe
- Stylist
- Ben Reardon
- Hair
- Ryo Narushima
- Hair
- Neil Moodie
- Make-up
- Grace Ellington
- Make-up
- Miranda Joyce
- Wardrobe
- Sorcha O'raghallaigh
- Wardrobe
- Nick Royal
- Beauty
- Beauty Work, Max Colt;
- Talent Hairdresser
- Gordon Chapples
Choreography
- Choreographer
- La Horde
Casting
- Casting director
- LC
- Cast
- Sakeema Crook, Rio Allison, Daniel Alwell, Jonathon Baker, Lexii Thomas, Joshua Shanny Wynter, Guilleaume Qeau, Callum Sterling, Josh Weston, Jordan Matheson, Aaron Porter, Callum Aylott, Tom Mather, Lotan, James Wilkinson, Aaron Whitter, Harry Ondrak Wright, Ellis Harman, Jake Moyle
Editorial
- Editor
- Vinnie Hobbs
- Editing company
- Vh Post
Grading
- Colourist
- Company 3
- Colourist
- Joseph Bicknell
VFX
- VFX
- Roma Onufriychuk
- VFX
- Tilt
Agent
- Director's Representation
- AU
- Atmosphere, Mass Talent, Q Management, AJK Agency, Ms Represents
Commission
- Commissioner
- James Hackett
Misc
- Set design
- Spencer Graves
Rob Ulitski - 30th Jan 2023