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MRCY 'Flicker' by Dumas Haddad

Promonews - 5th June 2025

Dumas Haddad helms a cinematic feat for British neo-soul duo MRCY, combining a thrilling dance performance with the artists in an intriguing labyrinth-like space.

Haddad bends reality in the video for Flicker, as a man - dancer Stefano Saa - unravels with hypnotic physicality inside this remarkable location where doors lead nowhere and hallways fold into themselves. Reality flickers, space and time twist in this cinematic hall of mirrors, pulling the dancer deeper into chaos.

Shot through striking wide-angle lenses, the film slips between slow-motion dissociation and bursts of frantic movement. The building in which its set is a mutating, liminal prison of light, geometry, and eerie loops - and becomes a character in itself in the video.

With superb cinematography by Courtney Bennett and grade by Thomas Kumeling, it's a substantial achievement which develops an atmosphere of Kubrickian unease with the sporadic appearance of additional characters and creatures adding to the constant disorientation of the central character.

And amid the chaos, Haddad also creates an appealing visual showcase for the musical talents of the band, as the action continually pulses with the track's beat. Hypnotic as its surreal, it's a very welcome return to music videos.

Promonews - 5th June 2025

Tags

  • Choreography
  • Pick of the Day
  • Performance
  • Soul
  • Neo-Soul

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Credits

Production/Creative

Director
Producer
Shan Phearon
Creative Director
Harris Elliot
Executive Producer
Shan Phearon
1st AD
Mitch Kalisa

Camera

Director of Photography
Courtney Bennett
Focus Puller
Daniel Deighton
2nd AC
Fabienne Piolini-Castle
Steadicam
Murray Boden
Spark
George Castle

Lighting/Grip

Gaffer
Jonny Boomer
Spark
George Castle

Art

Production designer
Ranya Refaey
Art Assistants
Esme Gartside, Bonnie Hamilton

Wardrobe

Stylist
Tate Abbott
Hair
Kreszend Sackey
Wardrobe Assistants
Lauren Amie Pariola Birch, Setyana Demissie

Choreography

Choreographer
Theophilus Bailey

Casting

Lead Dancer
Stefano Saa
Extras
Angel Johnson, Edward Sonny Forster, Tariq Lowe, Tony Thomas, Amaka

Editorial

Editor

Grading

Colour Producer
Morgan Faverty
Colourist
Thomas Kumeling
Colour grade company

Misc

DoP's representation
WPA

Promonews - 5th June 2025

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