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Fatherhood is examined in a tender montage of vignettes, in Saddiq Abubakar's promo for Tom Misch. The video for Old Man features a selection of real life fathers and sons, ending with a breathtaking scene between the artist and his dad. Cinematic and absorbing, the visual lingers on simple everyday moments and connection, bringing to life snapshots of stories in a universally relatable way. Lovely work.
Rob Ulitski - 1 month ago
Leo Villares and Victor Nauwynck venture into Rocky Horror territory with their visually inventive romp into the world of mad scientists and their botched creations for English multi-instrumentalist and singer-songwriter Ed Tullett - aka Lowswimmer.In the video for IRL we enter the depths of a factory-turned-laboratory, to discover the twin creations of the latest cloning experiment by a trio of suspiciously excitable white-coated scientists. And then the girls are introduced to their 'siblings' - the results of the scientists' previous experiments.With events escalating from the girls' initial wonder at their setting, to cartoonish body horror and beyond, Villares and Nauwynck establish a wild comic tone and sense of the unpredictable in this low budget gem, summed up in a remarkable sequence involving both a regurgitation and a tug of war. It's impossible to tear your eyes away from. This is an impressively well-crafted production, with excellent practical effects, SFX make-up and cinematography, helmed by a UK-based Brazilian/Belgian directing partnership with a strong vision drawn from a wealth of cinematic influences. And it was shot in Pope's Yard Brewery in Watford. Excellent work.
Rob Ulitski - 3 months ago
Neil Linpow directs an extended music video/short film for Sorrel, following a couple wrestling with their own feelings about their relationship, whilst trying to do the best by their young children. Opening with a tense exchange between the pair, we switch between golden-hued 'memory' shots and dark, shadowy scenes from the present, exploring the contrast in the two periods of their family lives.Beautifully shot and graded, it's a wonderfully-performed, tightly conceptualised vision, well scripted by Linpow and strongly performed by Wim Snape and Jamie Melrose as the troubled couple. "The idea with the film was to create a story that complimented the beautifully poignant lyrics of the song," says Linpow explains. "To tell the story of an untenable marital relationship from the perspective of their children."It was important to show both Mum and Dad as equally loving and valued parents who care deeply for their children - and as people who have tried to ‘stay together for the kids'. But ultimately, also as people who realise the difficult truth that perhaps being apart is actually going to be the best environment for everyone."We wanted to lean on the sadness of the lyrics, but also juxtapose that with a sense of whimsy that exists in the uplifting melody of the song - because as we all know - life is mixture of good days and bad, and it’s important that we highlighted that there is a lot of love underpinning the story."
Rob Ulitski - 3 months ago
Aaron Bishop explores a narrative about a young man who's seemingly lost his independence due to an injury (broken arm), in the gentle promo for indie band The Point's Dancing With Two Left Feet.Through a combination of naturalistic narrative shots and CRT-textured performance setups, we see the character struggling with his emotions, whilst his Grandma reminisces on memories with her normally cheery and happy grandchild. Eventually, a breakthrough moment helps the pair reconnect.With excellent performances from the main characters, and a sensitive and considered approach, it's a great visual highlighting the importance of not having to suffer on your own, and keeping the door open to your support network.
Rob Ulitski - 6 months ago
Allie Avital directs a touching promo for New York singer-songwriter Autre Ne Veut, a dramatic meditation on the collective grief.In the video for About To Lose, we see the artist - real name Arthur Ashin - at a funeral, surrounded by loved ones and friends. As the coffin is lowered into the ground, the video lingers on portraits of the people in attendance, as they mourn and find shared strength. Ashin's performance is particularly noteworthy, delivering a level of emotion that is completely absorbing, and ably supported by his fellow performers. This was also an emotionally rewarding experience for Allie Avital, who involved her own friends and family in the making of the video for About To Lose, as she explains. "It’s rare to get to make work with another artist with whom you are so aligned that you finish each other’s sentences, but I have found that in Autre Ne Veut," says Avital."Loosely inspired by the credit sequence of Mike Leigh’s Secrets And Lies, we wanted to create a 'grief symphony' of collective mourning, and we built out the story arc and cinematography by rehearsing in our living room with Arthur and the co-singer Jess as well as the DP, shooting on our phones."We shot this on a sunny day in New York with a crew of friends and family: shot by my sister, and produced, designed, AD’ed, edited, coloured, and starring some of our best friends - and my parents! A real privilege to have made this alongside such talented artists in front and behind the camera who weren’t afraid to give everything physically and emotionally."
Rob Ulitski - 8 months ago
Nia Smith and Popcaan visit a nostalgic house party, in Sarah Dattani Tucker's promo for Personal. Interspersed with laidback performance vignettes, the video for the dub-inflected track, has a joyous, carefree groove of Caribbean life at the time of carnival, reflecting the influence of Lauren Hill and Bob Marley on the vocals fo Nia and Popcaan. Using a rotating camera technique to reveal the environment, the video has a fly-on-the-wall feel, which gives viewers an intimate peek at the gathering and all the fun happening behind the door of one house.
Rob Ulitski - 9 months ago
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Spanish director Pablo Maestres directs a beautifully crafted and very poignant parable, about a loveable monster adopted by a human family, for musician/producer Ferran Palau. This music video-cum-short film, written and directed by Maestres, follows the adventure of Snif, a furry creature who inhabits the forest with its partner, discovered by a family on a day out as he samples their spread of cakes and pastries - and then lured back to 'civilisation' with them.Maestres has devised a story that starts as being tender and sweet, but becomes darker and violent as it progresses. It's a homage to mainstream cinema of the 80s and 90s, to a generation of fantastic and misfit cinematic characters. And ultimately it's a story of Snif's tragic decline, as the kindness of the family becomes overshadowed by the selfish attentions of a wider public and media.The film is a terrific achievement. From the filmic cinematography to the ambitious costume design, it is a unique and inspired project that lingers in the memory.
Rob Ulitski - 11 months ago
Lengurz takes us back to last summer with this charming slice-of-life promo for dexter in the newsagent - the artist formerly just known as dexter. The clip for More To Me has a home video energy, capturing portraits of friends, family and everyday life in East London, interspersed with offbeat performance shots. Shot on film, the video has a nostalgic vibe, with a stylised yet down-to-earth aesthetic that captures the city in a dreamlike way.
Rob Ulitski - 15th Jan 2024
He may be best known for his British hiphop, grime and rap videos, but Teeeezy C's follows his Nothing But Thieves video earlier this year with another venture into rock - and shooting in the US - for America emo-rock outfit -Grayscale. Shot in Philadelphia, where the band is based - the video explores societal pressure and generational trauma, visualised in a mix of performance, narrative and docu-style cutaways. The textural aesthetic and naturalistic camerawork also feed in to the fly-on-the-wall feel of the fastmoving visual.The mix of fictional setups and snapshots of reality - as well as a powerful band performance - helps tie the concept into the serious message of the track. Leaves a lasting impression.
Rob Ulitski - 14th Sept 2023
Katharina Hingst presents a witty and gritty celebration of Greek culture in her marvellous promo for Greek pop star Marina Satti's infectious Tucutum. Filmed in Athens, the Paris-based director has tapped into her own Greek heritage to present the nation through the eyes of the next generation. The video sees the artist performing at an event, whilst a multitude of beautifully observed mini-vignettes unfold around her. There's dancing, drinking and plenty of big characters, all discovered from a child-sized vantage point.Celebratory and festive, it's a refreshing twist on the performance promo, and a great showcase for Marina Satti.
Rob Ulitski - 28th July 2023
NEMY's life journey is visualised in an energetic, stylish fashion in the promo for Elegant. Directed by Noiziac and NEMY himself, the video opens in Paris, moving through iconic landmarks in France and finally the UK, showing the story of his upbringing to where he is today. A breathless edit and dynamic camerawork keep the visual feeling fresh throughout, and the use of real life friends and family add a sentimental vibe to the concept. "Upon prep for this video NEMY made it clear that the video needed to reflect the story of his upbringing, starting in the Congo," Noiziac explains. "We opted to shoot in the African markets in Paris as we felt it offered the perfect cultural mix of his upbringing in the Congo and France, and ended in London to get the final shots of the project, backdropped by the O2 arena and Canary Wharf skyline, where he now resides in Greenwich."
Rob Ulitski - 5th July 2023
A second video for Katie Melua by director/producer duo MrMr takes a poignant and emotional look at the experience of women coming to work in the UK, with loved ones far away. In the video for Love and Money, we see the lead character - played by Sophie Chinner - talk to her son on a video call, making the most of a small window of time before she needs to get back to work. As a cleaner of an upscale home, her work day is silent and contemplative, but when her memories begin to seep into the present moment, she takes the opportunity to dance in reflection of times spent with her loved ones.This is one of a pair of videos for Melua by MrMr - Katie Lambert and Martha McGuirk - that explore the experience of coming to live and work in the UK from elsewhere, and released shortly before the more upbeat Quiet Moves. "This song made us think about the countless women all over the world who travel to foreign countries in order to work and to send money to their loved ones at home," say Lambert and McGuirk, aka MrMr. "We wanted to show the sadness in being apart from your family, but also the strength and determination these women have. When we spoke to Katie Melua about the idea this is something which really resonated with her as she comes from Georgia, where a lot of women travel abroad for work."The video was beautifully shot by Ailsa Aikoa and cut by Tamara Ishida at Assembly Rooms. Our lead Sophie Chinner was also amazing - a brilliant dancer and actress."
Rob Ulitski - 28th Apr 2023
Jim Wilmot finds an excellent way to tug at the heartstrings for Lewis Capaldi's tearjerker - filmed at Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport. This sees Capaldi setting up to do an acoustic solo performance of new hit Wish You The Best in the Arrivals section at the Terminal, watched by a surprised group of expectant friends and family who are waiting to be reunited with loved ones. Cue a rollercoaster of emotions that we have all experienced when seeing our families after an extended period of time, captured in a very affecting way. With both docu-style footage of the reunions and a more posed portrait for the camera, it's simple yet impactful concept, executed to perfection. And it is destined to bring a lump to the throat - just as the official video for Wish You The Best does.
Rob Ulitski - 26th Apr 2023
Lucy Knox directs an intimate portrait of life on the Isle of Sheppey, in this tender promo for Australian band DMA's. Shot with a crew of four at the start of the year, the video is a charming exploration of people and place, following a central narrative with accompanying portrait vignettes of different residents. Exploring the complex relationship between a father and his daughter, the video is one that really pulls at the heartstrings, and the docu-style aesthetic helps convey a story that is both personal and universally relatable. A masterclass in blending narrative and documentary elements, and a very well executed video indeed.
Rob Ulitski - 13th Apr 2023
