Jasmine De Silva directs an all-singing, all-dancing promo for Cian Ducrot, marking an uplifting new direction for the Grammy-winning Irish singer-songwriter. Inspired by classic Hollywood musicals, the video for Who's Making You Feel It sees Cian at the centre of a series of playfully choreographed sequences, building to a cinematic climax. Packed full of charismatic charm and breezy vibes, it was also something of a departure for Jasmine De Silva, who had never attempted a choreography-based film before this project. But she was able to conjure an impressive old-school musical on a New York-style backlot stage, working with choreographer Liv Lockwood. "It was so much fun being part of Cian Ducrot's campaign, entering his new era," says De Silva. "He was awesome to work with from the beginning, with amazing energy and an inspiring dedication to step out of his comfort zone.We wanted to create the sense that Cian sparks joy in the characters he encounters."I pitched something that excited the hell out of me. I wanted to create a Kodachrome colour explosion, an Old-Hollywood-inspired mini musical, reminiscent of Singing In The Rain, La La Land and The Wizard of Oz - with a sprinkle of Michael Jackson's Thriller video."Given that I’ve barely watched musicals, have never worked with a choreographer, and can't dance, it made no sense for me to pitch this, but that made it a testament to the magic that can happen when you leap into new territory, and let the powerful net of collaboration catch you."Working with the incredible choreographer Liv Lockwood opened my eyes to the true meaning of less is more, by allowing the movement to tell this story. We wanted to create the sense that Cian sparks joy in the characters he encounters, and no matter how many times I saw the choreography with Cian and our wonderful dancers flying through the space, I just felt pure joy."Together they put so much work into it, yet it looks effortless. All of this was tied together with the seamless and mesmerising cinematography by Jed Darlington-Roberts, capturing the retro-Hollywood aesthetic with a twist."Filming in a New York backlot is a dream I didn't think would come true just yet. It was scary yet epic to have the luxury of working in a large set, when I'm so used to controlled studio environments. The backlot was a big part of building the world. Although it looks pretty realistic, I loved the idea of it appearing theatrical and hyperreal to amplify the musical approach."
Rob Ulitski - 6 days ago