Directors
Label DVD series
By Keavin Wiggins
Typically bands will
put together a collection of their videos and release them on DVD. But
what if you wanted to see the work of the directors behind those videos?
Normally you would be out of luck. But thanks to Palm Pictures you can
now get a clear picture of the style and work of three significant directors
in the world of music video – Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham and Michal
Gondry in their new Directors Label DVD series.
Now we can delve
into the creative mind of these famed music video directors that have left
their indelible stamp on the art form. But there is more! The DVDs go beyond
the music video work of these directors and also showcase their other work
including film shorts and television commercials. They are loaded with
other goodies as well! So let’s take a closer look at each of these
DVD packages and see what they have to offer.
Spike
Jonze
In the 90’s Jonze
really helped the evolution of music video, which at that point had already
evolved from performance pieces to what amounts to short films. Jones just
took that concept further. His distinct vision and style was seen in some
of the most significant and talked about music videos of the past decade.
Some of his videos have reached legendary proportions and are considered
keystones of the field. Among those keystone videos are the action adventure
of the Beastie Boys “Sabotage”, the clever melding of Weezer into footage
from the hit 70’s sitcom “Happy Days” in the video for “Buddy Holly” and
who can forget Fatboy Slim's "Weapon of Choice" video that features a dancing
Christopher Walken?
Aside from his most
memorable videos the disc comes with some rarities clips including the
Oasis video that never happened. Don’t forget about the documentaries,
the best of the bunch is “What’s Up Fatlip?” a fun documentary that cronicals
Spike’s collaboration with Fatlip.
DVD Details:
Music Videos:
California – WAX
Sure Shot – BEASTIE
BOYS
Drop – THE PHARCYDE
Cannonball – THE
BREEDERS
Sabotage – BEASTIE
BOYS
Da Funk – DAFT PUNK
What’s Up Fatlip?
– FATLIP
Undone (The Sweater
Song) – WEEZER
Praise You – FATBOY
SLIM
Feel The Pain –
DINOSAUR JR.
If I Only Had A
Brain – MC 900FT JESUS
Sky’s The Limit
– THE NOTORIOUS B.I.G.
Weapon Of Choice
– FATBOY SLIM
Buddy Holly – WEEZER
Elektrobank – THE
CHEMICAL BROTHERS
It’s Oh So Quiet
– BJORK
Rarities:
How They Get There
– a short film with Mark Gonzales
Mark Paints – Another
short film with Mark Gonzales
The Oasis Video
That Never Happened
Rockafella Skank
– Richard Koufey’s audition tape for Fatboy Slim
The Woods – a short
film excerpt from Mouse, a Girl Skateboards film.
Documentaries
What’s Up Fatlip?
(the documentary) – After Fatlip left The Pharcyde, outrageous rumors began
circulating. This candid documentary happened as Spike and Fatlip
worked together on a music video, and Spike let his curiosity take over.
(31 min)
Amarillo By Morning
– While filming probull riders at a national rodeo in Houston, Spike befriended
two suburban teenagers who aspired to be cowboys. This chronicles
a day in their life. (29 min)
Torrance Rises
- Torrance Community Dance Group on the road to their grand performance
at the MTV Video Music Awards. (34 min)
Includes a 52 Page
Book with Spike’s Photographs, Drawings and Interviews.
Purchase
The Spike Jonze DVD online
Watch
the trailer for the DVD
Broadband
- Dial-up
Michel
Gondry
To call Michel Gondry
a visionary is an understatement. Some of the most buzzed about videos
of the past decade have come from his creative mind. The best thing about
Gondry is with every video you get a unique glimpse into that mind. He
is best known for his work with Bjork and bringing her left of center music
to life visually, that is perhaps best typified with the video for “Human
Behavior” with the giant Teddy Bear stalking Bjork.
Most recently Michel
has turned heads with his exceptional work with the White Stripes, from
the brilliant double visions of “The Hardest Button to Button” to the ingenius
lego work of “Fell In Love With a Girl”, a video that opened more doors
for the White Stripes and had everyone sit up and pay attention.
The viewer gets to
go deeper into Michal’s world with the two part documentary “I’ve Been
12 Forever”, a fun look at this most unusual of directors. You also get
a look at his unusual and striking work on television commercials as well
as a grab bag of other goodies. This is definitely a DVD that will appeal
to anyone that has ever admired Michal’s work.
DVD Details:
Music Videos:
The Hardest Button
To Button – THE WHITE STRIPES
Come Into My World
– KYLIE MINOGUE
Dead Leaves &
The Dirty Ground – THE WHITE STRIPES
Fell In Love With
A Girl – THE WHITE STRIPES
Star Guitar – THE
CHEMICAL BROTHERS
Joga – BJORK
Deadweight – BJORK
Bachelorette – BJORK
Everlong – FOO FIGHTERS
Around The World
– DAFT PUNK
Sugar Water – CIBO
MATTO
Hyperballad – BJORK
Like A Rolling Stone
– THE ROLLING STONES
Army Of Me – BJORK
Isobel – BJORK
Protection – MASSIVE
ATTACK
Lucas With The Lid
Off – LUCAS
Human Behavior –
BJORK
Le Mia – I AM
La Tour De Pise
– JEAN FRANCOIS COEN
Ma Maison – OUI
OUI
Bolide – OUI OUI
Junior Et Sa Voix
D’Or – OUI OUI
Les Cailloux – OUI
OUI
Un Joyeux Noel –
OUI OUI
La Ville – OUI OUI
Shorts/Documentaries:
I’ve Been 12 Forever
(part 2 Age 12-12)
A 75 minute film,
including interviews with Michel, the artists and collaborators, as well
as extensive behind the scenes footage, drawings and storyboards.
I’ve Been 12 Forever
(Part 1 Age 12 – 12)
Stories &
Things:
“La Lettre”
“One Day”
“Lacuna Inc”
“Drugstore” Levi’s
Commercial
“Smarienberg” Schmirnoff
Commercial
“Resignation” Polaroid
Commercial
“Drumb & Drumber”
“Pecan Pie” A short
film starring Jim Carrey
“Three Dead People”
“My Brother’s 24th
Birthday”
“Tiny”
“Spin Art”
Oui Oui Livec concert
footage
And more. . . .
52 page color book
of Michel’s stories, drawings, photographs & interviews.
Purchase
The Michel Gondry DVD online
Watch
the trailer for the DVD
Broadband
- Dial-up
Chris
Cunningham
Chris Cunningham
brought us one of the most memorable videos ever made, one that is equaled
only by Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. I’m talking of course about the unforgettable
video for Bjork’s “All Is Full Of Love”. What makes this DVD a must watch
is not only the video but the behind the scenes making of documentary that
is also included on the disc and features interview with both Cunningham
and Bjork.
Like Jonze and
Gondry, Chris’s videos come across as more mini-movies than what you typically
expect from music videos. And while “All Of Full Of Love” is the showcase
of this DVD, Chris has made everyone one of his videos count and we get
a chance to look into his mad little world with the videos for Aphex Twin
and Squarepusher.
And that world is
rather macabre with a post modern feel he brings to the disturbing visions.
That is best typified with the “Come To Daddy” video for Aphex Twin, a
true landmark in video creation with it’s rather unsettling visuals that
one would expect from a feature length horror film. He also directed
one of Madonna’s most unusual videos to date with “Frozen”.
We glimpse into an
insane world with Squarepusher “Come on My Selector” with it’s evil Dogman.
With Portishead’s “Only You” we get a bizarre yet beautiful cinematic little
epic.
Chris Cunningham
not only pushes the boundaries of music video, his work would be spellbinding
on the silver screen as well. His rather stunning short film “Flex”
is included on the DVD, but sadly some of his most outstanding music video
work is not included like his unforgettable videos for Auteurs Lodestar’s
“Another Day”.
Once Chris makes
the jump to the silver screen and if he is given the freedom to explore
his artistic vision, he will leave most of the competition in the dust.
DVD Details:
Music Videos:
Second Bad Vilbel
– AUTECHRE
Come To Daddy -
APHEX TWIN
Only You – PORTISHEAD
Frozen – MADONNA
Afrika Shox - LEFTFIELD
feat. AFRIKA BAMBAATAA
Come On My Selector
– SQUAREPUSHER
Windowlicker - APHEX
TWIN
All Is Full Of Love
– BJORK
Making All
Is Full Of Love
Featuring behind
the scenes footage and interview with Bjork and Chris Cunningham
Other Work:
Monkey Drummer –
video installation. Featuring music by Aphex Twin
Flex – excerpt from
video installation. Featuring music by Aphex Twin
Mental Wealth –
Sony Playstation commercial
Photocopier – Never
seen Levis commercial
Engine – Nissan
commercial. Featuring music by Boards of Canada
Windowlicker – Bleeped
version
52 page color book:
including behind
the scenes photographs, storyboards, sketchbook drawings, record cover
art & interview.
Purchase
The Chris Cunningham DVD online
Watch
the trailer for the DVD
Broadband
- Dial-up
Conclusion:
While it is unfortunate
that we are lucky to see this striking body of work on television thought
the usual music video sources, we are fortunately that Palm Pictures had
the insight to put these director’s series DVDs together.
These are three remarkable
visionaries that have taken the music video art form to an undreamed of
level of sophistication and artistry, often outshine the music that they
are supposed to be promoting. Palm did a real bag up job on these collections
and these DVDs are essential viewing for any and all that are interested
in music video as an art form.
Get
more info on the Directors Label Series DVD's on the official site.
Check
out the Directors Labels Series DVD eCard
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