(press release) THE DIRECTORS LABEL returns in September with four new definitive collections from some of the world's most talented and innovative filmmakers. The Work of Directors ANTON CORBIJN, JONATHAN GLAZER, MARK ROMANEK & STษPHANE SEDNAOUI will all be individually released on DVD September 13th, 2005. A boxed set edition containing the four individual titles will also be released simultaneously. All four of these directors have carved their own identity into the realms of popular culture, with their unique styles and approaches to the many different aspects of media, from photography to feature films, documentaries, innovative commercial advertising, and of course the music video.
PALM PICTURES launched THE DIRECTORS LABEL in December 2003 with a groundbreaking format showcasing the individual talents of three of the world's most maverick film-makers, by mapping their ascendancy through the world of music and advertising. All three of these much lauded Director Series DVDs from the series' founders - SPIKE JONZE, MICHEL GONDRY & CHRIS CUNNINGHAM - have been individually certified Gold in the U.S., U.K, Japan, and throughout Europe, reflecting the series' transcendence from cult status into the mainstream marketplace. SPIKE JONZE'S DVD was recently certified platinum.
These DVDs are a unique director-created and compiled series featuring music videos, shorts and commercials, special features including interviews, alternate versions, unseen short films & documentaries, behind-the-scenes footage and commentaries from various featured artists and collaborators. They are specially packaged with never-before-seen photographs, storyboards, drawings and interviews and have helped define what is expected of today's music DVD releases.
Once again these new collections provide an oasis of material, each filled with extras, exclusives, and special features that demonstrate the diversity and depth of the director's work. All have been painstakingly assembled, commissioned and curated over the past 18 months by producer RICHARD BROWN for PALM PICTURES.
MARK ROMANEK (volume 4) has directed some of the most memorable music videos of all time. From the monochrome voyeurism of MICHAEL & JANET JACKSON'S SCREAM to the poignant and haunting image of JOHNNY CASH'S version of HURT, as well as BECK, DAVID BOWIE, KEITH RICHARDS, REM, LENNY KRAVITZ and MADONNA to name but a few. These videos have received numerous awards, including over 20 MTV VMAs, three Grammysฎ, a Country Music Association award, and three Billboard Music Awards. Two of his music videos have even become part of the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art and in 1997 MTV made him the first director to be honored with their Video Vanguard lifetime achievement award. Here the DVD features special documentaries, rare director's cuts, commentaries from pretty much everyone involved and a special film ROMANEKIAN, which features BEN STILLER, CHRIS ROCK and ROBIN WILLIAMS giving their unique perspectives on Mark's work. He is currently working on directing several film projects following the success of his debut feature ONE HOUR PHOTO, which starred WILLIAMS.
JONATHAN GLAZER (volume 5) is a music video and commercial icon whose extraordinary work reveals his gift for intense visual ambition. After winning multiple awards for his music videos and commercials, he moved onto feature films and in 2001 released his debut film, SEXY BEAST, starring SIR BEN KINGSLEY and RAY WINSTONE, followed in 2004 by the sublime yet sensational BIRTH starring NICOLE KIDMAN and LAUREN BACALL. His commercials for the likes of STELLA ARTOIS, GUINNESS, LEVIS, BARCLAYS BANK and VOLKSWAGEN have turned adverts into high art perhaps best reflected in his GUINNESS ad SURFER-included on his DVD in a new extended version-being recently voted best ad of all time by the British Public. His music videos which include UNKLE, RADIOHEAD, JAMIROQUAI, BLUR and MASSIVE ATTACK have further showcased his ability to contort reality into baffling and ingenious new perspectives. Glazer's DVD showcases his advertising, film and music video work to maximum effect.
ANTON CORBIJN (volume 6) is a name synonymous with many of the most iconic images of the last 25 years, from his massively acclaimed photography, the worldwide exhibitions of his work, his classic and highly sought after books, eye-catching album cover designs and videos for the likes of NIRVANA, METALLICA and most recently THE KILLERS. His long-term relationships with DEPECHE MODE & U2 are well documented, and his recent book of portraiture U2 & I is now on its third print run. He is currently working on directing his first feature film CONTROL about the life & death of IAN CURTIS of JOY DIVISION based on the book TOUCHING FROM A DISTANCE by DEBORAH CURTIS. ANTON'S DVD brings together an amazing array of documentaries, commentaries and extra footage that give an insight into the man behind the work.
Parisian STษPHANE SEDNAOUI (volume 7), now based in New York, has become one of the most internationally renowned photographers and directors since his introduction to the world of fashion by JEAN-PAUL GAULTIER. At age 21, STษPHANE worked with photographer WILLIAM KLEIN as the casting director and still photographer for his film LA MODE, MODE D'EMPLOI. By age 22 STษPHANE SEDNAOUI was working full-time as a professional photographer. Since 1985 STษPHANE has applied his unique photographic style to editorial fashion, celebrity portraiture, advertising print, and photojournalism, becoming one of its most celebrated players. His first major video breakthrough was the MTV award winning music video GIVE IT AWAY for THE RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS in 1992, perhaps their most defining visual moment as a band. He has since gone on to create classic music videos for the likes of U2, REM, NENEH CHERRY, ALANIS MORRISETTE and BJึRK to name but a handful, each of which has brought an inspirational visual aesthetic to the song. His DVD features a host of special and exclusive material, including a brand new short film inspired by the song WALK ON THE WILD SIDE and featuring LOU REED (the first time ever for the song), plus new collaborations with BJึRK and much more.
