Over the past few weeks we have been looking for inspiration into music video directors, after coming across Spike Jonze we found an instant connection with his style, we could relate to his producing and directing of music videos and loved his work.
Spike has a background from skateboarding and BMXing, and this shows through in his work. He has been known to use what can be described as 'a guerilla style' when directing music videos, and doesn't follow in the footsteps of directors such as Michel Gondry, who aims to have everything perfectly in time and place. Spike goes against this convention by producing rough videos using unsteady camera shots with a high degree of self reflexivity.
This video (Sure Shot) performed by the Beastie Boys is one of Jonze's music videos, released in 1994. At the time of shooting, Jonze had only 2 years experience in the music video industry, but this example is key when showing Jonze's unique style of directing. The video was produced with somewhat low production values and would not have cost excessive amounts, and this is one way in which we can relate and idolise his work. We see very few steady camera shots, the actors are mainly shouting at the camera or hanging on a frame above the camera.
Throughout the video we see a shot with a crane in the background, this is clearly the same crane which the actors are swinging on in an earlier shot, but Jonze doesn't care that we know this, as he is of the belief that we already know it is a music video and that it doesn't matter that we can see its constucted nature.
Another example of Jonze's directing style, is the end scene with the three members of the Beastie Boys in the casino. It is actually illegal to film in a casino, to get around this, Jonze simply shoved a camera in the back of a bag and walked in front of the men whilst filming.
Overall we enjoy Jonze's work and can appreciate how he manages to produce such high standard work with such simple ideas, he is a director that we can definitely learn from and adapt ideas.
Ian
Good analysis Ian - you could also talked about the work of Jonze is also very post modern (drawing attention to the constructed nature of the text).
ReplyDeleteJust remember that guerrilla filmaking is not an excuse for bad camera work or lack of planning!