2. Biography of the music video director
Filmmaker and music video director melina matsoukas has only been working professionally for a few years yet has
already made a significant industry impact, with video credits including Beyonce, Rihanna, Snoop Dogg, Ludacris, Lady
Gaga, Pharrell, NeYo, and Leona Lewis and most recently "I'm Into You" for Jennifer Lopez.
Turning her unique eye and skill towards commercials, melina has done work for high-end clients such as Direct
TV, leading a remake of one of her four successful Beyonce music videos ("Upgrade You"). She also completed a PSA on
behalf of the Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities, a non-profit advocacy group working to improve the life of
those living with disabilities. Since joining PRETTYBIRD's roster in 2011, melina has since shot a commercial for Diesel
Fragrance and a campaign for Target starring Beyonce.
Melina studied at New York University's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts, and did her graduate work at the
American Film Institute, where, as one of its youngest Fellows, she honed her directing ability with a Masters of Fine Arts
degree in cinematography.
While at N.Y.U. she was nominated for a Directors Guild Award for her short film Negros Negros. Her thesis project
and first ever music video (for Sony/Columbia Records recording artist Meleni) was also chosen as an official selection at
the First Run Film Festival, which honors top student projects in film, video and animation.
Melina hails from New York City.
3. Famous Work
Million Dollar Bill by We Found Love by Thinking of You by
Whitney Houston Calvin Harris feat. Rihanna Katy Perry
4. We Found Love – Analysis
This is a typical dance track that normally involves the key
element of rebellion towards the community and the body. This can
normal linked with drugs, sex and acid music of the 90’s. This could
be on of the intertexual reference of this video. The video begins
with a young man and a woman which are a couple but are not
happy. This is shown by a selection of shots of them being distant
with flashbacks of them being together and happy. The colour grey
is shown throughout the opening sequence suggests a dark and
unhappy time for the couple. Then there is a lightening strike which
connotes a flashback in which the track begins, this transports us to
a happy time in this relationship. The comparison between the
opening scene and now is the use of colour for example the use of
the red and green flares and smoke suggests a release of happiness.
