Media Coursework

1. DIRECTOR RESEARCH

2. Michel Gondry
 Michel Gondry is a French born independent film director , screenwriter and producer born on
the 8th of May 1963 in Versailles. He is famously known for his distinctive use of mise en scene
and his manipulation of shifting between reality and dream life. Gondrys career began with his
emphasis on emotion as he says his inspiration when he is creating music videos comes from
the film ‘Le Voyage en ballon. His career started from creating music videos for the French rock
band ‘Oui Oui’. His style of videos caught the attention of several famous artists that requested
his music video making abilities. For example, Bjork, Daft Punk, The White Stripes and The
chemical Brothers. As well as making music videos, he also created several televison
commercials and short films.
 When directing his music videos he prefers the video to be about the meaning of the song or the
meaning of the lyrics rather than the video to be centred around the artist of the song. However
they may be visible time to time on the screen of the video. For example, when he directed the
song ‘Mad world’ by Gary Jules.
 Gondry is also seen to be playful and in touch with his childish side, shown through his choice of
special effects, cartoon sketches and bright colours against dark backgrounds to emphasise his
enjoyment of bright colours. An example of this is Kanye west – Heard ‘Em say.

3. The Song ‘Heard ‘Em Say’ by Kanye west was released on
November 8th 2005 and became a huge worldwide success as
it earned the gold certificate by the recording industry
association of America. This was a perfect opportunity for
Michel Gondry to express his artistic views into a music video
when Kanye west asked him to direct the music video for the
song.
The typical themes and styles of Michel Gondry come through
the visuals as straight away you can see his playful, childish
side coming out as he has chosen a cartoon sketch to be
shown throughout the video.
However His other stereotypical traits also come through as the
artists are very rarely shown in the music video and the
sketches shown are related to the lyrics of the song and the
meaning behind the song which is why the video is black and
white even when the artists are shown on screen, due to the
fact that it is a sad song.

4. Directed by Michel Gondry
The white stripes – fell in love with a girl
The White Stripes – City Light
Kanye West – Heard ‘Em Say
Gary Jules – Mad World
Daft Punk Around the world
The chemical Brothers – Let Forever Be

5. Spike Jonze
 Born Adam Spiegel on October 22nd 1969, Spike Jonze is an American director,
producer, screenwriter and actor whose work includes music videos, commercials, film
and television.
 Jonze is well known for his music video collaborations with Daft Punk, Fatboy Slim,
Biggie Smalls, The Beastie Boys, Kanye West etc. after being a Co-creator and
executive producer of MTV’s ‘JackAss’.
 Started off his feature film directing career with a realism comedy film called ‘Being
John Malkovich’ which would have an impact on his later years in making music videos
as his videos mostly have some sort of comedy and freedom in them.
 He is currently the director of Vice Media Inc. and is part owner of a skateboard
company called ‘Girl Skateboards As well as founding ‘Directors Label’ with fellow film
makers Chris Cunningham and Michel Gondry.
 Spike Jonze has been nominated for four Academy Awards for Best Director and Won
the Golden Globe Award for the best Screen Play.

6. The song ‘Sky’s the Limit’ By The Notorious BIG released
November 25th 1997 was a success as it went on to get
certified gold by the RIAA in 1998.
Spike Jonze’s artistic touch was called for when asked to
direct this music video.
The use of Spike Jonze comedic screen play background
shines through in this video as he doesn’t stick to the
typical types of videos that are seen everywhere, he
decides to spin off the lyrics in the song to create a video
full of children, acting to be the artist who wrote the song.
His comedy incorporated in his music videos is a style
that he has picked up and uses quite often as he also
used Mise-En-Scene to create massive hands in the
Ludacris song ‘Get Back’ which was released November
9th 2004 which is after the B.I.G video, showing that he
enjoys being free and making videos fun and not always
serious

7. Directed By Jonze
The Notorious B.I.G – Sky’s The Limit
Kanye West – Flashing Lights
Ludacris – Get Back
Jay-z Ft Kanye West - Otis
Fatboy Slim – Weapon of Choice
Arcade Fire – The Suburbs