Jamie Thraves started his directing career by making low-budget music videos for £5,000 each after using an award-winning short film to join a video production company. He then directed videos for Radiohead's "Just" and Coldplay's "The Scientist" with budgets of £100,000 and £200,000 respectively, which brought him breakthrough success. Thraves has since used his success with music videos to transition into directing feature films.

1. Case Study: Jamie Thraves
Jamie Thraves is a director who made short films at University.
He used an award-winning short film as a way to get involved
with the video production company Factory Films. Thraves
started his career by shooting three very low budget music
videos – each costing about £5,000 each

2. This approach is common amongst many directors in
the business it is a precarious existence where their
livelihood is dependent on each commission. Jamie
Thraves submitted treatments for his two best known
videos and each was accepted – a successful result.

3. 1. Radiohead – Just
• £100,000 budget
• Shot in three days
• Breakthrough video
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_qMagfZtv8
2. Coldplay – The Scientist
• £200,000 budget
• Shot in three days
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB-RcX5DS5A

4. His most recent video:
Japanese Popstars – Song for Lisa
Currently, his videos cost about £20,000 with a shooting time of 2 days.
Jamie has used the music videos to get into the film business and has
so far shot three features:
• The Low Down
• The Cry of the Owl
• Treacle Jr

5. Jamie’s Tips:
•Use the lyrics but try not to be too literal
•Most importantly – go with the emotion of the
lyrics