Colin Tilley
Research into a music director
Profile
Colin Tilley is a 28 year old Grammy Nominated music video director who
grew up in Berkeley, California. He focuses on emotion, authenticity and
creativity in his videos. Who has worked and directed for award winning
artists. Tilley has directed for Skrillex, Rita Ora, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj,
Jason Derulo, Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled, Tyga, Lil Wayne, J Cole and Diddy to
name a few. Tilley has won many awards such as Video of The Year 2011 BET
Awards for Chris Brown’s Look At Me Now video, as well as Best Male video
2011 MTV Video for Justin Bieber’s You Smile. 3 of his videos were
nominated at 2011 MTV Video Awards for Best Male Video, Best Hip Hop
Video, and Best Collaboration Video.
Other Mediums
In 2014 Tilley produced a film called Mr Happy which starred
Chance The Rapper and is about suicide and how it controls your
life. Tilley is in the process of making more short films but this is
his only release to date. The film i think gives a rouge perception of
suicide and portrays it to be something that primarily will do more
damage than good and how the lead up to suicide whether it is
committed or not will essentially mess up your mental health. Tilley
has also done some advertising, for Kylie Jenner and her LipKit and
YLS men's cologne. His style of media and film gives a raw and sex
orientated view of society and everything he films seems to be
almost in a made up world of perfection.
Kendrick Lamar - Alright This video is inspired hugely by inequality, racism and
stigma surrounding negro heritage.this video is saturated in
meaningful, question raising messages to keep the watchers
interested and drawn in.
This shot here is hugely influenced by the amount of black,
unarmed men that are shot daily by US police. This image
here reverses the roles of the police and kendrick, because
now the higher class white policemen are inferior to the
black american men. Tilley is therefore creating videos which
are influenced by social and ethical issues and directs videos
to respond with a message.
DVBBS - Never Leave
Never Leave is inspired by
the wealth and freedom of
white privileged teens who
seem to be living in a fantasy
world with no cares or
worries.
Chris Brown- Don’t Judge Me
In all of Colin Tilley’s videos there is an equal balance of performance to narrative and
clearly a lot of background and stories behind the videos. His videos tend to be in
picturesque scenes and feature a lot of long shots, establishing shots and close ups. The
shots focus a lot on body movement and creating a story with the visuals. His videos
seem to be a mix of contemporary with urban origins. I think Tilley is such a creative
genius in the way in which he captures his shots, and each video is so ‘made up’ yet
doesn't seem over crowded or filled with negative space. In Kendrick Lamar’s video, the
way it is shot is inspired by poverty and real life issues such as stigma, racism and
inequality.

Colin tilley

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Profile Colin Tilley isa 28 year old Grammy Nominated music video director who grew up in Berkeley, California. He focuses on emotion, authenticity and creativity in his videos. Who has worked and directed for award winning artists. Tilley has directed for Skrillex, Rita Ora, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, Jason Derulo, Justin Bieber, DJ Khaled, Tyga, Lil Wayne, J Cole and Diddy to name a few. Tilley has won many awards such as Video of The Year 2011 BET Awards for Chris Brown’s Look At Me Now video, as well as Best Male video 2011 MTV Video for Justin Bieber’s You Smile. 3 of his videos were nominated at 2011 MTV Video Awards for Best Male Video, Best Hip Hop Video, and Best Collaboration Video.
  • 3.
    Other Mediums In 2014Tilley produced a film called Mr Happy which starred Chance The Rapper and is about suicide and how it controls your life. Tilley is in the process of making more short films but this is his only release to date. The film i think gives a rouge perception of suicide and portrays it to be something that primarily will do more damage than good and how the lead up to suicide whether it is committed or not will essentially mess up your mental health. Tilley has also done some advertising, for Kylie Jenner and her LipKit and YLS men's cologne. His style of media and film gives a raw and sex orientated view of society and everything he films seems to be almost in a made up world of perfection.
  • 4.
    Kendrick Lamar -Alright This video is inspired hugely by inequality, racism and stigma surrounding negro heritage.this video is saturated in meaningful, question raising messages to keep the watchers interested and drawn in. This shot here is hugely influenced by the amount of black, unarmed men that are shot daily by US police. This image here reverses the roles of the police and kendrick, because now the higher class white policemen are inferior to the black american men. Tilley is therefore creating videos which are influenced by social and ethical issues and directs videos to respond with a message.
  • 5.
    DVBBS - NeverLeave Never Leave is inspired by the wealth and freedom of white privileged teens who seem to be living in a fantasy world with no cares or worries.
  • 6.
  • 7.
    In all ofColin Tilley’s videos there is an equal balance of performance to narrative and clearly a lot of background and stories behind the videos. His videos tend to be in picturesque scenes and feature a lot of long shots, establishing shots and close ups. The shots focus a lot on body movement and creating a story with the visuals. His videos seem to be a mix of contemporary with urban origins. I think Tilley is such a creative genius in the way in which he captures his shots, and each video is so ‘made up’ yet doesn't seem over crowded or filled with negative space. In Kendrick Lamar’s video, the way it is shot is inspired by poverty and real life issues such as stigma, racism and inequality.