Spike Jonze is a renowned American film director, producer, and photographer. He is best known for directing films such as Being John Malkovich (1999) and Where the Wild Things Are (2009). Jonze began his career directing music videos for artists like Weezer, Beastie Boys, and Bjork. His music videos are often set in earlier eras and feature upbeat, fun narratives or performances that entertain audiences. For example, his 1994 video for "Buddy Holly" by Weezer is set in a 1960s sitcom while his video for "Sabotage" by Beastie Boys parodies 1980s cop shows. Beyond film and music videos, Jonze has also produced skateboarding videos and

1. Director’s Study:
Spike Jonze.

2. Early life
O Jonze was born on the 22nd October 1969.
O Jonze’s real name is Adam Speigel, and Spike Jonze
was a nicname given to him by the owner of a store
where he hung out as a child.
O In his high school days he worked mainly as a
photographer for magazines. He created two different
boys magazines where he was photographer, called
‘homeboy’ and ‘dirt’.
O In high school he participated in a lot of competitive
skateboarding and BMX ing.
O He is the heir to the Speigel fortune, a wealthy catalog
owning family from Maryland.

3. Career in film
O He is best known for his films ‘Being John Malkovich’
(for which he won an academy award for best director).
‘where the wild things are’ and ‘Adaptation’.
O He has collaborated on music videos with people such
as Weezer, the beastie boys and Bjork.
O He is one of the main producers in the Jackass series,
he also produced and acted in all Jackass movies.
O He is not well-known for his short films, and prefers to
stick to music videos, of which he has directed over a
hundred.
O He has also produced a variety of skateboarding videos,
which are very popular with young ‘skaters’ of different
generations.

4. His main music video style
O He likes to keep his music videos upbeat and fun
e.g. beastie boys ‘sabotage’. By including 80’s
cops running around and ‘sabotaging’ things!
O He also likes to set things in earlier years such as
‘buddy holly’ by Weezer, where its set in the 60’s,
in an episode of the ever famous Happy days.
O He likes to switch his videos between narrative
and performance, to entertain his audience by
seeing the performer and characters rather than
having a concept video.

5. Music Video study: ‘Buddy holly’ by
Weezer
-This video was released on September 7th 1994.
-This video is purely performance, and features only the
band performing, however, it is set in an episode of the
famous 60’s sitcom, Happy days.
-There are lots of 60’s costumes, hairstyles and props.
-The lighting is basic show lighting, with coloured lights
illuminating the stage and the band whilst they perform.
There is also a basic dance floor where the audience
perform basic 60’s dance moves, and there are simple
coloured lights on them as well.
-The location is set in a wonderful American 60’s diner,
with football pep rally decorations, banners, posters and
balloons everywhere, connoting a party atmosphere.

6. Music video study: ‘Sabotage’ by the Beastie
Boys.
-Released n January 24th 1994.
-This video is set in an 80’s style cop show, with the band
members dressed with ridiculous moustaches and running around
creating mayhem!
-This video is mainly narrative as its policemen chasing a
suspect, but there’s is little or no performance whatsoever.
-The very fast song causes the editing to be very fast as well. This
gives the impression that there is more and more trouble about to
be caused!
-The lighting is ambient because its based outside most of the
time and the props and costumes are typical of 80’s cop shows
(especially the taches!)

7. Other music videos by him:
O ‘Praise you’ Fatboy Slim
O ‘Da funk’ Daft Punk
O ‘Sky’s the limit’ Notorious B.I.G
O ‘Wonderboy’ Tenacious D
O ‘The suburbs’ Arcade fire
O ‘get back’ Ludacris
O It’s in our hands’ Bjork
O ‘Y control’ Yeah yeah yeahs