Music director:
Mark Romanek (bon September 18, 1959) is an award-winning American music video director who has also moved into directing theatrical films. After a few years writing screenplays, Romanek decided to focus on music videos and signed on with Satellite Films, a boutique division of Steve Golin's Propaganda Films. He has worked with such artists as Jay-Z, Nine Inch Nails, Madonna, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and many more.
My favourite Romanek video is “Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Can’t Stop” The song was the Chilli Peppers' eighth number one Billboard Modern Rock Hit, and peaked at #57 on the Billboard Hot 100. I love the video because it is so random, it is inspired by the “one minute sculptures” of Erwin Wurm who has been developing these sculptures since the late 80s. And the ideas used are so simple but you still find them fun and interesting to watch even if it’s just the lead singer standing with water bottles in between his arms and legs because it’s different and strange which makes it more memorable. It starts with a camera swooping through a yellow tube and as it reaches the end the head of the lead singer Anthony Kiedis looking like his screaming wearing glasses, which then leads to the band running down a dark hall with lighting packs attached to their backs leading to various random acts like having their head popping out of the top of a tent and wearing a purple hippo mask to name a few. I think that this video works really well because people associate the song with the strange video which in turn leads people to remember the tune.
Viewer feedback:
YouTube feedback:
eagleMJA – “such a cool video and great songs....i lvoe hopw rhcp can kind of rap while havign a rock corus and a great intro!”
apua2000 – “This is the funniest music video I've ever seen -truly&honestly- and a favorit song too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sorry to be pathetic, but PERFECT”
hungrywombat123 – “this is just pure awesomeness”
Amazon feedback from a book about Romaneks work:
“I've been a fan of Mark's before I even knew who he was, because all of my favorite videos were directed by him. This beautiful book is wonderful in that it displays many of the breathtaking images experienced in the dream-like environments he so masterfully creates. The book, however, doesn't make him any less elusive and mysterious, because the few pages of text don't elaborate much on him - but I guess - what can you expect, it's a book of video stills. After breathing in each page, you're left unfulfilled. You want more images, more pictures, more Mark! This is an absolute must buy for any fans of the art of music videos, Mark Romanek, and Milla Jovovich :)The fabric cover/binding is beautiful and the picture is perfect eye candy. I'm ready for the Mark Romanek Video Archive !”
“it's no suprise that romanek has werked with madonna several times, since they are both consummate rip-off artists - i mean "appropriators." if you like his videos, check out the brothers quay to see where he stole all his ideas. not that i think that invalidates his werk...well ok it does a little, but it's still fun to look at. "closer" is one of my all-time favorite guilty pleasures. BUT...it takes looking at a bunch of horribly digitized stills to understand how important it is to see his werk in motion as it was conceived and executed. it would be cool if they'd release a dvd collection of his videos - and then you could freeze-frame and get out your canon and make your own "video music stills." seriously. in that case you'd also be able to select your own favorite stills, cuz another problem i have with this book is that it leaves out some of the most interesting shots from the videos while including a lot of redundant filler.”
“There was much abuzz for music video and film fans when highly respected director Mark Romanek announced the release of a collection of stills from his videos. I, myself, checked Amazon for a release date every day as soon as I heard it was going to be published. The day came and Romanek's book arrived in the mail. The packaging was even impressive, with odd dimensions and a rough green fabric to coat the book's covers. On the front page was the unforgettable still of Madonna in her "Bedtime Stories" video. As I read through the fascinating foreword by Mark Alice Durant, I turned the page and was greeted by a still from David Bowie's "Jump, They Say". I then realized the burden of a book that seemed too good to be true. The title of the book doesn't kid when it says "Music Video Stills". The pictures are slightly blurred from actually being captured off a screen, so as that the pixels of the picture are thick and in horizontal lines. On most occasions, this minor defect doesn't affect the reader's viewing pleasure, but it is noticeable. In any case, the book remains a fine collection, sporting key snapshots from all of Romanek's well-known and unknown videos. Highlights of the book include Nine Inch Nails' "Closer", Michael Jackson's "Scream", Nine Inch Nails' "The Perfect Drug", Madonna's "Bedtime Story", and Janet Jackson's "Got 'Til It's Gone". Others covered are videos by Lenny Kravitz, G. Love & Special Sauce, David Bowie, En Vogue, Keith Richards, and Iggy Pop. Fans of music videos, cinematography, or Romanek's work in general will love this book and it is a recommended buy if you can stand picture quality that isn't 100% crystal clear. The book is also recommended for fans of realist (a la Andreas Gursky) and portrait photography. Despite the blur, the book is a showcase of a cinematogrphical mastermind's diverse work and I'm proud to place it on my bookshelf.”
Myspace comments:
“The Directors Label series highlights the work of the filmmakers who have helped to re-define music videos and filmmaking over the last decade. Mark Romanek has directed some of the most memorable music videos of all time. From the monochrome voyeurism of Michael and Janet Jackson's "Scream" to the poignant and haunting image of Johnny Cash's version of "Hurt," as well as Beck, David Bowie, Keith Richards, R.E.M., Lenny Kravitz and Madonna to name but a few. These videos have received numerous awards, including over 20 MTV VMAs, three Grammys, a Country Music Association award, and three Billboard Music Awards. Two of his music videos have even become part of the permanent collection of New York's Museum of Modern Art and in 1997 MTV made him the first director to be honored with their Video Vanguard lifetime achievement award. This DVD also features special documentaries, rare director's cuts, commentaries from pretty much everyone involved and a special film Romanekian, which features Ben Stiller, Chris Rock and Robin Williams giving their unique perspectives on Mark's work. He is currently working on directing several film projects following the success of his debut feature One Hour Photo, which starred Williams.”
The feedback is mixed, some people saying they are huge fans of the work whereas others are criticising the work he has done. Unfortunatly I couldn't find many comments directly linked to his videos I could find comments about a book he had released which included stills from his career.I however think his work is very innovative and different and am a fan of his directing style.
Bibliography
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwkJfkl-clw 17th January
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Romanek 17th January
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Can't_Stop_(song) 17th January
http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Romanek-Music-Video-Stills/dp/1892041081 2nd Febuary
http://groups.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=groups.groupprofile&groupID=100022575 2nd Febuary
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