Music Video Director - Mark Romanek

Mark Romanek:

• Born- 18/09/1959 (54)
• Film and Music video director
• Born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois
• Signed to Satellite Films to make music videos
• Directed "Closer- Nine inch nails"- Video was heavily criticised for being demonic and demented
• Won his first Grammy for "Scream- Michael and Janet Jackson" in 1996
• Directed "Hurt- Johnny Cash"- seen as the most personal and moving video ever
• Directed other music videos including "Are you gonna go my way- Lenny Kravitz" and "99 problems- Jay Z"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5PZQMwL7iE Lenny Kravitz - Are you gonna go my way
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WwoM5fLITfk Jay Z - 99 Problems

Lenny Kravitz
Camera:
Long shots of the band and the crowd to set scene
Close ups of the band and instruments (convention)
Extreme close up on Kravitz shoes and also mic to show product placement and about to sing
low angle on Kravitz showing power as lead singer over band and crowd
MES:
Location- Big performance set designed for video only
Costume- Normal clothing/ Kravitz - Flairs and high platform boots, dredlocked hair
Props- Glitter ball, instruments

Jay Z
Camera:
POV of Jay Z walking up subway stairs shows his background of the ghetto
Low angle of Jay Z rapping shows his power over everyone including the law (Rap convention)
Close ups of Jay Z and also the faces of the ghetto including kids growing up, showing how they can make it like he has
Tracking of Jay Z around Brooklyn and also amateur camerawork throughout showing camera shake highlighting amateur take of video respecting the ghetto where he grew up has little money and he is still one of them at heart
MES:
Location- Brooklyn ghetto and Brooklyn bridge
Costume- Plain T-shirt and fur puffa coat
Props- Cheap car (ghetto background), Police car (criminal background)

Personal opinion- I think Romanek has progressed since his first few videos including Kravitz and Jay Z as technology has also increased. His early videos are influential to other directors and have propelled him to directing greater technologically advanced videos and also establishing himself as a film director also.