2012 MVPA Award WINNERS

2012 Music Video Production Association Award Winners are...

Director of the Year:

• Yoann Lemoine, director | Iconoclast/Black Dog, production co.
  Woodkid "Iron" 
  Lana Del Rey "Born To Die"

Best Video Produced for Under $25,000:

• Yuksek "Always On The Run"
  Skinny, director | Partizan, production co.

 Best Directorial Debut:

• Social Distortion "Machine Gun Blues"
  Jeremy Alter, director | Pusher Media, production co.

Best Direction of a Band:

• The Black Keys "Howlin' For You"
  Chris Marrs Piliero, director | HELLO!, production co.

 Best Direction of a Female Artist:

• Lana Del Rey "Blue Jeans"
  Yoann Lemoine, director | Iconoclast @ Black Dog Films, production co.

Best Direction of a Male Artist:

• Chris Brown "Look At Me Now"
  Colin Tilley, director | Riveting Entertainment, production co.

Best Direction of a New Artist:

• Cults "Go Outside"
  Isaiah Seret, director | PRETTYBIRD, production co.

Best Adult Contemporary Video:                 

• Maroon 5  "Never Gonna Leave This Bed"
  Tim Nackashi, director |  HSI, production co. 

Best Alternative Video:

• The Black Keys "Lonely Boy "
  Jesse Dylan, director | Wondros, production co.

Best Electronic Video:

• Skrillex "Bangarang"
  Tony Truand Datis, director | DNA, production co.

Best Hip Hop Video:

• Jay-Z & Kanye West "Otis"
  Spike Jonze, director | MJZ, production co.

 Best International Video:

• MIA "Bad Girls"
  Romain Gavras, director | Iconoclast, production co.

Best Pop Video:

• Rihanna "We Found Love"
  Melina Matsoukas, director | PRETTYBIRD, production co.

Best R&B Video:

• Cassie "King of Hearts"
  Christopher Sims, director | DNA, production co.

 Best Rock Video:

• Spiritualized "Hey Jane"
  AG Rojas, director | Caviar / Somesuch & Co., production co.

Best Animated Video:

• Kina Grannis "In Your Arms"
  Greg Jardin, director |@radical.media LLC, production co.

Best Art Direction:

• David Courtemarche for Maroon 5 "Never Gonna Leave This Bed" 
  Tim Nackashi, director | HSI Productions, production co.

 Best Choreography:

• Michael Rooney for Sara Bareilles "Gonna Get Over You" 
  Jonah Hill, director | DNA, production co.

 Best Cinematography:

• Maz Makhani for Lil Wayne / Bruno Mars "Mirror" 
  Antoine Fuqua, director | Wondros, production co.

Best Colorist:

• Dave Hussey for Rihanna "We Found Love" 
  Melina Matsoukas, director | Prettybird, production co.

Best Computer Effects (FX done in computer):

• Proof, Laundry for Will.I.Am "T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)" 
  Rich Lee, director | DNA, production co.

 Best Editing:

• Ken Mowe for Will.I.Am "T.H.E. (The Hardest Ever)" 
  Rich Lee, director | DNA, production co.

 Best Hair:

• Pamela Neal for Katy Perry "The One That Got Away" 
  Floria Sigismondi, director | Black Dog Films, production co. 

Best Special Effects (FX done on scene/in camera):

• Radical for Kina Grannis "In Your Arms"
  Greg Jardin, director | @radical.media LLC, production co.

Best Styling:

• Marjan Malakpour for Britney Spears "'Till the World Ends" 
  Ray Kay, director | Rockhard, production co.

Best Music Videos of May 2012

Watch as a linear playlist here or below... Click the links for production credits, context, insight, witticisms, etc.

• Scissor Sister "Baby Come Home" (Lorenzo Fonda, dir.)
• Moones "Better Energy" (Peter Sluszka, dir.)
• Cyriak "Because" (Cyriak, dir.)
• Woodkid "Run Boy Run" (Yoann Lemoine, dir.)
• Jay-Z & Kanye West "No Church in the Wild" (Romain Gavras, dir.)
• El-P "The Full Retard" (Timothy Saccenti, dir.)
• The Black Keys "Gold on the Ceiling" (Harmony Korine, dir.)
• Maroon 5 f/ Wiz Khalifa "Payphone" (Sam Bayer, dir.)
• Dada Life "Kick Out The Epic Motherf..." (Mickey Finnegan, dir.)
• P.O.D. "Lost In Forever" (Spence Nicholson, dir.)
• The Goddamn' Hustle "Dirty Little Pet Names" (BJ Golnick, dir.)
• Tenacious D "Rize Of The Fenix" (Daniels, dir.)
• Tenacious D "The Roadie" (Jody Hill, dir.)
• Electric Guest "This Head I Hold" (Keith Schofield, dir.)
• Silversun Pickups "Bloody Mary" (James Frost, dir.)
• M83 "Reunion" (Fleur & Manu, dir.)
• Kirin J Callinan "Way II War" (Kris Moyes, dir.)

WATCH IT: Scissor Sister "Baby Come Home" (Lorenzo Fonda, dir.)

Scissor Sisters star in a series of motion-graphic microbrew labels that each relate to the song lyrics. Perfectly playful and executed, sure to cheer up even the loneliest rabbit (or Beer Snob). --> watch "Baby Come Home"

Scissor Sisters "Baby Come Home" (Polydor UK)
Lorenzo Fonda, director | Ross Levine, producer | Doomsday, production co | Aaron Platt, DP | Isaac Hagy, editor | UVPhactory, animators/vfx |Damijan Saccio, post producer |  Luca Zamoc, art director | David Thomas, stylist | Danielle Hinde, exec. producer | Dilly Gent, comissioner

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WATCH IT: A Film By Harmony Korine - The Black Keys "Gold/Ceiling"

The Black Keys clearly have the good sense to realize that not everything has to make sense. Iconoclastic filmmaker Harmony Korine introduces Baby Twinz, a bizarro infantalized set of Black Key twins who star in a series of non-vignettes taped off some backwoods public access station. Even better? I think it was taped over competing bizarro twins ATL Twinz, who don't realize that they've been stunted on. --> watch A Film By Harmony Korine: "Gold On The Ceiling"

The Black Keys "Gold On The Ceiling" (Warner Bros.)
Harmony Korine, director/DP | Charles-Marie Anthonioz, producer | O’ Salvation, production co | Leo Scott, editor | Devin Sarno, commissioner

WATCH IT: Silversun Pickups "Bloody Mary" (James Frost, dir.)

From wide open vistas to enclosed spaces, with  just the right amount of supernatural tinges. --> watch "Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)"

Silversun Pickups
"Bloody Mary (Nerve Endings)" (Dangerbird)
James Frost, director | Sam Khazaeni, producer | Honey Badger, production co | Dermott Downs, DP 

WATCH IT: Andrew Bird "Eyeoneye" (Yu "Ewan" Morita, dir.)

"EyeonEye" plays almost like an animated version of The Powers of 10, except that in this case we zoom all the way into Andrew Bird's brain before zooming out to expose the massive cosmos. There's a homemade/craft vibe to the clip, kind of like something you might find on Etsy. --> watch "Eyeoneye"

Andrew Bird "Eyeoneye" (Mom+Pop)
Yu "Ewan" Morita, director | NAKED, production co 

WATCH IT: El-P "The Full Retard" (Timothy Saccenti, dir.)

And you think the suburban squirrels are pesky? Meet the little critter who rides alongside El-P in this video, doing drugs, shooting guns, chasing tail (not his own) and essentially pushing himself to the limit. --> watch "The Full Retard" 

El-P "The Full Retard"
Timothy Saccenti, director | Brody Baker, Lauren Sieczkowski, producer | Starworks Group, production co | Ivan Abel, DP | Ryan McKenna , editor | Peter Mayer, production designer | Stewart Gerard, art director | Mark Szumski, creative director/Flame | Rob Meyers, post producer | Jeff Roberts, pupper maker | James Wojtal, puppeteer

WATCH IT: Jay-Z & Kanye West "No Church in the Wild" (Romain Gavras, dir.)

Hova and Ye are undeniably part of the top 1% economically, so who better to help them renew their 99% card (especially after trashing a Maybach in their last clip) than director Romain Gavras, son of the even more rabble rousing director Costa-Gavras. The street protests have a raw immediacy, while classic statues of watchful Greek gods add a sense that this battle is eternal, even if not strictly good against evil. Our heroes eventually gain the upper hand, but things seem to remain just as dangerous, especially when a very unexpected visitor shows up at the end. Don't get too comfortable, there is no safe place. -->watch "No Church in the Wild"

Jay-Z & Kanye West "No Church in the Wild" (Roc-a-fella)
Romain Gavras, director | Mourad Belkeddar, producer | Iconoclast, production co 

WATCH IT: Electric Guest "This Head I Hold" (Keith Schofield, dir.)

Think of this as the bizarro version of America's Got Talent, where appreciating the talent requires a more refined eye, and instead of commercials, the only breaks are for soul-searching vision quests. --> watch "This Head I Hold"

Electric Guest "This Head I Hold" (Downtown)
Keith Schofield, director/editor | Luke Ricci, producer | Caviar Content, production co | LARK CREATIVE, rep | Damian Acevedo, DP | Tom Hammock, production designer | Jacquelyn Moran, stylist | Ted Marsden, choreographer | Michael Sagol,  Jasper Thomlinson, exec. producers

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MVPA Awards Tomorrow, May 31 // Ticket Sales End Tonight!

Tickets sales end TONIGHT (Wednesday, Midnight PST) for tomorrow's MVPA Awards. This is your last chance; tickets will NOT be available at the door.

2012 Music Video Production Awards

• WHERE: Taglyan Grand Ballroom, 1201 Vine Street, Los Angeles, CA  
• WHEN: Thursday, May 31; 7p cocktail hour, 8p dinner and awards gala
• TICKETS: $80 @ 2012mvpaawards.eventbrite.com

Suit or cocktail attire required. Contact info@mvpa.com for more information.

Click through for main video category nominees and technical categories.

WATCH IT: Woodkid "Run Boy Run" (Yoann Lemoine, dir.)

Since Woodkid is the musical alias of director Yoann Lemoine, it's no surprise that the videos are the perfect playground for him to unleash some epically gorgous action. "Run Boy Run" expands upon the universe of previous clip "Iron," somehow reaching darker and more chaotic, yet glacial heights. --> watch "Run Boy Run" 

Woodkid "Run Boy Run"
Yoann Lemoine, director | Roman Pichon, producer | Iconoclast/Picseyes, production co | LARK CREATIVE, rep | Gregory Lanfranchy, vfx supervisor | Pierre Le Ny, commissioner

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WATCH IT: Friends "Mind Control" (Hiro Murai, dir.)

TV static, numbers numbers everywhere — all of it just a means to control the populace in this sci-fi tripfest from director Hiro Murai. Friends are on the scene to fight for our rights, but it seems like it may be too late for the kaleidoscopic effects to take place, including a cool effect in which someone's eyes to turn to mouths— which is a nice callback to his  Bloc Party clip. --> watch "Mind Control"

Friends "Mind Control"
Hiro Murai, director | Ryan Kohler, producer | Doomsday Ent, production co | Starr Whitesides, DP | Mandy Brown, editor  | Bonnie Brae, vfx | Danielle Hinde, exec. producer

note: logos represent site sponsors

WATCH IT: M83 "Reunion" (Fleur & Manu, dir.)

The gifed youngters from "Midnight City" are ready for telekinetic battle in this second sci-fi epic off M83's throwback double-disc gem, Hurry Up, We're Dreaming. --> watch "Reunion" [h/t: Pitchfork]

M83 "Reunion" (Mute)
Fleur & Manu, director | Division Paris, production co 

Kanye West "Cruel Summer" Premieres at Cannes

Unless you were at Cannes, chances are good that you haven't seen the new Kanye West short film Cruel Summer. As such, I have not seen it. And I have a feeling I won't be able to catch the Doha Film Fest screening in Qatar.

And it's unclear whether online will do justice to the piece, which is designed as a panoramic seven-screen experience that takes place in a custom-designed pyramid. In the meantime, here's a sneak peek at the Pyramid and the Cannes premiere.

Kanye West "Cruel Summer"(Def Jam Presents A Good Company production in association with Doha Film Institute)
Kanye West, director/writer/producer | Alexandre Moors, co-director | Jonathan Lia, producer (note: Alexander Moors is repped by LARK CREATIVE)

WATCH IT: Chappo "Hell No" (Ghost+Cow, dir.)

Don't be scared by the practically (clearly?) NSFW screen image under the fold below — unless you have a fear of hairy nipples that bite back, in which case you should indeed be afraid — since it doesn't really represent the bulk of the video. Directing duo Ghost+Cow (aka Brandon LaGanke & John Carlucci) posted a somewhat bogus casting call on Craigslist and the resulting video is basically a series of screen tests that have been tweaked and prodded into gently/roughly surreal territory. PS: If you're into the idea of mouthy naughty bits, check out this toothsome Block Party clip from a few years ago. --> watch "Hell No" (kinda NSFW)

Continue reading "WATCH IT: Chappo "Hell No" (Ghost+Cow, dir.)"

IN PRODUCTION: Kimbra - Matthew Rolston, dir.

• artist: Kimbra
• song: "Two Way Street"
• label: Warner Bros.
• director(s): Matthew Rolston
• production co: R-Roll
• rep: LARK CREATIVE
• producer: Nina Grossman-Warner
• DP: Bradford Burddick
• commissioner: Devin Sarno

note: logos represent site sponsors

WATCH IT: The Surfadelics "Bye Bye Bamboo" (Marco Vallini, dir.)

Seeing as how Quentin Tarantino's use of "Misirlou" in his 1994 breakthrough Pulp Fiction is still the most prominent mainstream blast for surf rock in the past two decades, it's only right for Italian revivalists The Surfadelics to pay homage to the filmmaker in this video. The opening title homage plays better than some of the scene recreations — surf rockers aren't known to be great actors, or even as good as John Travolta — but the best bits involve a paper Ninja toy that's as set on revenge as Beatrix "Black Mamba" Kiddo. --> watch "Bye Bye Bamboo"

The Surfadelics "Bye Bye Bamboo" 
Marco Vallini, director |  Sham Hinchey, DP 

WATCH IT: Dada Life "Kick Out The Epic Motherf..." (Mickey Finnegan, dir.)

Note to self: Do not invite Dada Life to my Memorial Day BBQ. --> watch "Kick Out The Epic Motherfu**er"

Dada Life
"Kick Out The Epic Motherf**ker" (Island/IDMJG)
Mickey Finnegan, director | Melissa Ciampa, producer | Spittn Image/Rockhard, production co | LaBuda Management, rep | Luis Perez, DP | Steven Escobar, editor| Mildred Delamota, Kamla Taylor, commissioner 

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IN PRODUCTION: RAC f/ Penguin Prison - Ryan Reichenfeld, dir.

• artist: RAC f/ Penguin Prison
• song: "Hollywood"
• label: Green Label Sound
• director(s): Ryan Reichenfeld
• production co: More Media
• rep: LARK CREATIVE
• producer: Ryan Kohler
• DP: Jackson Hunt
• exec. producer: Stephen Buchanan

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IN PRODUCTION: Little Hurricane - DJay Brawner, dir.

• artist: Little Hurricane
• song: "Haunted Heart"
• label: Unknown Breakthrough
• director(s): DJay Brawner
• production co: Anthem Films
• DP: Bryant Jansen