TUNE IN: FNMTV with video debuts + VMA Nods for 8/15/08

This week's episode of FNMTV Premieres will feature video premieres from The Game, Solange Knowles and Gym Class Heroes, plus a performance by We The Kings.

Also, nominees for two more 2008 MTV Video Music Awards categories — Best Rock Video and Video of the Year — will be announced on the show. The categories and nominees unveiled last week are:

Best New Artist:

• Jordin Sparks “No Air" -  Chris Robinson, director
• Katy Perry “I Kissed A Girl" -  Kinga Burza, director
• Miley Cyrus “7 Things" -  Brett Ratner, director
• Taylor Swift “Teardrops on My Guitar" -  Trey Fanjoy, director
• Tokio Hotel “Ready, Set, Go!" -  Warwick & Haering, directors

Best Dancing In A Video:

• Chris Brown “Forever" -  Joseph Kahn, director
• Danity Kane “Damaged" -  Syndrome, directors
• Madonna “4 Minutes" -  Jonas & Francois, directors
• Ne-Yo “Closer" -  Melina, director
• Pussycat Dolls “When I Grow Up" -  Joseph Kahn, director

Click the categories to see all the nominated videos...

FNMTV airs Friday night at 8pm... That's tonight.

NEWS: MTV's HD MHD Becomes Palladia

The MTV Networks HD channel MHD is metamorphosing into something more than just a catch-all for HD programming from MTV, Vh1 and CMT. Here's the deal:

• As of September 1, the channel will be known as Palladia ("The term Palladia conveys a sense of spectacle -- a grand stage, a vast arena and the excitement of live musical performances," according to the press release)
• Every Thursday will feature an HD music movie premiere. First up is a double feature: Dave Chapelle's Block Party, directed by Michel Gondry, debuts Thursday, September 10 @ 9pm, followed by the HD premiere of the legendary Monterey Pop documentary directed by D.A. Pennebaker and featuring performances by Jimi Hendrix and The Who
• Every Saturday will be an HD live concert, starting off September 6 with the 2008 Isle Of Wight festival, boasting The Police, The Sex Pistols and N.E.R.D.
• Special themed programming: The first week will be a tribute to outdoor music festivals and concerts, feauting the above mentioned programs plus the U.S. TV premiere of the star-studded 2008 Glastonbury Festival, the inagural 2008 Rothbury Music Festival and much more. Other upcoming themes include a Hip-Hop Weekend in October and a Classic Rock Movie Week in November that will be headlined by HD premieres of Led Zeppelin The Song Remains The Same and Pink Floyd The Wall.

more info: Multichannel News

SHOT: Kidz In The Hall - Ethan Lader, director

artist: Kidz In The Hall f/ Estelle
song: "Love Hangover"   
label: Duck Down
director(s): Ethan Lader
production co: Kleiner Inc.

SHOT: Estelle - Zipper On Butta Fly Leather, director

artist: Estelle
song: "Pretty Please (Love Me)"
label: Homeschool/Atlantic
director(s): Zipper On Butta Fly Leather
production co: Frame By Frame

WATCH IT: Santogold "Lights Out"

Santogold doesn't need John Witherspoon to teach her that sometimes in style, you've got to coordinate. She also knows that everything is better when pushed to the extreme, so this video finds the eclectic pop/rock/dub/electro/whatever artist making sure her outfits perfectly match and blend into the backgrounds. It's a gag that's probably best known from this indoor camouflage scene from Zach Braff's Garden State, but it suits the pastiche nature of the track and is a good reminder that sometimes perfect matches are as distracting as the most blatant clash. --> watch "Lights Out" via Pitcfork TV

Santogold "Lights Out" (Downtown)
Kim  Gehrig, director | Liz Kessler, producer | Academy Films, production co | Magni Agustsson, DP | Tom Lindsay, editor 

WATCH IT: The Wave Pictures "Just Like A Drummer"

Location, location, location. The concept of this video for UK band The Wave Pictures is about as simple as it gets: Random folks from all walks of life lip-sync a song in various parts of a city. Thankfully, the city in question here isn't the usual music video locales of NYC or Los Angeles or London or Miami or Atlanta. Instead, Guatemalan director Eduardo Benchoam welcomes us to downtown Guatemala City, a colorful locale that is refreshingly fresh. The many non-actors on-screen all seem incredibly enthusiastic to play it up for the camera and are treated with the kind of humble celebratory tone you would expect from a local director and crew. Commissioned through the web site Radar Music Videos, this is a nice little video that bodes well for the possibilities when small labels are able to cull ideas and talent from around the globe. And, I have a feeling that El Instituto Guatemalteco de Turismo prefers this video's depiction of Guatemala City to headlines like, "US tourist hacked to death in Guatemala." --> watch "Just Like A Drummer"

The Wave Pictures "Just Like A Drummer" (Moshi Moshi)
Eduardo Benchoam, director | Stefan Benchoam, producer | Colectiva, production co | Federico Delgado, DP | Eduardo Benchoam, editor

BOOKED: The Cool Kids - Ray Tintori, director

artist: The Cool Kids
song: "Delivery Man"
label: C.A.K.E./Chocolate Industries
director(s): Ray Tintori
production co: Partizan

BOOKED: Death Cab For Cutie - Ramon & Pedro, directors

artist: Death Cab For Cutie
song: "No Sunlight"
label: Atlantic
director(s): Ramon & Pedro
production co: Partizan

WATCH IT: Kanye West "Champion"

You know what these Olympics need? Kanye West. In his shutter shades, breaking records, winning medals. While Kanye will probably not be at the Bird's Nest to kick some ass in the Track & Field competition — although I wouldn't be surprised if we see his shutter shades on a champion or two — this video provides a glimpse at what it would be like if a puppet version of Kanye decided to enter the 100m dash. Sounds unlikely, but remember: Kanye can seemingly do anything he likes. If Diddy can run the NYC Marathon, then why can't Kanye one-up him by earning some Olympic bling? As a puppet, no less. --> watch "Champion"

Kanye West "Champion" (Roc-A-Fella/IDJMG)
NEON, directors | Justin Benoliol/Kathleen Heffernan, producers | Partizan, production co | Ross Reige, DP | Ryan Bartley, editor | Toben Seymour, puppets + lead puppeteer | Brandon Parvini/Ghosttown, post/fx | Janicza Bravo, costumes

SHOT: Maino - Self & James Lopez, directors

artist: Maino f/ T.I., Plies, Jadakiss, Fabulous, Swizz Beatz
song: "Hi Hater" (remix)
label: Hustle Hard/Atlantic
director(s): Self & James Lopez
production co: Triggerhappy