SHOT: Smashing Pumpkins - Justin Coloma, director

artist: The Smashing Pumpkins
song: "G.L.O.W."
director(s): Justin Coloma
production co: Grand Guignol
producer: Megan Duffy | DP: Brett Pawlak

WATCH IT: Nikka Costa "Stuck To You"

If you're going to jump on the contemporary soul music bandwagon, you might as well go with something tried and true. Nikka Costa's first single/video for the legendary Stax Records, "Stuck To You," echoes the sounds of that label's glory days so much that her name check of Otis Redding was probably unnecessary. The former child star's band members are rendered as silhouettes — including some sexy background singers, which are actually provided by Ms. Costa, whois capable of the kind of provocative dancing that can make her surroundings disappear.  Although director Alma Har'el could have just turned on the cameras and left the Costa work herself up and down the microphone stand, but instead enhances her performance with inspired effects and a tapestry of multicolored branches that surround the singer and form a hill she ascends. If the public's appetite for the soul flavor holds, Costa can expect to reach greater heights. [review by Craig Belcher] --> watch "Stuck To You"

Nikka Costa "Stuck To You" (Stax/Concord)
Alma Har'el, director/editor | Rafael Marmor , producer | Partizan, production co | Andrew Shulkind, DP | Ghost Town Media and Encore Hollywood, post-production

SHOT: Jay Rock f/ Lil Wayne - J. Silver + M. Mihail, directors

artist: Jay Rock f/ Lil Wayne
song: "All My Life"
label: Warner Bros.
director(s): Jonathan Silver and Michael "The Greek" Mihail
production co: Guerilla Hollywood

photo by Luke Wooden

WATCH IT: Wildabeast "Many Levels"

Wildabeast checks his head in this clip for "Many Levels." The indie rapper is surrounded by a headless supporting cast, with whom he generously (and literally) shares his dome. The visual effects border on crude at times, but the absurdity and creativity of the concept outweigh any technical shortcomings. And, Wildabest gives a spirited performance in the scenes where he has his head screwed on right. [review by Craig Belcher] --> watch "Many Levels"

Wildabeast "Many Levels" (Northerground)
Adam Hall & James McCusker, director | | Artrigue Projects, production co | Vesa Holle, DP | Alan Capriles, editor | Benjamin Kutsco, producer

SHOT: Little Jackie - Kennedy, director

artist: Little Jackie
song: "The Stoop"
label: S-Curve
director(s): Kennedy
production co: Karma Kollective
rep: Heidi Gregory
DP: Pete Konczal

BOOKED: Hit The Lights - Spence Nicholson, director

artist: Hit The Lights
song: "Drop The Girl"
label: Triple Crown/EastWest
director(s): Spence Nicholson
production co: Red Van Pictures

SHOT: Chris Cornell - Meiert Avis, director

artist: Chris Cornell
song: "Ground Zero"
label: Interscope
director(s): Meiert Avis
production co: Pusher Media/Miss Jones
rep: Labuda Management

Video ties-in with the new ABC series Life On Mars...

SHOT: Jim Jones - Dale "Rage" Resteghini, director

artist: Jim Jones
song: "Pop Champagne"
label: Columbia/Koch
director(s): Dale "Rage" Resteghini
production co: Raging Nation Films
rep: Yell Productions

SHOT: Metro Station - Josh Forbes, director

Director Josh Forbes strikes his best Lost Boys pose on the abandoned carnival set of Metro Station "Seventeen Forever" with guest star Miley Cyrus. She doesn't look impressed.

artist: Metro Station
song: "Seventeen Forever"
label: Red Ink/Columbia
director(s): Josh Forbes
production co: Winch+Pulley/Ghost Town Media
rep: Lanette Phillips Management
producer: Stephen Buchanan | DP: Marc Ritzema | editor: Ryan Bartley

WATCH IT: Janelle Monae "Many Moons"

Freak Funk star Janelle Monae goes for a big "Hey Ya" hit in this totally brash and ambitious video for "Many Moons DC." Set in a future worlds that rings partially of Madonna "Express Yourself" and En Vogue "Free Your Mind," Monae is the main attraction at an android auction. Although the backstory features numerous alter egos and plot twists that calls for a full-length feature to fully explicate, this is probably best viewed as an allegory. After all, the archival clips of the civil rights movement and other relevant moments from history that play on a background screens make it clear that the vid's point is not just, "Androids are people too." --> watch "Many Moons" plus a Behind-The-Scenes featurette

Janelle Monae "Many Moons" (Bad Boy)
Alan Ferguson, director | HM Coakley, producer | Anonymous Content/Treasure Ent., production co | Christopher Probst, DP | Danny Prussmann, editor | Baked Goods, effects | Paula Good, production designer | Paul Bronkar @ In A Place Productions, telecine/colorist