Informed by a line in the chorus - ‘My dons going straight to the topfloor', the video for Jelani Blackman’s ‘Lockjaw’ sees camera moving up a staircase at an undisclosed location, constantly finding Jelani on each flight in a fake one-shot. It’s a technique based concept presented in a very rugged manner. Camera moves hand-held at all times and without a clear sense of horizon at moments, creating a somewhat disorientating and claustrophobic feel as we keep moving up but never really go anywhere. - Joao
"Guess Again" by Plan B, directed by Andrew Donoho is a dark sci-fi action thriller with a fully realized dystopian setting that is an ominous warning about the future of technology.
With his debut album ‘Yesterday’s Gone’ nominated for tonight prestigious Mercury prize, Loyle Carner releases the new video for ‘Sun of Jean’ with Joao Retorta back at the helm.
A nostalgic, honest and delicate depiction of unconditional love between mothers and their sons, exquisitely executed by Joao.
Everything crossed for tonight, a worthy winner we reckon.
In a world where updating your digital life is almost as unconscious and automatic as breathing; one girl goes against the mould and ends up having a rather peculiar breakdown which ultimately trumps her egotistical peers.
How do we hurt the ones we love? Davis Silis at Bullion directs this visceral and passionate new music video 'A Friend' by South London duo Formation.
From the director:
The song’s lyrics evoke a lot of questions about the nature of friendship, of loneliness, of relationships, and this video just became an extension of those questions. What are the boundaries of friendship and love? Is there a difference? How do we hurt those we love and why do we so often push them away when we need them the most?
So, the idea was to take a familiar trope, the violence of an all-out movie brawl, and use it as a device to pose those questions. The video itself doesn’t provide answers — not because there aren’t any, but because the answers are so deeply personal to those who ask.
Working with fight coordinator Kevin McCurdy, we created one long fight sequence that unfolds on a Victoria Line train in London with actor Isaac Money and Formation’s singer Will Ritson himself, who deserves huge credit for pulling this off despite dislocating his shoulder during one of the very first setups on the day.
All is Good Together, especially when you're naked together.
Joao Retorta, dirctor: " What it truly feels like to fall in love: The entire world feeling reduced to a moment and place. Right Here. Right Now. The two of you. A notion of love in its purest form. We present the couples fully vulnerable throughout the film as a metaphor for becoming ‘emotionally naked' when you truly trust someone. Warm in each other’s naked arms. ‘Without a care’. However, my aim was to let the feeling ride the viewer, as opposed to the nudity factor, turning it secondary and almost unnoticeable."
A tender, loving and sensitive video, that it's a shame to affix it with that NSFW stamp.
Welcome to Atlanta's Cascade roller rink, where people from all walks of life take a break for a roller skating jam.
John Merizalde, director: "Growing up in Atlanta, Cascade was a place that always fascinated me. When I was a teenager, I had the experience of spending an evening at this unassuming roller skating rink on the west side. What immediately stuck out to me was the energy - the Cascade crowd was diverse, the music was electric, and the movement was contagious. I realized this wasn't just a place to skate; it was a subculture, a community.
When I heard "Holding Back" I realized this was not only the perfect opportunity to create a memorably groovy video but also a lasting tribute for this magical place. The track has a palpable sexiness that perfectly compliments the smoothness of Cascade skaters. Beyond the surface level coolness however, we wanted to layer some moodier undertones to match the lyrics, leaving us with a hybrid narrative doc that hopefully resonates with viewers.
If anything, I hope this video motivates some of you to get up and grab a pair of skates."
The troubles of young, forbidden love could be a typical tale, which is why director John Merizalde sets the action in a town under the spell of an unusual cult.
John Merizalde, director: "When I first listened to the track, I was reminded of a small rural town in Georgia called Bethlehem, about an hour away from where I grew up. That, coupled with the themes behind the track — basically a critique against religiously motivated violence and hate — were the initial catalyst for theidea. The use of 16mm film and slow zooms were incorporated to hopefully give it a more old-school feel.
And no, I never attended a snake church growing up... Although I do know some people that did."
Directed by Ben & Ross, 'Girlfriend' sums up the feeling of what it is to fall in love and all the emotions that come with it. The joyful feelings and those terrifying ones...
From Ben & Ross:
The core of the idea was about exploring the vulnerabilities of being in love – specifically fear, paranoia and the idea of loosing someone you are infatuated with to factors beyond your control.
The third video in recent weeks from Bullion's latest signing Joao Retorta, for Virgin EMI Records 'Prose'.
Set in a small town in the UK the film follows two friends - two football lads on game day.
Joao explains that: " 'Run With Faith' is a coming of age piece about friendship and what it means to belong for different individuals in the same group of friends."
The video's a nod to sweaty underground parties , a sketchy rave where bodies mesh into an uneasy mess of strobing limbs , faraway stares locked in isolated thought. Like Will says, "sometimes you just want it to stop".
