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Top 10 Video Directors of 2011

By Steven Gottlieb on January 9, 2012 @ 8:07pm PST | Comments (0)

I didn't really think about who the Top 10 directors of 2011 would be until I saw writer Kyle Anderson of EW.com's very nice list and how everyone seems to love lists.

EW's Top Ten Music Video Directors of 2011 breaks down as:

  1. Spike Jonze
  2. Canada
  3. Tom Scharpling
  4. Marc Klasfeld
  5. Jake Nava
  6. Jesse Dylan
  7. Wolf Haley (aka Tyler, The Creator)
  8. Natasha Pincus
  9. Dugan O'Neal
  10. Maria Melina Matoukas

Canada has been on a creative tear since bursting on the scene in October 2010 with that El Guincho video. Marc Klasfed was the go-to for established stars, Tom Scharpling was the go-to for indie rock. Melina could very well be the #1 diretor of 2011, since her videos are right at the crux of the copyright conflicts that seem to define the internet age. Spike Jonze: Always in the Top 10 if he's working. And he's never made an uninteresting video, but having him #1 in 2011 for "Otis" and that Beasties clip is like giving Scorsese his first Best Picture Oscar for The Departed. It's solid, sure, but it ain't Taxi Driver.

My Top 10 list in a not all that specific order (except that I grouped doubles from the EW list at the end)... 

Video Static Top 10 Video Directors of 2011:

Tim Nackashi - His "live" Death Cab video, a 360° clip for Craig Wedren, in addition to solid and very different videos for Maroon 5 and GIVERS

Daniels - Manchester Orchestra "Simple Math" and Battles "My Machines" = two of the best and most rough-n-tumble rock videos of the year

Chris Marrs Piliero - A distinctive style that's flexible enough for Britney ("Criminal" and "I Wanna Go"), The Black Keys, Ke$ha and Taking Back Sunday

Colin Tilley - I think he did every Chris Brown and Justin Bieber video this year, including their massive collabo "Next 2 U"

Jonas Akerlund - Anyone who can do Rammstein, Britney Spears and Maroon 5 should get props. And his Duran Duran video was the best video of the year (yes, I'm doubling down on that).

Nabil - Distinctive and diverse: Bon Iver, Frank Ocean, Distant Relatives

Canada - Battles, Oh Land, White Lies

Marc Klasfeld - Katy Perry, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fun. (released on Dec 27, so I'll count it)

Tom Scharpling - Wild Flag, The Ettes, New Pornographers, Titus Andronicus

Melina Matsoukas - Rihanna "You Da One" and "We Found Love" 

honorable mentions: Isaac Rentz, Hype Williams, Mickey Finnegan

Anyone I'm missing?

Weight: 
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Comments

America's picture
By America
Ace Norton!
Steven Gottlieb's picture
By Steven Gottlieb
Big Ace Norton fan -- Had one of his videos in my Top 20 of 2011 -- but I think hes had bigger years.
Ant's picture
By Ant
Mandler!
Steven Gottlieb's picture
By Steven Gottlieb
Man Down was one I was thinking about for my Best of 2011, but went with We Found Love instead. If i had done this kind of list on 2010/2009, I think he would have been on it. 2011 wasnt a big video year for him.
RoscoP's picture
By RoscoP
Matt Alonzo has been putting in work all year. The Game video ft. Tyler the Creator was absolutely phenomenal and clearly shows his development with the Happy place camp. And it seems like Alex Nazari is quickly on the come up. If you're not familiar with the Rej3ctz "Cat Daddy" video ft. Chris Brown wheel chair stuntin', check it out immediately. over 60 million views on youtube and that's before he left the Black Diamonds label to venture out on his own. Scary part is he's only 23 yet he's shot videos for 50 Cent, Wiz Khalifa, Soulja Boy and over a dozen videos for Tyga including "Rack City." I was actually on set last night of his newest video for 2chainz ft. Kreayshawn and am in awe of what this kid is putting on the screen. Don't sleep on these guys..
Steven Gottlieb's picture
By Steven Gottlieb
Matt Alonzo is a good pick for somebody coming up, fast. Starting to see Alexs name pop up..
gos's picture
By gos
Anthony Mandler, always! dunno if top10 but I'd shout out TAJ, Ray Kay and Evil Nava.
gos's picture
By gos
Emil* obviously
Producer's picture
By Producer
Ethan Lader is really the one you should be watching. His one Republic Video for Good Life has turned into Disney,s whole campaign and that just one project. He also did amazing videos for,BOB,Leona Lewis,Cobie Collet,Enrique Iglisias to name a few.
Steven Gottlieb's picture
By Steven Gottlieb
HUGE supporter of Ethan Lader. He probably should have been on this, although I think his 2010 work was more impactful, especially the BOB video. Good one tho.

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