Jonas Akerlund

News

Camerimage Cinematography Festival Winners

The annual Camerimage confab wrapped up in Poland this past week, celebrating the best in cinematography.

Winners for the music video competition are: 

Best Music Video

DJ Snake & Lil Jon "Turn Down For What" (Daniels, dir.) Larkin Seiple, cinematographer

Best Cinematography In A Music Video:

Paolo Nutini "Iron Sky" (Daniel Wolfe, dir.) Robbie Ryan, cinematographer

The festivals main honor went to legendary director Jonas Akerlund, who received the Camerimage Award for Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Music Videos.

Watch It

David Guetta f/ Sam Martin "Dangerous" (Jonas Akerlund, dir.)

Something tells me Monsieur Guetta is gunning to get back to the top of the superstar DJ list (look out, Calvin Harris). His previous clip had Ray Liotta. In this one, DG takes to the track — this was shot at Circuito de Jerez in Andalucia, Spain — for an "homage" to Formula One racing (and perhaps Rush, too) with James Purefoy as his rival.

Watch It

Robin Thicke "Get Her Back" (Jonas Akerlund, dir.)

Can Robin Thicke ichat his way back into estranged wife Paula Patton's heart? Does looking battered and bruised and nude (from the waist up) in the video help the cause? What about the similarly naked woman that's here?

Such are the blurred lines in what's promised to be the opening salvo for new album Paula, which maybe you'll find to be the most romantic "I want her back" adventure since Lloyd Dobler held that Boombox aloft.

Watch It

Coldplay "Magic" (Jonas Akerlund, dir.)

Playing out unrequited love through passive-aggressive magical acts is one thing — Coldplay singer Chris Martin best hope that Crouching Tiger actress Ziyi Zheng keeps those knife throws straight and true — but learning to levitate as a means to woo your love interest away from her controlling master is truly next level. Call it carnies in love, call it old time silent movie magic: Either way it's some mad pick-up artist skills on display.

Blog

Meet Beyonce Stylist B. Akerlund

There's several recurrent credits in the Beyonce Visual Album, but one that may have caught your attention is stylist B. Akerlund.

She caught the NY Times attention too, which weighs in with a high profile feature on Akerlund — yes, she's married to director Jonas Akerlund — who styled four of the album's 17 videos including the first clip, "Pretty Hurts." Other styling credits include Lady Gaga "Paparazzi", Britney Spears "Work Bitch" and Madonna's look for her Super Bowl halftime show. 

The piece is centered on the Beyonce release — there's a slideshow of all the various looks in it — but mainly gives a great insight into the important role of the stylist in music videos and beyond.

Read:

What Would Beyoncé Wear? She Knows The Stylist B. Akerlund on Her Looks for Beyoncé and Other Stars

Watch It

Daft Punk Lotus F1 Spot (Jonas Akerlund, dir.)

Daft Punk Lotus F1 Team

Who needs NASCAR when Daft Punk can go Formula 1 with the Lotus F1 team. This odd combination launched with a series of teasers that's now been capped by a full 30 second spot directed by Jonas Akerlund. 

My main question is: Do the Daft Punk guys show up for all the promo shoots, or do they just ship the helmets around the world and just hire people to play the parts?

Watch It

Beyonce "Standing On The Sun (H&M spot)" (Jonas Akerlund, dir.)

Beyoncé in H&M Summer Collection 2013

It's technically not a music video. But it's Beyonce performing the bulk of new song "Standing On The Sun" and it's directed by music video fave Jonas Akerlund. And that's without even mentioning how little the diva is wearing here (which is all the more ironic since it's meant to sell clothing).