DIRECTOR CASE STUDYSPIKE JONZE

SPIKE JONZESpike Jonze is a music video director. He also does films, he started off in advertising. And was co- creator of ‘jackass’ and has also acted. He was a co-founder of a magazine and mainly shot skateboarding videos, it was after this when he started directing music videos.

BJORK-OH SO QUIEThttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htobTBlCvUU

In this video, Jonze has made It so as if Bjork is in a musical this is shown because she Is wearing bright colours and the music sounds like it. One of the opening close-ups show Bjork through tyres, giving an almost comical beginning of the video.

At the beginning Jonze has contrasted the opening scene with low-key lighting and a grim exterior, this is to exaggerate the beat of the music as the music speeds up as Bjork leaves the room.

OH SO QUIETThe editing at the beginning of the song is in slow motion as she leaves the first room and starts to walk outside, the song is still slow at this point, as the song speeds up the slow motion stops. The slow motion is to build the tension and relates to the song title of ‘oh so quiet’.

The mise-en-scene such as dancers and colourful surrounding compliments the musical like parody that Jonze creates.

BEASTIE BOYS-SABOTAGEhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5rRZdiu1UE

In the opening of this video, there are quick pans of sky scraper, introducing the setting, like the beginning of a TV drama as it is fast paced and builds anxiety as it is as if someone is scanning the scene.

This shot shows the main character to be running into darkness, the back is lit behind him suggesting that he is running into danger and leaving safely behind fits with the TV drama theme.

SABOTAGEThe name of the song is shown in the video, this is used to get the feel of the spoof crime drama, and the font is iconic of the 70’s.Jonze has used similar editing techniques. The background denotes crime dramas.

The mise-en-scene sets the scene as taking place in a fast paced city. The use of sunglasses, the cop badge and outfit suggest that the character is a undercover policeman, fitting with the 70’s cop show parody. The title of the song relating to the visual, is a similar theme to Bjork’s ‘oh so quiet’ as the are both parodying and using intertextuality.

WEEZER-BUDDY HOLLYThis opening mid-shot show the video to be in a 50’s style, parodying popular aspects of the time period such as the programme ‘Happy Days’ and the artist Buddy Holly, as the song is called.

The lighting in this video is very high-key and bright which gives it a happy feel, and fits with the genre but is also contrasted by the genre of music of the band as Weezer are of ore a rocky genre which is usually associated with black and stereotypical things such as chaos and rebellion, whereas this video denotes the opposite.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kemivUKb4f4

BUDDY HOLLYThere is a short pause in the middle of the video where it says ‘stay tuned for happy days’, and the ‘to e continued writing’ shows that it is parodying ‘happy days’. this is to parody the show ‘Sabotage’ and ‘Oh So Quiet’ also do something similar. Jonze likes to use intertextuality in his videos, this is one of the things that make him an auteur director.

The mise-en-scene, such as the matching fashion, fits with the time period the video is set in and is similar to Buddy Holly, who they are parodying. The audience’s outfits are also 50’s style, fitting the theme. The video matched the song title as the are mimicking buddy holly. The mid shot displays the band in their costumes and the setting, showing its mocking nature.

ARCADE FIRE-THE SUBURBS In this long shot, the characters are introduced. The setting is in the suburbs, fitting with the title of the song. The composition is nice in this shot of the friends spread out.

The lighting alters from high-key to low-key as serious things start to happen, in this case the military are in the suburbs. so the setting is not as calm as it first looks. The characters are also out of focus which could suggest they are confused by the situation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Euj9f3gdyM

THE SUBURBS In part of the video, there are blurred shots and a shaky camera to makes the character seem disorientated and confused.

The mise-en-scene in the video contrasts from bikes to helicopters. The military aspect contrasts with the suburban side, Jonze also used a contrast in Bjork's video as there is a shot that changes from a dim, dirty room, to a bright setting.

KANYE WEST-ONLY ONEThis video is different from a typical spike Jonze. This is more about the artist and its quite personal. This video almost looks home made and like a documentary. This video shows that Jonze has a wide range of skills, as he can use similar themes, but also completely contrasting ones if he wishes. Although, this performative video does relate to the song title as it is about his daughter being the ‘only one’ so jonze has followed Goodwin's theory here as there is a link between the lyrics and the visuals . So, overall, Jonze doesn’t like to stray too far from the actual meaning of the song as it is the music that matters rather than the actual image of the artist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WibQR0tQ0P8