Music Video Director Research

Spike Jonze (born Adam Spiegel; October 22, 1969) is an American director and producer, and one of the most well known around the world. His work includes Being John Malkovich, Adaptation, Where the Wild Things Are, and is also the co-creator of MTV’S Jackass. Music video wise, he has directed for The Beastie Boys, Daft Punk, Tenacious D and Kanye West. He is also the currently the creative director of VBS.tv and part owner of skateboard company Girl Skateboards. Jonze is also responsible for co-founding Directors Label with Chris Cunningham and Michel Gondry. This is a series of DVDs devoted to distinguished music video directors. Launched in 2003 by Palm Pictures, the series of DVDs was created by Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham, and Michel Gondry, each owning a whole volume to thier name, and again in 2005, four new volumes were added to the collection. In the mid 1980s Jonze worked at the Rockville BMX Store for the duration of his junior high school, where he was dubbed "Spike Jonze" from here on in, this was to be his chosen name. Jonze then went on to work as a photographer for "Freestylin" a popular skating magazine, where he met co-editors Mark "Lew" Lewman and Andy Jenkins, with whom he then fronted Club Homeboy, an internationally known BMX club. Going from strength to strength two youth culture magazines Homeboy and Dirt were later released. Dirt was often reffered to as a "Sassy Magazine for boys," as it was published by the same company and sold in clear plastic wrapping with the current landmark magazine for young women. Not being one to stand still in July of last year, Jonze bought the rights to make a film adaptation of Light Boxes, a fantasia style novel written by acclaimed author Shane Jones. A story in which a war is waged against a group of balloonists, thus suiting Jonze' flare for eccentricity. Word on the street is that Jonze will act as producer with Ray Tintori who is rumoured to be director.
As a director, Jonze has directed for The Beastie Boys creating 5 of their most famous videos, also helping to write one. Sabotage came out in 1994 for which Jonze was the writer and director for this production. It became famous due to it’s acclaimed music video, which consists of a parody and pays homage to 1970’s crime shows such as Starsky and Hutch. The video is played out as if it is the opening credits to a 1970’s style crime show which is named Sabotage, each of the band members are given a character to play. Throughout the duration of the video, the band members are shown in freeze frame motion, with their names appearing on the screen. Unfortunately, due to Jonze’ eccentric directing style and ideas, parts of the video had to be removed in order for it to be played on MTV. Some of the scenes to be cut included someone falling off the bridge, a scene where someone is thrown out of a car and a knife fight scene, yet some saw it as his best work yet; "This is the greatest music video of all time. Thriller's all right but it is nowhere near as awesome as this." Early September 1994 called for the MTV music video awards in which the music video Sabotage, lost out to both Aerosmith's “Cryin’,” and R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts" video for both Best Director and Best Breakthrough video. Jonze is known mainly for his eccentric approach to his work, and it is perhaps this ethos that has got him so far in the directing world. All of the audience response to Jonze’ work is nothing but admirable, this comment was found on the customer review section on Amazon, when you go to buy one of Spike Jonze’ DVD’s, of which there are many.
“Spike Jonze is an amazing music video director and this DVD is a great collection of his groundbreaking work that dominated MTV for much of the 1990s. He is probably the most influential director of the medium, and this DVD serves as a great showcase for his diversity.”
and; “Director of his calibre is excellent.”

Due to his outstanding work and contemporary skill to represent a band and himself at the same time, Jonze has won numerous awards including; Critics Choice Award (2000), Chlotrudis Award (2000), MTV Movie Award (2000), Silver Berlin Bear (2003), Independent Spirit Award (2009), and many more. Out of the 33 awards he has been nominated for, he has won 15 and currently has 3 DVD documentaries on his work, all of which have outstanding critic and audience reviews.
"Okay, whoever came up with that idea, just waking up one day and going Let's have Christopher Walken dancing, needs to be given a gold medal on something"
Even those who don't necessarily know who Spike Jonze is still appreciate his off the wall approach to his music videos. California by WAX, is one of the most influencial music videos of our time, stills from the video were even chosen to front the cover of the DVD Directors Label. The video features a man running through the street, whilst he is on fire. The slow motion Jonze has chosen to capture it in makes for a visually stunning finished product. Loved by critics, fans and collegues alike, this video has made it's imprint on the media world. "I like how Spike Jonze doesn't literly film the lyrics. You can be more creative that way."

Not withstanding the imense success Jonze has had in the music video industry, not many though know that he's done a whole host of commercials as well.
His commercial for Gap, made in December 2005, where shoppers and staff are seen to destroy the interior of the store including it's merchandise had mixed reviews.
"GREAT WORK...only Mr.Jonze can do it that way. u can tell his touch"
This YouTube user is a clear Jonze fan.
"i dont really understand this commercial. what changes has GAP made to their business?"

On the other hand this user is unable to appreciate Jonze' view outside the box, and perhaps is used to a more traditional approach to video. However went on to win awards along with various other commercials Jonze has directed.
Jonze himself once said;
"As a feature film director you got to be a guarding dog of the whole production. You got to be able to hold 100 script pages in the head at the same time. If you miss a detail it's wasted...."