Music Video Director Study

There are a wide range of music video directors below I have found out one more about the most famous ones.

Spike Jonze

is an American director, producer, screenwriter and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television.

Jonze is well known for his music video collaborations with Fatboy Slim, Weezer, Beastie Boys, Björk and Kanye West. He was a co-creator and executive producer of MTV's Jackass.[1] He is currently the creative director of Vice Media, Inc..

Weapon of Choice - Fatboy Slim

This video got a Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video

What's Up, Fatlip? - Fatlip

Flashing Lights - Kanye West

Co-directed with West

Otis - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Afterlife - Arcade Fire

This video was directed live for the YouTube Awards

Dope - Lady Gaga

This video was directed live for the YouTube Awards

Only One - Kanye West feat. Paul McCartney

Hype Williams

is an American film director, film producer, screenwriter, and music video director.

Williams first displayed his work by tagging local billboards, storefronts, and playgrounds using HYPE as his graffiti tag. "That's probably what stimulated my interests in color," he says. "I wanted to be Basquiat or Keith Haring of the streets."

A signature style used by Williams throughout the vast majority of his videos was the Fisheye lens which distorted the camera view around the central focus. This was used in Gimme Some More by Busta Rhymes and The Rain by Missy Elliott; however, it was dropped by 2003, when he experienced his lowest level of production activity since the beginning of his career as a music video director.

Another signature style involves placing shots in regular widescreen ratio, while a second shot is split and placed in the upper and lower bars. Videos that use this style include "Diamonds on My Neck" by Smitty, So Sick by Ne-Yo and Snap Yo Fingers by Lil Jon. In addition to this, he frequently utilizes aerial and tracking shots which often move backwards or forwards, some techniques which can often be seen in "Rock the Boat" by Aaliyah and "She's a Bitch" by Missy ElliottIt is a method often used by Hype which allows his videos to be dynamic, multi-dimensional and atmospheric as opposed to having static camera angles. Further style traits include the use of slow motion action, deep focus, and smooth cutting. 

Awards Williams has received for his video work are shown below

Billboard Music Video Award for Best Director of the Year (1996), 

The Jackson Limo Award for Best Rap Video of the Year (1996) for Busta Rhymes

The NAACP Image Award (1997) 

MTV Video Music Award in the Best Rap Video (1998) 

The BET Award for Best Director (2006) for Kanye West's song Gold Digger

Michel Gondry

is a French film director, screenwriter, and producer. He is noted for his inventive visual style and distinctive manipulation of mise en scène.

He is well known for his music video collaborations with The Chemical Brothers, Björk and The White Stripes.

Music videos that he has directed are shown below:

Go - The Chemical Brothers (2015)

Dance Tonight – Paul McCartney (2007)

Heard 'Em Say (U.S. Version) – Kanye West (2005)

Come Into My World – Kylie Minogue (2002)

Star Guitar – The Chemical Brothers (2001)

Knives Out – Radiohead (2001)

Mad World – Michael Andrews and Gary Jules (2001)

Let Forever Be – The Chemical Brothers (1999)

Gimme Shelter – The Rolling Stones (1998)