Director
Research
Hiro Murai
Hiro Murai is a Tokyo-born, Los Angeles-based cinematographer. To my dismay, there is little information about him online, however I have found some interviews taken with him where he talks about himself and his work. (Links to interviews in References below)
In an interview with Noisey, Murai talks about brainstorming video ideas with Childish Gambino for his music video "3005". Hiro Murai stated that he likes to invent an original idea himself, that he "[likes] to be attached to the idea, at least emotionally". He grew up watching Takeshi Kitano Japanese mobster films and developed a liking for filming early on. A music video he directed for Cults - "High Road" - was inspired by old Hitchcock movies, according to Hiro.
Hiro Murai has directed music videos for various artists spanning over different genres from Rock to Hip Hop to EDM, but all generally Alternative variations of their genre. A few artists he has worked with include Childish Gambino, Earl Sweatshirt, Flying Lotus, St. Vincent, Kendrick Lamar, Cults, and Chet Faker. Hiro regularly works with Childish Gambino, directing at least five music videos, his short film "Calpping For The Wrong Reasons", and currently his new TV show "Atlanta".
Growing up in Japan until the age of 9 - when he moved to the US - Murai read a lot of manga and claims they have influenced his visual creativity when it comes to building shots for a sequence.
Hiro Murai is my top choice for a director for my music video. His endless creativity and out-of-ordinary visual and narrative ideas seen in his music video are exceptional and encapsulating. Having Murai as my ideal music video director would guarantee a profound and innovative video.
Chet Faker - Gold
Flying Lotus - Never Catch Me
Childish Gambino - V. 3005
St. Vincent - Cheerleader
Dave Meyers
Grammy and VMA winner Dave Meyers is an American film and music video director. He has directed music videos for various artists including Rihanna, Ciara, Twista, Nas, Jay Z, and Janet Jackson, to name a few.
Dave Meyers was born in California in 1980, where he attended Loyola Marymount University to study Film Production and Philosophy. After graduating, Meyers worked at Paramount and Fox before filming his first Rap music video with a rap group called The Whoridas.
Meyers has directed over 200 music videos over the last two decades, with a focused genre of Hip Hop and R&B. His 2005 Missy Elliot video "Lose Control" won a Grammy Award for 'Best Music Video'. He has also won 11 MTV Video Music Awards, including two VMAs for 'Best Video of the Year' for "Work It" - Missy Elliot (2003) and "Firework" - Katy Perry (2011).
Dave Meyers would be a suitable director for my music video as he is experienced in directing rap videos, and has also earned dozens of nominations and awards for his work, an indicator of expertise.
Missy Elliot - Lose Control
Katy Perry - Firework
Eric Wareheim
Director, writer, and comedian Eric Wareheim was born in Pennsylvania in 1976. Eric Wareheim attended and graduated from Temple University, where he met Tim Heidecker, his current comedy and directing partner. Together they have formed a comedy troupe called Tim & Eric.
Wareheim and Heidecker directed the 2010 Super Bowl commercial "The Shuffle" for Boost Mobile and Old Spice commercials starring Terry Crews. In terms of music videos, Eric has directed many music videos. generally for Pop and EDM songs, having worked with artists such as Major Lazer, Flying Lotus, Charli XCX, Beach House, and Maroon 5.
His music videos are very eccentric, weird, and comedic: Major Lazer's "Bubble Butt" video consists of three girls getting artificial inflations to hysterically big sizes; and Beach House's "Wishes" stars an elder man singing with a young female voice as cheerleaders jump and dance around in slow motion.
Despite his relatively unique directing skills, Eric Wareheim wouldn't be my choice of director for my music video. Although he has made a lot of amazing and creative videos, his style is not very suitable for my chosen song; rather than his comedic, postmodern nature I prefer a more artistic, modern, simplistic touch.
