A2 Media Studies Director Study

1. Jonathan Glazer
Director Study

2. Videos
Radiohead - Karma Police Jamiroquai - Virtual Insanity

3. Bio
Jonathan Glazer is an English Director for music videos, films and TV
commercials. He studied theatre at Nottingham Trent University and
started off his directing with the creation of film and TV trailers.
During the 90s he joined Academy Commercials and directed
commercials for brands such as Guinness and Stella Artois, as well as
writing and directing three short films (“Mad, “Pool” and
“Commission”). From the mid-90s onwards he has been directing
music videos. MTV named him Director of the Year in 1997. These
videos were from bands like, Radiohead, Jamiroquai and Blur.
From 2000 Glazer started directing feature length movies: Sexy Beast
(2000), Birth (2004), and his most recent Under the Skin (2013).
During the 00s he continued to direct TV commercials, these included
commercials for Levi’s, Sony and Motorola.

4. Key artists they work with
Jonathan Glazer has worked with the bands:
● Massive Attack
● Blur
● Radiohead
● Jamiroquai
● Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
● UNKLE
● Richard Ashcroft

5. Other Work- Advertising and Film
Commercials:
● Kodak: “Husband To Be”
● Pretty Polly: “Linda 2”
● Mazda: “Shock off the New”
● AT&T: “Chief Executive’s Wife”
● Club Med: “City”
● AT&T: “Sales Director”
● Nike: “Frozen Moment” (1996)
● Guinness: “Surfer” (March 1999)
● Guinness: “Swimblack” (May 1999)
● Levi Strauss: “Kung Fu” (January
2000)
● Stella Artois (January 2000)
○ “Last Orders”
○ “Devil’s Island”
● Volkswagen Polo: “Protection”
(January 2000)
● Wrangler: “Whatever You Ride” (April
2001)
● Guinness: “Dreamer” (April 2001
Film:
● Sexy Beast (2000)
● Birth (2004)
● Under the Skin
(2013)
● Levi Strauss: “Odyssey” (January
2002)
● Barclays (January 2003|)
○ “Evil”
○ “Bull”
○ “Chicken”
● Band Aid 20 (December 2004)
○ “Bar”
○ “Double Don”
○ “Rant”
○ “Razor”
● Stella Artois: “Ice Skating Priests”
(April 2006)
● Sony BRAVIA: “Paint” (October 2006)
● Motorola Red: “Clay” (unreleased)
(December 2006)
● Sony 3D: “Kaka” (June 2010)
● Volkswagen Polo: “Last Tango in
Compton” (November 2010)
● Audi: “The Ring” (August 2013)

6. Music Video Style
Jonathan Glazer’s visual style in music video is very realistic. He
focuses on the interactions between characters and their
environment and with other people. For example the relationship
between the unknown driver and the running man in Radiohead’s
‘Karma Police’ music video.
He uses lots of practical effects to create interesting yet realistic
music videos. This is what creates so much interest around his videos,
as people always want to know how a certain effect is done in his
videos. For example the moving floor effect in Jamiroquai’s ‘Virtual
Insanity’ video

7. Radiohead - ‘Karma Police’ Analysis
The music video to Karma Police is a concept video displaying the idea of Karma, what goes
around comes around. The video features an unidentifiable driver chasing down a man on a
road, however, Karma comes into effect and results in the driver's car being set on fire by the
person he is chasing.
In the back seat of the car lead singer Thom Yorke can be seen lip syncing the lyrics to certain
parts of the song.

8. Camerawork
For the first 3 quarters of the music video there is only one camera
shot. It pans back and forth between the road ahead and the
backseats of the car. The whole time it follows an unnamed
character. The camera shot is a POV, this makes the audience feel as
if they are in the music video and driving the car. This one shot
throughout the video doesn’t take away from the music that the
video is accompanying.
There are close ups at the end of the video highlighting key props
that lead to the downfall of the unknown driver. The close up clearly
shows the audience the concept of Karma, throughout the whole
video the running man has been seen as weak, but now that we get a
different angle to the scenario, we see how quickly a situation can
turn on you.

9. Editing
There are only a few transitions towards the end of the music
video, they are basic cuts serve the purpose of showing the
narrative to the viewer instead of distracting them with fancy
effects.
Editing is used to lip sync the vocals of the song to the singing
of the lead singer in the back of the car. It creates an effect of
realism, making the whole narrative concept more believable in
conjunction with the song.

10. Mise en Scene
The props that are used are necessary to portraying the concept of
Karma to the audience. The key props are: a car, matches and
leaking fuel. They are used to show how the force of karma will get
payback on the driver. As two of these props are kept hidden for the
majority of the video, it makes creates an effect of tension to the
audience as we are left in the dark as to what might happen in the
music video.
Practical effects are used in the video such as pyrotechnics. Setting
the car on fire in real life rather than using special effects is
essential to creating the gritty, realistic effect that Jonathan Glazer
is known for. This effect engages the audience into the music video,
making them potentially come back for a second watch.

11. Goodwin’s Conventions
Although the video is mainly concept, there are elements of performance that include close up
shots of the lead singer in the back of the car. It is most likely that the record label has requested
that there are shots of the band, especially the lead singer as they are always the most
recognizable member.
There is a relation between the lyrics and the imagery. The song is about karma and the music
video clearly showcases the idea of concept.
The music and video link. The moody imagery and lighting of the video fit the indie rock sound of
the song.