Simon Cahn is a French filmmaker who began directing short films at age 19. He has since directed projects for international brands and music videos. One of his short films won several awards at film festivals. Cahn was also the art director for a French magazine and directed a film that was selected for several festivals. He traveled across the U.S. as part of a Levi's project to film Americana. Cahn directed Danny Brown's music video for "Pneumonia," which features Brown suspended from chains in a striking and surreal video. The video inspired another group with ideas for using chains in an innovative, mysterious, and thrilling music video.

1. Iconic director: Simon
Cahn
By Kelechi Okorie

2. Who is Simon Cahn?
§ French filmmaker Simon Cahn began directing when he was 19 with his first short film
“Prince Tribe”. After a few years in New York working for actress Milla Jovovich,
Cahn returned to Paris to work on several projects for international brands such as
Nike, Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Supreme with Terry Richardson and Lady Gaga.
§
§ Simon found great success with his short film “Mourir Auprès de Toi” co-directed with
Spike Jonze for Olympia Le-Tan. The film won awards at several festivals including
Le Book and was officially selected for the “Semaine de la Critique” at the Cannes
Film Festival, and Locarno Film Festival.
§
§ Cahn was also the art director for French Magazine Jalouse and recently directed
“Une fille comme les Autres Part 2” for Jalouse & Diesel with international model
Ashley Smith which was selected at ASVOFF festival (at Centre Pompidou, Paris)
and shortlisted at the Young Directors Awards (Cannes 2013).
§
§ Simon travelled across America as part of Levi’s “Station to Station” project to film and
create “The Last Boxcar”, an encapsulating film about Americana and its
relationship with art and pop culture – the project was premiered exclusively on
Nowness.

3. Music Videos

4. “Pneumonia "by Simon Cahn
‘Pneumonia’ is a music video directed by
Simon Cahn. The song is written and
performed by Danny Brown.
Simon Cahn explores the duality of
success in this harrowing, nightmarish
video for Danny Brown.
Predominantly featuring Brown
suspended from chains in a car park, or
being dragged along the floor, the visuals
here are simple yet striking. It also cuts
way to footage of Reagan and Bush Sr.
plus Danny Brown himself on a political
rostrum, and mixing newer digital and
older VHS formats for an intense gut-
punch clip.
“Pneumonia feels like a surreal nosebleed
torture of a track – in all the best ways,"
says Cahn. "I tried to get the same
emotions in the video. Big up to Danny for
hanging upside down in the air all night.”

5. Music Videos
I am very inspired by this video as it is
very innovative and unique. It also
influenced my group and I to make a video
so mysterious, heart wrenching and
thrilling as this. We originally had an idea
to use chains in our music video and
because the director Simon Cahn had a
extremely creative vision for this object, it
gave us many ideas on what we can
achieve with it. The mise en scene he
used completely fit in with our own ideas
as well. This was to have very low key
lighting and wear informal clothing such
as a jumpsuit and hoodie. We were also
inspired by the acting. The lifeless body
language and psychotic facial
expressions really caught our eye and we
hope to do something even more
engaging for our audience. Our vision was
to have our artist restricted and restrained
with chains being dragged around so it
looks like he is being controlled by
something much bigger than him. That
‘something’ is the artist’s alter ego.

6. Music Videos
I am very inspired by this video as it is
very innovative and unique. It also
influenced my group and I to make a video
so mysterious, heart wrenching and
thrilling as this. We originally had an idea
to use chains in our music video and
because the director Simon Cahn had a
extremely creative vision for this object, it
gave us many ideas on what we can
achieve with it. The mise en scene he
used completely fit in with our own ideas
as well. This was to have very low key
lighting and wear informal clothing such
as a jumpsuit and hoodie. We were also
inspired by the acting. The lifeless body
language and psychotic facial
expressions really caught our eye and we
hope to do something even more
engaging for our audience. Our vision was
to have our artist restricted and restrained
with chains being dragged around so it
looks like he is being controlled by
something much bigger than him. That
‘something’ is the artist’s alter ego.