Thursday 17 November 2011

AN - Francis Lawrence Case study

Francis Lawrence is an American music video and film director who was born on March 26, 1970 in Vienna. He first began his work in the Media as the second assistant camera on the film, Pump Up The Volume (Allan Moyle, 1991) which was prior to earning his bachelors degree in film production at Loyola Marymount University Film School. 

The first music video that Francis Lawrence directed was A Man Rides Through by obscure metal band, Tidal Force. The video switches between performance and narrative, as it tells the story of a reverend having to kill a wanted criminal in the Wild West. From this point onwards, Francis Lawrence went on to become a multi-award winning director who worked on big videos such asEmotion by Destiny's Child (the video that our group is working on for our coursework) and what can be consisted has his highest profile project, Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head) by Will Smith made to tie with the terrible sequel, Men in Black 2 (2002, Barry Sonnefield).



Here is the video for A Man Rides Through:
When looking at Francis' videos, he tends to implement a sense of narrative into the music videos he directs because it his part of his style of filming and by providing a narrative within a music video it will give it a deeper meaning, "It's a way to practice your craft. I tried to master tone, character and story arcs. But narrative was always of utmost importance to me, going all the way back to film school." 

He then had the chance to direct his first feature film after pitching his ideas and drawings for a big screen version of Constantine, based on the DC Comics/ Vertigo Hellblazer graphic novels. With control of the film's development in the palm of his hand, Francis was able to see this film as a natural extension of his music videos. This allowed him to tell a deep, complex story, "In music video, you're often limited by the song, the tempo, the pace, the lyrics. You learn to work within those guidelines." 


A few years later, Francis went on to direct another feature film called I Am Legend which is considered one of the most expensive films ever made with a budget of £150 million. He also went on to direct the videos forCircus by Britney Spears and Bad Romance by Lady Gaga.





Filmography

Hide HideDirector (11 titles)
2012Touch (TV series) (post-production)
– Pilot (2012)
2009Kings (TV series)
– First Night (2009)
– Prosperity (2009)
– Goliath (2009)
2006OK Go: Oh No Special Edition (video short)
2004Britney Spears: Greatest Hits - My Prerogative (video) (video "I'm a Slave 4 U")
2004From Janet. To Damita Jo: The Videos (video documentary) (videos "Someone to Call My Lover", "Son of a Gun" and "All Nite")
2003Jennifer Lopez: The Reel Me (video) (videos "Waiting for Tonight " and "Play")
2001Green Day: International Supervideos! (video) (video "Warning")
2000Jennifer Lopez: Feelin' So Good (video documentary) (video "Waiting for Tonight")
Hide HideProducer (1 title)
2009Kings (TV series) (executive producer - 12 episodes)
– The New King: Part Two (2009) (executive producer)
– The New King: Part One (2009) (executive producer)
– Javelin (2009) (executive producer)
– Chapter One (2009) (executive producer)
– Pilgrimage (2009) (executive producer)
1993Marching Out of Time (first assistant director)
Hide HideThanks (6 titles)
2008Cautionary Tale: The Science of 'I Am Legend' (video documentary) (special thanks)
2008I Am Legend: Awakening - Story 3: Shelter (video short) (special thanks)
2008I Am Legend: Awakening - Story 4: Death as a Gift (video short) (special thanks)
2007I Am Legend: Awakening - Story 2: Isolation (video short) (special thanks)
2005Constantine (Video Game) (special thanks)
Hide HideSelf (15 titles)
2011Cinema 3 (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 5 May 2011 (2011) … Himself
2011Días de cine (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 5 May 2011 (2011) … Himself
2009The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style (video documentary)
Himself
2009North by Northwest: One for the Ages (video documentary short)
Himself
2009Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman (video documentary short)
Himself
2009MAD & the City (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.6 (2009) … Himself
– Episode #1.5 (2009) … Himself
2008Cautionary Tale: The Science of 'I Am Legend' (video documentary)
Himself
2008Creating 'I Am Legend' (video documentary)
Himself
200720 heures le journal (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 16 December 2007 (2007) … Himself
2007Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 10 December 2007 (2007) … Himself
1999-2007HBO First Look (TV series documentary)
Himself
– I Am Legend (2007) … Himself
– Constantine: Heaven, Hell and Beyond (2005) … Himself
– 'Blue Streak': Inside & Undercover (1999) … Himself
2005Caiga quien caiga (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 11 February 2005 (2005) … Himself
2005Unscripted (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #1.6 (2005) … Himself
2005Filmography (TV series documentary)
Himself - Director
– Keanu Reeves (2005) … Himself - Director
1999-2001Making the Video (TV series documentary)
Himself
– Enrique Iglesias: Rhythm Divine (1999) … Himself
– Jennifer Lopez: Waiting for Tonight (1999) … Himself
– Jay-Z: Girl's Best Friend (1999) … Himself
Hide HideArchive Footage (1 title)
2010Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics (video documentary)
Himself

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