Michel Gondry - Director Case Study

Michel Gondry  is a academy award winning film and music video director, and also screen writer, he  grew up in France, with a family who were highly influenced and interested in Pop Music. He is best known for his inventive visual style and manipulation of Misc-en-scene. 


In the 80s he entered in an art school in Paris where he could develop his graphic skills and where he also met friends with whom he created a pop-rock band called Oui-Oui. When in the band they released 2 albums and several singles in the 80's. He was the drummer and also directed their video clips for the band, the clips were influenced mainly by the 60's and their childhood. 


One of Gondry's video was shown on MTV and when Bjork saw it she asked him to direct/make her first solo album "Human Behaviour". After this video debuted Gondry went on to direct more of Bjorks videos which were : 

• Declare Independence - 1997
• Bacherolette - 1997
• Dead Weight - 1997
• Joga - 1997
• Crystalline - 2011
• Hyper Ballad - 1996
• Army Of Me - 1995

Other examples of artists who have worked with Gondry are The White Stripes, The Chemical Brothers, The Vines, RadioHead, Kanye West & The Rolling Stones.

Gondry made his first film debut in 2001 called Human Nature  with Charlie Kaufmen, this was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in later 2001, however this was not a huge success. In 2004 Gondry again worked with Charlie Kaufmen and directed the film Eternal Sunshine For The Spotless Mind, this movie went on to become a popular independent film and he and his co-workers won an Oscar for the film. His most recent film direction role was for The Green  Hornet in early 2011. 

Music Videos Of Michel Gondry:

• "Crystalline" - Björk (2011)
• "How Are You Doing?" – The Living Sisters (2011)
• "Open Your Heart" – Mia Doi Todd (2010)
• "Too Many Dicks On The Dancefloor" & "Carol Brown" (unofficial videos) – Flight Of The Conchords (2009)
• "Soleil du Soir" – Dick Annegarn (2008)
• "Declare Independence" – Björk (2007) [2]
• "Dance Tonight" – Paul McCartney (2007)
• "Limitless Undying Love" – Sergio Hiram (2007)
• "Cellphone's Dead" – Beck (2006)
• "Anysound" – The Vines (2006)
• "King of the Game" – Cody ChesnuTT (2006)
• "Heard 'Em Say" (U.S. Version) – Kanye West (2005)
• "The Denial Twist" – The White Stripes (2005)
• "Light & Day" (movie version) – The Polyphonic Spree (2004)
• "Winning Days" – The Vines (2004)
• "Mad World" (Donnie Darko soundtrack version) – Gary Jules (2004)
• "Ride" – The Vines (2004)
• "Walkie Talkie Man" – Steriogram (2004)
• "I Wonder" – The Willowz (2004)
• "The Hardest Button to Button" – The White Stripes (2003)
• "Behind" – Lacquer (2003)
• "Come Into My World" – Kylie Minogue (2002)
• "A l'envers à l'endroit" – Noir Désir (2002)
• "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" – The White Stripes (2002)
• "Fell in Love with a Girl" – The White Stripes (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)
• "Another One Bites the Dust" – Wyclef Jean (1998)
• "Music Sounds Better With You" – Stardust (1998)
• "Bachelorette" – Björk (1997)
• "Deadweight" – Beck (1997)
• "Jóga" – Björk (1997)
• "Everlong" – Foo Fighters (1997)
• "A Change Would Do You Good" – Sheryl Crow (1997)
• "Around the World" – Daft Punk (1997)
• "Feel It" – Neneh Cherry (1997)
• "Sugar Water" – Cibo Matto (1996) 

Source Wikipedia 

Films By Michel Gondry:

• Human Nature (2001)
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
• The Science of Sleep (2006)
• Be Kind Rewind (2008)
• The Green Hornet (2011)
• The We & the I (2012)

Source Wikipedia