Solange (Beyonce's sister) directs her own video.

The above video is okay but nothing to write home about and the CGI is a lil' lackluster. The real reason I wanted to post this was to ask a question. What do Antvillians think of the artist as director thing? Or, more typically, the artist sharing the director credit?

I'm not a fan of it myself and I'm always very skeptical of the artist as director. I wonder who was on set with Solange. Was it just her, a producer, a DP, and a crew? Or was there some other director type hanging around.

Also, in the shared credit scenario, how many of you would do it? I know the decision making process has to be different if it's U2 as opposed to your local grunge band but generally speaking how would you respond to the artist? I've shared a credit once before at the artist's firm request (it was share or don't shoot) and I won't do it again.

Getting to the point of being a working anything in a creative freelance field is incredibly tough and in my opinion requires a lot of sacrifice (while your friends are all getting married and buying houses you're eating macaroni and cheese and wondering if you'll have enough to pay next month's rent) and the two most evident reasons for toughing it out are to create something and to be acknowledged for having creating something.

Now, having made that argument, I freely admit that if a massively popular and talented artist approached me tomorrow and said share or don't shoot I'd probably share... I guess, at heart, I'm a video slut.

K

I think sharing credits is stupid. Artists always have input; it's their video. I can't imagine these rappers working on shotlists and coordinating schedules with the AD. Just showing up and say "How bout we use this car. And I wear these clothes!" - doesn't make one a director.

here's a question: what is the best video directed by an artist? First one that comes to mind for me is Beck's Sexxx Laws, which I think is his best video.

www.youtube.com

Godley & Creme come to mind as well.

i have worked on three major label videos over the past 2 years where the artist took directing credit. It is pure bullsh*t. I have seen an artist provide minimal feedback through pre-production all the way to post-production then at the eleventh hour insist they get co-director credit because they made wardrobe choices. NO one ever calls them out on this. Seems to happen with R&B/Hip Hop videos more than say rock videos.

I always wondered about Christina Aguilera.

Yes, it's odd. The vast majority aren't interested in the director: 'Have you seen Madonna's new video?!' usually precludes a sense of the existence of a Cunningham or an Åkerlund, etc.

It's possible a credit works both ways - rather than the artist claiming credit, it might equally be about a subtle directorial disclaimer. Directorial accreditation is for industry anyway.

I like kev's Aguilera/Candyman point though (Rolston was brought in to shoot it). It's a well produced video with a tried and tested Aguilera front-n-centre medley; one can almost see the division of labour but it's a super video and clearly none the worse for it.

This video is boring and really badly executed. She should have got a director to direct it.