Floria Sigismondi has directed the latest video for David Bowie’s new album, titled “The Stars (Are Out Tonight),” produced by Black Dog Films. In the form of a short film, the video for the second single from the 66-year old rocker’s forthcoming album The Next Day features Bowie-doppelganger actress Tilda Swinton and depicts “a twenty-first century moment in its convergence of age, gender and the normal/celebrity divide,” according to Bowie. This is the third time Sigismondi has collaborated with the singer, having directed Bowie’s “Little Wonder” in 1996 and “Dead Man Walking” in 1997.nnDavid Bowie and Tilda Swinton play a 50’s style couple enjoying a typical suburban life (albeit exquisitely dressed) until they are preyed upon by a celebrity couple (supermodels Andrej Pejic and Saskia De Brauw). These “stars” cruelly antagonize this “normal” pair as they invade the Bowie-Swinton psyches in a variety of guises – particularly transforming the magnificent Ms. Swinton in exactly the gender-bending way fans could only dream of. Norwegian Model Iselin Steiro also appears as a young David Bowie look-alike that lives next door. Floria Sigismondi gloriously depicts one world vampirizing the other, an atrociously perceptive view of our current societal obsession with tabloid voyeurism.nn
nnFloria Sigismondi is an acclaimed director and photographer. Her directing credits include the feature film “The Runaways” featuring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, as well as innumerable groundbreaking music videos for musicians such as Bjork, Fiona Apple, Pink, and The White Stripes. Most recently she continued her work with Sigur Ros for their album Valtari with the video “Leaning Towards Solace” for “The Valtari Mystery Film Experiment,” a collaboration that began over 10 years ago with her first Sigur Ros video “Untitled” which won Best International Video Award at the 2003 MTV European Awards. She is currently developing her second motion picture. Sigismondi is represented by Black Dog Films for music videos and Believe Media for commercial work.nnCreditsnnArtist: David BowienSong: The Stars (Are Out Tonight)nLabel: ISO RecordsnnDirector: Floria SigismondinProd co: Black Dog FilmsnExecutive Producer: Coleen HaynesnProducer: Oualid MouanessnDOP: Jeff CronenwethnArt Director: Adam DavisnCostume: Jerry StaffordnEditor: Jarrett FijalnMusic Video Commissioner: Bryan Younce
olia ougrik R A C O N T E U R communications coordinator tel: 310 307 9086 Contact Olia via email
Who Needs Los Angeles? We Do.
One doesn't have to be a statistician to know that there are fewer commercials being shot in the U.S. today for the American market than ever before, and a dramatic decrease in L.A. in particular. In the last five years, as reported by FilmLA (the office tasked with issuing permits), L.A. commercial production has dipped 31 percent. But here’s the thing: This doesn’t mean that L.A. has lost its importance as the production center of the world. Production in L.A. is vital. It is the go-to. It’s where you can count on access to exemplary crews, a support infrastructure second to none, varied location and backlot options, a large population of on-screen talent and (fairly) predictable weather. The fact is, with overall decline and now the devastation of the fires, we’re on the brink of losing this mainstay resource. Without employment opportunities and now many without homes, talented and trained crew are bound to leave either the industry or the LA area for other opportunities, unless there are enough job opportunities to sustain a solid living. Now is the time when we ALL must support and bolster this community. Production is needed in L.A., now! Of course, advertising is a business, and marketers’ money should be spent as efficiently as possible, BUT we have to think beyond each production and know that if we lose the incredible resource of L.A. production as we know it, then marketers, agencies and the industry loses in the long run. Over the past several days, some agencies have issued directives to production companies that are unilaterally pushing upcoming production options out of L.A. The fact is L.A. is a large area, and many sections of the city and county are not directly impacted... Read More