Directors Francis Lawrence of DNA, Hollywood, and Mark Romanek of bicoastal Anonymous Content topped the 14th annual Music Video Production Association (MVPA) Awards competition. A gala MVPA Awards ceremony was held last week (5/12) at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles.
Coming in with three wins was Lawrence. He was honored as director of the year on the strength of three videos: Black Eyed Peas “Let’s Get It Started,” Janet Jackson’s “All Nite (Don’t Stop)” and Gwen Stefani’s “What You Waiting For.” Lawrence also won pop video of the year and best direction of a female artist for Stefani’s “What You Waiting For.”
Romanek also registered three MVPA Award wins. He won hip hop video of the year, best direction of a male artist and video of the year for Jay Z’s “99 Problems.”
Meanwhile director Chris Milk of @radical/music, the music programming arm of bicoastal/international @radical.media, garnered two awards, one for the adult contemporary video of the year for John Mellencamp’s “Walk Tall,” and the other for best directorial debut for Kanye West’s “All Falls Down.”
For best cinematography, director/cameraman Samuel Bayer of bicoastal RSA USA and its music video sister shop Black Dog Films, won with Green Day’s “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” He also won rock video of the year for this clip.
Director Spike Jonze of bicoastal/international Morton Jankel Zander took home the alternative video of the year award for the Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Y Control.”
In the best editing category, editor David Blackburn of KromA, Los Angeles, scored a win for Blink 182’s “Always.”
Beau Leon of The Syndicate, Santa Monica, and Dave Hussey of Company 3, Santa Monica, were the only two people nominated in the best colorist/Telecine category. Colorist Hussey, who won the award for Modest Mouse’s “Ocean Breathes Salty,” was also nominated for Gwen Stefani’s “What You Waiting For” and Lindsay Lohan’s “Rumors.” Leon was nominated for Marilyn Manson’s “Person Jesus” and Sum 41’s “Pieces.”
Directorial team The Malloys of Black Dog Films was nominated twice in the category of cross promotional video of the year and won for Will Ferrell’s “Afternoon Delight.”
Director Jake Scott, also of Black Dog Films, had his video “Everybody Hurts” (1993) for R.E.M. inducted into the MVPA Hall of Fame at the ceremony. Scott returned to the stage later in the show to present director Peter Care with the award for lifetime achievement. Scott explained it was Care’s video for Cabaret Voltaire’s “Sensoria” that inspired him to direct music videos. Scott also commented on the pioneering director’s genius and modesty.
The award for electronic music video of the year went to director Brian Beletic of bicoastal Smuggler. Animated video of the year for Devandra Banhart’s “A Ribbon” went to director Lauri Faggioni of bicoastal/international Partizan. Director X of bicoastal HSI Productions won R&B video of the year for Usher’s “Yeah.”
DNA’s Marc Webb won the award for best direction of a new artist for My Chemical Romance’s “I’m Not OK I Promise.”
Bicoastal visual effects house Brand New School won best special effects for Muse’s “Hysteria.”
