Saman Kesh
| Saman Kesh | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Saman Keshavarz Tehran, Iran |
| Residence | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Education | Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, CA) |
| Occupation | Filmmaker / Music Video director |
| Years active | 2009 - Present |
Saman Kesh (born Saman Keshavarz) is an Iranian-American filmmaker based in Los Angeles. He is known for his narrative music video work for notable artists like Basement Jaxx, Calvin Harris, Kygo, Placebo, !!! (chk chk chk), Vitalic, Apparat and Porter Robinson.[1]
In 2009, during his attendance as a film student at Art Center College of Design, Kesh came into light with his first music video for Cinnamon Chasers' first single: "Luv Deluxe".[2] The video was instantly Vimeo Staff Picked and was noted for its unique narrative spin with a couple re-living a road trip many times. It also was one of the first Canon 5D videos to utilize the POV technique successfully.[3] Luv Deluxe has received over 7 million views to date, won SXSW Best Music Video award in 2010, and was showcased in Saatchi & Saatchi's Director Showcase in 2010 at Cannes.[4]
In 2012 he went on to direct videos for Ed Sheeran, Deus and Calvin Harris, his video for the track 'Stamina' from French producer Vitalic sparked controversy with its thematic statements regarding weight loss and obesity in pop culture.[5] The video resulted in Kesh winning his second SXSW 'Best Video" award in 2013. [13]
In 2013 Kesh moved into the narrative world with his short sci-fi short film, CONTROLLER.[6] The short received the #2 spot on Deadline Hollywood's 2013 ViewFinder's list, which polls Hollywood industry professionals on their favorite short films of the year.[7]
Later that year, he collaborated with celebrity author Bret Easton Ellis and the British pop-rock band Placebo on a short film series titled 'Unfortunate Details' which examined cases of sexual incidents gone awry. They were released as two music videos for the bands latest album Loud Like Love.
His video 'Never Say Never' for Basement Jaxx details the development of a fictional product called TWERKBOT, a Twerking robot.[8][9] The video features controversial themes on robotics, sexuality, and pop-culture. His most recent video for the 2015 YouTube Music Awards was for the artist Kygo, which featured an alien astronaut couple that crash-lands a costume party.
Kesh is currently developing several films to direct including CUBED setup at Lionsgate Entertainment, which is loosely based off the 1997 cult film Cube. On April 24, 2015 Deadline Hollywood announced that Kesh will be adapting and directing a feature length version of his short film Controller with 20th Century Fox.
Filmography
Music videos
| Year | Song title | Artist |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | "Stole The Show" | Kygo |
| 2014 | "Never Say Never" | Basement Jaxx |
| "Loud Like Love" | Placebo | |
| 2013 | "Too Many Friends" | Placebo |
| 2012 | "Stamina" | Vitalic |
| "We'll Be Coming Back" | Calvin Harris | |
| "Drunk" | Ed Sheeran | |
| 2011 | "Song of Los" | Apparat |
| 2010 | "Jamie, My Intentions Are Bass" | !!! (Chk Chk Chk) |
| "Midnight Club Trilogy" | Russ Chimes | |
| 2009 | "Luv Deluxe" | Cinnamon Chasers |
References
- ↑ "Saman Kesh filmography". IMVDB.
- ↑ "Cinnamon Chasers 'Luv Deluxe'". YouTube.
- ↑ "Cinnamon Chasers 'Luv Deluxe'". Director's Notes.
- ↑ "2010 Saatchi & Saatchi Director's Showcase". Campaign Live.
- ↑ "Vitalic 'Stamina'". YouTube.
- ↑ "CONTROLLER". Vimeo.
- ↑ "2013 Blacklist". Deadline Hollywood.
- ↑ "Basement Jaxx's 'Never Say Never' clip debuts 'Twerk-Bot' technology". LA Times.
- ↑ "Basement Jaxx Invent a 'Twerkbot 1.0' in 'Never Say Never' Video". RollingStone.
- https://vimeo.com/71495477
- http://youngdirectoraward.com/last-edition/winners-2010/
- http://www.directorsnotes.com/2010/09/14/cinnamon-chasers-luv-deluxe/
- http://imvdb.com/n/saman-kesh
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2433674/
- http://youngdirectoraward.com/last-edition/winners-2010/
- http://www.promonews.tv/news/2010/03/17/cinnamon-chasers-luv-deluxe-wins-best-video-sxsw
- http://www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/1013865/
- http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/basement-jaxx-invent-a-twerkbot-1-0-in-never-say-never-video-20140721
- http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/posts/la-et-ms-basement-jaxx-never-say-never-twerkbot-technology-20140721-column.html
- http://trackingboard.tumblr.com/post/91102141572/tb-exclusive-20th-century-fox-and-shawn-levy-pick-up
- http://www.deadline.com/2013/12/2013-viewfinder-list-fools-day-noah-and-controller-top-shorts-list
- http://www.indiewire.com/article/2013-sxsw-award-winners-in-progress
- http://www.iwantedm.com/2011/09/machinima-music-videos-porter-robinson-spitfire-exclusive-capture-the-can-live-action-paintball-multiplayer-machinima
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK-lGSYKaaM
- http://kotaku.com/5839718/this-incredible-multiplayer-paintball-video-is-a-one-shot-kill
- http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2433674/
- http://www.redefinemag.com/2013/saman-kesh-music-video-director-interview-retrospective-gallery/
- http://www.deadline.com/2013/12/2013-viewfinder-list-fools-day-noah-and-controller-top-shorts-list/
- http://trackingboard.tumblr.com/post/91102141572/tb-exclusive-20th-century-fox-and-shawn-levy-pick-up
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0eS3zC3Jco