W.I.Z.

W.I.Z.
Born Andrew Whiston
21 July 1962
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Occupation Film director, music video director
Years active 1991–present

W.I.Z. or WIZ, the working pseudonym of Andrew Whiston (born 21 July 1962 in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire), is an English music video film director who has directed videos for popular recording artists since 1991. He is currently signed to the commercial film production company Academy Films.[1] Previously, he worked with Factory Films (UK) and Oil Factory Inc. (USA).[2]

Background

W.I.Z. has directed a number of high-concept videos for major music artists from the United Kingdom and the United States, including Massive Attack, Kasabian, Oasis and Marilyn Manson. Many of these videos, in addition to featuring the song and the performers, also follow a running narrative, and may often contain a political or social message. Once belonging to a band himself, W.I.Z. has also directed concert films shot of live performances by the bands Suede, Manic Street Preachers and Primal Scream. He has directed two short films, "Weekender" and "Baby".

Career

The 1992 short film Weekender follows the band Flowered Up and displays the hedonistic side of club and drug culture; the 13-minute film was screened on Channel 4 in Britain. W.I.Z. plans to extend the "Weekender" concept into a horror film, The Real Life, which he says will blow "all the prejudices and ignorance that surrounds drug-taking" wide open.

W.I.Z.'s second short film Baby made its European debut at the 2000 Edinburgh International film festival and its U.S. debut at the MVPA Director's Cuts 2000 film festival. In February 2003, W.I.Z.'s video for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's "Whatever Happened to My Rock 'N Roll" was named MTV2 Best Video of The Year 2002 by the NME Carling Awards.

Selected videography

2013

2012

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

References

  1. ↑ Knight, David (12 March 2012). "WIZ Joins Academy and A+". PromoNews.tv. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "mvdbase.com - W.I.Z. Videography". mvdbase. Retrieved 2014-08-22.
  3. ↑ "WIZ: Strait Street: The Acclaimed Filmmaker Uncovers Malta’s Bawdy Past in a New Video for Dark Horses". Nowness.com. Nowness. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2014.
  4. ↑ http://www.promonews.tv/videos/2012/12/06/strait-street-featuring-dark-horses-wiz
  5. ↑ Smarts, Gordon (22 April 2009). "WIZ kid behind Kasabian cover: bizarre", The Sun, p. 18.

External links