Melina Matsoukas

Melina Matsoukas (born January 14, 1981) is an American director of music videos, television shows and commercials. She is a two-time Grammy Award winner for her "We Found Love" and "Formation" music videos.[1]

Life and career

Matsoukas is of Greek, Jewish, Jamaican and Cuban descent.[2] Both her name and surname are Greek: ÎœÎ”Î»ÎŻÎœÎ± ÎœÎ±Ï„ÏƒÎżÏÎșα. She earned her degree at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and completed her graduate work at the American Film Institute (MFA in cinematography). Her graduate thesis was on music videos.[3]

Matsoukas started out at Black Dog Film, then the now-defunct Gorilla Flix film production company, and is currently a director at Prettybird, which she has been signed to since 2011.

Her work is described as, "chock full of bright colors or crisp black and white images, smooth spotlights, and tasteful retro video models."[4] Matsoukas says that expensive equipment is not necessary for a quality video and one should never think that way: "A good video has the right visuals, a well conceptualised story and should be exciting and elicit reaction."[5] In an interview for Venus Zine's Fall 2010 issue, she says about being part of the music video world, "I love it. The quick turnaround, the creativity."[6] Regarding the concept of Solange Knowles' video "I Decided", Matsoukas stated: "This is her concept so I've definitely just developed it and put my mark on it."[7]

Filmography

Music videos

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2016

Commercials

2011

2012

2013

2016

2017

Television

2016

2017

References

  1. ↑ Okeowo, Alexis (6 March 2017). "The Provocateur behind Beyonce, Rihanna and Issa Rae". The New Yorker. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
  2. ↑ "Females Freakin’ The Industry". Archived from the original on July 12, 2011. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  3. ↑ Kamuzu Banda, Tim. Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 22:01. "Video queen: Melina Matsoukas", Daily Nation.
  4. ↑ "Visionary: Melina Matsoukas", WatchLookListen.
  5. ↑ Banda, Tim Kamuzu (2008). "Video queen: Melina Matsoukas", p.2, Nation.co.ke.
  6. ↑ "Venus Zine: Melina Matsoukas" Venus Zine Fall 2010 Issue No. 44
  7. ↑ "Dir. Melina Matsoukas, on the video concept", Truveo. Archived April 25, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
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