Michael Gondry's Work

Michael Gondry is a visual artist that focuses on his creative vision rather than the need of a music video to promote and sell the artist.

Michael Gondry is a French music video director and is recognised by his unusual visions and unique use of mise en scene.  He is a renowned director and has worked with the likes of Kylie Minogue, Daft Punk, and The White Stripes. He tends to focus on a vision that he has rather than a need to promote the artist.

Gondry said in an interview that much of his inspiration came from the film La voyage en ballon and said “when I watch this movie, I dream I’m flying and then I do stories where people are flying. I think it’s directly influencing”. Gondry is strongly influenced by a vision that he has for the song or artist rather than the emphasis being promoting them or making them ‘look good’. One of his videos, around the world by Daft Punk was a vision that consisted of him thinking of the music as the main focus rather than Daft Punk themselves. His concept was abstract but clear, as he thought of different people being different parts of the song for example skeletons as the ‘itchy’ guitars and the androids representing the robotic voice. Instead of thinking about what he saw he created a video based on what he heard, this was also a chance for Gondry to bring organised dancing to his videos  as he said before that “ [he] was sick to see choreography being mistreated in videos like filler with fast cutting and fast editing, really shallow. I don't think choreography should be shot in close-ups”.

 Another example of his creative visions is shown in the video for The White Stripes was the third of four videos directed by Gondry for the band. This video again follows the same concept of around the world as it is based on the sounds of the music rather than the artist. Gondry said that "When I heard the song, it was so incredible; I knew I had to do the video. It's the shape of the song that gave me the idea”. The video was tough ordeal taking three 16-hour days to complete, all in the daylight. However it has shown to be worth it Jack White [the white stripes] said “I think it's one of the greatest videos ever made. Michel Gondry is so brilliant and such a child at the same time. He's so perfect and I love the way he works and nobody gets in his way”. Thus was nominated for best direction, breakthrough video, best special effects, best editing and finally best video.

Most artists and record labels use music videos as a tool for self promotion and most directors therefore take the approach to make the artists centre of attention, however Gondry has challenged this and has taken a different approach which has caught the eye of many artists, he still contains the artists and had a level of promotion for them however when thinking up his concepts he does not take this into account.