Music Video Director Study

Mark Romanek

Mark Romanek is an American filmmaker, focused in the areas of feature films and music videos. He was born in 1959 and has been active in filmmaking since 1985.

Mark Romanek's filmmaker career mainly began when he decided to go into music videos after writing a few screenplays for feature films. One of his most notable works in music videos is Nine Inch Nails - Closer. Due to the videos disturbing, demonic and distressing nature, it gained worldwide and critical acclaim and reputation, ultimately giving recognition to Mark Romanek as a director. He later went on to direct another Nine Inch Nails song: "The Perfect Drug".

Ater his collaboration with Nine Inch Nails, Mark Romanek went on to direct the music video for Michael and Janet Jackson's song: "Scream". It was through this collaboration that Mark Romanek won his first Grammy Award for Best Short Form Video. It was through this collaboration that Mark Romanek went on to work with Janet Jackson again, directing the music video for "Got 'Til It's Gone" which won him his second Grammy.

Mark Romanek's music vido for Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails - Hurt in 2002 has been regarded as the most moving and personal music video ever made. It was also this video that granted Romanek with his third Grammy award.

Mark Romanek has worked with many artists including: Keith Richards, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Linkin Park, Jay-Z, Nine Inch Nails, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Madonna and Coldplay. Many of the artists he has collaborated with have gone on to grant him numerous awards for his direction of the music video.

Mark Romanek's work in music videos has been regarded as some of the most creative and best of the type of filmmaking.

As well as music videos, Mark Romanek has directed some feature films including: Never Let Me Go, One Hour Photo and Static.

- I am heavily influenced by his work on the music video Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop through the spontaneous, random and different artist scenarios in the video. Through this influence, I am contemplating creating a music video along the same line as this.

2 Music Videos

Red Hot Chili Peppers - Can't Stop




Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson - Scream