90’s Music Video Helmers as Today’s Filmmakers

What’s cool about Pitchfork’s best 50 videos countdown from the 90’s are seeing how some of the least obvious names cut their teeth on music videos — some became full fledged members of the filmmaking community, while some are still in the cross over stages. What is most odd about the list is how Chris Cunningham, who along with Spike Jonze (see Weezer video below) and Michel Gondry dominated the music video scene, never made the jump into feature film. While you’ve got Jonathan Glazer, Mike Mills and Mark Romanek with more than one mention, and together, Jonze and Gondry are mentioned a dozen times, I’ve decided to point out those who have made a feature film among the 50 list. Check them out after the jump –  

Yo La Tengo: “Sugarcube”
Phil Morrison blasted onto the scene with indie gem Junebug, but hasn’t made anything since.

Blur: “Coffee + TV”
Garth Jennings has had a great start to his filmmaking career launching 2005’s The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and 2007’s Son of Rambow.

Radiohead: “Just”
You would have to have seen the name somewhere to make the connection, as Jamie Thraves‘ debut, The Cry of the Owl. was a direct to video title that played the film festival circuit.

Sinead O’ Connor: “Nothing Compares 2 U”
Perhaps this is on the Pitchfork list because of the song, not the video, but John Maybury would go onto direct The Jacket, The Edge of Love and just completed the television mini-series of The Borgias.

Wu-Tang Clan: “Triumph”:
Brett Ratner directed plenty of vids before becoming the notorious Hollywood director/producer of mindless comedies and action films such as the Rush Hour trilogy.

Pavement: “Cut Your Hair” [dir: Dan Koretzky/ Ryan Murphy]
Ryan Murphy jumped into film and television with a run that started with Running with Scissors, Nip/Tuck, Eat Pray Love and “Glee”.

Foo Fighters: “Big Me”
Jesse Peretz would go onto direct The Château (2001), The Ex (2006) and is currently filming My Idiot Brother.

Nirvana: “Smells Like Teen Spirit”
Samuel Bayer only recently landed in the directors chair A Nightmare on Elm Street.

The Smashing Pumpkins: “1979”
The beloved video from Jonathan Dayton/Valerie Faris team would eventually land them Little Miss Sunshine. They’ve got tons of offers for their sophomore feature.

Ice Cube: “It Was a Good Day”
F. Gary Gray would go onto direct Friday with Ice Cube after shooting this video, and direct: Set It Off, The Negotiator, The Italian Job, Be Cool, Law Abiding Citizen and is rumored to direct Kane & Lynch.

Sonic Youth: “Dirty Boots”
Tamra Davis who just saw her documentary film Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child hit theaters, has spent the past decade directing television shows.