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Music News: Anthony Mandler discusses Rihanna's videography
Member Since: 11/5/2009
Posts: 5,253
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Anthony Mandler discusses Rihanna's videography
Arguably the premier music video artist of our generation, Anthony sat down with Rap-Up and discusses the evolution of Rihanna. This article was very interesting and indepth, as we got to see creatively and up-close where Mandler and Rihanna have been, and also behind the scene scoops we never knew. Did you know DefJam/her management thought Disturbia would destroy her career  ? Read below:
Quote:
Director Anthony Mandler has left his mark on music icons such as Eminem, Beyoncé, and The Killers, but his most notable and frequent collaborator is Rihanna. The two have worked on a dozen videos together throughout her career, starting with “Unfaithful” in 2006 and most recently “Russian Roulette.”
Rap-Up.com spoke to him about taking the loyal pop star, who he calls his muse, from good girl to bad. Find out which video people believed would ruin her career, the concept that came to him in a dream, and what he thought of the Melina-directed clips for “Hard” & “Rude Boy.”
How did your relationship with Rihanna start?
I was working with Def Jam on some projects and she was kind of the big up-and-coming artist. They loved some stuff I had done with Nelly Furtado at the time, which was “Maneater,” and they wanted to try and take her image and give her a little more edge and still keep it beautiful. We just really connected. From that point on, it was “Unfaithful.” She saw me as someone who could support and drive her artistry and personality, eventually in a more sexual and womanly way. I saw it as an opportunity to work with somebody in the capacity of a muse. I really look at her like that. I feel like we’ve grown through each other, around each other, and because of each other, and will never take back the quality of work or the freedom that she’s given me to communicate. You kill for stuff like that in an artist, especially in this medium, which is filled with disloyalty and criticism. I can’t tell you how many number one videos I’ve had where the artist went somewhere else after. She’s the ultimate in loyalty.
Out of all the videos you’ve directed for Rihanna, which is your favorite?
Either “Russian Roulette” or “Disturbia.” Just because those were the ones that thematically had the most weight to them. “Disturbia” was the one that everybody said would ruin her career from the inside out. People were not supportive of that video and it took myself, Rihanna, and my partner Ciarra Pardo to defend it and push it forward, move the needle as far as what was OK and not OK with a girl like her. It really broadened and opened her brand. “Russian Roulette” because it’s obviously a piece of the pie of what happened and it was the way to tell an intense story that obviously had a lot behind it. She really gave me free reign. I had a dream about her being under water and these people shooting at her and bullets whipping by her and grazing her. I woke up and called her and said, “I got this idea. You gotta tell me what the song is.” At that point, I don’t even think the song had been made yet. To be able to have a moment like that, and be able to call one of the biggest stars in the world and pitch that to them, and then them saying, “Let’s do it,” it’s such a blessing. Every artist dreams of having that kind of outlet.
What’s it been like watching her rise to superstardom?
It’s like watching your sister become a woman. It’s been really interesting and I’m really proud of her. I really admire her strength and her willingess to take chances and go against the grain, and allow her emotions and feelings to live on screen and on the records. I look forward to the next album she makes and hope she continues to push the meter. She’s an incredible woman with an incredible soul, and more importantly a beautiful vision for expressing herself. We should all have that much talent.
Any plans to shoot more videos from the Rated R album?
It caught up to me. I’ve been really excited for her to work with some other directors. I think that Melina and her have done some really cool imagery in the last two videos, and I know [Rihanna's] planning on doing more videos and we’ve spoken some. But at the end of the day, it’s up to her. I’ve never taken any assumption that she was gonna hire me. I did my research and treatments and she just picked them as the ones she liked best. I can’t make any assumptions until she says, “Hey, let’s do something great.”
What did you think of the “Hard” and “Rude Boy” videos directed by Melina?
I was really happy to see her work with some other people. I wanted to see how other people could capture her. Since she’s grown into this woman, I’ve been the only one to put my lens on her and let her live through my world. It’s nice to see how somebody else sees her. I thought “Rude Boy” was really creative and really matched the song and I thought “Hard” had a beautiful tone and texture to it. I was proud of them. I really like Melina and her work a lot.
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Member Since: 1/4/2009
Posts: 11,404
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I love his videos. They all are visually beautiful, just stunning. I loved "Rehab" and "If I Never See Your Face Again".
For some reason I think he could direct an amazing video for Gaga’s "Dance In The Dark".
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Member Since: 1/7/2010
Posts: 847
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Quote:
Originally posted by Kirill
For some reason I think he could direct an amazing video for Gaga’s "Dance In The Dark".
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Yeah I can see that too, and "Speechless"
Anyway I dont know why anyone would have thought the "Disturbia" video would ruin her career  It took her to a whole new level.
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Member Since: 3/29/2007
Posts: 6,545
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There's no other director that comes near the king of great high quality creative videos...
FRANCIS LAWRENCE
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Member Since: 2/17/2010
Posts: 21,811
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I'm glad that he didn't direct Hard and Rude Boy or he would've ruined them. He sucks. The only good video he made was Disturbia. Rihanna go to that Gaga's director!
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Member Since: 3/30/2009
Posts: 79,408
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I think "Rehab" is his worst video, I can't believe they made such a crappy video for such a amazing song. 
"If I Never See Your Face Again" video sucked too.
"Wait Your Turn" doesn't need comments.
The video for "Disturbia" had an amazing idea, and a pretty great realization, it lacked something. :/
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Member Since: 3/30/2009
Posts: 79,408
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Quote:
Originally posted by RudeBoy
I'm glad that he didn't direct Hard and Rude Boy or he would've ruined them. He sucks. The only good video he made was Disturbia. Rihanna go to that Gaga's director!
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"Hard" is perfect! 
"Rude Boy" could be more destroyed that it already is though. 
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Member Since: 1/4/2009
Posts: 11,404
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Quote:
Originally posted by Duca
I think "Rehab" is his worst video, I can't believe they made such a crappy video for such a amazing song. |
It was amazing! It didn't need any plot, it was just visually stunning, I love the way he works with the light and colors, just beautiful. Same for "If I Never See Your Face Again".
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Member Since: 3/30/2009
Posts: 79,408
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Quote:
Originally posted by Kirill
It was amazing! It didn't need any plot, it was just visually stunning, I love the way he works with the light and colors, just beautiful. Same for "If I Never See Your Face Again".
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"If I Never See Your Face Again" was a bad song when it was remixed, so I didn't care. :P
The original >>>>>>>>>
"Rehab" was an amazing song, one of Rihanna's best. 
A dramatic and epic song like that needed a storyline. 
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 3/1/2007
Posts: 19,847
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Rihanna's videos with Anthony aren't even that good.
Maneater pretty much ***** on all videos Anthony made with Rihanna, except maybe Disturbia.
But Rihanna still does great work. :heart:
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Member Since: 11/5/2009
Posts: 5,253
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She makes great work with Chris Applebaum: SOS, Umbrella
I would like to see her work with other directors though! Jake Nava comes to mind.
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 8/8/2006
Posts: 42,086
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Hard>>>>>> all his videos
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Member Since: 12/12/2004
Posts: 17,160
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Quote:
Originally posted by Kirill
It was amazing! It didn't need any plot, it was just visually stunning, I love the way he works with the light and colors, just beautiful. Same for "If I Never See Your Face Again".
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i never see your face again video 
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Member Since: 10/30/2009
Posts: 2,811
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umbrella and disturbia are the two videos that made me really become addicted to the two songs.
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Member Since: 9/13/2009
Posts: 22,181
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Quote:
Originally posted by Duca
"If I Never See Your Face Again" was a bad song when it was remixed, so I didn't care. :P
The original >>>>>>>>>
"Rehab" was an amazing song, one of Rihanna's best.
A dramatic and epic song like that needed a storyline. |
Imagine Photographs without a storyline like Rehab..I don't even want to think of it. It'd ruin the hell outta the song!
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Member Since: 12/25/2009
Posts: 5,983
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rehab is terrible
my favourite rihanna videos are distrurbia and russian roulette
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