Sophie Muller

Sophie Muller
Birth name Sophie Melanie Muller
Born (1962-01-31) 31 January 1962
St Pancras, London, England
Origin Marylebone, London, England
Occupation(s) Music video director
Years active 1982–present

Sophie Melanie Muller (born 31 January 1962) is an English music video director, noted for her long-time collaborations with such artists as Beyoncé, Coldplay, No Doubt, Gwen Stefani, Sade, Shakira, Shakespears Sister, Garbage, The Killers, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Annie Lennox, Leona Lewis, Eurythmics, Pink, Sarah McLachlan and Blur.

Background

Sophie Muller was born in St Pancras, London, United Kingdom, but spent her early years growing up on the Isle of Man. After leaving secondary education, she returned to London to attend Central St Martin's, gaining a Foundation Diploma in Art.

Following her graduation, Muller went to the Royal College of Art to study for her Masters in Film and Television, where she made "Interlude" and "In Excelsis Deo (In Adoration of God)." The latter won the J Walter Thompson Prize for creativity.

Her trademark style in most of her videos usually has a singer or a band inside a dim, isolated room.

Career

Muller's first taste of professional film came working as a third assistant on the 1984 horror/thriller Company of Wolves. She then went on to work for International Film and Video, honoring her for her editing, producing, and directing skills.

Muller's goal was to become a successful director in her own right, and her big break came through a chance meeting with John Stewart (brother of Eurythmics' Dave Stewart) and Billy Poveda of Oil Factory, an established film production company.

She has directed over one hundred music videos and has been a longtime collaborator with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Shakespears Sister, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics. Her work with Annie Lennox won her a Grammy for the Diva video album. She also picked up an MTV Video Music Award for Lennox's 1992 hit "Why", and was also Grammy nominated for the Eurythmics' 1987 Savage video album. In total, Muller has directed over twenty videos for Lennox and Eurythmics and has a long time collaboration with producer Rob Small.

The Video for "Stay" by Shakespears Sister in which she directed was spoofed by many British comedians at the time including French & Saunders and Mr. Blobby as well as winning the BRIT Award for Best Video and also The Music Week Award for Best Video at both of the ceremonies' 1993 Awards.

So far, she has directed eleven videos for Sophie Ellis-Bextor including "Take Me Home", "Murder on the Dancefloor", "Catch You", two versions of "Music Gets the Best of Me" and "Love Is a Camera".

Muller has also directed nine videos for No Doubt as well as nine solo videos for Gwen Stefani. When No Doubt's "Don't Speak" won the award for Best Group Video at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards, Stefani thanked her extensively, saying "I'd like to say that Sophie Muller is a genius." Stefani has also stated, "Sophie Muller is one of my most talented friends. She can and will only do projects that she is inspired by. She is driven by creativity and the love for what she does and as a result she never compromises. I consider her a true artist. I was a fan of Sophie's work before I even imagined working with her. She has a very pronounced style and taste that drew me in. I think she has the gift of being able to bring out the artist's personality, emotion and style. After working with her for the first time on our "Don't Speak" video, we became close friends [...]. On the set her direction is humble and simple, but she knows what she wants and knows when she gets it. A woman in charge in the male-dominated world of filmmaking makes the whole experience that much more exciting. [...] She has a way of making every cut have a reason and meaning. The videos have a life of their own and become better each time you watch them. I am always in shock the first time I see them and then after a few more times I am actually amazed. She has taught me a lot and I feel very lucky to have worked with her."[1]

The artwork for The Jesus and Mary Chain's 1994 album, Stoned & Dethroned, and the singles accompanying it, is composed entirely of stills from the video to the group's song "Sometimes Always," which was directed by Muller. She also directed the video for "Come On", which also appears on the album.

Muller states that her only ambition is to continue directing to her own high standards and to never grow bored. In 2004, she directed the socially aware video for Sarah McLachlan's "World on Fire",[2] where all but $15 of the entire $150,000 video budget was donated to charities. Recently, she has directed videos for Shakira, Mika, Kings of Leon, Brandon Flowers, Tom Odell and the critically acclaimed video for the Dixie Chicks, "Not Ready to Make Nice".

Videography

1980s

1982

1987

1988

1989

1990s

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000s

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010s

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

References

  1. ↑ "» Music Video Director Sophie Muller Music Video Wire –". Mvwire.com. 2002-02-11. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  2. ↑ "Sarah McLachlan's Socially-Charged Video 'World On Fire' Raises $150,000 To Benefit 11 Charities Worldwide; Video Compiled and Directed by Sophie Muller Benefiting Charities include Carolina for Kibera, Comic Relief, CARE, Dorcas, Engineers Without Borders, Help The Aged, Film Aid, Warchild, Heifer International, ITDG, and Action Aid.". PR Newswire. 05-OCT-04. Retrieved 6 February 2010. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ↑ Boy Next Door CD 1 (CD Liner). Jamelia. Parlophone. 2000.
  4. ↑ "Shakira Video Shoot Myspace Giveaway Sweepstakes Official Rules". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  5. ↑ "Videos". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2013-08-10.
  6. ↑ Pelly Jenn; Laura Snapes (10 May 2013). "Watch Lana Del Rey's Video for Gatsby Soundtrack Song "Young and Beautiful"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 September 2013.
  7. ↑ "Sophie Ellis-Bextor premieres 'Young Blood' video". Pop Sirens. 2013-11-25. Retrieved 2014-07-31.
  8. ↑ "CMT : Videos : Tim McGraw : Lookin' for That Girl". Country Music Television. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
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