Tag Archives: anthony-mandler

Drake’s ‘Find Your Love’ Video Criticized By Jamaica’s Tourism Minister

Official says of violent video, ‘Gun culture is not enhancing [the island’s image].’ By Jayson Rodriguez Drake in his video for “Find Your Love” Photo: Young Money Jamaica’s minister of tourism has taken issue with Drake ‘s “Find Your Love” video , which features the singer/rapper getting kidnapped by local thugs. According to Jamaica’s Gleaner, Edmund Bartlett said Drake and others who portray the island should be mindful of how they characterize their culture, which has had a history of violence predicated around drugs and poverty. “We just have to say that care has to be taken by all, including our creative artists, in portraying images of our destination and people,” Bartlett explained. “Gun culture, while not unique to Jamaica, is not enhancing [the island’s image],” he added. In the video, which was filmed in Kingston, Drake pursues a would-be love who is already attached to dancehall artist Mavado, who plays a crime lord by the name of “Puffy.” The clip, directed by Anthony Mandler features the Toronto MC pursuing his romantic interest only to be confronted by Mavado and his “dogs,” or fellow gang members. Throughout the video, images of guns, drugs and torches splash across the screen, leading up to the final scene, in which the object of Drake’s desire is ordered to kill him by Puffy. Mavado’s manager defended the video, saying it was a scripted, creative narrative and that if his client, a native of Kingston, didn’t participate, another actor would have jumped at the opportunity. Besides, he emphasized, the concept was rooted in issues that ring true to Jamaica; if a film crew sees if fit to portray that, they should be free to move forward. “The concept that they came up with, where did they come up with that? If Mavado did not do it, another Jamaican actor would have done it,” Julian Jones-Griffith said. “There are a broad range of issues which need addressing if people from California want to portray a love story like this.” At press time, Drake, Mavado and Bartlett had not granted MTV News’ requests for comment. Do you think Drake’s video is controversial? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Drake’s ‘Find Your Love’ Translated Storyline Videos: Drake, Lady Gaga And More Related Artists Drake

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Drake’s ‘Find Your Love’ Video Criticized By Jamaica’s Tourism Minister

Drake, Lady Gaga, M.I.A.: ‘Storyline’ Videos Return!

Improvements in online video have meant that artists can say what they want, for as long as they want. By James Montgomery Drake Photo: Young Money Entertainment In 1992, Guns N’ Roses wowed fans — and tormented programmers — with the release of “November Rain,” a nearly nine-minute-long super video that featured lavish costuming, gratuitous supermodel-ing, lots of emoting, plenty of the titular rain and exactly one screaming guitar solo played outside a church. It was remarkable as much for its excess as it was for its scope. GNR certainly weren’t the first group to test time constraints (Michael Jackson’s iconic “Thriller” clip went beyond the 13-minute mark), nor were they the last, but with “November Rain,” they accomplished something few had ever attempted: a clip that kicked off an expansive, (sort of) linear storyline, one that would continue in subsequent videos. It almost didn’t matter if said storyline didn’t make a whole lot of sense, the point is Guns (or, more specifically, Axl Rose) realized they had the means to launch something this epic, and they went for it. Of course, nearly 20 years later, this kind of thing is no big deal: Lady Gaga pulls off the whole “storyline” thing in her sleep. And she’s not the only one to go big with her clips. In recent months, much to the delight of superfans and the woefully employed, a host of artists — from Beyonc

Drake Was ‘Fearless’ In Making ‘Find Your Love’ Video, Director Says

‘It’s kind of like the anti-love love story,’ Anthony Mandler says. By Jayson Rodriguez Drake Photo: Young Money Entertainment As both a newcomer and budding superstar, Drake draws a high level of scrutiny toward himself with each new song or video he releases. That trend continued Tuesday (May 11) with the premiere of his latest clip, “Find Your Love,” directed by Anthony Mandler. “It’s unbelievable the amount of attention that he garners,” Mandler told MTV News. “Since the video dropped, I think I’ve received 200 e-mails, Facebook questions, tweets. There’s a fascination with him and there’s certainly been a void in music that he’s come to fill.” According to Mandler, Drake’s allure lies in his ability to fit in across various groups. That idea was at the heart of the two clips he’s helmed for Drake, “Over” and “Find Your Love.” For their collaboration, he explained, the two played against the convention of who Drake may or may not be. “I think part of that is the kind of way he works across genres, the way he works across tonalities: is he black, is he white, he’s aligned with Wayne and the streets, but he’s a nice guy from Toronto,” Mandler said. “And that really was the theme with ‘Over.’ Especially with the album and the dualities in the music to come, in one song he rhymes and another song he sings, the artists he working with — he’s very hard to pin down. Part of the objective of making this video was to do that same twist again, to give you something unexpected, not only tonality with the song but with the video thematically. It’s kind of like the anti-love love story.” In the video, Drake is advised to get out of dodge when he tries to woo the love interest of a local gang lord. He ignores the words of the elder Jamaican sage and instead ventures into the ghettos of “Gully Side” to see his leading lady once more. As Drake and the man speak, words run across the screen warning of the perils of unknowingly taking things too far. “It’s really about crossing lines, what was said in the first scene,” Mandler said about Drake’s chase for love. “It’s about really understanding what’s right and what’s wrong and it’s really easy to lose that when you’re the center of attention.” The director said the idea of “Find Your Love” was to serve as a follow-up to “Over,” which he felt helped to clear the slate of everything pre- Thank Me Later, Drake’s forthcoming debut album. The idea behind “Find You Love” was to feature visuals to begin a new story in the young rapper’s life. Mandler applauded Drake’s efforts in making the clip happen. “He did it fearlessly,” Mandler beamed. “He did it without any sign of hesitation. That was incredible. He wanted to do something that went further with the song, that took the essence of the song but communicated it with imagery that made people think, rather than go up the middle and make an obvious R&B video. That’s completely not who Drake is.” What do you think the story behind Drake’s video? Let us know in the comments! Related Videos Storyllne Videos: Drake, Lady Gaga, M.I.A

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Drake Was ‘Fearless’ In Making ‘Find Your Love’ Video, Director Says

Rihanna Premieres Video For ‘Wait Your Turn’

Singer films grainy black-and-white clip for the second single from Rated R. By Gil Kaufman Rihanna in her video for “Wait Your Turn” Photo: Def Jam No matter what kind of videos Rihanna makes for the singles from her upcoming Rated R album , fans and critics are certain to draw their own interpretations of her first clips since she was assaulted by then-boyfriend Chris Brown in February.

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Rihanna Premieres Video For ‘Wait Your Turn’

Drake Joins Jay-Z Onstage In Canada

The Toronto native joins Jay onstage at the Air Canada Centre.

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Drake Joins Jay-Z Onstage In Canada

Chris Brown Pictures Shed Light On Personal ‘Crawl’ Video

Photos focus on two main sets: a desert and a puddle-spotted alleyway. By Eric Ditzian Chris Brown in “Crawl” Photo: PictureGroup “Everybody says we’re through,” Chris Brown sings on “Crawl,” the second single from his upcoming Graffiti album. “I hope you haven’t said it too.” The parallel to his own shattered relationship with Rihanna is hard to dismiss, and as the director of the “Crawl” video, Joseph Kahn , told MTV News, “It’s probably his most personal thing he’s ever done.” See Photos Of Chris Brown On Set In ‘Crawl’ Now newly released photos from the video’s production give a little insight into what Brown is planning.

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Chris Brown Pictures Shed Light On Personal ‘Crawl’ Video

Rihanna’s Rated R Track List Released

Album includes collaborations with Young Jeezy, Slash, Will.I.Am.

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Rihanna’s Rated R Track List Released

Leona Lewis, Justin Timberlake Song Leak Under Investigation

Simon Cowell’s record label, SyCo, suspects computer hackers snagged ‘Don’t Let Me Down.’ By Jocelyn Vena Justin Timberlake Photo: George Napolitano/ FilmMagic Police are investigating the leak of a new Leona Lewis song featuring Justin Timberlake called “Don’t Let Me Down,” which is being considered for the British pop star’s sophomore album, The Sun reported.

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Leona Lewis, Justin Timberlake Song Leak Under Investigation

Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West Go To War In ‘Run This Town’ Video

Clip is for first official single from Jay’s long-awaited Blueprint 3 LP.

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Jay-Z, Rihanna, Kanye West Go To War In ‘Run This Town’ Video

Victoria Beckham Hopes Simon Cowell Gives Her A ‘Hard Time’

‘American Idol’ guest judge tells Ryan Seacrest that she’s looking for an Idol with ‘natural style.’ By Jocelyn Vena Victoria Beckham Photo: Kevin Mazur/ WireImage Victoria Beckham, who was just announced as a guest judge for the upcoming ninth season of “American Idol” , said she can’t wait to sit next to the former A&R guy who once rejected the Spice Girls, fellow Brit Simon Cowell.

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Victoria Beckham Hopes Simon Cowell Gives Her A ‘Hard Time’