2023 Prism Prize Eligible Videos: 5 Videos Directed by Black Filmmakers
As February is Black History Month, it’s important to take the time to honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities.
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As February is Black History Month, it’s important to take the time to honour the legacy of Black Canadians and their communities. To shine a light on talented black creatives in the music video industry, we’ve picked 5 music videos created in 2022 which were all directed by brilliant Black Canadian filmmakers.
Charmaine - Friends With Benefits
Charmaine’s music video for Friends With Benefits is the slumber party of your dreams. Directed by the Toronto-based and multi-talented director Spencer Edwards, this video is charismatic and full of all things pink. Edwards and Charmaine blended their creative visions perfectly to make this fun video, one which will make you wish you’d gotten an invite to the party.
Credits:
Director: Spencer Edwards
Prod Co: Silent K
Executive Producer: Ben Knechtel
Producer: Fabio H Buritica
Cinematography: David Schuurman
1st AC: Alex Chung
Grip: Nicolas Rodriguez
Art Director: Ashlyn Vickery
Wardrobe Stylist: Spencer Edwards & Charmaine
Hair and Makeup: Kayla Richards
Colourist: Brock Cruess @ The Vanity
BTS: Ryan Rivera
BTS Assistant: Christian Willie
Editor: Spencer Edwards
Label: Warner Music Canada
Cast: Kayla Richards, Jordanae Hyatt, Aryanna Sylvera
Dominique Fils-Aimé - I Grow Mama Grow
Toronto-based filmmaker and editor Chrris Lowe directed Dominique Fils-Aimé’s empowering music video for I Grow Mama Grow. Surrounded by delicate florals and greenery, Dominique stands powerfully in brightly coloured dresses as she performs the song. Also adding to the overall entrancing flow of the video are the décor and dancers, which are sure to pull the viewers in.
Credits:
Director: Chrris Lowe
Producers: Duy Nguyen & Laurence Gendron
Director of Photography: Teo Weyman
First Assistant Camera: Brandon Reitsma
Creative Director: Mayillah Ezekiel
Production Designer: Justin Campbell
Assistant Art Director: Lando Cortez
Key Grip: Jake Lowe
Key Gaffer: Robert Wharry
Production Assistant: Chris Yue
Editors: Mark Guido & Chrris Lowe
Choreographer: Elisha Ladeza
Dancers: Elisha Ladeza & Shaiann Roach
Lead Hair and Makeup Artist: Mayillah Ezekiel
Makeup Artist: Kathy Nguyen
Stylists: Michelle Paiano & Eliza Kozurno
BTS Photographer: Gennelle Cruz
Executive Producer: Ensoul Records
Production: YUD Studio
Song written by Dominique Fils-Aimé
Vocals: Dominique Fils-Aimé
Bass: Jacques Roy
Drums: Harvey Bien Aimée
Keys: David Osei Afrifa
Percussion: Elli Miller Maboungou
Trumpet: Hichem Khalfa
Tenor, soprano saxophone: François D'Amours
Baritone saxophone: Sébastien Grenier
Brass arrangements by Jacques Roy
Executive producer: Kevin Annocque
Haviah Mighty - So So (feat. Dai Burger)
Haviah Mighty’s music video for So So (featuring Dai Burger) was directed by Jesse Dart from the video production company Die Fire Films. This video takes you through a couple of different scenes where Haviah can be found in space, cooking with a puppet, on a brightly coloured fashion shoot, performing on a sound stage with dancers, and ends with Haviah chilling with the track’s featured rapper Dai Burger.
Credits:
Produced By: Haviah Mighty, Devontée & Weird Mahdi (@haviahmighty / @devontee_woe / @weirdmahdi)
Director of Photography: Shawn Pinnock (@djpplus @cultiv8co)
Creative Director: Jesse Dart (@diefirefilms)
Producer: Lisa Ratanprasad (@diaryofaplanner)
VFX: Christopher Power (Maverick Digital // @cpowermav)
Editor/VFX : Pedja Balkanada (@balkanada)
Colour Grading: Clinton Homuth (@clintonhomuth @artjail)
Lighting Technician (Gaffer): Nick Grguic
Key Grip: Taraq Smith Best Boy
Best Boy: Josh Woodbyrne (@joshwoodbyrne)
Set Assistant: Cody Clayton (@ca.clayton)
Set Assistant: Shawn L
Artist: Haviah Mighty (@haviahmighty)
Artist: Dai Burger (@daiburger)
MUA/Puppeteer 1: Omega Mighty (@dollfacedrediemua)
DJ/Stylist: Chelsea Greenidge (@djdem.ones)
Choreographer: Jonna Abrams (@jonna_abrams)
Dancer: Meydge Anguiley (@meydge_dance_account)
Dancer: O'Shani "Ocean" Cardwell (@oshani.ocean)
Dancer: Shaiann "Yaiyah" Roach (@shaiannroach)
Dancer: Diane Jean-Louis (@dianejlouis)
Puppeteer 2: Andrew Ochran (@mightydrew99)
Malko - Rappelle-moi
Malko’s music video for Rappelle-moi was directed by Montreal-based filmmaker, software developer & creative consultant Aimé Irabahaye. This music video is the perfect example that sometimes simplicity is key. The black, white and grey tones keep the focus on Malko throughout the video, creating visuals that are effortlessly stunning.
Credits:
Réalisé par Aimé Irabahaye
Directeur de la photographie : Samuel Olaechea
Stylisme : Catherine De Sa Quintaes
Myst Milano - No Shade
Myst Milano is a Toronto-based rapper, DJ, producer, and the director of their music video for No Shade. This music video is all about dancing, and Myst Milano’s experience in the ballroom scene is evident. Set up on a simple sound stage, the video shows off the captivating vogue dancing and runway struts that Myst Milano and the dancers perform.
Credits:
Directed and Produced by myst milano. @mystmilano
Directors of Photography - Josh Rille @jjjjjjjoshua, Daniel Lastres @daniel.lastres, Ayo Tsalithaba @ayotsalithaba
Videography - Josh Rille @jjjjjjjoshua, Daniel Lastres @daniel.lastres, Ayo Tsalithaba @ayotsalithaba
Featuring Choreography by Twysted Miyake-Mugler @mrmapleleaf, Dynasty 007 @chiubetterwork, and N9ne Margiela @n9neinthehouse
Main Dancers - Ponytail Patricia 007 @ponytailpatricia, Songbird Miyake-Mugler (aka James Baley) @im_jamesbaley, Amiyah West @amiyahbae_
Face: Tamar Miyake-Mugler @tamarthedoll, Jasmine Miyake-Mugler @jasmine.pdf.
Runway: Diseiye Balenciaga @diseiye, Mystique 007 @erninmotion.
Sex Siren: N9ne Margiela @n9neinthehouse, Antonio 007 @cheche_tt.
Performance: Aura West @heterosexism.
Talent Makeup by Jocelyn Cardenas @artistjaws
Cutout Catsuit by @diseiye
Production Assistant: Maldita 007 (Danah Rosales) @rdanah
Shot at Diptych Studio @diptych.studio
Music produced & performed by myst milano., with additional vocals from James Baley. Mixed by David Psutka and mastered by Kevin McPhee at East End Mastering.
