Mark Romanek

“Mark Romanek is an American filmmaker, whose work includes feature films, music videos and commercials.” He is well known for working such as “Hurt” by Johnny Cash, “Scream” by Michael and Janet Jackson and “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails. These along with Jay-Z’s “99 problems” have thrust upon him 19 MTV Music Video Awards, accompanying these are his four Grammy Awards for best short form music video.

Due to the gaining of an award for best director for Jay-Z’s 99 problems, it was found to be an amble and worthy video to portray both his works and to analyse. Jay-Z initially wanted to shoot this video where he grew up to convey the intrigue within Brooklyn in New York City. This reflects the idea that he wanted to shoot it like photography so it would be depicted as art rather than simply the typical rap video.

A black and white technique is used throughout the video. This, therefore, breaks the mould of traditional hip hop and rap videos, as such a colouring was simply not present in that particular genre of music videos and so we find that this possesses rather unique qualities. Such a use of colouring, or in this case the lack of it, reflects the arty feel that was wanted to be conveyed in this video. However, as Michael and Janet Jackson’s “Scream” is also filmed in black and white, which once again creates cinematic and photographic attributes within the music video, however, it implies that Romanek may have been the creator of this ideal as the similar elements allow for the same effect. This, therefore, reflects the auteur theory as it relies on the creator’s vision as opposed to the artists, even though Jay-Z did clearly input into the artist elements and development process. 

Other techniques such as slow motion and the fish eye effect denote an accurate portrayal of Jay-Z’s life. The idea of the fish eye effect allows us to gain an insight into his world, as well as the concept that due to this precise depiction his life is being put on show for all to see, much like that of a fish in a tank and full of distortion.  The slow motion used also allows us to see the beauty within an almost decrepit place, once again reflecting the artistic qualities wanted to be portrayed in this video and so resulting in a perhaps argumentative side of the auteur theory, in this case. This technique is used in scenes where Jay-Z is not singing meaning that such a technique may be used as to provide the audience with an enhanced vision of life in Brooklyn, meaning that such beauty can be denoted in every frame which clearly both director and artist were eager to retain.    

For this video to be completed it took an age. Robert Duffy who was initially requested for editing was unavailable and so Romanek had to venture to others in aid of editing assistance. After such an encounter with three other editors, all of which were unsuccessful in the editing of this video, Romanek went back to Duffy who had to then edit it for free as they had spent all their capital on paying the unsuccessful editors. Despite this, we can gather the editing process to be a success and it is clear that a great deal of care and delicacy has been put into play. This is as in only thirty seconds of the video there are over sixty cuts and some of which are simply different angles of the ones present previously as appear as though only a few frames have been removed.  However, such a technique would have only be present due the that of the director and editor, this is as, although Jay-Z stated what he wished to convey throughout this video, Romanek would have most likely envisioned the fast paced editing. This can also depict the unpredictability and instability of where Jay-Z’s childhood.

Reflects Goodwin’s theory as portrayal of women – reflects lyrics “99 problems but the bitch ain’t one” In this video, women are conveyed in a rather typical manner, despite the general atypical nature of this video. This portrayal reflects Goodwin’s theory as we find that at points women are half naked or dressed specifically in a “skimpy” manner, meaning that although the theory was not intentionally supported and the video aimed to show an accurate depiction of a particular society, we find that it allows for a view of women as objects of man’s fascination, and as objects in general.

Rick Rubin, a vastly known music producer who makes himself known to work with all walks of artists within different genres, is present within the video, wearing a fur coat and a cowboy hat. This almost creates a sense of comedy within the video as such an import ant an influential figure conveyed in such a manner is rather demeaning and so this would have largely been an ideal belonging to Romanek, however, the artist may have possessed such an input as if they retained a working relationship they may have wished to include a great influence and friend of theirs in the video. We are, therefore, unsure as to whether director or artist can claim the creative idea of such a notion.     

This rather atypical music video allows us to argue both for and against as to whether Romanek’s works, particularly that of Jay-Z’s “99 problems”, allow us to play witness to an input from both director and artist as opposed to one or the other. We cannot dismiss Romanek’s explicit ability to capture the artists ideals, however we cannot stress to how great a degree. For example, with the colouring we find that Romanek would likely possess such a take on it as he has done it in another of his well known music videos as well as that it appears as though he has taken the idea to an extreme as although Jay-Z wanted to denote the beauty of Brooklyn in a photographic way, we find it to be almost a line of elongated photographs strung together.