Melina Matsoukas

Melina Matsoukas (born January 14, 1981) is a Greek-Cuban American music video director signed to Black Dog Films since late 2006. Previously, she worked with the now-defunct Gorilla Flix. She is a graduate of the American Film Institute and New York University. She did her graduate thesis on music video^[1]. Her work is described as, "chalk full of bright colors or crisp black and white images, smooth spotlights, and tasteful retro video models."^[2]

Matsoukas says that expensive equipment is not necessary for a quality video and one should never think that way: "A good video has the right visuals, a well conceptualised story and should be exciting and elicit reaction."^[3]

Matsoukas described the concept behind "I Decided" as being Solange's: "This is her concept so I've definitely just developed it and put my mark on it."^[4]

Music video filmography

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

2006

• "Dem Girls" - Red Handed feat. Paul Wall & Scooby
• "Go 'Head" - Ali & Gipp feat. Chocolate Tai
• "Need a Boss" - Shareefa feat. Ludacris
• "Cry No More" - Shareefa
• "Hey Hey" - 216
• "Money Maker" - Ludacris feat. Pharrell
• "Dangerous" - Ying Yang Twins feat. Wyclef Jean
• "Help" - Lloyd Banks feat. Keri Hilson

2007

• "Because of You" - Ne-Yo
• "Green Light" - Beyoncé
• "Kitty Kat" (co-directed by Beyoncé Knowles) - Beyoncé
• "Suga Mama" (co-directed by Beyoncé Knowles) - Beyoncé
• "Upgrade U" (co-directed by Beyoncé Knowles) - Beyoncé feat. Jay-Z
• "Tambourine" - Eve
• "Do You" - Ne-Yo
• "Give It to You" - Eve feat. Sean Paul
• "Bleeding Love" - Leona Lewis (UK version)
• "Hold It Don't Drop It" - Jennifer Lopez
• "Sensual Seduction" - Snoop Dogg
• "How Do I Breathe" - Mario

2008

• "In My Arms" - Kylie Minogue
• "Wow" - Kylie Minogue
• "Modern World" - Anouk
• "Closer" - Ne-Yo
• "I Decided" - Solange Knowles
• "Just Dance" - Lady GaGa feat. Colby O'Donis
• "Energy" - Keri Hilson
• "Good Good - Ashanti
• "Beautiful, Dirty, Rich" - Lady GaGa
• "Go Girl" - Ciara feat. T-Pain
• "Return The Favor" - Keri Hilson feat. Timbaland
• "Diva" - Beyoncé
• "Thinking of You" - Katy Perry

2009

• "I Will Be" - Leona Lewis
• "So Good" - Electrik Red
• "Not Fair" - Lily Allen
• "Work" - Ciara
• "I Look To You" - Whitney Houston
• "Million Dollar Bill" - Whitney Houston
• "Sex Therapy" - Robin Thicke
• "Hard" - Rihanna feat. Young Jeezy

Sources

1. ^ Kamuzu Banda, Tim. Saturday, September 6, 2008 at 22:01. "Video queen: Melina Matsoukas", Daily Nation.
2. ^ "Visionary: Melina Matsoukas", WatchLookListen.
3. ^ "Video queen: Melina Matsoukas", p.2
4. ^ "Dir. Melina Matsoukas, on the video concept", Truveo.

External links

• Melina at The Music Video Database
• Melina Matsoukas at the Internet Movie Database
• Black Dog Films official site