Ayumi Hamasaki's Sexy Little Things and Microphone by Muto Masashi
David Knight - 27th Apr 2010
Two sumptuous videos of first class J-Pop by the masterful Muto Masashi for the Madonna/Gaga of Japan, Ayumi Hamasaki.
Ayumi is J-Pop royalty alright, as these high production-value videos demonstrate. They were both shot in London a couple of months ago over two days with (more or less) the same crew - including Ayumi's personal, extremely large glam-army.
The first, for Sexy Little Things, is actually a studio shoot but in a space that's part Gaga-Bad Romance, part-2001, with extremely creative styling. And Muto picks out something iconically English, and gives it a big Japanese twist.
Microphone takes in some locations, with transitions between vignettes borrowing something from iPhone tech. But perhaps most notable is the use of the Royal Naval College at Greenwich - particularly for Ayumi and co's performance in the glorious Painted Hall.
Proper old-fashioned, big budget, great-looking pop videos - shot by Steve Keith-Roach, no less. Just like in the good old days, before the Revolution.
Hair Stylist: Mr. Kazuyoshi Takahashi
Hair Assistant: Mr. Keisuke Omori
Hair Assistant: Mr. Norimoto Wakabayashi
Nail Artist: Ms. Kanako Miura
Nail Assistant: Mr. Shingo Sano
Stylist: Ms. Keiko Ito
Stylist Assistant: Ms. Yuko Honda
Costume Designer: Mr. Akira Noda
Costume: Mr. Tetsuya Shiratake
Make Up Artist: Mr. Jin Kiyota
Make Up Assistant: Mr. Tomonori Nagai
Trainer: Mr. Sou Nagashima
Writer: Ms. Takako Tsuriya
Watch: Sexy Little Things
Watch: Microphone
David Knight - 27th Apr 2010
Credits
Featured here in the credits?
Production/Creative
- Director
- Muto Masashi
- Producer
- C
- Production Company
- LOVE/Bounce Films LA
- Executive Producer
- Paul Mc Kee
- 1st AD
- Iain P
Camera
- Director of Photography
- Stephen Keith
- Focus Puller
- Barney Piercy
Lighting/Grip
- Grip
- Alex T
Art
- Art Director
- Tom Burton
Casting
- Casting director
- Bernie Aberdeen
Grading
- Colourist
- Adrian Seery
Misc
- Post
- McRay Lab, Tokyo
David Knight - 27th Apr 2010