Research into music video director.

Joseph Kahn is a very talented, and well respected music Director, although mainly involved in the music video industry, predominantly Hip-Hop whose fans know him very well, and this could be said to be his target audience, Hip Hop fans, this is because most of the music video's he does for example Eminem and 50 cent are designed to be adequate for their liking. He has also Directed two films. Although he has personally said he does not want to get involved in this majorly. He has also directed numerous adverts for major companies, with Brands such as BMW, Vodaphone and PlayStation, a very wide range of media he has shone in. He usually specialises in Hip Hop videos, he has won 2 Grammy's with Eminem for the videos of "Without Me" and the video said by MTV to be "the funniest yet" "We made you" This really does express his talents it uses numerous effects, costumes and is very entertaining, unusually for a music video. He has worked with massive Artists such as; Chris Brown, Akon, 50 Cent, Black Eyed Peas. As well as this he does not just do Hip Hop he has done videos for Madonna and George Michael. At just 36 he has a massive career in front of him, even though he is already a millionaire and has achieved what other Directors would strive to in their life. At the moment he has already directed a music video for a UK number one, with the single "Helping Haiti" with an array of different Artists, however he did not receive a payment for this as it all went to charity. The major film he has directed was "Torque" and whilst not by any means being a flop it didn't go down well, reviews on play.com calling it "Terrbile" "Distinctly Average" one did say "It started off excellently, then trailed off towards the end". Kahn himself has said he is not keen or has no plans to make any more films, and would like to make the music, saying it is a lot more "down his alley". He is known by Pop and Hip Hop fans well because they watch most of his videos as he does a lot of the best selling ones.

Here are a few examples of his work:




This is his video that has received the most awards not just for Eminem but for Kahn as well, he got the best directed award as well as 3 other MTV awards and a Grammy. Best rap video, best edited, best male video, video of the year, viewers choice. All in award ceremonies in 2003. The video is directed brilliantly the camera shots are wild and the material equally so. It would be easy for this to have gone horribly wrong, but Kahn makes it entertaining. The alternative shots such as when it goes into the Mobile, work really well. And the Inclusion of Dr Dre in the video and characters he plays improves the video as well. This is the type of thing Kahn is capable of. Just with the speed and technical attributes of the shot it has been made into an entertaining video. It could be about paint drying and Kahn could make it entertaining simply from the camera angles he has chosen. On YouTube there was a lot of good feedback to the song, this one most portrayed my thoughts and what i have read from other people. Kaos9331 - "The fact this song can be so rubbish like if you just hear the song. But the fact Eminem sings it and the shots and hilarity of the video mean it is one of my favourite ever, really is a credit to the people who worked on the video" This really does illustrate the point of how firstly the music video effects the song and secondly how Kahn has got it more or less spot on with the balance between hilarity and childish.




Once again this is another example of Kahn's affiliation with Eminem, this video is very similar to the last one in that it shows Eminem himself and Dr Dre in the video. This time showing them dressed up as different characters to parody them. Kahn choice of shots and settings could not be better as it works really well with the theme. I got this video off YouTube and just scrolling down the page i found these comments... scbigjones: "I love the camera angles one of the best videos I've seen, deserving of it's awards for cinematography, Eminem and Kahn really hit the sweet spot here", CyclopsMaker "This video just proves what Kahn can do look at the difference and entertaining shots he can produce. Definitely best hip hop video of all time". This shows how well Kahn's ideas and shots have been taken in by the public a superb display of shot variety that has been welcome not just by music fans, but by fans of Eminem's as well. I looked at over 200 comments and the only negative one came from SFC Carlos who said "This isn't my type of video and it's a childish video" That maybe so but there is no doubt it is their to entertain and the awards one give it the recognition for that and what it deserves.




This video is very different style to the other two that i have shown Kahn directing. This is a different style of music and a lot slower. He matches the story of the video (A man on the runaway from his enemies with his love) very well and provides the emotion needed with slow motion shots. He designed it to look like a movie clip, and show the passion of a romantic action film. He did this so well that some of the comments on YouTube were debating whether it was a video or not. marsenaf - "Anyone know what movie this video clip is from?". As this was very much for Kahn outside his comfort zone, he waited nervously to hear the reviews. It wasn't warmed to as much as the Eminem ones were for sure, Exquisiteboi89 - "Hmm seems a bit soppy to me, i don't really like the video seems a bit too obvious. This video didn't win awards so it isn't one of his most successful, and that comment suggests that, however i don't think that's necessarily Kahn's fault, it was never designed to be a "take-your-breath-away" entertainment thriller. And fans of Iglesias liked it, one comment from "ILOVEIGLESIAS" which had 9 likes so lots of people must agree said "The video is so good, i think Enrique looks great in it, and all the shots and story is good to watch". This shows that Kahn's shots were taken in well, he is known well for his good shots.



All the hype that was surrounding Kahn and all the artist that wanted him for his videos was good, but it wasn't easy he had to drop most of his education in order to get it. However the most important thing for a Director is to be noticed by the public or by artists and brands to promote stuff for them, so feedback and what the audience think of you is everything for reputation. An artist is going to want the best director to shoot his video, so if Kahn was second best he would always lose out to that director, and therefore money. Neither will Kahn ever say which his favourite video is during this interview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w558eyoi-7U Kahn says "His favourite video is always his last one" or his "babies" as he refers to them as. He as one of the leading Directors has set the standard for others, in an interview with Asia Pacific Arts, the magazine representing the public said "Kahn has given creative expression to the most prominent musical characters" This shows that the public can see what Kahn is doing and it is understood he is one of the leading music video Directors. On Play.com under one of the reviews for Torque one of the reviews says "Torque is a very good film and i think Kahn has a future in film directing" Just from reading reviews it is clear to see why Kahn is at the top of his game, he gets fantastic reviews from the public and interviews.

As Hip hop videos is where he specialises, even if he did not mean to that has become what he is most renowned for, making videos for the likes of 50 cent and Eminem. Fans of this have become used to his work and enjoy it. He uses the best camera shots to bring out the best of the genre, which usually contains the typical half dressed women, fast cars, and lots of on screen shots of the Artist to promote them. He has found the right balance between making it look good and making it look silly, over the top and arrogant. When doing these videos his aim has to be for the video to sell to make the money for him and the artist, so he must target the Hip Hop fans, there is no good making a brilliant song if when someone watches the video it is of the history of computing. It just wouldn't sell so it must be suited to his target audience and Kahn does this very well, every time he does a hip hop video it seems to go down well with the audiencethis shown because he is first choice at this level. Also to be able to impress his target audience with a video like the Eminem ones where it is very different shows talent to still go down well with the Hip Hop fans. Even if he does not want to, advertising the video to the target audience must come first because they will be the mass of people buying it, regardless whether he likes what he's directing. Although not as much he is involved in the pop scene doing the video "Toxic" for Britney spears which in this interview is described as one of the best of all time http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w558eyoi-7U. So the same applies to that if he had Britney Spears all wrapped up rather than half naked would it have sold as much? Definitely not. This is what the target audience expects to see, and this is what Kahn must include in the video if it will sell. Target audience for a director and knowing what they want is everything, without impressing them, they can forget any chance of success. Kahn has got the key aspects of a video down to a T, this is why his video's are so successful

He has come to where he is now through sheer belief, endeavour and work. Kahn was raised in the suburbs of Houston, Texas in 1972 where his parents moved in the calculation of enrolling him in the area's prestigious medical schools. From there he went on to be educated in the University of New York. However alongside this he was very much involved in filming, and was a self confessed pop music and TV addict. He used to film his friends doing skateboarding and make videos for them. He would then go and do 3 little jobs at the weekends to make funds for the videos. He worked immensely hard to get his dream acting as a one man army, editing, cinematography, directing all down to him. He was working flat out just to get his dream of directing on a bigger stage. He realised where he was living there was little opportunity of success so in 1995 he moved to LA where all the opportunities in music were coming about.

He began to be noticed for his directing skills by many artists and companies. He was now realising the on-coming trend of Hip Hop songs and videos, he realised this was the next way to make money, hence why this is what he is predominantly involved with now. And after making some successful music videos, and gaining money from them, he decided to go a step further a make his own Production Company.
'Supermega' this is what he decided to call it and it has made adverts and videos for massive headline acts and companies under it and receives a massive profit each year.

In 2004 he directed his first film 'Torque' it was an action thriller and although not a huge film, this proved Kahn's diversity and talents. Despite only Directing one more film, he decided he could just about handle the business and the videos and films could be held back at least for a later date or until he got "bored" with music videos. When asked "Were you Happy about the outcome of the movie he said "Not really to be honest" a self confessed perfectionist.

Since then he has made videos for numerous smash hits not just only in his native America but Major UK Artists as well. Such as Shayne Ward, George Michael and Jamiroquai.
At the moment he lives in LA, safe in the knowledge that in his fairly short career he has videoed for massive artists and is credited with a number of awards, such as; Best director for 'Without me' Eminem and "Knights of Cydonia" Muse. Both Grammys. He's won these as well as several MTV awards. In fact i think his legs and tongue must be quite tired for the amount of walking and talking he does to get to and then embrace his awards. The Hip Hop and Pop fans continue to enjoy watching his work and there is no sign of that stopping anytime soon.
Kahn now resides in Los Angeles still making lots of videos for his target audience of Hip Hop fans, and is now as successful as ever.