Sophie Muller | |
|---|---|
| Born | Sophie Luise Elisabeth Muller (1962-01-31)31 January 1962 (age 63) London, England |
| Occupation | Music video director |
| Years active | 1982–present |
| Relatives | Mae Muller (niece) |
Sophie Luise Elisabeth Muller (born 31 January 1962) is an English music video director who has directed over 300 music videos.[1] She won aGrammy Award forAnnie Lennox's 1992Diva video album, and anMTV Video Music Award for Lennox's song "Why" from the same album. In 1993, she received aBRIT Award for "Stay" byShakespears Sister. She won another MTV Award in 1997 for "Don't Speak" byNo Doubt. Muller is a longtime collaborator ofSade, Annie Lennox,Gwen Stefani,Kylie Minogue,Sophie Ellis-Bextor,Garbage andShakespears Sister.
Muller has also photographed still campaigns and cover art for albums, and provided photographs and art direction for concert tours, concert films, and commercials.[1]
Muller was born inLondon, but spent her early years on theIsle of Man. After leaving secondary education, she returned to London to attendCentral St Martins, gaining a Foundation Diploma in Art. She befriendedSade there; the two later worked together.[1]
Following her graduation, Muller went to theRoyal College of Art to study for her Masters in Film and Television,[1] where she made "Interlude" and "In Excelsis Deo" (In Adoration of God). The latter won the J. Walter Thompson Prize for creativity.
Her trademark style of a singer or a band inside a dim room started with "I Need a Man" byEurythmics, shot in 1987.[1]
Muller's first taste of professional film came working as a third assistant on the 1984 horror/thrillerCompany of Wolves. She then went on to work for International Film and Video, honoring her for her editing, producing, and directing skills.
Muller's goal was to become a successful director in her own right, and her big break came through a chance meeting with John Stewart (brother of Eurythmics'Dave Stewart) and Billy Poveda of Oil Factory, an established film production company.[1]
She has directed over three hundred music videos[1] and has been a longtime collaborator withSophie Ellis-Bextor,No Doubt,Shakespears Sister,Garbage,Blur,Annie Lennox andEurythmics. Her work with Annie Lennox won her a Grammy for theDiva video album. She also picked up anMTV Video Music Award for Lennox's 1992 hit "Why", and was alsoGrammy nominated for the Eurythmics' 1987Savage video album. In total, Muller has directed over twenty videos for Lennox and Eurythmics and has a longstanding collaboration with producers Rob Small (UK) and Grant Jue (US).
The video she directed for "Stay" byShakespears Sister was spoofed by many British comedians at the time, includingFrench & Saunders andMr. Blobby, and won theBRIT Award and The Music Week Award for Best Video at both of the ceremonies' 1993 Awards.
She has directed fifteen videos forSophie Ellis-Bextor, including "Take Me Home", "Murder on the Dancefloor", "Catch You", two versions of "Music Gets the Best of Me" and "Love Is a Camera".
Muller directed nine videos forNo Doubt as well as nine solo videos forGwen Stefani. When No Doubt's "Don't Speak" won the award for Best Group Video at the 1997MTV Video Music Awards, Stefani thanked her extensively, saying "I'd like to say that Sophie Muller is a genius." Stefani has also stated,
Sophie Muller is one of my most talented friends. She can and will only do projects that she is inspired by. She is driven by creativity and the love for what she does and as a result she never compromises. I consider her a true artist. I was a fan of Sophie's work before I even imagined working with her. She has a very pronounced style and taste that drew me in. I think she has the gift of being able to bring out the artist's personality, emotion and style. After working with her for the first time on our "Don't Speak" video, we became close friends [...]. On the set her direction is humble and simple, but she knows what she wants and knows when she gets it. A woman in charge in the male-dominated world of filmmaking makes the whole experience that much more exciting. [...] She has a way of making every cut have a reason and meaning. The videos have a life of their own and become better each time you watch them. I am always in shock the first time I see them and then after a few more times I am actually amazed. She has taught me a lot and I feel very lucky to have worked with her.[2]
The artwork forThe Jesus and Mary Chain's 1994 album,Stoned & Dethroned, and the singles accompanying it, is composed entirely of stills from the video to the group's song "Sometimes Always", which was directed by Muller. She also directed the video for "Come On", which also appears on the album.
Muller states that her only ambition is to continue directing to her own high standards and to never grow bored. In 2004, she directed the socially aware video forSarah McLachlan's "World on Fire",[3] where all but $15 of the entire $150,000 video budget was donated to charities. Recently, she has directed videos forBrandon Flowers,Kings of Leon,Mae Muller,Mika,Tom Odell,Shakira, and the critically acclaimed video for theDixie Chicks, "Not Ready to Make Nice".
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