Sophie Muller

Sophie Luise Elisabeth Muller (born 31 January 1962) is a prolific English music video director, who has produced more than 300 music videos.[1] She won a Grammy Award for Annie Lennox's 1992 Diva video album, and an MTV Video Music Award for Lennox's song "Why" from the same album. In 1993 she won a BRIT Award for "Stay" by Shakespears Sister. In 1997, she won another MTV Award for "Don't Speak" by No Doubt. Muller is a longtime collaborator with Annie Lennox, Gwen Stefani, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Garbage and Shakespears Sister.

Sophie Muller
Birth nameSophie Luise Elisabeth Muller
Born (1962-01-31) 31 January 1962
Paddington, London, England
OriginMarylebone, London, England
Occupation(s)Music video director
Years active1982–present

Muller is also known for creating cover art for albums, and for providing photographs and art direction for advertising campaigns, concert tours, concert films, and television commercials.[1]

Background

Sophie Muller was born in Paddington, London, United Kingdom, but spent her early years on the Isle of Man. After leaving secondary education, she returned to London to attend Central St Martins, gaining a Foundation Diploma in Art. She befriended Sade there; the two later worked together.[1]

Following her graduation, Muller went to the Royal 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" by Eurhythmics, shot in 1987.[1]

Career

Muller's first taste of professional film came working as a third assistant on the 1984 horror/thriller Company 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 with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, No Doubt, Shakespears Sister, Garbage, Blur, Annie Lennox and Eurythmics. Her work with Annie Lennox won her a Grammy for the Diva video album. She also picked up an MTV Video Music Award for Lennox's 1992 hit "Why", and was also Grammy nominated for the Eurythmics' 1987 Savage video album. In total, Muller has directed over twenty videos for Lennox and Eurythmics and has a longtime collaboration with producer Rob Small.

The video she directed for "Stay" by Shakespears Sister was spoofed by many British comedians at the time, including French & Saunders and Mr. Blobby, and won the BRIT Award and The Music Week Award for Best Video at both of the ceremonies' 1993 Awards.

She has directed fifteen videos for Sophie 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 for No Doubt as well as nine solo videos for Gwen Stefani. When No Doubt's "Don't Speak" won the award for Best Group Video at the 1997 MTV 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 for The 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 for Sarah 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 for Shakira, Mika, Kings of Leon, Brandon Flowers, Tom Odell and the critically acclaimed video for the Dixie Chicks, "Not Ready to Make Nice".

Videography

1980s

1982

1987

1988

1989

1990s

1990

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000s

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010s

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020s

2020

References
  1. Caston, Emily (2020). "Interview: Sophie Muller". Alphaville: Journal of Film and Screen Media (19): 211–218.
  2. "» Music Video Director Sophie Muller Music Video Wire –". Mvwire.com. 11 February 2002. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  3. "Sarah McLachlan's Socially-Charged Video 'World On Fire' Raises $150,000 To Benefit 11 Charities Worldwide; Video Compiled and Directed by Sophie Muller Benefiting Charities include Carolina for Kibera, Comic Relief, CARE, Dorcas, Engineers Without Borders, Help The Aged, Film Aid, Warchild, Heifer International, ITDG, and Action Aid". PR Newswire. 5 October 2004. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011.
  4. Boy Next Door CD 1 (CD Liner). Jamelia. Parlophone. 2000.CS1 maint: others (link)
  5. "She Will Be Loved | Maroon 5 | Music Video". MTV. Viacom Media Networks. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  6. "Shakira Video Shoot Myspace Giveaway Sweepstakes Official Rules". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2014.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. "Video: Shakira Reveals Her Favorite She Wolf Track, Says She Loves Taylor Swif". Rolling Stone. 10 November 2009.
  8. Pelly Jenn; Laura Snapes (10 May 2013). "Watch Lana Del Rey's Video for Gatsby Soundtrack Song "Young and Beautiful"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 18 September 2013.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. "Sophie Ellis-Bextor premieres 'Young Blood' video". Pop Sirens. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  10. "CMT : Videos : Tim McGraw : Lookin' for That Girl". Country Music Television. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
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