The Oscar winner directed a one-shot music video for the song “Cannibal” by Marcus Mumford.
The Oscar winner helmed a one-shot music video for Marcus Mumford’s song “Cannibal.”
“West Side Story” may be Steven Spielberg’s last time directing a full-length musical, but the Oscar winner is clearly not tired of filming people singing. In early July, Spielberg made his music video director debut, directing a music video for Marcus Mumford’s new song “Cannibal. To see also : Talking about Hillsborough’s esports and video games program.” And if that wasn’t surprising enough, the celluloid-loving director shot the entire video on an iPhone, with the help of his wife Kate Capshaw.
Mumford announced the collaboration with Spielberg in a tweet that included a photo of them filming in a high school gym.
“On Sunday, July 3, at a high school academy in New York, Steven Spielberg directed his first music video, all at once, on his phone,” Mumford wrote. “Kate Capshaw was dolly’s all-powerful grip.”
Any musician would be thrilled to have Steven Spielberg direct one of his videos, and the fact that he chose Mumford’s music to make his music video director debut made the experience particularly special. In the same Twitter thread, Mumford expressed his gratitude for the experience.
“I was overwhelmed by the support of the people around me in bringing this song to you and I cannot express all my gratitude,” he wrote. “When people understand, it amazes me. Kate and Steven just received it, and I can’t thank you enough.”
While this marks Spielberg’s first time making a music video, it has long been standard practice for leading Hollywood filmmakers to direct videos for musicians. Martin Scorsese directed Michael Jackson’s “Bad” video, Spike Lee collaborated with Eminem, Paul Thomas Anderson frequently directs videos for HAIM and Fiona Apple, and David Fincher started out as a successful music video director. If anything, it’s surprising that Spielberg has waited so long.
In addition to his music video work, Spielberg is currently in post-production on “The Fabelmans,” an autobiographical film about his childhood in Arizona that he wrote with Tony Kushner. That film, which will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, stars Paul Dano, Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen and David Lynch.
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