Music Video Auteuses: Floria Sigismondi

Through a glass darkly; Christina Aguilera, as captured by Floria Sigismondi in the music video for "Hurt"
As readers of the blog may know, I’ve been keeping my eyes and ears on the Kristen Stewart/Dakota Fanning Runaways biopic. While you may know the leads, the director and screenwriter may not be as much of a household name. But hopefully that will change, as first-time feature director Floria Sigismondi has been making amazing music videos since the early 1990s. Some of her more famous titles include Marilyn Manson’s “The Beautiful People,” The White Stripes’ “Blue Orchid,” and Christina Aguilera’s “Fighter.” Also, Sigur Rós’s “Untitled #1” knocks me breathless each time I see it.
In keeping with the spirit of the blog, I thought I’d focus on the female musicians Sigismondi has worked with (click on the artists’ names). Also, having read a delightful post on music videos inspired by horror films from my friend Caitlin at Dark Room, I thought I’d continue in the spirit.
Christina Aguilera
“Hurt”
Back to Basics
Fiona Apple
“O Sailor”
Extraordinary Machine
Martina Topley-Bird
“Anything”
Quixotic (retitled Anything upon re-release)
Shivaree
“John 2/14”
Rough Dreams
Amel Larrieux
“Get Up”
Infinite Possibilities
Sheryl Crow
“Anything But Down”
The Globe Sessions
Fluffy
“Black Eye”
Black Eye
First of all, I must say this: rise up women directors! It’s been such a great summer for women behind the camera: Sophie Barthes, Kathryn Bigelow, and Lynn Shelton! And old name with some new ones! And the fall looks good too with Drew Barrymore and Karyn Kusama interesting work. Of course, there’s still so much more progress to be made in this area, but it’s exciting to see such a broad range of projects of late helmed by ladies.
Also, thanks for the shout out! I’ve finally got a pingpack that I did not create myself.
Happy to spread the word — your blog is great!
Meant to include this link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106402458
It’s a very good piece from NPR about women directors and the limitations placed upon them by the industry. Definitely worth a listen.