Ourselves Podcast Music Video Legend Turned Netflix Director: The Untold Story of Anthony Mandler
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Sep 19, 2025 
Join Anthony Mandler, a legendary director and visual architect known for his iconic work with artists like Rihanna and Jay-Z, as he shares insights from his creative journey. Discover how he transitioned from photography to directing, navigating the complexities of the music industry while building trust with artists. Anthony delves into the crafting of cinematic music videos and the bold moves that defined his career. He also reflects on the future of filmmaking, including the impact of AI, and the importance of personal experience in storytelling.
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Transferable Vision Unlocks New Genres
- Showing a director's transferable vision breaks genre pigeonholing and opens new doors.
- Holy Grail and other crossover jobs proved Mandler could do rock, pop, and cinematic storytelling.
Recutting Holy Grail Changed The Song
- Jay-Z critiqued the first Holy Grail cut as 'not touching,' prompting Mandler to re-edit the song for the video.
- They remixed the video's structure, and radio began playing that version instead of the album cut.
Disturbia: Artist Pays To Push Boundaries
- Rihanna paid for the Disturbia video and pushed Mandler to make it 'farther' than label comfort.
- The controversial video was briefly shelved but released and became her biggest early visual moment.
