Professional freelance producer/director and self-shooter working with corporate/commercial/idents/music promos. UK born and trained, but currently living and working near Alicante, Spain.
moreI was at a stage in my life last year where I wanted to move on from shooting television commercials and move into TV drama and/or music videos. You can get typecast as a director just as easily as actors do, so it's difficult to make that transition into another part of the creative film-making industry without prior experience. I saw Genero.tv as the first step toward my new goals. It's a great sandbox for starting off as a music video director making spec promos for real artists. In fact, as a direct result of my participation in Genero.tv competitions, I now have three paid commissions for music videos as a freelance director (just completed one).
How would you describe your film making style?Story, story, story. I think regardless of whether you're making a feature length film or a music video, you can't beat a great story with a beginning, middle and end. The more unexpected and twisted the end, the better. I don't like music videos with a lot of replay and clips that don't say much - People just dancing, or doing something random, or a DJ at a console... They're boring to me and I think they now come across as boring to viewers. Strong, unique conceptual videos with great imagery and thoughtful use of light engage your viewer and keep them watching to the end. I like to take my viewers on that journey. Physically, I need to listen to a music track many times over before the complete story emerges in my head.
My personal signature is the use of kids in my stories, often in a supernatural way if the music suits. Children and the supernatural are a potent mixture that can often unsettle the viewer and create a magnificent aura. I try to find new and creative ways to achieve this.
Up until my association with Genero, mostly speculative work. I've been writing treatments for years in my head, so it seemed the natural way forward. Of all the treatments I've written, Radiohead's 'the Pyramid song' is by far my favourite. I'd love to make that someday. It makes me cry everytime I replay the video story in my head to the music. I've also made a video for an Icelandic band, Sigur Ros.
Where are you hoping to head in the future?At the moment, I'm enjoying paid commissions coming in from real music labels, I never expected it to happen so soon. But thanks to Genero, I got exposure. That's why I don't think Genero filmmakers should feel disappointed if they don't win a competition. It's all experience that makes you better at your craft, plus you have clips to show off your capability to others. It's all good.
I just finished a promo for Molella & Supafly Inc. 'X-Rated' which I made in collaboration with another Genero filmmaker, Alan Hughes and about to start work on another professional promo next week for a fresh music artist, Renoir, based in Italy (a cover version of Sonique's 2000 hit, 'Sky'). I will enjoy continuing to make clips for a while longer. Eventually I'd like to make television drama or even this feature film I've written, if it would get funding!
Touch base with Kris Koster to share your wisdom and give them props if you love their work
Date: 15 Jul 2010 728 1 5
BOOKA SHADE
Date: 22 Dec 2010 223 0 6
DAVID LYNCH
Date: 20 Jan 2011 737 3 11
ROYKSOPP
Date: 23 Feb 2011 641 0 9
DURAN DURAN
Date: 04 Nov 2011 1283 39 3
KATHERINE JENKINSAll the activity from Kris Koster and on their videos
Katherine Jenkins
Kris Koster Thank you Sammy Smith, they are very kind words. I'd love to see your work, it's super to see other people enthused about filmmaking!
28 days ago
Katherine Jenkins
sammysmithlive I mean Kris...sorry :o)
1 month ago
Katherine Jenkins
sammysmithlive No comments yet on this video?? This was put together so well and with such professionalism - I can only hope to reach this plateau someday..........awesome Kat.
1 month ago
WooWoos
Kris Koster Superb video and excellent choice of winner. Well deserved, good job AJ.
3 months ago
Kris Koster > Kris Koster
Hi Alex. Yes, I am waiting also on this one, unfortunetly. I've earnt a few commissions with other labels in the last year or two and so I'm aware that music Labels, as a general rule, do seem to take a while to pay up, but I've never experienced a wait this long. Normally it's 50% at pre-production stage and the other 50 is due on delivery (which can take weeks). But I don't think comps like these work the same way.
I'm hopeful I will see it resolved soon.
Alex and Ol > Kris Koster
Hi Kris, congratulations for your clip. Very nice work!
I have a small question to ask you, if it does not bother you.
We also won a competition organized by Genero and Warner Bros Records (four months ago) but we haven't heard from the label neither for the money nor for the pitches! What about you? Thank you for your answered, and bravo again!
Katherine Jenkins
Kris Koster Uploaded a video
6 months ago
Eskimo Joe
Kris Koster Brilliant clip, Josh - Well done.
6 months ago
Katherine Jenkins
Kris Koster Uploaded a video
6 months ago
Katherine Jenkins
Kris Koster Uploaded a video
6 months ago
Kris Koster > Kris Koster
Hi Mark. Thank you for you kind words. I've used a Canon 5D Mark II almost exclusively for everything on my portfolio right now. When making the choice between that and the 7D, the 5D2 won due to the FF sensor. I've never regretted that decision. Although I recently purchased a Canon 60D to compliment the 5D2 so I can slow the 60 to 25fps as you will see in the Katherine Jenkin's competition that I will upload later tonight (just finishing it off). I can see you have also entered so good luck to you too! :-)
MarkAndrushko > Kris Koster
Kris, much respect, your work is great. I'm thinking of buying a new camera and I am curious what type of camera you used for the Duran Duran video? Thanks.
Duran Duran
jo_eccles This was an incredible feat of work, probably my most memorable of the entire competition. It's amazing. Well done.
1 year ago
Kris Koster It's pretty easy to sell the videos you make for comps where you don't win to other music artists and/or labels, as long as they're good enough and you can make a good cut to match their track. I sold two of my previous Genero videos off. I intend to sell the Duran Duran one too, although some local DD fans who were connected with it are begging me not to! :-) There are a couple of sites on the net that specialise in this. In respect to Genero.tv I won't publish them here, but Google is your friend! It's not plagairism or cheating, just business! If the artist here won't pay for your video, who's to stop you selling the rights to someone else?
1 year ago
Kris Koster Personally, I find these types of complaints and comments written following the results of nearly every competition are, for the most part, poorly founded and highly unprofessional. Whilst it's common to feel profoundly disappointed that your hard work isn’t rewarded with the success you feel is due, setbacks and constant changes are most common in this business and its best you learn them now rather than later. You just have to take it on the head, pick yourself up and move on. Speaking from personal experience; I’ve entered a Genero competition four times and still haven’t found success – and it’s not for lack of experience - I’ve racked up over 200 clips in my years, so experience doesn’t guarantee success. Heck, even fantastically produced videos don’t guarantee success. Just look at Nikolaj’s vid #28530. That was hotly tipped to walk away with the prize and didn’t. I could ramble on about how I thought the winning vid for my track entry, BTR, was over-processed and lacked story, but it doesn't matter - The band preferred that one, they chose it. Their opinion matters, not mine (or Genero's for that matter). It’s best not to take it personally. What you have to realise is that any creative industry is highly subjective. All our tastes are different and we can’t expect to understand exactly why an artist chooses one video over another, or what a music artist is looking for (as I’m sure many of them aren’t even sure themselves). Taking it out on Genero doesn’t help matters. If anything, it makes filmmakers look unprofessional and weakens the spirit of the community. In the example of Duran Duran, if you looked at their Twitter feed, it’s pretty obvious the band have only been back in the UK recently after a tour abroad. Music artists are notoriously busy and not only that, they change their minds all the time! It’s obvious that Genero shared our frustrations, yet couldn’t do anything about it – The music artists are their clients. Decisions come when the band gets around to it. Look at it this way, every video you make adds to your experience. The more you create, the better you get. Just keep on creating and sooner or later you’ll hit the nail on the head. If you’re dedicated and serious enough, you may just make it.
1 year ago
