Playlist: Femi Ladi
We hear from Somesuch director Femi Ladi about motion control robots, captivating promos and his secret F1 dreams.
What’s the best music video you’ve seen recently and why?
AntsLive - Number One Candidate directed by Tom Emmerson. I thought it was a sick video. It was funny, absurd and really well executed. Most rap videos are performance-based and when you have one that is fun and creative that stands out, it's a joy.
It's the last video I saw that I actively shared with people considering I had no connection to the musician or the director.
Credits
powered by-
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- Director Tom Emmerson
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Credits
powered by- Director Tom Emmerson
![](https://d17mj1ha1c2g57.cloudfront.net/v1/0suyjjjRgcZZtf-tIZzSbTXY_Bo/1024x576%23/80/shotsmag/production/clips/eb0b6caa-aaac-41ba-ba3c-bf295dcd99aa/screenshot-2023-02-09-at-10.09.18.png?v=1&quality=80&format=jpeg)
Credits
powered by- Director Tom Emmerson
What’s the first music video you remember being impressed by?
Before I knew this industry existed it was probably a concoction of Micheal Jackson videos for Smooth Criminal, Bad, Remember The Time.
Once I got into the industry definitely the Romain Gavras directed video for Justice - Stress, it felt so real, I was captivated by it.
Credits
powered by- Director Romain Gavras
And what’s your all-time favourite music video?
That is too hard a question, but the one that pops into my mind is Paolo Nutini - Iron Sky directed by Daniel Wolfe.
Credits
powered by-
- Production Company Radioaktive Film
- Director Daniel Wolfe | (Director)
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Unlock full credits and more with a Source + shots membership.
Credits
powered by- Production Company Radioaktive Film
- Director Daniel Wolfe | (Director)
- Post Production Framestore/London
- Editing Company Trim
- Visual Effects Chris Parks Art
- Production Manager Nick Semko
- Producer Tanya Neistova
- Executive Producer Darko Skulsky
- Production Manager Peter Arboine
- Visual FX Chris Parks
- Colourist Simon Bourn
- Editor Tom Lindsay
- Director of Photography Robbie Ryan
- Executive Producer Sally Campbell
- Executive Producer Tim Nash
- Producer Lee Groombridge
- Executive Producer/Co-Writer Matthew Wolfe
- Production Designer Robin Brown
- Production Designer Robin Brown
- Head of Music Tash Tan
- Head of Music Tash Tan
![](https://d17mj1ha1c2g57.cloudfront.net/v1/bZ4ZqDXUybkpRroLmlDanZvwiKY/1024x576%23/80/shotsmag/production/clips/1588165612306/2014xmhd14267733a.jpg?v=1&quality=80&format=jpeg)
Credits
powered by- Production Company Radioaktive Film
- Director Daniel Wolfe | (Director)
- Post Production Framestore/London
- Editing Company Trim
- Visual Effects Chris Parks Art
- Production Manager Nick Semko
- Producer Tanya Neistova
- Executive Producer Darko Skulsky
- Production Manager Peter Arboine
- Visual FX Chris Parks
- Colourist Simon Bourn
- Editor Tom Lindsay
- Director of Photography Robbie Ryan
- Executive Producer Sally Campbell
- Executive Producer Tim Nash
- Producer Lee Groombridge
- Executive Producer/Co-Writer Matthew Wolfe
- Production Designer Robin Brown
- Production Designer Robin Brown
- Head of Music Tash Tan
- Head of Music Tash Tan
What other directors/artists do you look to for inspiration?
In the music space, Romain Gravas, Khalil Joseph, Dave Free and Kendrick Lamar, Meji Alabi, Henry Scholfield and Valentin Petit who passed away this year, I really adored his work.
What are you listening to at the moment?
Kojey Radical, Kendrick Lemar, Summer Walker, J Hus, Tems and Hugh Masekela.
What’s your favourite bit of tech, whether for professional or personal use?
I've used a motion control robot with the G6 Moco team a few times now and I like trying to push them and try new ways to use it to enhance my storytelling.
Credits
powered byUnlock full credits and more with a Source + shots membership.
Credits
powered by- Production Company Somesuch
- Director Femi Ladi
- Editorial Cabin Editing Company/London
- Editor Amber Saunders
- Executive Post Producer Kayt Hall
- Post Production Coffee & TV
- VFX Supervisor Luke Todd
- Colorist Lewis Crossfield
- VFX Producer Thom Godsill
- Sound Designer Jack Hallett
- Music Video Commissioner Nicola Sheppard
- Executive Producer Saskia Whinney
- Executive Producer/Managing Director Chris Watling
- Producer Tom Gardner
- Production Manager Max Harrison
- DP Ruben Woodin-Dechamps
- Edit Producer Ruth Minkley
- VFX Executive Producer Johnny Fairburn
- Head of Production Georgina Fillmore
- Production Designer Hatty Ellis Coward
![](https://d17mj1ha1c2g57.cloudfront.net/v1/ZiTbGNMYepmHSYPiYWOUix7ZFCo/1024x576%23/80/shotsmag/production/clips/eaa7ee9b-3543-41d9-90f3-cb5f78f30dc3/1688485269709.jpg?v=1&quality=80&format=jpeg)
Credits
powered by- Production Company Somesuch
- Director Femi Ladi
- Editorial Cabin Editing Company/London
- Editor Amber Saunders
- Executive Post Producer Kayt Hall
- Post Production Coffee & TV
- VFX Supervisor Luke Todd
- Colorist Lewis Crossfield
- VFX Producer Thom Godsill
- Sound Designer Jack Hallett
- Music Video Commissioner Nicola Sheppard
- Executive Producer Saskia Whinney
- Executive Producer/Managing Director Chris Watling
- Producer Tom Gardner
- Production Manager Max Harrison
- DP Ruben Woodin-Dechamps
- Edit Producer Ruth Minkley
- VFX Executive Producer Johnny Fairburn
- Head of Production Georgina Fillmore
- Production Designer Hatty Ellis Coward
What artist(s) would you most like to work with and why?
Sampha, Lous and Yakuza, Kano, Kendrick Lamar, I've mentioned him three times now haha!
How do you feel the promo industry has changed since you started in it?
Naturally, I feel everything is more expensive than when I started out. So the budgets need to increase in line with current costs, to allow us to get these ideas popping off.
Where do you see the music video industry being in five years’ time?
It's really hard to say, but i can tell you where i would like it to be, I would love the budgets to be increased to catch up with the costs of making music videos, more transparency on the pitch process and ideally, filmmakers to get some sort of residuals from the videos that really do well so that people can actually make a career out of being a music video director. But that may all be wishful thinking, in reality it will probably be the opposite of that all.
Tell us one thing about yourself that most people won’t know…
I secretly would love to be an F1 driver.