Mat Whitecross Explained

Mat Whitecross
Birth Date:1977 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Oxford, England
Years Active:1999present

Mat Whitecross (born 21 September 1977)[1] is an English film director, editor and screenwriter. He began his career working for filmmaker Michael Winterbottom and producer Andrew Eaton at Revolution Films, being also known for directing The Road to Guantánamo, Ian Dury biopic Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, as well as music documentaries and .[2] Whitecross has also directed music videos for Coldplay,[3] Take That and The Rolling Stones, being a long-time collaborator of the former band.

Life and career

Whitecross was born and raised on Oxford. His parents were political refugees who were imprisoned in Argentina during the country's Dirty War. He takes inspiration from the place where he was raised and from his parents' friends, many of whom are South American immigrants who fled tortures and prison.[4] He began his career working for filmmaker Michael Winterbottom and producer Andrew Eaton at Revolution Films as a runner on the film 24 Hour Party People. Within a few months of starting at Revolution Films, they gave him the chance of shooting and editing for them. His directorial debut The Road to Guantanamo started as a conversation with Winterbottom about the Tipton Three whilst on the shoot for the film 9 Songs. They both agreed that the story was fascinating and worth of a film but due to other commitments, Winterbottom was unable to begin research and preparation, suggesting that Mat should start the process. Whitecross and Winterbottom would go on to co-direct and co-write the film that featured Riz Ahmed in his debut acting role.[5] The Road to Guantánamo won the Silver Bear for Best Director at the 56th Berlin International Film Festival and Independent Spirit Award for Best Documentary Feature.[6] [7] [8]

Filmography

Film

YearFilmDirectorWriterEditor
20049 Songs [9]
2006
[10]
2009Moving to Mars[11]
[12]
2010Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll[13]
2012Ashes[14]
Spike Island[15]
2016
2018
Live in São Paulo

Television

YearFilmDirectorWriterNotes
2007Nearly FamousEpisode 1.3 – Episode 1.4[16]
2008Episode 1.3 – Episode 1.4[17]
2014Episode 1.1 – Episode 1.4[18]
2017Red Nose Day ActuallyCo-directed with Richard Curtis
2018Vic and Bob's Big Night OutWritten by Bob Mortimer and Vic Reeves[19]

Music videos

YearArtistTitle
1999Coldplay"Bigger Stronger"
2008"Violet Hill" [20]
"Lovers in Japan"[21]
"Lost!"[22]
2010Take That""[23]
Coldplay"Christmas Lights"[24]
2011Take That"Kidz" [25]
Coldplay"Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall"[26]
"Paradise"[27]
"No Spare Parts"
2012Coldplay"Charlie Brown"[28]
2014""[29]
2015"Adventure of a Lifetime"[30]
2017Take That"Giants"[31]
Coldplay"Something Just Like This" [32]
2019 "Orphans"[33]
2022Pink Floyd"Hey, Hey, Rise Up!"[34]
Coldplay"Biutyful"[35]

Awards and nominations

Award! scope="col"
YearNominee / WorkCategoryResult
British Academy Television Awards2007Best Single Drama[36]
Berlin International Film Festival2006Golden Bear for Best Motion Picture[37]
Silver Bear for Best Director[38]
British Independent Film AwardsBest Documentary[39]
Best Achievement in Production
2016Best Achievement in Craft[40]
Chicago International Film Festival2010Moving to MarsDocufest Competition [41]
Empire Awards2017Best Documentary[42]
European Film Awards2006Best Film[43]
Best Director[44]
Independent Spirit Awards2007Best Documentary Feature Film[45]
Grierson Awards2010Moving to MarsBest Documentary on a Contemporary Issue[46]
MTV Europe Music Awards2020Best Rock[47]
MTV Video Music Awards2012Best Rock Video[48]
2016[49]
2020[50]
MTV Video Play Awards2011Platinum Award[51]
2012[52]
MTV Video Music Awards JapanBest Group Video[53]
MuchMusic Video AwardsBest International Video – Group[54]
2016[55]
NME Awards2017Best Music Film[56]
Satellite Awards2015Best Miniseries[57]
UK Music Video Awards2019Live in São PauloBest Live Concert[58]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Мат Уайткросс, Режиссер: фото, биография, фильмография, новости - Вокруг ТВ.. Вокруг ТВ. en.
  2. Web site: 10 November 2018 . Interview: Mat Whitecross on #AHFODfilm . live . https://archive.today/20220612234521/https://www.coldplay.com/interview-mat-whitecross-on-ahfodfilm/ . 12 June 2022 . 31 January 2021 . Coldplay Official Website.
  3. Web site: 29 May 2009 . Dear Oracle, I was on Youtube, watching Coldplay stuff of course, and I came across a video entitled Bigger Stronger . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110706020237/http://www.coldplay.com/oracledetail_pop.php?id=746&page=&iframe=true . 6 July 2011 . 25 April 2023 . Coldplay Official Website.
  4. Web site: Mat Whitecross . HUNGER TV.
  5. News: indieWIRE INTERVIEW: Mat Whitecross, Co-Director of "The Road to Guantanamo" . . 22 June 2006 . en.
  6. Web site: Mat Whitecross . Mountainfilm . en . 11 May 2011.
  7. Web site: Bio to Mat Whitecross . www.pulsefilms.com . en.
  8. News: Independent Spirit Award winners . Variety . 24 February 2007 . en.
  9. Web site: KVIFF 9 Songs. 31 January 2021. www.kviff.com.
  10. Web site: KVIFF Scott Walker: 30 Century Man - About the Film. 31 January 2021. www.kviff.com.
  11. Web site: Moving to Mars - The Filmmakers. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20170701174311/http://movingtomarsfilm.com/index2.php?page=team. 1 July 2017. 31 January 2021.
  12. Web site: Mat Whitecross. 15 February 2021. MUBI. pt.
  13. Web site: Jaafar. Ali. 21 April 2009. U.K. talent drawn to 'Sex & Drugs'. 31 January 2021. Variety. en-US.
  14. News: Ashes stars understand dementia now. en-GB. belfasttelegraph. 31 January 2021. 0307-1235.
  15. Web site: Spike Island (2012). 31 January 2021. IMDb.
  16. Web site: Nearly Famous - Films Manager. 14 February 2021. filmsmanager.com.
  17. Web site: BBC - Press Office - Spooks: Code 9 press pack: cast and creative team. 14 February 2021. www.bbc.co.uk.
  18. Web site: 29 January 2014. Fleming: The Man Who Would Be Bond Interview: Mat Whitecross and Douglas Rae. 14 February 2021. Collider. en-US.
  19. Web site: 5 December 2017. News: First Look at New Vic & Bob Show Pictures. 14 February 2021. Beyond The Joke. en.
  20. Web site: 20 May 2008 . George Bush Gets On His Dancing Shows For New Coldplay Video . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160317213649/http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/36744 . 17 March 2016 . 14 June 2022 . NME.
  21. Web site: 30 October 2008 . Lovers In Japan Video Premiere Tomorrow . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120213003920/http://www.coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=184 . 13 February 2012 . 14 June 2022 . Coldplay Official Website.
  22. Web site: 30 September 2008 . Coldplay Announce New EP . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081001162601/http://www.nme.com/news/coldplay/40097 . 1 October 2008 . 14 June 2022 . NME.
  23. http://www.promonews.tv/2010/10/15/take-that%E2%80%99s-the-flood-by-mat-whitecross/
  24. Web site: 11 December 2010 . Interview with Mat Whitecross (Christmas Lights Video Director) – Pt.1 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140312075057/http://www.mtv.com/videos/coldplay/604575/christmas-lights.jhtml . 12 March 2014 . 14 June 2022 . Coldplay Official Website.
  25. Web site: Take That 'Kidz' by Mat Whitecross and Eran Creevy | Promo News. 6 June 2014. Promonews.tv. 18 April 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120418041217/http://www.promonews.tv/2011/03/02/take-thats-kidz-by-mat-whitecross-and-eran-creevy/. dead.
  26. 29 June 2011 . Coldplay Gets Colorful In Every Teardrop Is A Waterfall Video . live . Billboard . https://archive.today/20220614211907/https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/coldplay-gets-colorful-in-every-teardrop-is-a-waterfall-video-469492/ . 14 June 2022 . 14 June 2022.
  27. Web site: 10 November 2011 . Interview: Director Mat Whitecross on the Paradise Video . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161228164950/http://www.coldplay.com/newsdetail.php?id=850 . 28 December 2016 . 14 June 2022 . Coldplay Official Website.
  28. Web site: 8 February 2012 . Antonia Thomas And Elliott Tittensor Star In Coldplay's Charlie Brown . live . https://archive.today/20220614221537/https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/news/antoniathomas-and-elliott-tittensor-star-in-coldplays-charlie-brown . 14 June 2022 . 14 June 2022 . Curtis Brown.
  29. Web site: 19 June 2014 . Watch Coldplay – A Sky Full of Stars Video One-Man Band . live . https://archive.today/20220615134915/https://www.undertheradarmag.com/news/watch_coldplay_-_a_sky_full_of_stars . 15 June 2022 . 15 June 2022 . Under The Radar.
  30. Web site: 27 November 2015 . Adventure of a Lifetime – Behind the Scenes on the Set of Coldplay's New Video . live . https://archive.today/20220617180711/https://www.theguardian.com/music/ng-interactive/2015/nov/27/adventure-of-a-lifetime-behind-the-scenes-on-set-coldplays-new-video . 17 June 2022 . 17 June 2022 . The Guardian.
  31. Web site: Take That 'Giants' by Mat Whitecross. 3 June 2017. Promo News.
  32. Web site: 15 October 2018 . Mat Whitecross Prepares His Coldplay Documentary For Release . live . https://archive.today/20220617204403/http://www.noise11.com/news/mat-whitecross-prepares-his-coldplay-documentary-for-release-20181015 . 17 June 2022 . 17 June 2022 . Noise 11.
  33. 25 October 2019 . See Coldplay's Joyous New Video For Orphans . live . Rolling Stone . https://archive.today/20220617210051/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/coldplay-orphans-video-903689/ . 17 June 2022 . 17 June 2022.
  34. Web site: Hey Hey Rise Up . Instagram . 7 April 2022.
  35. 6 July 2022 . Coldplay Features Puppet Band The Weirdos In New Biutyful Video . live . Rolling Stone . https://archive.today/20220707023142/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/coldplay-weirdos-drop-biutyful-1378386/ . 7 July 2022 . 7 July 2022.
  36. Web site: 2007 Television Single Drama. 28 January 2021. BAFTA Awards.
  37. Web site: Programme 2006: Competition. 15 February 2021. Berlinale. en.
  38. Web site: Prizes & Honours 2006. 15 February 2021. Berlinale. en.
  39. News: 24 October 2006. Winners & Nominations - BIFA 2006. 25 February 2021. Bifa · British Independent Film Awards. en-GB.
  40. Web site: 24 October 2016. Winners & Nominations - BIFA 2016. 28 January 2021. British Independent Film Awards. en-GB.
  41. Web site: 21 October 2010. Chicago International Film Festival 2010: Award Winners. 15 February 2021. FilmBook. en-US.
  42. Web site: 19 March 2017. Three Empire Awards 2017: Rogue One, Tom Hiddleston And Patrick Stewart Win Big. 15 February 2021. Empire.
  43. Web site: Archive 2006. 28 January 2021. European Film Awards.
  44. Web site: 6 November 2006. The nominees for the 2006 European Film Awards are.... 15 February 2021. Cineuropa. en.
  45. Web site: 25 February 2007. The 2007 Independent Spirit Awards. 15 February 2021. IndieWire. en.
  46. Web site: Winners 2010. 28 January 2021. The Grierson Trust. 6 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211106044116/https://griersontrust.org/grierson-awards/past-awards/2010/the-grierson-awards-2010-winners/. dead.
  47. Web site: All the Big Winners at the 2020 MTV EMA News MTV EMA. 28 November 2020. MTV EMAs. en.
  48. Web site: 11 May 2016. 2012 MTV Video Music Awards Highlights, Winners, Performers and Photos from the 2012 MTV VMAs. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160511100026/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/vma/2012/. 11 May 2016. 28 November 2020. MTV News.
  49. VMAs 2016: See the Full List of Winners. Billboard. en. 28 November 2020.
  50. Web site: Coldplay Win Best Rock Music Video at 2020 VMAs. 28 November 2020. Loudwire. 31 August 2020 . en.
  51. Web site: Résultats des MTV Video Play Awards 2011. Results of MTV Video Play Awards 2011. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20190324194642/http://french.peopledaily.com.cn/Culture/7728317.html. 24 March 2019. 28 November 2020. Le Quotidien du Peuple en Ligne. fr.
  52. Web site: 6 July 2015. MTV honours most-played music videos of 2012. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150706195053/http://www.musicweek.com/news/read/mtv-honours-most-played-music-videos-of-2012/053570. 6 July 2015. 28 November 2020. Music Week.
  53. Web site: VMAJ 2012 Nominees Announced!. 28 November 2020. MTV Asia.
  54. Web site: 2012 Muchmusic Video Award Nominees Released. 27 November 2020. Flare. 4 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160304192240/http://www.flare.com/celebrity/2012-muchmusic-video-award-nominees-released/. dead.
  55. Web site: Drake & Alessia Cara Top The Nominees For The 2016 MuchMusic Video Awards. 27 November 2020. Forbes. en.
  56. Web site: 15 February 2017. NME Awards 2017 – Full Winners List. 27 November 2020. NME. en-GB.
  57. Web site: 2014 Categories. 31 January 2021. International Press Academy. en-US.
  58. Web site: UK Music Video Awards 2019: All The Nominations!. 26 November 2020. PromoNews TV. en.