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Sam Smith & Normani 'Dancing With A Stranger' by Vaughan Arnell

David Knight - 31st Jan 2019

Legendary music video director Vaughan Arnell brings his absolute A-game to this collaboration between Sam Smith and future R&B pop queen Normani. It's a very classy, beautifully-crafted belter of a video.

Reflecting the sultry melancholy and brooding sexuality of the song Dancing With A Stranger, solitary Sam Smith is joined in his super modern house in the wintry countryside by ghosts - or holograms who come alive within and around him. It's a very Arnell-esque way to introduce the dancers that haunt Smith, evoking the classic Fastlove video for George Michael he directed with Anthea Benton in the mid-90s.

And then comes the explosively sexy Normani, whose combination of vocals and dance add a new dimension to the song and the video. You can't take your eyes off her. And although they never meet - appropriately considering the song - the production makes the two performers dovetail together perfectly. There's great work here by a whole team of people - including DoP Will Bex and Arnell's regular editor David Webb. A real treat. 

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David Knight - 31st Jan 2019

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Credits

Production/Creative

Director
Vaughan Arnell
Producer
Sue Caldwell
Production Company
Moxie Pictures

Camera

Director of Photography
Will Bex

Lighting/Grip

Gaffer
Craig Davis

Art

Art Director
Amanda McArthur

Wardrobe

Wardrobe
Jonni Fitzgerald
Wardrobe
Charlie Casely-Hayford
Hair & Make-up
Michele Baylis
Hair
Paul Edmund
Make-up
Sienree Du

Choreography

Choreographer
Sean Bankhead

Editorial

Editor
David Webb
Editing company
Final Cut

VFX

Post production company
Absolute

Agent

Director's Representation
Marilou Bakkenist @ Moxie Pictures
Director's Representation

Commission

Commissioner
John Moule
Label
Capitol Records

Misc

Playback
Von Adams

Other credits

Location Manager

Martin Wady

2 nd AD

Albertine Selvik

Runners

Bradley Boorman, Josey Jacobs, Dave Stocks.

2nd AC

Cristina Cretu

DIT

Chris Nunn

BTS

Josh Adams

Stills

Maggie West

Electrician

Ross Duffy & Paul Mulloy

Desk Operator

Jonny Gaskell

Art Director

Amanda McArthur

Propman

George Clark & Alfie Fielding

Stylist

Jonni Fitzgerald

Wardrobe Assistant

Daisy Michie

HMU Designer

Michele Baylis

HMU

Jess Needham

BG Cast Movement Director

Brendon Hansford

Costume Assistant

Adam Winder

For Normani:

Choreographer’s Assistant

Khadijah

MU Stylist

Grace Pae

Hair Stylist

Ray Dodson

Costume Stylist

Law

Costume Assistant

Raeann Hayden

Casting Director

Lesley Beastall

Cast

Theo Maddix, Petra Hajduk, Ziggy, Lilith Luna, Shan Khan, Lee Bridgman

David Knight - 31st Jan 2019

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