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Michael Kiwanuka 'Hero' by CC Wade

Rob Ulitski - 18th Oct 2019

Michael Kiwanuka shares a poignant video for Hero, directed by sibling directing team CC Wade. 

The song and visual both pay homage to leaders and important figures of the Civil Rights movement in America, particularly the Black Panthers and Black Power movement. References to Fred Hampton, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, JFK, Sam Cooke, John Lennon, Marvin Gaye, Tupac and more crop up in the clip, as well as Kiwanuka in performance.

The plot is also loosely based around Cointelpro, the covert FBI program that suppressed organizations and public figures suspected of being involved in or supporting anti-establishment political activity. "Hero is a song about how the gems of this world always seem to die young, and how those who are oppressed often seem to have the most to offer us,” Kiwanuka said in a statement.

Superbly shot by DoP Jasper Wolf, the camera is in constant movement, exploring rooms and situations in an almost out-of-body POV. Like a fly on the wall, we are given quick snapshots of stories and encouraged to piece them together.

Raw, frenetic and contemplative, the concept is executed perfectly by the Wade Brothers and their collaborators. A powerful work.

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Rob Ulitski - 18th Oct 2019

Tags

  • Narrative
  • Soul
  • Civil Rights
  • Covert operations

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Credits

Production/Creative

Director
CC Wade
Producer
Precious Mahaga
Production Company
Executive Producer
Saskia Whinney
Production Manager
Maddy Perkins
1st AD
Steven Olugbenga Eniraiyetan

Camera

Director of Photography
Jasper Wolf
Focus Puller
Leo Winslow

Wardrobe

Hair
Sara Bowden
Make-up
Sara Bowden

Editorial

Editor
CC Wade

VFX

VFX
CC Wade
Post production company

Commission

Commissioner
Emily Tedrake
Commissioner
Marco Grey
Label
Polydor Records

Other credits

Production Designer

Daniel Taylor

Casting Agency

Jinjo

Casting Director

Alex Cowburn

Production Assistant

Ayesha McMahon

Post House

Framestore

Post Producer

Chris Anthony

Audio Post Production

Pitch And Sync

Sound Engineer

Ben Hauke

Colourist

Simon Bourne

Graphics

Phillipa Brockelhurst

Rob Ulitski - 18th Oct 2019

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