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(December 22, 2004)   NEW SNOOP DOGG VIDEO PREMIERES
The new Paul Hunter-directed Snoop Dogg video Let's Get Blown premiered mid-December on Launch.  The video features Snoop, Pharrell, and a whole bunch of other people at a huge house party in a Hollywood hills-type house.
click here to view the video exclusively at Launch.yahoo.com
(thanks to Mia for the info)

(November 25, 2004)   VIDEO CLIPS ADDED TO HSIPRODUCTIONS.COM WEBSITE
HSI Productions has finally updated the Paul Hunter page on their official hsiproductions.com website, with new video clips:

-Gap "Love" (feat. Will Ferrell as Neil Diamond)
-Clarks "Fashion Show"
-HP iPod "Mash Up"
-Samsung "Dance"
-Nintendo "Prepare to Battle" Generic
-Nike "Frisbee"
-Nike "Battle"
-Lenny Kravitz "Fly Away"

(November 18, 2004)   MOS DEF VIDEO PREMIERES | UPCOMING SNOOP DOGG VIDEO | DIET COKE COMMERCIALS
The new Paul Hunter-directed Mos Def video Sex, Love and Money premiered earlier this month on BET and MTV2.  A behind-the-scenes feature from the video shoot was also shown on MTV2.
(thanks to Anthony E. for the info)
go to launch.com to view the video in streaming format
go to guide.real.com to view an uncensored version of the video in streaming Real Video format

Paul-hunter.com posted (on November 9) that Paul has just completed two commercial spots for Diet Coke.  He also just finished shooting a second video for Snoop Dogg, for the track Let's Get Blown.

(November 4, 2004)   NEW COMMERCIALS POSTED ON PAUL-HUNTER.COM
Paul Hunter's official website paul-hunter.com has posted 3 new commercial clips.  The first one is the 60-second clip for iPod/HP "Mash It Up" (previously available for viewing at hp.com and airing on television).  Another one is a new 30-second commercial for the new Nintendo Game Boy Advance Pokemon game.  The clip, entitled "Battle", was shot in Argentina back in July.  The last one is a 30-second clip for a new camera cellphone unit from Samsung.  The clip, entitled "Dance", was shot in England this past summer.  All clips are available in Quicktime format.

(October 20, 2004)   EXCLUSIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENES IMAGES FROM THE NEW MOS DEF VIDEO
Paul Hunter wrapped shooting of  the new Mos Def video Sex, Love and Money this past Saturday (October 16) in NYC.  Ethereal Madness Media has provided us with exclusive behind-the-scenes images from the video shoot.

(above) three exclusive behind-the-scenes from the video shoot
for Mos Def's "Sex, Love and Money" (October 15-16, 2004 in NYC)

(October 15, 2004)   SNOOP DOGG/PHARELL VIDEO | MOS DEF VIDEO | VOTING PSA | WASHINGTON POST ARTICLE
The Paul Hunter-directed video Drop It Like It's Hot by Snoop Dogg feat. Pharell Williams premiered on BET Access Granted on October 5.  The clip is a very minimalist, with Snoop & Pharell performing against a white background, mixed with shots of video girls, cars, and graffiti on the wall.  Reminiscent of early Hype Williams videos, Little X's recent Beenie Man clip King of the Dancehall, and even the one that Diane Martel shot for Mariah Carey's Heartbreaker (remix).  The lighting and cinematography in this one is far superior to the others.
go to snoopdogg.com to view the video in streaming Quicktime in a variety of sizes (including fullscreen!)
behind-the-scenes footage can also be found inside the site
(thanks to Anthony E. & Kevin L. for the info)

According to the Urban music site manhunt.com, Paul Hunter is scheduled to shoot a new video for the Mos Def track Sex, Love and Money at the end of October.  The track is the lead single off his new album The New Danger, which was released earlier this week.  While the two have not previously worked on a project together, Mos Def's single Umi Says was featured in a series of Michael Jordan Nike commercials that Paul Hunter directed back in 2001.
click here to read the article at manhunt.com

Paul Hunter has directed a PSA clip that promotes American youth to vote.  The series of clips, sponsored by Burger King, also includes work by fellow HSI Productions directors Chris Robinson and Randy Krallman.  The clips are currently airing on television.
click here to read full article at shots.net

Paul Hunter is mentioned in an article about black music video directors, which appeared in the Washington Post on August 15.
click here to read "Cut To The Directors" by Tommy Nguyen (Washington Post; August 15, 2004; p.N01)
(thanks to jrcrave for the info)

(September 29, 2004)  PAUL-HUNTER.COM UPDATE | GOT MILK? COMMERCIAL | SNOOP/PHARELL VIDEO
False alarm.  Paul-Hunter.com is back up.

Paul-Hunter.com reports that Paul has just  finished shooting a Got Milk? commercial, entitled "Vanishing Act", featuring Carmelo Anthony.  He has also shot a video for Snoop Dogg feat. Pharell Williams for the track Drop It Like It's Hot.

(September 29, 2004)  PAUL-HUNTER.COM OFFLINE
For some reason, Paul Hunter's official website paul-hunter.com went offline earlier this week.  I'm in the process of finding out the reason for this.

(August 31, 2004)  HP iPOD COMMERCIAL INFO | UPCOMING HONDA COMMERCIALS
The Paul Hunter-directed clips for Hewlitt Packard iPod premiered on Sunday night during the MTV Video Music Awards.  The clips are for the new Apple iPod's for PC's from Hewlitt Packard, and feature segments showing different musical environments (ie: rock concert, oldies dance, break dancing, country line-dancing) with a contrasting music soundtrack playing in the background.  For example: hiphop playing during a country line-dance, polka music playing during a hiphop concert, etc.  While the scene & soundtrack may contrast, they end up melding perfectly together.  The scenes change with the familiar clicking of the iPod scroll-through.  The commercials basically show that the new HP iPod allows the user to store many genres of music, regardless of how varying one's musical tastes may be.  Four clips can be viewed in streaming Windows Media format at the HP website: a 60sec. "Mash Up" with different genres of music; and 30sec. segments each for "Country", "Breakdance", & "HipHop".
click here to view the commercials & find out more about the songs used in the clips
click here to read a press-release about the current HP iPod ad campaign

According to paul-hunter.com, Paul is currently working on two commercial spots for Honda in Vancouver, Canada.  The clips are entitled "Neighbours" and "Stickers".

(August 29, 2004)  HEWLITT PACKARD COMMERCIAL PREMIERES TONIGHT DURING MTV VMA's
Remember to watch the MTV Video Music Awards tonight (8pm on MTV), during which the new Paul Hunter-directed Hewlitt Packard iPod commerccial will premiere.  Thanks to Ethereal Madness Media (the company that manages the official website paul-hunter.com) for sharing 2 shots of Paul on-set of the commercial shoot:

(August 11, 2004)  VAN HUNT VIDEO | HEWLITT PACKARD COMMERCIAL | UPCOMING WILL SMITH VIDEO
Paul Hunter shot the new video for R&B singer Van Hunt's track Down Here In Hell (With You).  I would describe the video as sort of a cross between Paul Hunter's videos for Jennifer Lopez If You Had My Love (the subject of voyeurism and cameras) and Pharrell Williams's Frontin' (the colors, setting, and style in which the video was shot).
click to visit vanhunt.com, where you can view Down Here In Hell (With You) in Real Video, Windows Media & Quicktime formats

Paul-Hunter.com reported 2 weeks ago that Paul Hunter had shot a new 90-second commercial for Hewlitt Packard and iPod, which will premiere during the MTV Video Music Awards telecast on August 29.

Paul-Hunter.com also reports that Paul Hunter is currently preparing to shoot a new video for Will Smith's new upcoming single entitled Switch.  The video will shoot this weekend in Los Angeles.  This will mark the third video that Paul Hunter has helmed for Will Smith; in the past he has also directed Wild Wild West (from the movie soundtrack of the same name) and Freakin' It.

(August 5, 2004)  MTV VIDEO MUSIC AWARDS
Nominations for this year's MTV Video Music Awards were announced last week, and one Paul Hunter-directed video was nominated.  His video for Justin Timberlake's Senorita is nominated for Best Male Video.  This year's awards will be held on August 29 at 8pm on MTV.  This year marks the first time that the awards will be held outside of New York and Los Angeles, and the first time that it will air on a Sunday (as it has previously aired on a Thursday night).
click to go to MTV VMA 2004 page on MTV.com

(July 26, 2004)  PAUL HUNTER COMMERCIALS FOR NIKE, SAMSUNG, SONY
Paul-Hunter.com has reported a few projects that Paul has been working on in the past few months, but I haven't listed here yet:

He recently finishing filming two commercial spots for Nike, which feature NBA basketball players Charles Barkley, Richard Jefferson, and football star Clinton Portis.

Paul was working on a Samsung commercial in London, and shot a Sony commercial "Chair" in Europe (through Fallon London Ad Agency) back in April.

(July 22, 2004)  PAUL HUNTER DIRECTING NINTENDO COMMERCIAL
According to paul-hunter.com, Paul Hunter is currently in Argentina filming a commercial spot for Nintendo.

(June 28, 2004)  LENNY KRAVITZ TARGET COMMERCIAL AIRING NOW
It was announced back in April on paul-hunter.com that Paul Hunter had directed a Target commercial featuring Lenny Kravitz.  The commercial is currently airing on American television station, and features Lenny performing against a CGI background of speakers, guitars, and the red Target logo.  The commercial promotes the retail chain's exclusive offering of a CD, "Another Life", featuring the rocker's B-Sides & Rarities.
click here to view the commercial on the official Target site

(June 21, 2004)  N.E.R.D. VIDEO PREMIERES
The Paul Hunter-directed video for N.E.R.D.'s Maybe premiered in early June.  The video can be viewed at n-e-r-d.com.
(thanks to Anthony E., Cihan, Julian for the info)

(April 23, 2004)  PAUL HUNTER TO DIRECT UPCOMING N.E.R.D. VIDEO
Paul-Hunter.com has posted that Paul Hunter is set to direct the next N.E.R.D. video for their track Maybe.

(April 15, 2004)  PAUL HUNTER DIRECTS LENNY KRAVITZ FOR TARGET COMMERCIAL
Paul-Hunter.com has posted that Paul Hunter has directed a commercial for Target, featuring rocker Lenny Kravitz.

(April 11, 2004)  2004 MVPA NOMINATIONS
The nominations for the 2004 MVPA (Music Video Productions Association) Awards were recently announced and two Paul Hunter-directed videos have been nominated.  His videos Me Against The Music (Britney Spears & Madonna) and My Love Is Like... Wo (Mya) have been nominated for Best Choreography (the nominations go to the choreographers, Kevin Tancharoen for Me Against... and Brian Friedman, Travis Payne, Rico for My Love Is Like...).  My Love Is Like... Wo has also been nominated for Best R&B Video.  The awards will be handed out at a ceremony held in Los Angeles in May 20.
click on MVPA.com for more info

(March 17, 2004)  INFO ON VIRGIN MOBILE COMMERCIALS FEATURING BUSTA RHYMES
Did some more online searching for Paul Hunter-directed commercials and came across info for the Virgin Mobile commercials "Bling" (a.k.a. "Flush") and "Butt Naked" (a.k.a. "Hotel").  The pair of commercials, featuring Busta Rhymes, premiered this past December in Europe.
click here to read up on the commercial campaign
click here to watch Quicktime clips of both commercials and a behind-the-scenes feature at bustabutt.com

(March 16, 2004)  INFO ON PAUL HUNTER COMMERCIALS: GATORADE, REEBOK, V8
I did some online searching for information on some new Paul Hunter-directed commercials after paul-hunter.com posted the list of commercials this past weekend.  I found some articles on the following commercials:

- Gatorade "Everywhere" (feat. LL Cool J) and V8 "Classroom" (feat. Savion Glover) both started airing on television this past January (2004) and both were chosen as Adweek.com's Top Spots of January 2004.
Click on the following links to read the features on both spots: Gatorade | V8

- Reebok Answer VII "Philly Story" premiered in October 2003 and features Allen Iverson recreating a pivotal scene from the film Rocky.  In the commercial, Iverson dribbles a basketball through the streets of Philadelphia, eventually reaching the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Click on the following link to read an article from Adweek.com: "Arnell Reprises 'Rocky' Scene for Reebok"

(L-R) Gatorade "Everywhere"; V8 "Classroom"; Reebok Answer VII "Philly Story"

(March 15, 2004)  NIKE FREESTYLE: STICKMAN | PAUL HUNTER COMMERCIALS
A friend of mine confirmed for me that Paul Hunter directed all three Nike Freestyle: Stickman commercials.  I mentioned last week that the commercial campaign had won Gold Lions at the 2003 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival.  The three commercials were: Stickman - Hoops, Stickman - Football, and Stickman - Frisbee.
(thanks to migs for the info)

Speaking of Paul Hunter commercial-work, paul-hunter.com has updated their site this weekend with a full listing of his commercial work.  Quite a few commercials that I wasn't aware of (including more recent ones for Virgin Mobile, Sears, and Gatorade.)

(March 11, 2004)  OFFICIAL PAUL-HUNTER.COM WEBSITE LAUNCHES | CANNES LIONS | BAD BOY 2 CD + DVD
A new Official Paul Hunter Website (www.paul-hunter.com) was launched within the past month.  The site, commissioned by the director himself, will include an official bio, downloadable music video & commercial clips, official videography & commercial lists, news, links, and contact info.  The site is currently under construction, but sections with commercial & music video clips (in Quicktime format) already up, as is a listing of Paul Hunter's video work (which, may I add, is IDENTICAL to the list that I personally compiled for this site.... hmmmm.... interesting....)
;o)

I just came back from a screening of the 2003 Cannes Lions International Advertising Festival award winners at a local theatre, and was surprised to see two Paul Hunter-directed commercials during the screening.  The commercials were part of a television ad campaign that won the Gold Lions award for Sports & Athletics (or similarly-named awards category) for Nike Freestyle, which features a CGI-animated Stickman playing against real-life athletes.  One took place on a beach and involved them playing frisbee (image shown above); one involved Stickman playing against basketball players on an outdoor court; and one involved them kicking around a soccer-ball.  The frisbee one was directed by Paul Hunter for sure, and can be viewed in Quicktime format at paul-hunter.com.  I believe the basketball one was also directed by Paul Hunter, while the soccer/football one was directed by another director (or the other way around, I'm not 100% sure).  Both the basketball & soccer/football commercials can be downloaded at NikeFreestyle.com.  The soundtrack to all the commercials were done by Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes.

Earlier this week, Bad Boy Records released a greatest hits package entitled Bad Boy's 10th Anniversary... The Hits.  The 2 disc set includes a 14-track CD with many of the record company's hits from the late 90's, as well as a DVD video compilation with 11 music videos, including 2 Paul Hunter-directed classics: Hypnotize (Notorious B.I.G.) and It's All About The Benjamins (Puff Daddy).

(December 31, 2003 - January 6, 2004)  2003 YEAR REVIEW
2003 was a busy year for Paul Hunter.  After taking more than a year off (in 2002) to shoot Bulletproof Monk, Paul Hunter made a comeback in 2003 by shooting a slew of high-profile music videos and commercial campaigns.  Of the 10 or so videos he shot in 2003, the stand-outs included the controversial video for Superman (Eminem); Rock Wit You (Awww Baby) (Ashanti), Frontin' (Pharrell Williams) and My Love Is Like Wo! (Mya).  He also directed two popular videos for Justin Timberlake (Senorita & I'm Lovin' It).  Perhaps the most talked-about video he directed in 2003 was for the Britney Spears & Madonna collabaration Me Against The Music.  My personal favorite videos this year include Officially Missing You (Tamia), Rock Wit You (Ashanti), & Frontin' (Pharrell Williams).  My least favorites include Senorita (Justin Timberlake) & Fire (Joe Budden).

Paul also directed two very successful commercial campaigns, including one for Gap which also featured Madonna (with Missy Elliott), and a series of six clips for the Nike Basketball "Battle" commercial campaign.  On April 16, 2003, Paul Hunter's movie directorial debut Bulletproof Monk (starring Chow Yun-Fat & Seann William Scott) premiered in North American theatres to poor reviews.  The movie was subsequently released on DVD in September 2003.  Much luck to Paul Hunter in 2004 with his future video, commercial, and movie projects.

Archived News: 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | Current