Xavier Fauthoux Wins James Brown Music Video Challenge

LONDON — French director Xavier Fauthoux has been chosen as the Grand Prize winner for the James Brown Music Video Challenge. In addition, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe), along with the James Brown Estate has chosen his entry to be the official music video for the track ‘It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World,’ with a prize of US $4,000, which will be funded by Universal and Genero.tv.

Fauthoux will be invited to work on a project in a key office in the Saatchi & Saatchi global network, working alongside some of the best creatives in the business, and his film will be featured in a BUG event at the BFI Southbank London on 30th August.

He commented about the win: “I’m very happy to have won the James Brown Music Video Challenge. I tried to describe the richness of James Brown’s life. James Brown was a force of nature, a gift from heaven. He invented funk, but it was a symbol of freedom and success for millions of Black Americans fighting for their civic rights, who saw him as a source of hope and pride.”

Bruce Resnikoff, President/CEO of Universal Music Enterprises said: “There were so many unique and creative entries, with each contestant presenting his or her own, imaginative vision based on the timeless music of James Brown. But the one that stood out, in particular, was that of filmmaker Xavier Fauthoux with his entry for It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World. His is the perfect example of how the enduring musical legacy of great artists such as James Brown can inspire, not only in music, but in all forms of art and expression.”

Fauthoux submitted an animated film with slick VFX and strong narrative, to illustrate the iconic James Brown track ‘It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World.’ Fauthoux started out as a web designer at Ubisoft, specialising in 2D/3D animation and VFX Supervision, before setting up Shoot The Boss, an independent digital animation and motion graphics studio in Montreuil, France.

UMe also selected three additional films to become the official music videos of James Brown tracks; Try Me, Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag, and Sex Machine (Part 1).

The directors whose submissions were chosen to be official music promos, and who will each receive a prize of US $4,000 from Universal and Genero.tv in addition to Xavier Fauthoux for ‘It’s a Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World’ are Colombian filmmaker Camilo Rodriguez for ‘Try Me’; American Chief Mojo and Doug Hardee for ‘Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag’; and Mexican director Luis Cisneros for ‘Sex Machine (Part 1).’

Pablo del Campo, CEO of Del Campo Saatchi & Saatchi, and member of the Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Creative Board, commented: “The standard of submissions for this year’s Music Video Challenge was high with a great range of styles. It’s exciting to have discovered a talent such as Xavier Fauthoux’s whose animated short was engaging. Last year’s winner, Alberto Gomez, went to Saatchi & Saatchi agency Conill in LA to work on a spot for the Miami Short Film Festival, and I’m looking forward to seeing what Xavier will do when he is commissioned to work on a project within the Saatchi & Saatchi Network.”

The Music Video Challenge attracted an international range of film directors, demonstrating the universal appeal of Godfather of Soul James Brown. Rodriguez was born in Bogota in 1987, and is a screenwriter and director who makes short films and documentaries; Chief Mojo and Doug Hardee are based in Tampa, Florida, where Chief Mojo runs video-production company The Mojo Ranch; 23 year-old filmmaker Luis Cisneros hails from Mexico, and describes himself as a ‘simple person, from a small town that loves filmmaking.’

Andrew Lane, co-founder of Genero.tv commented: “We absolutely loved Xavier Fauthoux’s video, which truly captured such an iconic James Brown song and told a story through powerful imagery and animation. Well done also to all the other official music video winners and finalists, you should be very proud of your work!”

David Knight, Director of BUG said: “The music of James Brown will always inspire people to dance — and it has certainly inspired some impressive entries to the James Brown Music Video Challenge. Ultimately Xavier Fauthoux’s video for It’s a Man’s Man’s Man’s World is a very worthy winner of The Grand Prize. This work not only captures the essence of this fantastic song, it tells a heart-rending story of the life of James Brown himself.”

The judging panel consisted of members of the Saatchi & Saatchi Worldwide Creative Board, Genero.tv, BUG, Ume, and representatives from the James Brown Estate.

Directors featured in this year’s New Directors’ Showcase were invited to help judge the winner. Ninian Doff, who was featured in this year’s New Directors’ Showcase commented: “The winner, Xavier Fauthoux, is both amazing in that it was made to such a high, professional standard, but also that it dared to have an ‘epic’ narrative, way deeper and ambitious than most music videos.”

View the Grand Prize winner and official music videos at: http://genero.tv/jamesbrown/