What does a commissioner do?

I decided to look at the role of a commissioner for the music industry. If one of their artists are planning a music video, the commissioner would send the track that the band were hoping to have made into a music video, out to several music video directors. It would then be down to the directors to pitch their ideas for the video to the commissioners. The commissioner would then choose who they wanted to make the music video.

For example, Jake and Jim, a working partnership for music videos were sent the track 'Sweet Disposition' by The Temper Trap. They had to pitch their ideas to the commissioner who eventually decided not to use them to direct the music video. This is what the music video looked like.



I researched into Jake Wynne, half of Jake and Jim. He is a music video director and has made

music videos for artists, such as Geri Halliwell, Stereophonics and most recently 'Kick Ass' which was performed by Mika. He has also made adverts for TV and recently directed a short film called 'Did'.

Jake explained that with some music videos for bands, they comed directly to him for him to make a music video for them, having previously worked with them on a music video. This proves that they worked well together.


This is the music video called 'Kick Ass' by Mika.



The Process Of A Commission

I have listed all the key stages that form the process of a commission. They are as follows:

1) The commissioner emails the music video directors or the agencies they work for.
2) The music video directors create their ideas and pitch for them.
3) The commissioner decides which idea is the best and most likely to succeed.
4) The music video director then works with the band to produce the music video.