Pay tribute to [link=/name/nm0000469/]James Earl Jones[/link], [link=/name/nm0001167/]Shelley Duvall[/link], and more stars we lost in 2024.

In Memoriam 2024

Pay tribute to <a class="ipc-md-link" href="/name/nm0000469/?ref_=nmawd_eds_right-3_lk">James Earl Jones</a>, <a class="ipc-md-link" href="/name/nm0001167/?ref_=nmawd_eds_right-3_lk">Shelley Duvall</a>, and more stars we lost in 2024.

Check out the biggest movies and shows out now or coming soon.

IMDb Staff Picks for December

These big screen releases can now be watched from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases You Can Stream or Rent

Having photographed and directed hundreds of music videos, films and commercials over the last 30 years, Samuel Bayer has firmly established himself as one of the industry's most prolific and sought-after talents.

A 1987 graduate of New York City's School of Visual Arts, Bayer was a painter who saw film and video as the perfect medium to deliver his art to a greater audience. He launched his career with Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit," a landmark video that MTV has consistently rated as one of the most influential music videos ever made. His decision to photograph the Nirvana video himself infused it with a distinct style and attitude that started him on a path, he's blazed ever since. His hands-on approach to filmmaking so clearly imprinted on his work, Bayer chooses to light, photograph and operate the camera on all his work. On the heels of his work with Nirvana, he went on to create countless videos for artists as diverse as The Rolling Stones, Sheryl Crow, John Lee Hooker, Marilyn Manson, Metallica, The Smashing Pumpkins, 'David Bowie (I)', Aerosmith, Lenny Kravitz and Blink-182.

In 1995 he hit the commercial scene with the same results--one of his first spots, the revolutionary spot for Nike's "If You Let Me Play", won the AICP award for Best Direction. In 1997 his Packard-Bell "Home" spot won the AICP for Cinematography, Direction, and Production Design. His work on Mountain Dew's "Showstopper" collected the 2001 Clio Awards for Best Direction and Best Cinematography. His other commercial work includes campaigns for Nike, Coke, Pepsi, Nissan, Lexus, and Mountain Dew, and has cemented his reputation as a visual revolutionary. Bayer's commercials are showcased in the permanent film/video collection at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

His video for Green Day's "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" swept the MTV music awards, garnering seven Moon Men including Best Director, Best Cinematography, Best Rock Video as well as the coveted Viewer's Choice Award. In 2005 Bayer was the recipient of the Kodak Lifetime Achievement Award for his work and cinematography in music videos and was honored in 2006 by the Music Video Producers Association with his second Lifetime Achievement Award.

Awards

Samuel Bayer

Camerimage

Boston Film Festival

Sarasota Film Festival

Rome International Film Festival, USA

California International Shorts Festival, US

Barcelona International Film Festival

Film Fest International, London

Hollywood Film Festival

MTV Video Music Awards (VMA)

South Dakota Film Festival

iHeartRadio Much Music Video Awards

Contribute to this page

More from this person

More to explore

Recently viewed