How did the Idlewild video come about?
WW: They send me a letter with the track. I liked the song a lot. That’s the only thing that matters for me: If I have a gut feeling about a song. No great idea or concept can make up for that. And it needs to catch me at a moment when I have a bit of time left.

Did you know much about them before you heard the track?
WW: I knew their second album and had heard it quite often.

The video for Live In A Hiding Place has a relaxed, freewheeling feel, although it begins with an intimate portrait of the band’s singer Roddy. Did you have an idea about how the video would work before you met the band, and did that change once you got to know them?
WW: I was so relieved when they finally stood there, crawling out of the van from the airport. I knew right away that my treatment would work. They needed to be as laid back and gentle as they actually were. Especially Roddy had a great presence. And a good face. You don’t write these songs for no reason...

Many music videos steal elements from movies as ‘references’ – Wings Of Desire being quite a popular one – so with its prevalent ‘Wild West’ theme, was this a chance to get in some favourite movie references of your own?
WW:To tell you the truth:The fun with “Hiding Place” was that I had never shot anything that resembled a western, even remotely. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I might have had some Sam Peckinpah reference, who knows. I’m not so keen on wanting to know all that stuff.

You’ve also made the occasional music video with U2 in the past, and collaborated with various musicians. What do you like about the medium of music video (if anything)?
WW: I LOVE music, and listen to a lot, all of the time. Not just Rock and Blues and Hiphop, also classical and World Music. Music is of paramount importance in my films, and has been from the beginning. My first feature film, graduating from film school was called “SUMMER IN THE CITY/dedicated to the Kinks”. Music videos are sheer fun, provided you like the song. It can clear your head to be involved that for a week or two. Movies take sooo long, anyway. Plus: I’m a workaholic, and what better way to get some additional work done than to do a music video?

Would you make more if you were asked, and if so, any music artist you would particularly like to work with?
WW. Do you have the space for such a long list?

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