WIZ Andrew John Whiston

Director · Writer

Biography

W.I.Z. has directed a number of high-concept videos for major music artists from the United Kingdom and the United States, including Massive Attack, Kasabian, Oasis, and Marilyn Manson. Many of these videos, in addition to featuring the song and the performers, also follow a running narrative, and may contain a political or social message. Once in a band himself, W.I.Z. has also directed concert films of live performances by the bands Suede, Manic Street Preachers, and Primal Scream. He has directed two short films: Weekender and Baby. The 1992 film Weekender follows the band Flowered Up and displays the hedonistic side of club and drug culture; the 13-minute film was screened on Channel 4 in Britain. W.I.Z.'s second short film Baby made its European debut at the 2000 Edinburgh International film festival and its U.S. debut at the MVPA Director's Cuts 2000 film festival. In February 2003, W.I.Z.'s video for Black Rebel Motorcycle Club's "Whatever Happened to My Rock 'N Roll" was named as MTV2 Europe's "Best Video of the Year 2002" by the NME Carling Awards. He is currently signed to the production company My Accomplice. He previously worked with Academy Films, Factory Films and Oil Factory Inc.