But shes never shot a video like the one she directed forRihannas Sledgehammer,from the movieStar Trek Beyond.
The clip marks the first time a music video has been shot entirely in IMAX.
(Adeles Hello music video had two IMAX shots, directorXavier Dolan told EWlast year.)
(WhenSia writes you an epic ballad, youre going to need an epic concept.)
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How does shooting a video for IMAX change your creative process?
You really feel like youre in it.
In the opening scene, when youre going through space, that really comes to life.
Because theres no bottom [of the screen], youre weightless.
It helps create that feeling for sure.
And the quality is just really amazingeven on your laptop, the quality will be better.
How much of the videos world comes fromStar Trekand how much of it is your own creation?
We wanted to use some of the elements from the film.
I watched the film and gravitated towards some, like the floating rocks.
I thought that could help elevate my world and make it otherworldly.
She has her own character not rooted in the film.
Shes harnessing her power to manipulate the elements.
I love the idea of transcendence.
When you listen to the lyrics of the song, shes this sledgehammer breaking things down.
I wanted to evoke that feeling on a really large scale.
How involved was she in her look and her character?
Rihanna fans arent used to seeing her with no eyebrows and face tattoos.
I had some ideas.
I worked closely with the makeup artist.
Rihanna was really into having tattoos on her face, which was amazing.
She was really into getting rid of her eyebrows.
It was a unique look.
And we love her because shes so daring and tries new things.
Even in the way that shes moving and creating a language with her hands and her body.
She gives you her all.
In every performance there was something I could have taken.
Its really amazing the amount of times she performed the song, and every time she gave you something.
It was really magical to watch.
What was the idea behind her moves?
I seem to create to some kind of body language that gets interpreted.
Youll see me behind the camera doing weird things.
Its sort of like becoming one with the music.
We talked about motion: if shes conjuring things up from the earth, what would that look like?
Rihanna is just so incredible with her hands.
So its about giving direction, but they totally become her own.
Where did you shoot the video?
It looks like another planet.
Its in theTrona Pinnacles, which are about four hours outside of Los Angeles.
Its really surrounded by nothing.
Once youre dropped in, youre halfway there mentally.
I dont even think cell phones were working, which is great.
It already had this mythical quality to it.
Women made up much of your crewyour director of photography, your executive producers, your choreographer.
Theres a big conversation in Hollywood right now about the lack of women directors.
Weve seen people like Marc Webb go from directing Ashlee Simpson music videos to directingThe Amazing Spider-Man.
Yeah, I think it is, definitely.
If I put together all the hours that Ive been on set, its just an incredible experience.
But its an experience to get to know yourself.
What are the stories you want to tell?
You get to play with this stuff for a couple of days and experiment with ideas.
You get to create the people around you, the support systems.
You find out what personalities you surround yourself with.
So for sure, and that experience is just invaluable when youre moving into a feature.
Im here, and I know this world.
Its taught me lots.
Knowing when to do something and when to stop hearing other peoples voices and go inside [yourself].
Even if youre surrounded by a hundred people, how do you still hear that voice?
In painting and in photography, youre more one-on-one.
How do you still get that?
Its like, Youve got to createnow.
Youve got to be able to put yourself in that place quite quickly.
