Last week, we posted our monthly music video roundup for May 2025, listing the best and worst videos of the month. In that post, you’ll find the new video for My Morning Jacket “Everyday Magic” directed by Amanda Kramer in the best of section.
Amanda Kramer is probably most known for her independent feature films, of which she had directed seven. Her most recent film, By Design, stars Juliette Lewis and premiered at the 2025 Sundance film festival.
But if you only know Amanda’s film work, then you’re missing an essential part of her practice. Because she’s also a prolific music video director, having directed 15 music videos for Magdalena Bay last year - although 12 are currently unreleased.
What makes Amanda special is she already had a successful, buzzy film and TV career when her music video career picked up. She doesn’t view music videos as a means to an end, she views them as a chance to be part of filmmaking history that dates back to En Vogue and TLC, and flows all the way the way to the modern greats like Hiro Murai and Erin Murray.
She’s not trying to network. She’s not hedging. She’s not pretending music videos are just a stepping stone to something else. She takes the form seriously, while also laughing at how unserious the industry can be sometimes.
That’s why I wanted her on the first episode back. Not just because she makes really good videos. But because she’s proof that you can choose this. Proof that some of the best filmmakers in the world are here because they want to be, not because they have to be.
Joining her is cinematographer Patrick Jones, her longtime collaborator that has shot most of her movies and music videos. Patrick is very tall, which comes up a lot in this episode.
Show Notes