Following Antony & The Johnsons’ Cut The World and Frank Ocean’s Pyramids, Nabil is finding his groove for enigmatic, psychological drama and his video for The Weeknd’s Twenty Eight follows in the same vein, intercutting between the soul singer’s appearance on a serious TV chat show, a ghost of a girl watching him on TV, and a flashback to a house where two half-naked pole dancers at a private party may well be in mortal danger…
This was shot in Bucharest – the party scenes at the personal residence of reviled Romanian tyrant Nicolae Ceaușescu – where Nabil has characteristically made the most of the budget. With excellent production value, sumptuous visuals and the measured pacing for which he’s becoming renowned, this is definitely one for the viewer to fill in the gaps themselves…
The Weeknd
Twenty Eight
Director: Nabil Elderkin
Prod co: A+
Producer: Liz Kessler
Romania producer: Ileana Anghel @ Domino Pro
DoP: Matyas Erdely
Editor: Isaac Hagy
Production designer: Carmen Dima
Color: Paul Harrison @ Finish.tv
Post: Judy @ Finish.tv
Label: The Weend XO inc.
XO exec prod: Abel Tesfaye, La Mar C. Taylor, Drop
Commissioner: Kate Miller