Category Archives: directing.
directing: KENDRICK LAMAR – “A.D.H.D.” [MUSIC VIDEO PREMIERE]
“I had the honor of directing a music video for one of my new favorite artists – Kendrick Lamar. After falling in love with his mixtape Section.80 and playing it on repeat, I was given the choice to pick any song to direct. I settled on “A.D.H.D.” for it’s dark beat and melancholy lyrics, tones that have always resonated with me. Like most of Kendrick’s songs off Section.80, it felt like a confessional of a conflicted generation; a timeless and universal theme.
I wanted the video to illustrate the emotion he paints with words, while avoiding gratuitous shots of any substance. Despite the song’s title and content, the focus isn’t the drugs, but rather, that basic human experience of apathetic youth. That simple mood of emptiness which we choose to either address or self-medicate.
Kendrick is a monster. Not only is he gifted as a musician, but as a person – he’s a genuine sweetheart.
I hope you like the video…” – Va$htie, Director [via LIFEANDTIMES.COM]
directing: VIBE FASHION WEEK INTERVIEWS BY VASHTIE x MISTER MORT x PROHIBIT NYC x REED SPACE x AMARE
Here are all 4 videos directed by myself and shot by REVERY MEDIA (Ian Meltzler and Gilah Elul) – ENJOY!!!
*MISTER MORT
*PROHIBIT NYC
*REED SPACE
*”EVERYBODY KNOWS AMARE”
directing: MAZZI AND SNEAKAS – “F*%K YOU” – dir. VASHTIE (DISCRETION IS ADVISED)
best friends MAZZI (IRANIAN) and SNEAKAS (ISRAELI) make music together and try to bring peace among the groups of people they represent that have had a tumultuous history. in this song “F*%K YOU”, the guys decided to get out all the negativity and stereotypes that they heard about the other side as they were growing up (they don’t necessarily hold these beliefs…)
the idea was, how much can we get to peace without getting it “all out on the table”? there’s only so much that shaking hands and “moving on” can do. we wanted the video to be as cathartic and beautiful as possible. with the use of children, we wanted to juxtapose the children who overhear these things every day all around the world and grow up hating.
and on a shoestring budget, here it is.
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“The latest video from political rap duo Mazzi & Sneakas “F*%K You” directed by world famous director Va$htie Kola. This pull-no-punches hip hop banger explores the underlining hatred that exists between Jews and Muslims, and by addressing the stereotypes, racist, and Anti-Semitic things that Mazzi and Sneakas have heard about each other growing up they show the world how important knowing the real truth is. For more info about this dope group and behind the scenes footage of this video visit www.mazziandsneakas.com. SerchliteTV it’s not a game people!!!”
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directing: THIRD FLOOR NEW YORK x FALL 10 x “SUPPLICATION” x DIRECTED BY VASHTIE
when my good friends CEDRIC HAUGHTON and ANTHONY HENDRICKSON asked me to collaborate with them on their FALL 2010 LOOK BOOK VIDEO for their line THIRDFLOORNEWYORK…i was more than ready and willing.
for years, these two gentleman have been killing the game with their own style…making fashion statements that everyone eventually follows. so, when they both decided to start their own collection, it was no surprise – and highly anticipated!
we played with themes of loss of innocence, vanity, religion, self-torture, and finally supplication/enlightenment…
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behind the scenes: SHOOTING THEOPHILUS LONDON + “I WANT YOU” VIDEO SET
*me, THEOPHILUS and ELLE “STEELY DAN” CLAY (NEW YORK, circa 2010)
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collaborating with THEOPHILUS has been one of the most fulfilling projects i’ve ever had the honor of being apart of, hands down.
first it was the mixtape “I WANT YOU”, where he asked me to lend some vocals earlier this year -taking me out of my comfort zone. i’d been asked by music making friends to do the same before, but always shied (by the way i’m shocked that thats the correct spelling of the past tense for “shy”) away from the microphone. this time it seemed just right. it was a real collaboration between two like minded artists…and the first of many!
next up, it was creating videos (more so visuals) that would be paired perfectly with the genius music he’s effortlessly been creating for his mixtape. i had an idea for “I WANT YOU”, pitched it to THEO and it was done.
this would be the most sexual piece of work i’ve ever created…listening to the song gave me all the visuals to work with.
*JEN
*directing something so sexual was hard, but fun at the same time…i’d say to GLENN “spread your legs…part your lips…writhe on the bed…”. every direction was followed by a “sorry” because i felt so rude sayings those things.
*liquid courage
*sleeping KNOX
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it was not only a pleasure shooting THEOPHILUS and GLENN…it was gratifying!
directing: JUNIOR SANCHEZ feat. GOOD CHARLOTTE – “Elevator”
“fina-lee-ee-ee” like Ce Ce Peniston, the video i directed and starred in (yes, you read that right) last year in LAS VEGAS has officially been released!!! it was so much fun working with JUNIOR and the MADDEN BOYS!
side story of why i’m cast as JOEL MADDEN’S “love interest”…the casting director brought in a lot of ladies, but none of them fit the vision for the video. JOSH MADDEN made a suggestion that i be the girl that it would be a more of a fun collaboration/cameo and more realistic than the girl options we had. i was completely against the idea and we went down to the hotel lobby and approached every girl that fit the bill, but we couldn’t wrangle one! there was one last resort and she was so nervous that went to hotel bar and got wasted to calm her nerves, making it impossible to shoot her. so…i took one for the team and it was actually a lot of fun.
*seriously, it was the easiest to work with this dudes. JOEL was so patient and cool as a fan.
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PREVIOUS POSTS FROM LAST YEAR…
saturday morning we landed in the city of sin. we checked in to our nice rooms at the WYNN, had a brief production meeting and met my amazing DP BRANDON COX. after, tried to kick it at the pool…10 minutes later i was alerted that our location (the HARDWOOD SUITE at the PALMS) was available for scouting. so, we ran over there…
*i could marry this bed.
*poolside.
*it was 100 degrees out, but surprisingly not painful.
OFF TO THE HARDWOOD SUITE at THE PALMS…
*yes, a basketball court in the two floor suite. there were also 3 queen sized beds behind doors
that pulled out on the court! there were so many rooms and crazy bathrooms in there, it was crazy!
*ANNA and AAHMEK taking a break.
*JUNIOR SANCHEZ and JOEL MADDEN.
*BENJI’s guitar solo.
*BENJI and PARIS.
*SAMANTHA brought her fly crew and her adorable little sister.
*party scene. it started to become hard to direct since everyone really started drinking while shooting.
*we’re starting a band and i’m playing the tambourine.
*the crews combine.
*ANNA the great.
*JOSH “J-O” MADDEN, stylist extraordinaire and all around cool guy.
*i couldn’t turn down a dare when ROB said we should smoke some cigars. i haven’t smoked a cigar since i was 5. yes, you heard me right. my crazy, drunk, west indian dad thought it would be funny if i smoked cigars…and also sipped Heinikens. anyways, cigars have a not so good taste, but somehow they are still fun to puff…
