Brooklyn!  Another music video shot in NYC, still one of the freshest places to provide visuals for musical art, in the can for the team.  As a creative producer, there are many hats that I tend to wear when approaching a project that the artist, client, and viewers of a completed music video can't imagine.  As soon as my director, Visionz, attaches me to a project, I get the ball rolling by taking the lead on everything from budgeting, casting, location scouting, travel logistics, and communications between all respective camps.  For "Besame," it was no different!  However, working with an artist on several occasions makes things a lot simpler and smoother, as I know what the artist likes and confidence has been built with my decision making to where a successful collaboration is almost always guaranteed.  This was my second time working directly with Mando El Pelado, but my team has directed over 7 videos for this singer.

After listening to the summer-vibe Latin track on repeat for weeks, the video treatment was created by Visionz and oversaw by me.  Confirming the treatment allows me to develop all other areas of the production.  Simultaneously, I knew we would need a gorgeous lead model/actress and a vibrant location to match the visuals.  Landing Maria Fernanda didn't come without challenges, leading all the way up to the night before the shoot.  My original intention was to cast a beautiful young female talent from my hometown of Lancaster, Pa, however, my search was unsuccessful, creating a need for a full casting call.  After interviewing female models and dancers for two weeks, no one fit the script as written by the director.  My long time friend and former industry mentor, Edgar, pointed me towards Maria.  The Ecuadorian backgrounds of Maria, Edgar, and Mando was an unplanned pleasant surprise.  Nonetheless, the triangular connection made life on set a breeze!  The monkey wrench in the pre-production was rerouting Maria from a project she accepted in Miami and flying her back to New York the night before the video.  As you can see from the behind the scenes segment and the full music video, I pulled it off as I typically do for most of my projects.

The location was confirmed several days before the shoot as well.  Elissa, a premier interior designer and creative, opened up her artsy Brooklyn loft for the shoot.  The Caribbean vibe, cozy custom fireplace, and rooftop elements made this venue my top choice from the long list of options.  I think I nailed this option for the visual, too!  All the while these two major challenges were being secured, I made my life easier by running with the usual suspects for on set production.  My go-to team of Director of Photography, Kenny, my 4K camera operator and editor, Edgar, top-notch NJ/NYC makeup artist, Cassidy, and the all around skilled production assistant, Feli.  About 85 percent of my workload is completed before we hit the set.  Leaving the other 15 percent for set and post-production.

For this video, like all others, I manage the video set and ensure Visionz gets all of her shots on the shotlist, the talent are comfortable, the venue is used in the exact way we designed it, and of course making sure the day goes to plan, minute by minute from first shot to the last shot.  As far as post-production, I allow Edgar to edit according to the music video treatment and provide a rough cut.  Then I really put the creative producer hat on and nail down a final edit to show the client.  Think of me as a director after the set director does her thing.  As a former editor, I have the skillset to make all necessary adjustments using the appropriate lingo to edit along with my editor even when we are not in the same editing room.  Technology has made it ever so easy to collaborate over the internet and upload deliverables. 

If the visual doesn't come out the way I explained it to the client, everyone on my team is SAFE and this is where the power but detriment of being a producer is ALL MINE.  When we succeed, the team won.  When we fail, I take the L all by myself.  Can you say I enjoy the pressure?  I wouldn't have it any other way.  From unpaid intern to global producer.  I really did start from the bottom and now I'm here. 

Enjoy and share the behind the scenes segment for "Besame," featuring Maria Fernanda.  Then watch the full music video in 4K.