INTERVIEW WITH (LOCAL OPM) VIDEO DIRECTORS - A SERIES
RA RIVERA
"GUTS FOR PASSION"
Standing on same ground with some of our local music video advocates and producers is direk RA Rivera. Just one slab of a genius in his own right arrayed among our renowned and hard working music video directors. For a determined purpose, RA Rivera schooled himself in UP Diliman with Film and Audiovisual Communication course. Ripping what he sow, direk RA would testify how rewarding it is to be one and how arduous it is to be broiled just to spice up a song.
Meanwhile, here are some considerable music video shot of RA Rivera with our local rock acts: RIVERMAYA: Bandila, Inosente Lang Ang Nagtataka, Sugal Ng Kapalaran, Maskara. PUPIL/BARBIE ALMALBIS: Nakakabaliw. ITCHYWORMS: Beer. IMAGO: Under Repair. SESSION ROAD: Leaving You. SUGARFREE: Dear Kuya. UP DHARMA DOWN: Oo. MOJOFLY: Sa Uulitin. SOAPDISH: Ewan Ko. CAMBIO: Patlang. PEDICAB: Dizzy Boy, A Stormy Night, Konti Na Lang, Dito Tayo Sa Dilim, Ang Pusa Mo. PRANK SINATRA: Hit The D Chord.
Everything started with a dream, “when I was in late high school, even before I decided to go into film, I had a vague dream of directing a music video for the Eraserheads,” that ended in reality. Direk RA was nervous at age 23 when he foretasted the role of a ruler on the reel. “I was 23. Details are hazy but what I do recall was that I was nervous,” he commenced.
Making the most of the kickoff video he is doing, direk RA presumes that impressions might last, “getting started by itself is difficult. I think the first video was the most difficult in the sense that it was having to live up to the trust given to you by the artist to make their video, he asserts. Besides, before dancing on the platform as music director, he had been a TV show director somewhat giving him more lift for the latter. “...before I broke into the music video directing scene. I had been directing TV shows and other projects for three years already before I started directing music videos.”
Lack of financial budget constricts or rather challenges his creative side besides the labels that presses the burden upon him, “lack of budget always proves to be a challenge in implementing your vision but what really tests my patience is when some record labels try to limit your space for creativity,” he buffs. Nonetheless, few consoling thoughts can alleviate few discomfort knocking him down along the way, “it’s still definitely a boost to be trusted to direct a video for an artist you highly respect. It’s a great perk to get to know them and sometimes become friends with them long after the music video. Sometimes it also gets you backstage passes or free CDs.”
MORE VIDEO TALKS
Who are your early role models or mentors?
I wouldn’t exactly call them role models or mentors but I definitely look up to Richard Lester, the director of the Beatles’ Help and Hard Day's Night.
What's the hardest part in being a music video director?
Being the director means you’re the captain of the team and that’s a lot of responsibility, that I would say would be the hardest part of directing, not only of music videos but of directing in general. Its also a lot of pressure to be able to visualize your concept and let audiences relate to it and of course the pressure that the artist would like the end product as well.
Growing up, did you envision yourself doing this?
When I was in late high school, even before I decided to go into film, I had a vague dream of directing a music video for the Eraserheads.
What are the common misconceptions about music video directors?
A common misconception is that music directors make a lot of money shooting music videos. The truth is music videos usually have small budgets and more often than not, if the artists are your friends then you end up sharing the costs with them because you believe in their music and their vision and would like to help them reach out to their fans and to the public. I could say that probably more than half of the music videos I’ve directed, I’ve shelled out my own money to cover the deficit in the budget and waived my talent fees just so we could achieve the vision we have for the video.
Do you usually base your visual concept on the meaning of the song itself?
No. Sometimes I deliberately come up with concepts that are far away from the meaning of the song, take Drip’s Song # 9 for example, which really did not have any basis on the meaning of the song.
Does adding visuals to the song make the song more expressive? What do you think and in what way?
Yes visuals help. In fact, early music videos were called promo films for the artists and their songs. Music videos today are still in a sense a marketing tool to sell the music. But it also helps define the look or image of the artist.
How do you choose song or songs to be made into a music video?
It varies. Most of the time the artist or record label approaches me and if we agree on the concept then it’s rock and roll.
As a particular director with a particular taste of music, what type of music or song do you usually direct or interested in making a video?
Generally I am interested in directing videos for rock bands.
Years after years of directing (producing) music videos, what is the shortest time you've spent so far to come up with one?
The shortest is probably 20 minutes, it was Pedicab’s Put the Pieces Together which was shot right after Ang Pusa Mo.
And the longest one?
Radioactive Sago Project’s Wasak na Wasak was almost two years in the making and the actual shooting was two days.
As head and director which gives imperatives every now and then, how do you get into terms with the artists themselves?
I don’t think I’ve really experienced this because even before we start rolling, I make sure that we, meaning, everyone involved, from the crew to the artists, are all on the same page and generally know what to do and expect at the shoot.
What segment or part in the music video making that makes you exited or expectant?
Saying “it’s a wrap” is still the best part of making a music video.
When does a music video take a lot of finances to make?
The concept dictates the cost, for example if it will need building a set or going to several locations. A music video also costs a lot of money when it’s shot on film, like Radioactive Sago Project’s Astro and Wasak na Wasak.
What do you think makes a music video salable in terms of market and popularity?
It’s a combination of several things, the music, the visuals and the artist. Sometimes if the video is entertaining then there’s a lot of recall, in the same vein, if a video has a lot of pretty girls then it also has a lot of recall. A video that also stands out from the rest with a unique concept can also help.
Does making a music video, make a living too?
No.
So far, whose music video do you wish you could have directed?
The Beatles, the Eraserheads and Christina Aguilera.
What would you tell an aspiring music video director?
There’s no money here but its artistically rewarding.
Would you recommend it to other people who are thinking of going the same route?
Yes, I think people should give whatever it is that they aspire to do a try, it’s the only way they will find out if they still want to go down that road. Directing music videos can also be a way to get into other projects like TV shows or commercials.
The greatest lesson a music video director can ever share?
I wouldn’t call it the greatest lesson since every experience has its own share of lessons but what I would share is that a music video director should learn to say no if the concept verges too way off course from what you first envisioned. Yes there are compromises and concepts change through exchanges of ideas but if you are no longer happy with the concept you are about to do, maybe its not for you. In the end, the video you direct should still be something you are happy and proud to say is your work of art.
NEXT IN LINE:
WINCY ONG
TOPEL LEE
AVID LIONGOREN
CARL DAVID PALISOC
PAUL SORIANO
RA RIVERA
"GUTS FOR PASSION"
Standing on same ground with some of our local music video advocates and producers is direk RA Rivera. Just one slab of a genius in his own right arrayed among our renowned and hard working music video directors. For a determined purpose, RA Rivera schooled himself in UP Diliman with Film and Audiovisual Communication course. Ripping what he sow, direk RA would testify how rewarding it is to be one and how arduous it is to be broiled just to spice up a song. Meanwhile, here are some considerable music video shot of RA Rivera with our local rock acts: RIVERMAYA: Bandila, Inosente Lang Ang Nagtataka, Sugal Ng Kapalaran, Maskara. PUPIL/BARBIE ALMALBIS: Nakakabaliw. ITCHYWORMS: Beer. IMAGO: Under Repair. SESSION ROAD: Leaving You. SUGARFREE: Dear Kuya. UP DHARMA DOWN: Oo. MOJOFLY: Sa Uulitin. SOAPDISH: Ewan Ko. CAMBIO: Patlang. PEDICAB: Dizzy Boy, A Stormy Night, Konti Na Lang, Dito Tayo Sa Dilim, Ang Pusa Mo. PRANK SINATRA: Hit The D Chord.
Everything started with a dream, “when I was in late high school, even before I decided to go into film, I had a vague dream of directing a music video for the Eraserheads,” that ended in reality. Direk RA was nervous at age 23 when he foretasted the role of a ruler on the reel. “I was 23. Details are hazy but what I do recall was that I was nervous,” he commenced.
Making the most of the kickoff video he is doing, direk RA presumes that impressions might last, “getting started by itself is difficult. I think the first video was the most difficult in the sense that it was having to live up to the trust given to you by the artist to make their video, he asserts. Besides, before dancing on the platform as music director, he had been a TV show director somewhat giving him more lift for the latter. “...before I broke into the music video directing scene. I had been directing TV shows and other projects for three years already before I started directing music videos.”
Lack of financial budget constricts or rather challenges his creative side besides the labels that presses the burden upon him, “lack of budget always proves to be a challenge in implementing your vision but what really tests my patience is when some record labels try to limit your space for creativity,” he buffs. Nonetheless, few consoling thoughts can alleviate few discomfort knocking him down along the way, “it’s still definitely a boost to be trusted to direct a video for an artist you highly respect. It’s a great perk to get to know them and sometimes become friends with them long after the music video. Sometimes it also gets you backstage passes or free CDs.”
MORE VIDEO TALKS
Who are your early role models or mentors?
I wouldn’t exactly call them role models or mentors but I definitely look up to Richard Lester, the director of the Beatles’ Help and Hard Day's Night.
What's the hardest part in being a music video director?
Being the director means you’re the captain of the team and that’s a lot of responsibility, that I would say would be the hardest part of directing, not only of music videos but of directing in general. Its also a lot of pressure to be able to visualize your concept and let audiences relate to it and of course the pressure that the artist would like the end product as well.
Growing up, did you envision yourself doing this?
When I was in late high school, even before I decided to go into film, I had a vague dream of directing a music video for the Eraserheads.
What are the common misconceptions about music video directors?
A common misconception is that music directors make a lot of money shooting music videos. The truth is music videos usually have small budgets and more often than not, if the artists are your friends then you end up sharing the costs with them because you believe in their music and their vision and would like to help them reach out to their fans and to the public. I could say that probably more than half of the music videos I’ve directed, I’ve shelled out my own money to cover the deficit in the budget and waived my talent fees just so we could achieve the vision we have for the video.
Do you usually base your visual concept on the meaning of the song itself?
No. Sometimes I deliberately come up with concepts that are far away from the meaning of the song, take Drip’s Song # 9 for example, which really did not have any basis on the meaning of the song.
Does adding visuals to the song make the song more expressive? What do you think and in what way?
Yes visuals help. In fact, early music videos were called promo films for the artists and their songs. Music videos today are still in a sense a marketing tool to sell the music. But it also helps define the look or image of the artist.
How do you choose song or songs to be made into a music video?
It varies. Most of the time the artist or record label approaches me and if we agree on the concept then it’s rock and roll.
As a particular director with a particular taste of music, what type of music or song do you usually direct or interested in making a video?
Generally I am interested in directing videos for rock bands.
Years after years of directing (producing) music videos, what is the shortest time you've spent so far to come up with one?
The shortest is probably 20 minutes, it was Pedicab’s Put the Pieces Together which was shot right after Ang Pusa Mo.
And the longest one?
Radioactive Sago Project’s Wasak na Wasak was almost two years in the making and the actual shooting was two days.
As head and director which gives imperatives every now and then, how do you get into terms with the artists themselves?
I don’t think I’ve really experienced this because even before we start rolling, I make sure that we, meaning, everyone involved, from the crew to the artists, are all on the same page and generally know what to do and expect at the shoot.
What segment or part in the music video making that makes you exited or expectant?
Saying “it’s a wrap” is still the best part of making a music video.
When does a music video take a lot of finances to make?
The concept dictates the cost, for example if it will need building a set or going to several locations. A music video also costs a lot of money when it’s shot on film, like Radioactive Sago Project’s Astro and Wasak na Wasak.
What do you think makes a music video salable in terms of market and popularity?
It’s a combination of several things, the music, the visuals and the artist. Sometimes if the video is entertaining then there’s a lot of recall, in the same vein, if a video has a lot of pretty girls then it also has a lot of recall. A video that also stands out from the rest with a unique concept can also help.
Does making a music video, make a living too?
No.
So far, whose music video do you wish you could have directed?
The Beatles, the Eraserheads and Christina Aguilera.
What would you tell an aspiring music video director?
There’s no money here but its artistically rewarding.
Would you recommend it to other people who are thinking of going the same route?
Yes, I think people should give whatever it is that they aspire to do a try, it’s the only way they will find out if they still want to go down that road. Directing music videos can also be a way to get into other projects like TV shows or commercials.
The greatest lesson a music video director can ever share?
I wouldn’t call it the greatest lesson since every experience has its own share of lessons but what I would share is that a music video director should learn to say no if the concept verges too way off course from what you first envisioned. Yes there are compromises and concepts change through exchanges of ideas but if you are no longer happy with the concept you are about to do, maybe its not for you. In the end, the video you direct should still be something you are happy and proud to say is your work of art.
NEXT IN LINE:
WINCY ONG
TOPEL LEE
AVID LIONGOREN
CARL DAVID PALISOC
PAUL SORIANO
♫♫♫
Special Thanks to:
Pinoy Mag 5th Anniversay Issue
Released Date: 06 November 2008
Special Feature: MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTORS
Facebook: Pinoy Magazine (official)
And for all the proceeding and preceding articles in this blog.
Pinoy Mag 5th Anniversay Issue
Released Date: 06 November 2008
Special Feature: MUSIC VIDEO DIRECTORS
Facebook: Pinoy Magazine (official)
And for all the proceeding and preceding articles in this blog.
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