VIDEO DIRECTORS - UNCUT! (PAUL SORIANO)

INTERVIEW WITH (LOCAL OPM) VIDEO DIRECTORS - A SERIES

We listen, hear, enjoy and felt the emotion of the music through the graciousness of our auditory faculty, but to see all the rest in a motion picture is a lot whole different thing. This is where music video directors takes toll in their visual ingenuity and acumen. Audibility would never be the same with a share of visual artistry. Audio-visual tandem brings entertainment to a different enjoyable level. Thus, there's more to music than meets the ears!

We salute our music video directors for besting up our local artists and rock acts with their visual concepts coupled with the passion that answers the sparsity of supply for the video-making's demands. It's one way of saying they're building a road of extra mile for producers, composers, artists and musicians themselves as a whole.

Meanwhile here are some of our local heavyweights on music direction and production we could ever scout on Philippine entertainment industry. We've got a handfuls of them here. Basically, we are to know how are they doing it, and what is their basic sentiments of the chosen career path.


PAUL SORIANO

"PATIENCE FOR PASSION!"

Director Paul Soriano is noted for his wit and passion in directing music videos and other film stuffs. Since childhood Paul is shimmering with eagerness and determination for these freely chosen moves in his life. He would tell you to grab a camera, shot a video and tell your stories. This is what it took Paul Soriano to push himself to the edge of every scenic stunt in his video craftsmanship. But most of all it's love to what he is doing that makes jewels in every project he does. A director and a friend in common to himself and to the rest that anticipates his every command – and the rest are just details, patience, patience and patience!

Some of his notable works were Ibaon Sa Limot by The Johnnys, Your Love by Erik Santos (won Best Remake Music Video at MYX Music Awards 2007), Wag Mo Sanang Isispin – Gary V. featuring Kiana Valeciano, You Gave Me Reason – Gary V., Tulak Ng Bibig – Juliane, Stay – Chris Cayzer, Even If, Happy and I'll Find Your Heart – Sam Concepcion, Catch Me I'm Falling – Toni Gonzaga, Rule # 1/Fixing The Radio – Ciudad and Overtone and 'Wag Mong Pigilan - Overdose

Direk Paul salutes his childhood as a flickering light that mushroomed to what he is now, “I always wanted to be a director. I was the kid running around the house holding the camera, shooting and filming anything I could. I feel really blessed to be getting paid for something that I love to do.” Direk Paul start putting his best foot forward at a youthful age of seventeen , making music videos for friends as his jumpstart. He recounts his high school music playground, “I started making music videos in high school, I was 17 years old, small time music videos though for friends.”

“I always wanted to be a director. I was the kid running around the house holding the camera, shooting and filming anything I could. I feel really blessed to be getting paid for something that I love to do.”

His first “career single,” so to say was “Ibaon Sa Limot” by an independent rock act call The Johnnys. “My first music video that aired was “Ibaon Sa Limot” by an independent rock band called The Johnnys,” he adds.

For him, making a music video is a pioneering experience to every unexplored horizons of creativity, “ I really enjoy making music videos, it’s allows you to be creative and challenges you to come up with something that’s never been done before,” he thought. Mark Romanek, Joseph Kahn and Hype Williams were few of those directors direk Paul admired, “these guys have set trends and have all given us something new to look at,” explains direk Paul. This thought might have led him to his patient and passion drive as music music video director, “It’s a very competitive job, you need a lot of patience and a lot of passion for this kind of job. It took me about 8 years before I got a project, but now that I’m doing this for a living it was worth the wait.” No matter how low the budget might be, he tries to fit them to the slot of his genius. “I think locally it’s the budget, cause sometimes your creativity is limited because of the budget that’s given to you. But I like to turn that around and make it a challenge, to see how creative and how good you can make a music video with the budget given.”


MORE VIDEO TALKS

What are the difficulties you encountered at the start?
For me it’s creating a demo reel, that’s the key to getting hired in this business. Artists will usually ask to see your demo reel before they work with you. Its being patient (lots of patience) before someone can trust your ability to direct a music video. While waiting though, go and shoot something. Get a camera and tell a story. I made a lot of short films and simple music videos before I got my first real music video project.

What are the perks of being one?
Honestly there are hardly any perks of being a music video director. Some that I can think of is that you become friends with the Artists and that may lead to other types of projects. I recall directing a music video for Gary V and after the success of that we got to work on many other projects and I even got to work in some of his concerts.

Another perk would be that you are starting to create your demo reel, after directing a few music videos, you’ll be able to put together a demo reel that can get you more projects. After directing quite a few music videos it opened the door for me to start directing TV commercials, which is something I’ve always wanted to do.

Do you usually base your visual concept on the meaning of the song itself?
The meaning of the song definitely helps in the creative process, but not all the time, sometimes you try to think outside the box, give the audience something new, something fresh, that’s always the challenge, which makes this whole process fun.

How do you choose song or songs to be made into a music video?
Usually the record label and the Artist have already chosen the song. They approach the director once they have decided on a song and from there, the creative process starts.

As a particular director with particular taste of music, what type of music or song do you usually direct or interested in making a video?
I’m a fan of all types of music; I can’t say I like a particular type. I keep an open mind when I listen to music, especially when I’m asked to direct a certain artist and their song. Although, personally I like to listen to songs by the Dave Matthews Band, Coldplay, John Meyer and Toni Gonzaga.

As head and director which gives imperatives every now and then, how do you get into terms with the artists themselves?
It’s all about collaboration; the director and the artist must work together to create the best possible visuals for their song. In music videos, or any other production it’s always a team effort, everyone must work together to bring out the best in everyone.

What segment or part in the music video making that makes you exited or expectant?
The actually shooting, it’s when you make your imaginations reality.

Does making a music video, makes a living too?
Unfortunately, locally music video budgets are low, but I believe the when you direct music videos it gives you that freedom to speak your creative mind, plus it opens a lot of doors to other projects that may have bigger budgets. Honestly for me, I love making music videos because it’s a sincere passion of mine; I don’t make music videos for the money, sometimes when you’re given that chance to speak your mind and to be anything creative, that opportunity is priceless.

So far, whose music video you wish you would have directed?
I’ve been fortunate to direct a lot of great artist already, although given the chance I’d love to work with some of our local bands, bands such as: Bamboo, Urbandub, Hale, UpDarmaDown and also Rico Blanco, who is now a solo artist.

What would you tell an aspiring music video director?
Patience, Patience, Patience.

Would you recommend it to other people who are thinking of going the same route?
Of course, always chase your dreams and live out your passions. Grab a camera, tell a story, make a music video, the only person that can stop you, is you. So go, become a filmmaker and share with everyone your imaginations.

The greatest lesson a music video director can ever share?
Just stay creative, continue to find unique inspirations, be patient, thankful and on top of all that always pray.


NEXT IN LINE:

WINCY ONG
TOPEL LEE
DAVID LIONGOREN
RA RIVERA
CARL DAVID PALISOC

♫♫♫

Special Thanks to:
Pinoy Mag 5th Anniversary 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.