L.R. tha GemiNY

Being a music video director has to be 1 of the most enviable jobs, next to being the artist. You spend your days around beautiful women, surrounded by beautiful scenery and luxurious backdrops. Miami native Gil Green is doing what most would call living the dream. I recently picked his brain about where he’s been and where he’s going next in the hip hop music video game industry

How did you decide to become a music video director?

I love music. I love imagery. Music Video is the ultimate marriage of these two components. I knew at an early age, I wanted to make films, and I was a DJ in school (Gil attended the prestigious NYU Film School). So this was the natural progression of my passions. My passion to make films that are geared by music, steered me into this world.

Who did you look at as mentors or role models in the music video game?

Nick Quested (he directed such videos as G-Dep’s “Special Delivery” and classic “Phone Tap” by The Firm) gave me my first shot on a major level as a music video director. He is a talented director who taught me a lot.

You’ve now gotten 100 music videos under your belt…what videos do you feel are your BEST work? (FYI Sean Kingston’s “Fire Burning” marked Green’s 100th video directed)

I have a lot of favorites. Each project has something special to it. In no particular order, here are some of my most favorite videos:

Sizzla “Thank U Mama”, Dead Prez “Hell Yeah”, Akon “Pot Of Gold”, Lil Wayne “Lollipop”, Birdman “Hundred Million Dollars”, Elephant Man “Pon Di River”, Rick Ross “Hustlin”, Lil Jon “I Dont Give A”, Frankie J “Daddy’s Little Girl”, Kardinal Offishal “Dangerous”, Akon “So Paid”, Khaled “We Taken Over”, Young Jeezy “Put On”, Tony Yayo “I Know U Dont love Me”, Young Buck “Shorty Wanna Ride With Me”, Lil Scrappy “No Problemz”

When did you get to the point where artists started requesting you to do their videos?

I don’t recall. I was always meeting artists and talking them about ideas for videos, so as soon as they saw I had some work playing on TV, they were ready to give me the green light.

How involved are you in the treatment and creative process of the videos you direct?

I write every treatment and concept for the videos I do, unless the artist already has an idea. I dont believe in ghost writers, because to me, conceptualizing the idea is the most creative step of the process. The rest is just execution.

From a director’s standpoint, do you feel like hip hop videos are set up in a manner that’s exploitive to women?

Yes. I think society is set up to be exploitive to women. Hopefully we can educate women in the homes and in society, so they see there is more to being a women than just physical beauty. Hip Hop videos is as guilty to exploiting women as much as just about every corporation in the world.
As a fan, what are some of your favorite videos of all time?

If you study these videos, you are sure to be inspired!

Cibo Matto “Sugar Water” (directed by Michele Gondry), Puff Daddy “Victory” (directed by Marcus Nispel), Audioslave (Chris Milk), Fatboy Slim “Praise You” (directed by Spike Jonze), Xzhibit “What U See Is What U Get” (directed by Gregory Dark), Jamaraqui “Virtual Insanity” (directed by Johnathon Glazer), Deep Forrest “Sweet Lullaby” (directed by Tarsem), Missy “She’s A Bitch” (directed by Hype Williams)

As a fan and director, what makes a video have that “yo that was sick!” factor?

Being unique and out the box.

You’ve worked w/ Elephant Man, 3 6 Mafia, and of course, Rick Ross, who has been your favorite artist or favorite video to work on?

Each artist brings their own unique energy. And as a fan of the music first, I appreciate each artist for what they bring. I truly love each one in their own way!

Gil has directed a batch of And 1 commercials as well

<What artists are you lined up to work w/ for the rest of the year? What artist would you love to direct?

Everything in the video world is so last minute, so I have no idea who I may collaborate with. I would love to one day work with Jay Z, Ludacris, Beyonce, and a new artist named K’Naan. Last year there were talks of possibly doing that amazing Akon / Michael Jackson record, “Hold My Hand” but that song unfortunately never came out.  That would’ve been a dream come true.

What is the best part of your job?
The best part is having a creative vision, and then executing it, and being able to watch something that was just in your head a few weeks before.

And the worst part?
The worst part is sometimes not having the proper funds to execute the vision how you really see it.<

For anyone that wants to get into your field, what do they need to know?

You have to have passion for anything you do. So when you have to pay dues for years and years, it wont feel like work, because you are moving towards your ultimate love. That is true for anything in life.

Outside of directing music videos, what’s next for Gil Green?

MOVIES!

Check Gil Green out on the web at GILGREEN.COM