The sobering and painful fact is to sometimes realize that Atlanta has really changed from the old days. This is a picture of me and JD some months ago on the set of Johnta Austin’s video set. Smiles everyone smiles…but actually JD did not want to take the photo and asked me “Why should I?” when I approached him for the quick snap. Things that make you go hummm, sorry Arsenio. I replied to JD with a smile and a quick hug “I AM YOU!” Let’ rewind to see how in the heck I came up with such a bold statement even for me.
1993 I was an intern on Xscapes “Just Kickin It”, It was 100 degrees that day and they needed an extra makeup person, and being the resourceful one that I always have been I called a friend, Rochelle Howard in to help out the production.
1994 I helped block off traffic and led a crowd of hundreds down Peachtree Street for Kriss Kross’ song “Hold Tight” with Super Cat.
2002 I was one of the assistant directors on Welcome to Atlanta, a video where we were all so distraught because Lisa (Left Eye) had just died that past week, JD wore an airbrushed shirt as a tribute to her.
2005 JD produced Murphy Lee’s what the hook gonna be and we shot a video for the song at his new facility, Southside Studios. I was one of the assistant directors who protected his studio from getting trashed as well as I almost got killed when Benny Boom wanted to do a car shot in the middle of rush hour on MLK Jr. Dr. (Side note, I gave Murphy Lee an airbrushed T-shirt that day; he wore my gift the next week on the BET awards).
2005 I was the assistant director on Jagged Edge’s “Walked out of Heaven”. (side note: at this video nobody for some reason told the stylist supposedly that we were shooting “green screen” and most of the color choices she had for the groups wardrobe were “green”. Even you non-technical folks can probably figure out how that might have been a big problem)
2006 I was the assistant Director on Jermaine’s new song with 3LW “Feelin You”. (Side note I love Billie Woodruff who was the director for the video.)
2007 I was the casting Director for JD’s group Jagged Edge for the song “Put a Lil Umph In It”. (I found the white guy for the corporate scene in a bar up the street when my other talent cancelled at the last minute.)
2007 I was the casting Director for JD’s artist Johnta Austin for the song “Video” (Nzingha you are the best! SHe was the director). THE SHOCKER, IT WAS ON THIS SET THAT THE ABOVE PICTURE WAS TAKEN. THAT’S RIGHT JD ALL OF THE BEAUTIFUL GIRLS AND STELLAR TALENT ALL CAME FROM YOURS TRULY THAT DAY.
THE SECRET HERE IS: LET US NEVER FORGET THAT IT TAKES MANY PEOPLE TO HELP US BECOME MOGULS.
