GIL GREEN: MIAMI'S "HUSTLIN" DIRECTOR
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24: How long have u been a video director? Gil Green: Since I can remember I have been directing.
When I was in high school I used to turn in all my assignments as videos for the
class to watch. I used to love to sit in the back of the class and grab everyone’s
attention by showing them a video or short film. I went to South Miami Junior
High School where they had a special Broadcasting class. That is how I was introduced
to the world of videos and film making.
24: What inspired you to become a video
director?
Gil Green: My first love was music. In Miami I
used to DJ in high-school, and I was in a couple of hip hop groups from the
late 80's on. My second love was film making. So if you mash the two together,
you get music videos. There was a station in Miami called the BOX, which used
to play all the Hip Hop videos way before MTV or even BET would get hip to them.
We used to watch that everyday after school. I was a music video fiend.
24: What was the first major video you
directed?
Gil Green: The first major video I directed didn't
start out as a major video. I was attending NYU's film school at the time, and
was also rapping in a Miami Hip Hop group called Backlive. We were a couple
of Miami cats pressing up our own vinyl, and pushing demo tapes where ever we
could. I had to do a thesis project for my class, and decided to shoot a video
for my group, Backlive. I took out some student loans, and borrowed some money
to shoot the video. The song was called "1000 MCs". We actually recorded
it on a 4-track recorder, with a Radio Shack mic. When I finished the video,
I sent it into all the stations, and fronted like I was a legitimate record
label. They all played it. It was on Yo MTV Rap's, BET's Top Ten, and was charted
as a Top Video on THE BOX. We were mad excited, cause we had no idea that our
little demo tape would be playing across America. This was 1996. After that,
I was focused on directing other artists' videos. The first one I worked on
was Trick Daddy’s "Amerika." Then I did Iconz, "Get Crunked
Up."
24: How many videos have you directed?
Gil Green: I directed over 70 videos.
24: What are some of your favorite videos
that you directed?
Gil Green: I have so many favorite videos because
each one has a life to itself. Some of the more notable ones have been Tony
Yayo "I Know U Don’t Love Me", Dead Prez "Hell Yeah",
Lil Jon "I Don’t Give A...", Akon "Pot Of Gold", Lil
Scrappy "No Problems", Young Buck "Shorty Wanna Ride", Elephant
Man "Pon Di River", and Rick Ross "Hustlin."
24: How did you get chosen to direct Rick
Ross' 'Hustlin' & DJ Khaled's 'Born & Raised' video?
Gil Green: I had met Rick over five years ago on
the set of a Trina video. He knew that I directed this film for Three 6 Mafia,
called Choices. He loved the film and told me that when he does his first video,
that he wants me to direct it. Rick is true to his word. When I first heard
Khaled playing "Hustlin", I was blown away by the song. I wrote a
treatment for the video, before they decided what record label they were going
to be on. I just knew this was the biggest song of the year. Also, growing up
in Miami, I knew exactly what to show in this video. Not the Miami all the tourists
know, but how we grow up down here, over the bridge. I was really associated
with the Born & Raised video out of my love for the song and watching Khaled,
Trick [Daddy], [Rick] Ross, and Pit all come up from their beginnings. I mean
I saw these cats put in the hard work to get where they are and have always
been proud how they rep Miami. I Executive Produced the video through my own
production company called The Green Room, and had an up and coming director
named Dayo, direct it. I remember Khaled's early beginnings from the Pirate
stations to the Dancehall clubs. It was good to be a part of such a big video
for him.
24: Who would be your dream artist to
direct a video for?
Gil Green: Ludacris would be that artist. I think
he is one of the tightest emcees. Also, he’s not afraid to cross that
"experimental" line in his videos, and push the boundaries. A lot
of artists are afraid to be different and just ask for the same imagery. I know
if I ever got a chance to work with Ludacris, we would turn heads.
24: Are you looking to do any other directing
besides videos?
Gil Green: Actually I am in the process of writing
a script for a feature film. This is going to be huge. I can't talk about it
now, but it will definitely turn some heads...
24: What artists are you going to be working
with?
Gil Green: I have been doing a lot of R&B this
year, just expanding the portfolio. I just came back from Africa with Akon.
I did the Frankie J video, "That Girl." I worked with Jagged Edge,
Chapter 4, and Sunshine Anderson. I don't talk about up and coming projects
until they are done. Not superstitious, I just don't talk about what is not
done.
24: Anything else you want to promote?
Gil Green: I recently partnered up with the next
big music Producer out of Miami named D. Grant. We started the production company
called Rice & Peas Production. This kid's beats are on fire!!! He is going
to be the next Dr. Dre / Scott Storch. Mark my words. I also started The Green
Room, to cultivate the next young director. Right now Dayo is stepping into
that position. You can check out all the videos, and beats at the following
websites: www.riceandpeasmusic.com, www.green-room.tv, www.gilgreen.com.
Interview by: Jessica DeVega
