Directing is the key part of a video. To be honest, the director is the main reason a video flows the way it does. There are movie directors, video directors, and board directors. End of the day the director runs the set. When we go into the film industry we think about names like Ol’ G Spike Lee, Gil Green and the infamous Hype Williams. Today’s directors come in the game at any age, there’s no break out age as long as you have a vision for beautiful videos.

Today I got to speak with Antwan Smith. He’s directed video’s from Plies’ “100 Years”, which took a look at the Jena 6 trial,  to Trina’s “Look Back at Me”. During his career he has done movies like ‘Bloodline’ and ‘The Next Hit’ and has more in the works. We had the chance to discuss his influences. He also goes in about the quote he lives by that got him in the game. We get to know Antwan Smith The director, The screen writer, The actor and The dad.

24: In the life of Antwan smith. What are your first thoughts when you wake up?


Antwan Smith: First thoughts of the day are how much can I get done before the day comes to an end.

24: You got the nick name Shake. How did that come about?

Antwan Smith: It came about when I was a kid. I was lil pudgy. When I was coming up around 5 or 10. There use to be a commercial from Shake and Bake. My cousin named after that cause of my pudginess

24: What motivated you to be a director?


Antwan Smith: Well when I was in high school.. I realized I wanted to be a actor, so I took a couple drama classes towards my last couple years in high school and I kinda failed that. I took a shot working behind the camera and I enjoyed it. It instantly became a passion.

24: How do they manage with daddy being a busy talented director??

Antwan Smith: Pretty much in this business there’s always something that suffers and I have to admit my family suffers cause I’m in this business. I try to see them every time I get a chance in between projects, as far as how they feel they know daddy is in the the film industry and they accept it. Everything thing I do in these streets is for them and they understand that.

24: You have a quote thats goes ‘It’s who you know that will get you in, but it’s what you know that will keep you in.’ How has that quote worked for you?

Antwan Smith: That pretty much sums up my whole existence in this film industry. Basically its who you affiliate with that pulls you in this business and that information you enquire while your in this business. The skills you obtain are what you keep you in. Because this is a demanding business a cutthroat business and its the people that you know that will keep you. Thats what that phrase means to me. The way it played out I came up through Slip N Slide Records at a time when it was one of the biggest labels in Miami. Through my affiliations with them I began to get work. Thats got me where I am at now.

24: You’re not only a Director, you’re an actor and writer also. Which one is the easiest of all and which one do you enjoy the most?

Antwan Smith: As far as writing its the easiest. Its something personal most of the time you do it on your time and when you’re alone with no distractions. But of the three I love directing the most because it makes you write down or take someone’s idea that was in there head and put it to a screen or a film. There’s just something gratifying about that whole process.

24: You’ve done multiple music videos from Trina’s ‘Look Back At Me’ to Rick Ross’ ‘Street Money.’ What was the best video shoot and what was your worst experience?

Antwan Smith: One of my best video shoots and favorite videos to date was Plies ‘100 Years’ and it was one of the videos I spent the least money doing. We spent about 13,000 dollars. It was my most critically acclaimed video, therefore making it my favorite video. My worst experience was working ‘Worth Going Fed Fo’ for Plies. because it was very demanding shoot… way too much overtime. Thats real bad for any director when you go into major overtime. It still turned out to be a hot video

24: What type of influence does Hip Hop have on you?

Antwan Smith: Hip Hop played a major part in my life. I live I breathe I wake up Hip Hop. It influences the way I dress, the way I talk and the way I carry my self, in a way. What can I say I live for the culture. Its been in my life forever. I owe everything I have to the culture of Hip Hop. Its like the force (laugh).

24: We all have our opinions on the Miami life. What do you enjoy most about living in Miami?

Antwan Smith: I love Miami just in general being that I was born and raised here, all my friends are here but what I like the most is that we are a mixture of all cultures and we get a lil bit of everything. I dont have to go world traveling to see other countries I can go to Lil Haiti and hang with the Haitians I can go to to Lil Havana and hang with the Cubans. I can go over here and hang with the Jamaicans. I just love it because of the mixture of everything. We got every thing you need, we got the clubs, the beaches, thats what I love about Miami we got everything in one spot.

24: ‘The Next Hit’ was a great movie. How did David Garvin go about making you the director?

Antwan Smith: I met David in the summer of 2007 based on a recommendation from one of the producers from “Bloodline.” He saw Bloodline and he liked my style and thats how he came about using me to direct ‘The Next Hit.’

24: In 2005 the thriller movie ‘Bloodline’ was released. When you got the script of the movie what was your first reaction?

Antwan Smith: The Blood line script is kind of funny. The idea for Bloodline was brought to me by the executive producer Fentz over at Iconz Music Group. He had the idea in the end of 2003 and what we did was he and I crafted the script through out 2004. When he first brought the script I was blown away. The idea was two brothers from the opposites sides of the law, I haven’t seen that before, I was definitely excited to be apart of the project.

24: The highly anticipated ‘Bloodline 2’ was set to release last year. Why the push back?

Antwan Smith: ‘Bloodline 2’ is in the works. Its coming. The script is crazy awesome and we wanna take our time with this one.

24:  What can we expect from this movie that we didn’t get in the first one?

Antwan Smith: Its going pick up sort of where we left off on part one. This one is going to be a  more personal story. Last time we just kinda got what was on the surface we never got to know who the characters were personally. Its going to be a lot more personal and its going to be lot more action driven. Its going to be way bigger.

24: Are there any plans to branch out from directing?

Antwan Smith: At this time no. My soul passion is music videos. Down the line once I’m more established with the movie industry, I would love to start a record label. I’m a big fan fan of Hip Hop and  there’s a lot of talent in Miami and they’re are not getting the opportunity that they should get. I wanna be that guy that gives these guys a chance.

24: What can we expect from Antwan Smith in the future?

Antwan Smith: In the future you’ll be hearing from me in bigger films. I got a documentary late in the year with Young Jeezy. More then anything, I want to make a bigger impact. Look for me to take over the film industry Tyler Perry style.