A Day In The Life. by Ryan Xzavier

One of the most incredible music video directors “of this generation” stopped by to elude his aura to you. TAJ an Los Angeles based video director has worked with many great artist. Take a look.

THE WORK OF TAJ: THE REEL

RX: What’s a typical day like in the life of TAJ?
TA: I wake up to a beautiful view of LA, check emails all day, write treatments if I’m not on set, and take a little personal time to watch Sportscenter.

RX: Where are you from originally? Where do you currently reside?
TA: I’m originally from Oakland, CA but I live in Los Angeles.
 
RX: What is your ultimate vision before creating a vision for a client?
TA: To create an idea surrounding the music and who the artist is as a person. I want to create something that’s supportive of what that artist represents.

RX: What is your regime before creating your masterpieces?
TA: I have to be comfortable. Being comfortable means I have to be in a clean environment, have some food in my stomach, and have clear mind. Then I just zone out.

RX: Where do you collect your inspiration?
TA: A number of places. Sometimes it’s something that I’ve experienced, something I heard someone say, something I saw or a question that I want to find an answer to.

RX: When you have a child, Do you feel that it’s a priority that he continues your legacy?
TA: No way. As long as my child knows that the sky is the limit and he or she challenges themselves to find what it is that they want in life, I’m fine.

RX: Who’s your dream client?
TA: Sade.

(Mine Too!)

RX: When selecting a fashion stylist, what do you look for?
TA: Depends on the artist, but I look for cleverness.

RX: How long does it generally take you to create a music video?
TA: 1 to 2 shooting days with 3 or 4 days of post before a first cut. Just depends on how I feel about the piece.

RX: What college did you attend? What did you study?
TA: I didn’t go to college. Education is important, but it wasn’t in my cards at the time. I just decided to go another route.

RX: What do you plan on doing in 2012?
TA: Hopefully stepping onto a set… for a feature film. That would be great.

RX: Are there any clients that I should be looking out for in the near future?
TA: If I told you who, I’d take away from the premieres. That’s the great thing about music videos. Haha.