I have several friends who live in Maine, and I’ve heard all kinds of tales about snowmobiles and ice fishing and how fantastic Maine is. So, when we decided we were going to shoot Taylor’s new video in Maine, I packed all kinds of hoodies and pants and a couple of cool scarves. You know, the kind of stuff you’d wear whilst eating fresh lobster by the harbor. But, when we showed up in Maine it was freakin’ HOT! I’m not talking “Oh, I feel a little warm” or “Oh my, it’s a bit toasty out here.” I’m talking eggs boiling on your buns HOT! I was sweating like a crazy person and didn’t get to break out any of my incredible Maine ensembles once! Hehe.
All that said, we had an AMAZING time and it was all worth it in the end because Taylor’s new video for her latest single “MINE” is officially finished and it’s insanely great! I mean, you never really know what a piece is going to look like in the end, but when we were shooting this video everything was just perfect and you just had a feeling that it was all going to fall in to place perfectly . . . as it did. Taylor also worked CRAZY hard on this one. From the concept to the shoot, it was definitely a huge collaboration this time. She spent HOURS in the edit to really make this piece everything she dreamed it would be, and I can’t say enough how much I appreciate her!
As I said above, we shot in Maine, and it was absolutely stunning from day one. There were forests and beaches and harbors and boats and islands and tons of amazing people. The crew and cast on this one were simply perfect, and I couldn’t have asked for more. Everybody worked their tails off and it was NOT an easy shoot. We had tons of footage to capture!
We began on day one shooting at a HUGE estate that was over 2,000 acres with some stunning views. For day two, we were in a small town called Cape Porpoise and the people could not have been nicer and more cooperative. It really was a stellar experience, and we had a blast from beginning to end. It really is amazing how much fun we have on our shoots, but why not? I mean, it beats sitting at home getting addicted to daytime soaps . . . not that it’s ever happened to me personally. Ahem.
Things I remember most? The kids! One of them, “Little Monster,” (you know who you are) chased me around with lobster claws! And, speaking of lobster, the amazing Tameron Hedge (Producer) got accosted by a giant sea gull who stole her lobster roll! But don’t worry, she got another one! I also remember one of my best friends (and fabulous DP), Pedro Castro sleeping like a newborn fawn on the way to the location scout. I have a picture, but am pretty sure he’d hunt me down if I posted it. Shoot me an email if you’re interested! Hehe.
And, of course, topping it all off, was receiving Hugs A Lot bear from Taylor at the end of the shoot. HE’S AN EVIL BEAR THAT SMELLS OF STRAWBERRIES, and he’s now keeping my moon man company! Hehe.
So, as you can tell, it was an FANTASTIC SHOOT! Look for the video soon! It will be premiering in the near future! Until then, check out Taylor’s new single “MINE” on itunes!!! It ROCKS!!!
Well, it has officially happened. I am speechless! Okay, okay, maybe that’s a little extreme. Hehe. I found out this week that the video I created with Taylor for FIFTEEN has been nominated for an MTV Music Video Award for Best Female Video! How freakin’ exciting is that?
The video was A LOT of work, and I could not have done it without the KILLER Magnetic Dreams gang. They did an amazing job and I was more than happy to be locked in a room with Don Culwell and the lovely Rhea Borzak for three months working nonstop . . . and that IS NOT an exaggeration. We were working our fingers and brains to the nub! But, luckily, we had Snuggies and caffeine and YouTube and Juggling (for those rendering times of course) to keep us company. In the end, the video turned out beautifully and we really captured the heart of the song while also creating something that looks incredible.
We shot the entire piece over green screen in a studio in Nashville. After the edit, the REAL fun began as 3D EVERYTHING was created for the piece. There’s really nothing in the video that’s real with the exception of Taylor and Abigail . . . oh, and the door is real in a couple of shots. Other than that, it was all CG (computer generated). From the flowers to the plants to the lockers to paper airplanes and trees, the team made it all. Oh, and did you notice that the tree over Taylor’s head forms the shape of a heart??? Hehe.
So, if you love you some Taylor Swift as much as I do and want to make all the artists happy who slaved away on the project, get those fingers moving and head on over to MTV.com to VOTE I mean, what harm could it do? It’s not like you’re doing anything else crazy important . . . right? 
I spent the day yesterday shooting a music video for the AMAZING Whitney Duncan!!!! It involved a fantastic swimming hole, a lot of heat, a Calvin Klein model, watermelon, brownies, a tire swing and, of course, some SKINNY DIPPIN’ to really make things interesting.
We had an AMAZING day, and here’s a little peak at Whitney with her co-star in a boat with the always incredible Steve Glass complete with waders! It’s going to be an amazing video, and I can’t wait to finish it up. In the meantime, check Whitney out on her website and look for the video and song on a channel near you . . . and get out of the house and find your nearest swimming hole and . . . um . . . have a little summer fun of your own!!!
Okay, I am a huge fan of Craig Ferguson. He’s an AMAZING writer and, as you will see in this clip, an even MORE AMAZING dancer. Watch and ENJOY! SOOOOO GOOD!
I have to say that this is the most fun I’ve has on a shoot in a very long time and everything went together PERFECTLY!!! It was almost as if things in this video were just meant to be and it all started with the perfect song by the lovely Taylor Swift!
We shot the piece over two days. The first was on location in Hendersonville at a new development with a lot of GREAT homes. We shot all of the interior and exteriors of the bedrooms as well as the morning footage where Band Geek Taylor gets to spend some heavenly time with Lucas Till on a park bench before Evil Cheerleader Taylor swoops in with her 2010 Mustang to tear them apart. Now, that said, I want to say that I don’t think all cheerleaders are evil . . . but the one in our video is. She’s kind of the girl we all loved to hate in High School, and we had a great time with her, and I think Taylor had a blast playing two very different roles. The weirdest part was that she really CHANGED once that wig went on. She walked differently. She spoke differently. She even had some fantastic new evil looks she’d toss around. It was GREAT!
The second day of shooting was a Pope John Paul II High School (also in Hendersonville), and I cannot say enough about the staff and kids there. They quite simply ROCKED! Fortunately for us, they were having their prom the night after we were shooting and the gym was already decorated floor to ceiling and we were able to use the setup for our video prom, and it could NOT have worked more perfectly. After we shot the prom, including a ton of JPH student extras, we moved out onto the football field where hundreds of people waited in the bleachers for a faux football game!
All of JPH’s cheerleaders and football players were on hand as well as their band and tons of extras. We simply could not have made this happen without all their help, and I BEYOND appreciate them for working with us and being so patient. The entire student body and everybody there was simply fantastic. Lucas caught a few passes and Taylor did a little cheerleading as well as a little band playing (with her real band) in the stands. Taylor and Lucas did some AMAZING acting in this piece and you can really feel the story playing out between their two characters from beginning to end.
Of course the crew kicked ass, everything went smoothly and we had a blast! I really loved working on this piece and appreciate everybody involved with it. It’s now playing on the tube, but if you want to check it out online you can find it on romanwhite.com or cmt.com! Thanks again everybody for all the hard work . . . I could NOT have done it without you!!!
Producers : Randy Brewer and Michelle Abnet
DP : Norman Bonney
I have four words that can easily describe working on this video . . . I LOVE THE PICKLER! Hehe.
I met Kellie briefly at the ACM awards about a year ago and have wanted to work with her since then. When I got the opportunity, I was waaaaay excited, and we had a BLLAAASSST working on this video where we not only got to play with Taylor Swift for the day, but also got to hit a guy with a bus! It doesn’t really get any better than that.
Kellie and Taylor wrote “The Best Days of Your Life” together, and we all thought it would be amazing if she could be a part of the video. Luckily, everybody’s schedules worked out perfectly and these two amazing talents got to perform in the piece together and do a little fake shopping along the way! It was a great experience, and I love the way it all turned out.
We shot the entire piece in one day, using various locations around Nashville, including the Belcourt Theatre, Hillsboro Village, a friends apartment complete with my old leather couch (THANKS JEN) and a fantastic set created by my favorite, crazy talented art director Ruby Guidara. It was a very fast-paced day, but everything fell together perfectly!
Kellie was incredibly natural in front of the camera and there were moments when we were having too much fun and had to be calmed down a bit so we could get some work done (sorry, Randy and Michelle!). Taylor and the rest of the cast were equally awesome . . . not to mention our fantastic all-girl band.
As always, none of this would have been possible without the crew and all the hard work they put in . . . and this WAS NOT an easy day. So, I REALLY do appreciate all the hard work you guys and gals put into this video. It’s a group effort and know that and thank you!
The video is now airing all over the tube and you can also find it at romanwhite.com! Also, check Kellie and Taylor out on tour together!!! I can’t wait to see the show myself and hear it KICK ASS!!!
Producers : Randy Brewer and Michelle Abnet
DP : Pedro Castro
It’s been a while since I’ve posted, but I assure you that a lot has been going on and some WAY cool stuff is coming! That said, some WAY COOL stuff has already been finished and one of said projects is a piece I just finished for Ruben Studdard, another talented winner from American Idol and a crazy nice, very sweet guy who has a voice smoother than milk chocolate!
We had a GREAT time shooting this piece at an amazing club in Nashville called FUSE. If you’re ever out at the Opryland Hotel, check this place out. It was designed by the same peeps who design all the big Las Vegas clubs and it definitely feels very elegant and insanely cool. For a while, I felt like I was IN Vegas, but there weren’t any slot machines “ching-chinging” in the background and the place was completely void of blue-haired ladies at said machines smoking cigarettes alongside their oxygen tanks. If you think I’m joking then you’ve never been to Vegas. Hehe.
Everybody on the shoot was amazing (as always). We had a fantastic cast that filled the club with steamy bodies and our lead actors were PERFECT, helping me create a love story in a setting that quite simply rocked. The entire story plays out around Ruben as he performs on stage, and he nailed it every time. It always makes the day so much easier when you have an artist that really knows how to perform and Ruben was incredible, and I loved working with him.
Thanks so much to everybody who worked on the piece! It’s now playing all over the place, but head on over to romanwhite.com if you’d like to take a look!
Producers : Randy Brewer and Michelle Abnet
DP : Pedro Castro
I think the title of this post pretty much sums it up, but I am crazy excited because I truly love this song and Carrie just rocks in the video!
Other videos I directed on the countdown are: “All-American Girl” at #11 and . . .
Alan Jackson’s “Small Town Southern Man” coming in at #7!!!!
I have to say thanks once again to EVERYBODY who worked on these pieces. I couldn’t do it without you ALL!!!
I met Josh Turner a few months ago at a shoot for a Nashville Tourism spot, and he was a lot of fun. Not only does he have a great sense of humor and a voice that could melt a log of Velveeta, he’s also one of the most genuinely nice people I’ve ever met. Soon after, I was given the opportunity to direct a video for Josh’s new single “Everything Is Fine,” and I think we created something that is not only incredibly personal to Josh, but also visually unique and interesting.
We spent the day shooting over green screen in Nashville, Josh spending most of his day walking on a treadmill, singing and playing the guitar. Like I said, he’s a talented guy and got an incredible workout as well! Who knows, maybe there’s an aerobics DVD in his future. Hehe. Other members of the Turner household also showed up, including Moses, Josh’s bloodhound who is pretty much a big baby who also has quite the singing voice. I guess it runs in the family.
I had an amazing time and the entire crew was GREAT as always. They make my job so much easier and I REALLY appreciate them. Look for the new video on CMT and GAC soon!
Click here to view a quicktime of the entire piece
Producers : Randy Brewer and Michelle Abnet
DP : Pedro Castro
I’ve been attending a lot of fake funerals in the last couple of months, but I’m happy to report they come complete with actors and no actual bodies . . . which is a good thing! It’s a bit strange at times, but completely worth it when you get to work with artists like Billy Ray Cyrus!
We recently completed the video for his first single (Somebody Said A Prayer) off his brand new album! The video follows the story of a close family dealing with the pain of losing their father/husband. Instead of leaning on one another, they seemingly drift into despair one by one, the youngest son watching as they all fall apart. It’s very heart-breaking as we witness them teetering on the edge of very dark places. I really wanted this piece to have an almost foreboding quality to it, using stark lighting with a lot of long, deep shadows so the piece was literally shrouded in sadness. It worked out perfectly, and I’m so excited with the final piece!
The entire video was shot in L.A. at one location, owned by the fantastic (and very welcoming) Ms. Ruth, and her home could not have been more perfect. Although there was a lot of stellar art direction, Ms. Ruth’s home was already perfect for our video, and I loved hearing stories and seeing photos from her own life. It sounds crazy, but the house and everything about it just FELT completely right, and I think Billy Ray got the same vibe.
Produced by the incredible PJ Sodaski and shot by the amazingly talented Norman Bonney, this video turned out GREAT and the entire crew worked CRAZY hard to bring it all together. I also want to throw a BIG shout out to the actors in this piece . . . AWESOME!!! I really appreciate all the hard work! Thanks again!
Click here to view a quicktime of the entire piece
Producers : Randy Brewer and PJ Sodaski
DP : Norman Bonney
After A LOT of work, the new video for Carrie’s latest single is complete, and I think this is definitely one of my favorites. I was TRULY amazed by everything we pulled off in this piece and even more impressed with Carrie’s acting skills. The only draw back to making such an intense video is not being able to crack jokes with her all day and that’s much harder than it sounds. I had to bring out sad, droopy Roman and he’s not as much fun, but he got the job done and was able to keep Carrie in her sad place. She really did do an INCREDIBLE job, and I am happy to report that there were no fake tears or onions used in the making of this video. It’s all Carrie!
We shot the piece just south of Columbia, Tennessee during an incredibly hot day filled with bugs and tons of cornfields. We did have to shut down for about three hours when a storm rolled through, complete with lightning and thunder. It put us a little behind, but we got everything we needed! The crew, as always, was incredible and Ruby Guidara once again worked art directing magic, but there were other magicians on hand, including good friends Norman Bonney, Randy Brewer and the entire Revolution Crew. It was a long shoot day, but I think it was well worth it and I appreciate everybody that worked so hard to make it happen.
Look for it here soon and even sooner on CMT and GAC!
Click here to view a quicktime of the entire piece
Producer : Randy Brewer
DP : Norman Bonney
There are certain moments in life when you open your eyes and can’t believe you’re working with a particular artist, and I’ve been fortunate enough to find myself in that situation more than once. Having the opportunity to work with Reba a second time was definitely one of these moments and it helps, of course, that she’s so incredibly cool!
We shot this piece at Griffith Park in LA over two BEAUTIFUL days at a playground named “Shane’s Inspiration.” It was the perfect location and we got some gorgeous footage. Also on board were two of the stars from Reba’s television show . . . Joanna Garcia and Steve Howey. They were both incredible actors and great to work with even though they were playing very different characters than the ones they played on REBA. As you can see from the photo below, Joanna and I had a little disagreement on my directing style, but after the crew pulled us apart everything went smoothly after that. What can I say? Sometimes you just have to slap the actors around a little. Hehe.
The crew in LA was awesome as always and I love all of PJ and Deebo’s gang and appreciate all their hard work. I honestly can’t wait to do it again and hope people love the video because I think it turned out great. It’s different and very powerful.
Click here to view a quicktime of the entire piece
Producers : Randy Brewer and PJ Sodaski
DP : Norman Bonney
The picture above was enough to earn me god status with both my nieces, but it also shows what a sweaty director looks like after a long shoot. Both were well worth the new commercial I shot for WalMart and the Disney Channel for Miley’s new Hannah Montana film to be released on DVD next month. The shoot was great and we had a lot of fun, including some dry ice bombs at the end of the day. I also learned tons of new teen slang and found my inner coolness from hanging with Miley all day. It was a lot of fun and Miley was extremely professional! I was really impressed by how much she had it together, but I guess she’s used to it by now! Hehe.
So, if you see me walking around town in my dope new threads getting my jiggy on, feel free to mack it up with me on the downlow. Did that sound right??? WORD!
Click here to view a quicktime of the entire piece
I’d never met Craig until we shot this video, but I’ve wanted to work with him for a while now. After seeing he and Blake Shelton going at it online, I figured I’d enjoy working with him. If you haven’t seen any of their online war you should definitely check it out. There’s some funny stuff there, especially all the hair jabs. Hehe. I was pretty sure I’d have a blast with Craig since I’m a big Blake fan and I wasn’t wrong at all. He’s a riot and we had MORE than a good time shooting this video in downtown Nashville.
Much like my first video with Blake, there was rain and lots of water involved, but I didn’t soak Craig down. He had tons of water spraying up from the fountains around him so he came away pretty dry. The actors in the piece weren’t so lucky. They got the old rain treatment in a big way, but the final piece turned out great and I definitely hope we can get Craig and Blake together someday for like a collaboration, and I’ll dump water on both of them at the same time. Have fun and save some money. Hehe. Sounds like the perfect plan!
Check out Craig’s new video now playing on CMT and GAC and go out and buy this man’s new CD. He’s supremely talented and just cool as hell to work with . . . plus he has a family to support.
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What can I say about the master of music, Jeremy McComb? Spending the day with him in the middle of a cow-pattie-laden field wasn’t on my list of “things to do before I die,” but oddly it was awesome. I don’t even want to know how many I stepped in. Once the sun goes down you tend to stop looking for them because everything is, well, really dark, and a flashlight only goes so far. Hehe.
When I first heard this song, I wanted to work on the video BADLY because it’s just one of those songs that feels right. I mean it is called “This Town Needs A Bar.” What more needs to be said?
I had a great time working with Jeremy and love the organic flavor of the final piece, and I even bought the CD afterwards. I figured I’d help a brother out and all . . . plus, it’s damn good. He’s an amazing artist and a tad fun too. Maybe next time we can do like a whole Playboy mansion thing. It could happen . . . right??
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I’ve never been to Leroy, Alabama and can’t say I even knew it existed. That said, I now know a lot about this small, very inviting place that just happens to be the hometown of one Ashton Shepherd! The song, “Feels So Good,” is the second release off her incredible debut album and if you don’t have it already . . . GO GET IT! It’s really a killer CD, and I love it even more now that I’ve met the whole Ashton gang, including her husband Roland (who is like the King of Leroy) and the rest of her family. Roland cooked some of the BEST grilled shite I’ve ever had in my life . . . he will always be my hero!
It was really cool going to the place where it all began and seeing Ashton with all the people who have been there from the beginning. There was swimming, fishing, four-wheeling, swinging and tons of singing. Once again, I was amazed that I could have so much fun shooting a music video. In the end, I went to Leroy, Alabama and had a big time blast!!!
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Alex Woodard is not only a cool guy who lives on the beach with his dogs . . . playing music and surfing all day (not the dogs, Alex) . . . he’s also a great friend who is going to teach me how to live on the beach, own dogs, surf and play music . . . maybe. Alex honestly is a great guy who was even kind enough to make a small cameo appearance as a street performer in the ENCHANTED video I did with Carrie. Alex’s niece and nephew were also in the video (the two kids dancing with her on the street). But, we’re not here to talk about that video . . . we’re hear to talk about the fantabulous piece for Alex’s “Beautiful Now” song, which I directed on the sunny beaches of Malibu. Another hard directing gig for yours truly . . . hehe.
So hard, in fact, that I had to spend the day with former Ms. Universe Dayanara Torres, who I just fell in love with. I’m sure we’ll be married by the end of the year. She may not know it yet, but it’s so going to happen. Hehe. But, shes was just the tip of the iceberg. Among the cast were Cindy Margolis, Alison Sweeny, and many others. Like I said, a hard day for Mr. Director Man.
Alex’s new CD hits stores soon, so check it out! He’s a great guy and a close friend, and I want him to be able to keep making those expensive beach house payments. You want my surfing dreams to come true, right???
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I recently headed to VEGAS to shoot Carrie’s latest video for “Last Name,” which just so happens to be a prequel to “Before He Cheats.” We had a great time shooting this one, and I have to say it was one of the most challenging shoots ever. We were ripping Vegas up, heading from location to location while also dealing with a very unexpected WIND STORM. We began at the MGM Grand inside their casino and nightclub TABU. We then shot over to the strip for a few shots and then to Freemont Street and then finally made it to the Neon Sign Graveyard, which you should really check out if you’re ever in Vegas. I think it’s one of the cooler things I’ve seen there.
We shot until 5AM (AND WERE WAY TIRED) . . . just in time for Carrie to hop a plane to a concert, and I can’t even imagine how tired she was! I’ll say one thing about Carrie Underwood, she’s definitely a hard worker! We had our AMAZING crew back together for this one, including Randy Brewer and my favorite Spaniard Pedro Castro at the helm with me. Good times were had by all and even more money was lost in Sin City . . . with the exception of Randy because he always wins!
Hope you enjoy the piece. It comes complete with showgirls, Elvis, a wedding chapel and gambling! YAY!!!
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Ahhhhh, Chicago in the WINTER. There is nothing better, and I got to experience it all with one David Nail for his first music video (and one of my favorite songs of late) “I’m About To Come Alive.” Of course, I did fall and bust my arse on a sheet of ice the morning of the shoot, but other than that everything went well!
It was cold. We froze. We ate great Italian. There was snow. I could see my breath. Other than not having a sled on hand, it couldn’t have gone better and the final piece turned out great. Pedro Castro, whom I lovingly refer to as MY SPANIARD, was on hand as DP and the crew was simply awesome . . . which isn’t easy when it’s freakin’ freezing!
I also had a brief interlude in out hotel elevator with more than a few lovely ladies . . . I still think David and his manager Brian are still a little jealous, but you can ask them about that one. Hehe. All in all, it was a truly fantastic time, and I had a freakin’ blast with David and everybody involved!
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It looks like I now know enough American Idol peeps to start a really great game of “Red Rover Red Rover!” And who doesn’t love “Red Rover?” Come on!
I recently finished the music video for Phil Stacey’s “If You Didn’t Love Me” and even though I was crazy sick during the shoot, we had a great time and the video captures everything we were going for. Phil and his wife Chandra could not have been nicer and Chandra even made an appearance at the very end of the piece and I even learned a few very important things along the way. Number one . . . Nyquil is for nighttime and doesn’t make for a good daytime medicine unless you’re keen on walking around like a zombie all day. Hehe. I’d love to thank Sherri for this little tidbit of information (which really should have been obvious, but come on . . . I had a fever!) I also learned that The Drake is not “where the stars stay” anymore . . . just tourists that you want to desperately save as the sun goes down, but it IS an awesome place to shoot and they were incredibly helpful!
It was a great experience from beginning to end, shooting both at the Drake and at the infamous Ruby Guidara’s place in Watertown. As always, the entire crew worked, and I can’t wait to work with Phil again . . . but hope I’m not hopped up on Nyquil.
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