The stomping ground is the micro-cosm that is the 'British-Asian' scene (or whatever the latest tag for it is), with a young filmmaker hungry for his first clip... It's around this time last year I began my ventures into music video, so I'm either just shy of a 1st Birthday or just past...

So far I've made 5 videos in my first year, with decent production values and a growing reputation. There are a few reasons why I started making videos, the biggest kick was the prospect of making my 1st video with a budget, enough for me to squeeze a decent shoot on digi-beta, hire a studio and buy the clothes/styling as well as the edit... So as a self-Producing Director, I've learnt most of my negotiation skills in phone-time, meetings etc. to maximise my money within my first project, although there is always room to negotiate! I was approached by Des-C, an up and coming British-Asian artist who can sing in traditional Indian styles and pens his own songs... (Most producers buy vocals from India that have been pre-recorded to a choice of BPM), to have someone who can write and sing their own songs as well as have some performance flair in front of the lens was rare.

Another reason is, that at a point in the early-2000s a stagnant wash of homogenous British-Asian videos with poor production values that was filling the schedules on the popular Asian music channels (Zee TV, B4U Music, Sony TV Asia). You could press mute and find it difficult to tell them apart, there were the rare videos that were 'different' but these were few and far between. It wasn't all bad but there was room for development.

Des-C presented me with the track 'Tor Nagni', a Punjabi track which translates, crudely, as 'Walk of the Cobra chick'. The beat was absolutely thumping, now that is the main stipulation I have for any project- do I like the music? In this case, I loved it. I called all the people in my phone book that could help me with the first video, let's be honest I'm not exactly an expert. Having helped a friend with her videos, I've managed to make a few contacts at studios, camera-operators, dancers, choreographers etc. for when the time comes and it cometh more now than ever!

The main brief from Des-C's camp? 'We want Des-C to look hot', initially I thought that would be easily achieved... How naive was I... I turned to the studio manager and now friend, for advice... He replied "surround yourself with the best people you know, and they will help you produce your best". I happen to know a few people who are up and coming in their fields (certainly more experienced than I)... dancers, stylists, make-up artists and DPs who lent me a hand when I needed them. I would like to add another phrase that goes well with choosing the people you work with: "you can buy workers, you can't buy support". I've used the same DP, the same stylist and the same friends who act as my man-power on shoot for the first 5 videos. They're the main reason I made it through my first year...

After the release of 'Tor Nagni', the phone did not stop ringing for the first few days... The production value is what hit people the most, the plugger was confident with pushing it because the slickness was there. I spanked the whole budget on the video, only covered personal expenses such as fuel but by doing so I afforded a hot DP and spark, Sony Digi-beta camera with 2 digi-prime lenses, a studio (with full facilities), all lighting, all clothing including customising, a choreographer, 4 x dancers and rehearsal time... as well as the usual bits you need to sustain the crew, sweets and red bull!

Most videos that are on the 'British-Asian' scene were shot on a Z1 or similar (and the results can be surprisingly effective), before the advent of HDV it would have been conventional DV and your video would have been made by a wedding video company. The scene has come forward since, but there is still the 'car park video' or 'uncles dancing with their nieces video' to be seen, but at least there is more thought in them than there used to be. I watched videos and listened to music, now I'm making videos and working with the musicians. I'm not star-struck, just grateful.

Since 'Tor Nagni', I've made videos for D-Boy's 'Tu Bataja' (Des-C recommended me), Shizzio ('Swear' and 'Star') and Rishi Rich for Veronica's 'Rush'- not to blow his trumpet but he's probably one of the most renowned names on the Asian scene. All of these projects came to me, from watching what I had done for other artists. Three of these videos on my Radar profile, so check them out if you have a spare 3mins.

I'm not a revolutionary, just a contributer... I have something to give to artists, to the audience, to the scene... I have been fortunate enough to be allowed the opportunity to do so and in my first year, I've not done too bad. Looking forward to 2009 with optimism to the prospect of making more videos!