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January 17, 2008
Creative choice pays off for Nadia Sampson
By: Janice Dayle
With only two and a half years under her belt as a video director, Nadia Sampson is more than content with having followed her passion for music that landed her the opportunity to become an 'ace' music video creator.
Working in partnership with Tim Naylor, Nadia has been Unit Director for many well put together music videos including, "Hyperventilating" by Tami Chynn, Collie Buddz' "Mamacita" and Richie Spice's "Brown Skin." In this position of being second director on the video shoot set, Nadia has also partnered with the famed Torontonian, Little X, now resident of New York, working with him on sets with Beenie Man and Akon.
Known widely as, 'The Rhythm Queen,' the Jamaican born choreographer explained how she was drawn to this enormous career, "I wanted to study law and got the inspiration [for video directing] from the passion I have for music...one day I saw an interview with X and he was shooting a video...he was really really young and I thought – that looks like a cool job...looks like something I could do."
Putting those thoughts into action was a natural progression for Nadia who made no hesitation to follow through on an introduction to Little X after honing her craft by garnering a certificate in film making three years ago. Her New York Film Academy internship with Little X came up after Nadia was linked to X by a friend. "My friend hooked me up..." Nadia said of her New York Film Academy internship. "...This is something I've wanted to do since about the age of 20," the 31 year old added.
Although the Marketing Professional headed to New York from Florida to pursue a career in Law at age 26, Nadia ended up following her penchant for music instead.
And when did her love for music evolve? "From forever," Nadia said. "Growing up, I used to be a modern dancer and my cousin who was a friend of selectors always used to play Stone Love; I grew up hearing that all the time and so I always played CDs and also developed the feeling that in music there were answers for a lot of things...whether R&B, Gospel or [any genre] - I speak and answer through music."
Now about three years away from the internship stint with Little X where she was Production Assistant on shoots for artistes like Usher, Nadia has answered her calling to just direct.
This entails more intricate details than we even want to digest here, but most importantly, the creative moulding of music videos under Nadia's direction can either be entirely her own idea or the augmentation of a record label's concept.
The talented video director names her best experience as being her time on the Tami Chynn shoot. "...because many women worked on that set...I am definitely girl power, besides Tami Chynn is a great artiste." Finding it easier to work with women Nadia said, "I can think like them and can put myself in their shoes...identify more."
No doubt in high demand, Nadia is looking ahead to getting more involved in commercials and short film production. With confidence and a determined tone, Nadia said - that is where she sees herself in five years and she will be leaning towards the themes: beauty [commercials], love stories and romance.