My Most Embarrassing Moment As A Music Video Director-Unlimited L.A Breaks Silence

Olalekan Buari, better known as Unlimited LA is one of Nigeria’s top music video directors who has worked with countless artists.

 

In 2015 he won Best Director at the Nigerian Entertainment Awards, Headies award, Nigerian music video awards, and Nominated Best director in Afrimma Award 2016.

Unlimited LA, who is responsible for Olamide’s “Motigbana”, 2face’s “Amaka”, Sean Tizzle’s “Sho Lee” and others, is also a renowned filmmaker and cinematographer.

In an interview with News Rain Nigeria,  he talks about his journey as a music video director, his Relationship with other video directors, most embarrassing moments as a music video director, amongst others. Enjoy

 

 

How did the music video directing journey start?

I had about 10 years of work experience before I started working on my own. I would say I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen the ones that would misbehave; the ones that are not very serious, the talented ones, the serious ones, etc. So, working with these guys is just a normal work environment for me, it’s just business you know, I get paid then I deliver the work

Lots of your fans have not been seeing your work lately, can you tell us what you have been doing underground?

Well, it’s been a while. Over the years have tried to train directors and editors, which made the workload on my head reduce drastically for other things, and am hardly in the country, which is more reason you don’t see me. But I am working on something which you guys will see soon.

My Most Embarrassing Moment As A Music Video Director

Can you tell us exactly what you have been doing underground? Because your fans will love to hear it.?

Like I said earlier, am working on a very large scale, so it will be wrong if I start disclosing. And another thing is that I have trained professionals, which is the reason why you hardly see me.

One of your boys, ABULA, is really rocking the airwaves right now, can you tell us about him. And aren’t you worried that he might take over from you?

I am the kind of person who trains people to be successful. And Abula is one of those people I trained, so we are still family. I don’t feel afraid in any way since we are one.

So, I always try my best to train individuals. I just put out two directors now and they’re doing well for themselves. I really want to add value to people around me and put them in a situation where they can sustain themselves because what we do is very versatile because there’s always something to do. I want to be in a position where I can supply talent to other people’s projects.

What is your relationship like with Clarence Peter?

Clarence is like a brother, I have known him since 2005 and we both worked with Dj Tee.

I was once Clarence PA, so our relationship is really smooth and friendly.

I respect these guys and everybody that’s doing it. We always talk, share ideas, and call each other from time to time. I don’t see it as competition. I can’t shoot all the videos and there’s a lot of work to go around.

I don’t see it as competition. I understand we all know how to do this thing. We just do it in different ways and the fact that we understand how to do it is good enough for us because we all know there’s a lot of work to go around.

We’ve seen lots of top-notch videos from you, can you tell us how you got inspired?

Back then in 2005, my cousin happened to be DJ Tee. I was always going to his place from school. On weekends, I would always go to his place and follow him on set. I used to be the errand boy. I did that for five years while in school. After I was done with school, the situation of the country where you go to serve during your NYSC year and join the labour market wasn’t for me because I hate waking up early in the morning. It was then I realized that it was simple for me to operate the camera and I already had knowledge of most things when it comes to video production. I just started out being people’s camera operator, D.O.P, and gaffer.

Did anyone motivate or inspire you to be a video director?
No, apart from my cousin Dj Tee who is forever an inspiration.

I also watch a lot of videos so I get inspired by them.

What attracted you more to directing music videos rather than film?

At first, I’m a cinematographer that’s like my base talent. Being a cinematographer and when you’re a cinematographer you can actually work on anything: movies, documentaries, videos, and all of that, but the music video business is fast rising in this part of the world in Nigeria. I shot like two movies but it takes lots of time and with music videos, you can just get them out as quick as possible. It’s a great industry and I just wanted to be part of it.

Considering your popularity in the industry, so many ladies will be coming around, since they see you as a successful musical director. How do you handle them?

Firstly, I don’t go out, and anytime am hanging out with girls, am always with those I work with or family. Girls’ things are not my thing.

From your own point, how do you define success as one of the successful music directors in Nigeria?

I don’t think success should be measured by what you have, but it should be about lifting people from a stage of struggle to an independent level.

Which song and music video do you think ultimately launched your career?

It would be Sean Tizzle’s music video. His song ‘Sho Lee’ was really big in the country then, so I shot a video for his song that was 2013 and it made the song bigger. That was the big break, I shot a couple of videos before that but that was the video that brought me out.

Seeing several DJs having their own singles, do you have any plan of going into music?

No. It would probably be acting,  I really want to go into web series. That is going to be happening later in the year. I have a story but I don’t want to talk about it much now.

Is Unlimited L.A in a relationship?

I am single and I prefer it that way.

Have you ever been contacted for a video direct and later found out that the contract was given to another person?

I’m a very open-minded person, so if I like your song, I will give you my budget, if you now give it to someone else I’m not going to feel bad about it. And I believe whoever the contract is given to might probably be my friend. So I wouldn’t care that much or feel bad that I lost a contract to someone else.

I understand we all know how to do this thing. We just do it in different ways and the fact that we understand how to do it is good enough for us because we all know there’s a lot of work to go around.

What is the relationship between you and ex-bbnaja star, Khloe?

Khloe is not my girlfriend, I was just joking when I made that post. She is just my friend. We have never dated. The whole thing was a publicity stunt.

The funny thing is that I don’t watch Big Brother Naija. I don’t have any interest in it and I am always very busy. It was even on Instagram that I got to know that Khloe was a contestant

What do you look out for in a woman?

I like someone who is smart, hard-working, and intelligent. I don’t really look out for physical appearance.

What are the challenges you face as a music video director?

I would say I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen the ones that would misbehave; the ones that are not very serious, the talented ones, the serious ones, etc. So, working with these guys is just a normal work environment for me, it’s just business you know, I get paid then I deliver the work

But challenges for us would be majorly resources and security. For us to go to private properties or public places to shot videos, you need more security. And that will make you spend extra money just to secure yourself.

Working with artists and managing them, how is it like?

I can’t really get angry because they are the paying customers. Once I’m working with an unserious artiste, I just switch to strictly business; I don’t switch to being passionate or being creative. It’s like I get paid to do the job so I just do it because I’m not really a trouble maker. For example, if you come late to your video shoot and it’s supposed to be for eight hours and I gave you a cut time of 12 pm and you’re supposed to finish at 8 pm and you get to set at 4 pm then we have just four hours to shoot your video. I’ll do the best that I can within that small time that I have and deliver the video, and that’s my business aspect kicking in, and not being extra passionate, the money is gone.

What is the relationship between you and Olamide like? And how true is it that Olamide signed you?

My relationship with Olamide started way back while growing up. We used to go from ID Cabasa’s studio to Dj Tee’s house then. He called me after I shot Sho Lee, Sean Tizzle’s music video that he would love to work with me.

So, Olamide and I did a lot of changes in the industry. And Olamide never signed me.

Any most embarrassing moment on set?

The most embarrassing moment was the day we were about to shoot a video, and we noticed that the artiste was already high. He came late for the shoot and drunk. I had to shot the video like that.

What are the things you learned from Dj Tee?

I learned a lot, from business, to how to relate with people. He made me understand that not all artists are your friends, and to always remember not to mix business with pleasure.

Do you think you are fulfilled?
As a creative person, you are never fulfilled, you just have to keep doing more.