DOUG MENUEZ DIRECTS HIS FIRST MUSIC VIDEO, AND WE’RE IN LOVE

Doug Menuez is a documentary photographer and director who creates imagery, showcasing what we all have in common. From monumental events chronicling the beginning of life, the end of it, and the small moments in between, whether still or motion, Doug’s storytelling method piques our interest. He recently shot his first music video. While still being a witness to life, this time, Doug documented a love story. We wanted to hear all about it. Here is what he shared.

HER: The star of the music video is artist Nicki, Tha Great. We’ve seen her images in your ongoing “Wild Place” series documenting the creative people of Kingston, NY. How did this latest project come about?

DM: After our Wild Place shoot, we stayed in touch. Last year, Nicki asked me to direct a music video for a different song, and I was thrilled to be asked. I’d never done a music video, but I love her voice and music and thought, why not go for it. But after we brainstormed and a script got done, our cast, locations, and other production elements were in place — COVID hit. A few months later and after we had figured out and practiced CDC protocols for safe shooting, Nicki got back in touch with a new song she recorded called Rage and a love story idea involving a party where she runs into her ex-girlfriend. It sounded good to me, so we jumped on it.

Tell us about the pre-production/concept phase of this project. Did Nicki have a clear picture of what she wanted to see in the video? What was your focus in telling this story?

DM: Nicki is very clear in her ideas and yet totally collaborative and open to ideas. It’s a joy to work with her. She gave me the song, lyrics, and a super brief synopsis. Then we spent a lot of time by phone, kicking around ideas. Her Mom Tina got involved with ideas for hair and wardrobe as well. It’s a love story about a failed relationship that gets a second chance when the ex-lovers reconnect by chance at a party.

We figured out how to solve the party scene. Then, my focus was on capturing the essential human emotions everyone who has had a breakup can identify with: that deep longing and loss, the pain of being alone, and the rush of happiness of getting a second chance and reconnecting in a relationship. I decided to keep it very simple with a narrative that might be more traditional than the usual music video. It’s very tight storytelling that supports the song and Nicki’s quiet yet strong persona. I love the hook too.