South East Hip Hop Magazine recently spoke with the director of Wess Musiq's critically acclaimed single and video "Just Ask", Tim Carr. In this direct, one on one interview Tim Carr shares his experiences as a director, his forthcoming projects, his vision, and more! Read all about what this rising talented dream maker has to say.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: How are you doing Tim Carr?
Tim Carr: I am fantastic. Been staying pretty busy which is always great in this line of work.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: How long have you been making films and directing?
Tim Carr: I have always been an artist and movie nerd but really started film-making in 2008 while going to school for my Bachelors in Visual Communications.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: What inspired you to want to get into this business?
Tim Carr: I always wanted to make movies since I was a kid. I saw Return of the Living Dead from the roof of my parent's station wagon at a drive in outside of Los Angeles and that was it for me, but 10 years as a firefighter in the Air Force kept me pretty busy. Once I got out I went to school. Then I got a job in Kuwait to teach precision driving. While I was there I was on a traveling pro paintball team. I got tired of us not having any footage of us in action. So one tournament I shot the event while taking turns playing and filming each match. The video blew up on the internet and I caught the directing and editing bug. I sold my paintball gear and bought film-making gear and the rest is history.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: What are a few things you have on your resume?
Tim Carr: Scott Pilgrim Vs The World, Only God Forgives, I Saw The Devil, The Way OF The Gun, Old Boy, The Good The Bad and The Weird, Sin City, Drive, Helvetica, Battle Royale, Inception, Let Me In, Sha Po Long, Indie Game....I could go on LOL. I love dark, violent dramas and horror. Especially Korean and Japanese stuff. I'm also a big documentary fan and comedies too.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: Who are some of your favorite actors and actresses?
Tim Carr: For actors probably Lee Byung-Hun, Choi Min-Sik, Michael Ealy, Daniel Day Lewis, Ryan Gosling, Tom Hardy, Charlie Hunnam, Idris Elba, Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Michael Kelly...Too many to list. Actresses maybe Zooey Deschanel, Kat Dennings, Olga Kurylenko, Zoe Saldana, Sarah Silverman, Franka Potente, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Emma Stone
South East Hip Hop Magazine: What projects are you currently working on?
Tim Carr: I've got a really dope music video coming with Sco Mazzi and Casino Redd. A BMX movie with Tyler Sparr and Emerald Coast Dirt and Vert and I am in pre-production on a short zombie film and a post apocalyptic film as well,
South East Hip Hop Magazine: What types of projects or genres of film do you prefer to work on?
Tim Carr: I love documentaries because they inform and entertain. I love making music videos and short films as well. I can do any genre or style. I take pride in my diverse body of work, quick turnaround times while keeping cost low and quality high.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: Aside from directing films and videos, what are some of the other talents you have?
Tim Carr: I am a published graphic artist, published photographer and a pretty good marketing and social media guru.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: How was it like working with South East Hip Hop Magazine featured artist Wess Musiq for the music video "Just Ask"?
Tim Carr: That was such a fun shoot. He is such a pro and takes his art as serious as I do. Best of all we have a similar vision and both like to have fun while creating serious work.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: Who came up with the concept of the video and the idea to reenact Grand Theft Auto 5?
Tim Carr: Wess and I had talked about doing something together and were trying to decide on a song. When he showed me "Just Ask" I realized it had 3 guys (Wess, Casino Redd and Al Skee) with 3 distinct styles which made me think of Trevor, Michael and Franklin from GTA 5. I get tired of seeing nothing but clubs, money, cars, girls or a bunch of dudes together in front of a house drinking out of plastic cups while smoking black and milds in every video. Videos are an art form and should be stylish or tell a story. So I pitched the GTA 5 idea to him, Redd and Al they loved it. That video was no joke to make either. I spent a day doing the graphics, a day shooting with the guys, and 4 days editing and adding the special effects. The results speak for themselves though.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: Do you and Wess Musiq have plans to work with each other in the foreseeable future?
Tim Carr: Oh yeah. We have some music videos coming up and I will be doing a movie with him as well as the cover art for his next CD.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: Speaking of the future, what plans do you have for 2014?
Tim Carr: For 2014 I want to work with artists that are trying to change the face of Hip Hop in the South East and create quality story based videos. I also have some short films and other stuff in mind. I'm in talks with a few businesses who want multi video ad campaigns too. I'd love to do videos for people in Atlanta, New Orleans, South Florida or any other places.
South East Hip Hop Magazine: What has been one of your worst experiences as a director and what did you learn from it or how did you bounce back from it?
Tim Carr: One of the worst things to happen to me as a director was during the "Just Ask" video shoot. While the cops were drawing down on us because they thought the final scene was an actual drug deal gone bad these kids rolled up on bikes and stole my GoPro Camera along with the footage I shot with it that day. I learned to keep my gear right next to me because it only takes a split second distraction for it to vanish. Another bad thing that happened was a memory card failing after I had filmed several street performers in New Orleans. I learned to check every shot after you shoot it to make sure the card is still good. Oh and get at least half up front from customers or they may try to stiff your or cancel a project already in the works!
South East Hip Hop Magazine: Is there anything else you would like to plug?
Tim Carr: No I am good. If any artists are looking to do something different, more cinematic and better represents the time, effort, blood, sweat and tears they put into their passion then hit me up. Other than that people should just keep an eye on my youtube page and social media to check out any new stuff I put out. Thanks and I truly appreciate it! http://www.youtube.com/tjcfilms2011
WESS MUSIQ "JUST ASK" featuring
Casino Redd &
Al Skee
(Directed by
Tim Carr)
