Emil Nava

Emil Nava is a freelance music director who has directed many music videos for huge artists such as Jesse J, Calvin Harris, Neyo and Ed Sheeran. He began his career as a runner for different production companies like Blink Productions and now works as a freelancer for OB management.

After working as a runner, Nava graduated to become assistant director where he would manage music video shoots. Nava then signed to the Academy which is the biggest music video production company, he struggled while working with the production company as the stakes were very high, it was documented by Nava that he was consistently working in the office and always pitching throughout the week. After a strenuous time at the company, Nava left the organisation and joined with a company called 'Between the eyes' and now mainly works with Pulse, a production company situated in London.

 

•Emil’s first budget was for the band Kid British and the track Our House

•Budget - £20,000

•Location – Manchester

•Cast – local people

•1 day for filming

•2/3 days for editing

•10 days pre-production

•Demonstrates the very tight timescales involved

 

•Jessie J “Wild”

 

•At his busiest Emil has made 24 music videos in one year

•When he began shooting videos for independent labels the budget would be as low as £5,000 to £10,000

•His most expensive video to date has been for Jessie J and the budget was £160,000

•Emil’s first budget was for the band Kid British and the track Our House

•Budget - £20,000

•Location – Manchester

•Cast – local people

•1 day for filming

•2/3 days for editing

•10 days pre-production

•Demonstrates the very tight timescales involved

•Has now begun to make adverts, which generally have a far higher budget and production values but allow for less creative freedom

•Paloma Faith ‘30 Minute Love Affair'

•Client Sony - Director Emil Nava

 

•Paloma Faith 'Picking Up the Pieces'

•Client Sony - Director Emil Nava

•Cost - £80,000

•Ed Sheeran 'Lego House'

•Client Atlantic - Director Emil Nava

•Jessie J 'Do It Like A Dude'

•Client Island - Director Emil Nava

•Cost - £25,000

 

•Rita Ora 'RIP'

•Client RocNation - Director Emil Nava

·         Ed Sheeran 'You Need Me'

·         Client Atlantic - Director Emil Nava

·         Cost - £35,000

•Jessie J 'Price Tag'

•Client Island

•Director Emil Nava

 

Emil’s Top Tips

•Use Extreme Close Up on faces wherever possible

•Do not shoot whole of video in medium shot/long shot

•Example – Sinead O’Connor – Nothing Compares to U

•Godley & Crème - Cry

Some of the Production Companies that OB work with are:

•Pulse Films

•Rocket

•Agile Films

•Friends

•Wonda

OB Management work as agents for music video directors. They describe themselves as, “ three straight up dudes who work out of Denmark Street London”.

Their aim is to:

•Nurture talent

•Work with production companies

•Work with record labels

•Match the right director to the right artists