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Creating visual magic to match the power of music

31 Aug 2021

  • Dulina Chandrasiri on what it takes to be a music video director
Music, while one of the most powerful mediums known to man, can be made that much more powerful with the right visuals, and this is where film, arguably man’s other most powerful creative medium, comes into play. We can all appreciate a good music video (for that matter, we can appreciate the bad ones as well), but what we don’t always appreciate is just how much work goes on behind the scenes of a music video, regardless of whether it is a large-scale or small-scale production. [caption id="attachment_157595" align="alignright" width="373"] Filmmaker and Dulina Makes Videos CEO Dulina Chandrasiri[/caption] Being the director of a music video is no small feat, and to learn more about what it takes to be a music video director and to create a good music video, Brunch chatted with filmmaker and Dulina Makes Videos Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dulina Chandrasiri. Dulina describes himself as a filmmaker, video editor, photographer, and overall creator of content. Entirely self-taught, Dulina’s main mentor was the internet, and in 2019, he set up his own production house, Dulina Makes Videos, because of his love for film and also because he wanted to make a career out of being a filmmaker. However, Sri Lanka’s film industry does leave a lot to be desired, and while it does produce some great films, it isn’t really profitable. The Sri Lankan music industry, on the other hand, is more robust, and with so many up-and-coming artists looking to make music videos to help them stand out in the crowd and make a name for themselves, Dulina found himself breaking into the market of music videos, working mainly with independent artists to do things that hadn’t done before, bringing a fresh perspective that draws inspiration from western artists and mixing these influences with our local flavour to create something fresh and unique. Dulina has gone on to work with many of Sri Lanka’s young musicians; his most recent music video Gassena for rapper C Chain, released on 20 August, has gone on to garner more than 50,000 views on YouTube. What makes a good music video? For Dulina, for a music video to be good, it has to be something that is fun to watch. “It’s not really thinking about what the people want, but whatever feels natural,” Dulina shared. “Gassena, for example, is a really simple video, but it’s fun to look at and that is my main focus – making something that is fun.” This fun factor is something Dulina has found that a lot of Sri Lankan music videos tend to lack – even those videos with great production, intricate costumes, detailed set design, and big budgets are sometimes just not fun to watch, which, to Dulina, defeats the purpose of making the video in the first place. Making something fun also does not have to be expensive, Dulina explained, adding that most of his music videos are for indie artists who don’t have big budgets. Part of Dulina’s process is that he is something of a one-man army, being multiskilled in filmmaking, video editing, photography, and content creation. Dulina eschews hiring a large team, one of the biggest costs of producing a music video, sometimes working with just one assistant to make a music video happen. Part of what also makes Dulina’s music videos stand out are his technology and editing techniques, which are all new and non-traditional, with Dulina adding that he has no problem straying from the status quo and what the mass audience is looking for. Staying true to creative vision As an artist who works with other artists, Dulina recognises the importance of creative balance. As he works mainly with independent artists, a lot of his clients don’t have a specific visual language in mind when they start working on a project, which gives Dulina more freedom to direct a project creatively and create a music video that is truly unique. There are practical considerations like budget and practicality to consider, but on the whole, Dulina shared that it is more than possible to find a way to create the music video you want based on what you have to work with and a supportive network. What is important for a successful music video, however, is for the director and the artist to have one shared vision. Sharing a tip for aspiring directors, Dulina said: “Try and have one vision with the artist beforehand. Describe everything you see in your head to the artist and make sure they’re on board. Make sure you understand the music and what kind of visual language is best for the song. Try to not do what has been done before. Go against the grain and try something new.” Dulina did note, however, that not all creative journeys are successful, and sometimes the concept you have may work out the way you imagine, but sometimes it may not. Yet, it is important to still be willing to take that risk and see what happens. Being a music video director in 2021 Like all creatives, Dulina has seen his sphere of the creative industry upended by the pandemic. Dulina shared that, especially at the moment, a lot of his work is entirely on hold, noting that one particular shoot, which involved a scene reminiscent of a beach party with approximately 20 people in it, had been postponed several times because of health and safety concerns. The third wave and the newest lockdown has also been a heavy blow with about 10 to 15 projects being suspended until things are safer. Dulina is not the only artist to have been impacted this way. All of Sri Lanka’s artists have felt the effects of the pandemic, one way or another, and Dulina shared that this is one of those times when an artist’s passion and commitment is what keeps them going. It’s really hard to be an artist in this country; you really have to love what you’re doing or consider moving out, he said, adding that he has a lot of respect for the artists in Sri Lanka who are sticking it out and staying strong through these uncertain times, sharing the hope that things would return relatively to normal, once this wave passes and everyone is successfully vaccinated.   

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