Producer Zeus Zamani and the writer and director of You Got Served bring you: Battlefield America

Behind the Scenes Goods and shout outs to AZ Studios in this MOB Fam Video!

This is the 2nd Common video produced in a week!

LeeLee is a talented young musician who knows how to bring it to a video!

When working with AZ studios on her Boom Bada video (which currently boasts over 34,000 views on VEVO) she couldn’t help but shine on camera in her own tough-yet-sexy sort of way. Her voice is sweet to the ears and the production behind her is sure to get any club up and jumping.

After a little research I found out that this interesting lady started out singing in church! She then went on to be top of her class at the world-renowned performance art academy she attended in her youth. More recently she’s worked with artists like Baby Bash and Jimmy Klev! I knew there was more than met the eye with this girl, so I coordinated an interview to find out what makes her tick.

Q: What originally got you into music and how long have you been making it?

LEELEE: I stumbled on it somewhere between church and school. I guess you can say I’ve been making it ever since I could get my heart broken (in middle school).

Q: Where is your hometown?

LEELEE: I like to think I have two. I grew up in Santa Monica, California; and beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada.

Q: Who are your main musical influences?
Beyonce, Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and anyone else who’s doing what they love day in and day out while still keeping it exciting. Beyonce works amazingly hard, Rihanna is sexy and fun, and Lady Gaga has turned her music into art. I want all these things to rub off on me in my career. (The talent not the ladies. Haha!)

Q: Who or what has influenced your life to take on this highly competitive career?

LEELEE: All the people who believe in me! That, and the fact that I am in love with what I do! To me it’s a no brainer, it’s just what I do.

Q:What problems have you run into in your musical career?

LEELEE: Not many, but the game is hard. I have to constantly remind myself that I can do it—motivate myself. Like most people, I want to make my family proud and do well. But the one thing I’ve had to learn along the way is that in this business you have to take the good with the bad. Not everyone will like what you do or create. I just try and remind myself that I’m doing the right thing in my heart, even if some people don’t agree. Like my beloved Mark says: “You don’t want to look back and think ‘I should have tried’.”

Q: Where have you triumphed in your career?

LEELEE: My greatest triumph is and will always be my music, which is a direct representation of me. I’m very proud of what it has allowed me to achieve and where it has taken my life. I also feel I triumph every time I influence the people listening to my music to dance, or cry, along with me. I love my fans more than they love me.

Q: What motivates you?

LEELEE: My family, my fans, and my heart.

Q: What are you planning for the future?

LEELEE: I plan to grow and change with every piece of music I put out. I want to be a work of art, just like my music. And most of all I want to have fun. So…I guess what I’m trying to say is: some amazing surprises are in store! So stay tuned!

I can honestly say that everyone here at AZ can’t wait to see what she does next.

Check out some behind the scenes cell footage of the new Common video produced by Zeus Zamani

A tribute to one of Hunter S. Thompson’s greatest novels: re-written by Bruce Robinson and starring Johnny Depp, Aaron Eckhart, and Giovanni Ribisi.

I absolutely love the book The Rum Diary by Hunter Thompson. Actually, I like everything I’ve ever read by Hunter Thompson. If you’re like me, then you were amped when you first heard that Johnny Depp was working on this project. And now it’s finally here.

If you haven’t read it, then know that the book is a wonderful romp through the mind of a young journalist who has, for better or worse, taken a job at an English Language paper in Puerto Rico. Being that this book is based in the late 50’s/early 60′s there is a strong theme illuminating ever so subtly: the colonization and exploitation of Puerto Rico. But still holding true to the Gonzo style there is plenty of realistic/vivid drunken debauchery and excitement throughout.

The movie was re-written for the screen by Bruce Robinson and I feel he did a fairly good job considering this is a Hollywood interpretation of a book from a wildly creative and brilliant mind.

I feel as though Robinson kept as much of the integrity of the book as possible, without freaking out the studio heads, which in-turn turned it into a more typical Hollywood story. Trying to market to the tastes of the general movie going public is hard, and more so when it comes to Thompson’s no-holds-barred style. So I applaud Robinsons work.

Robinson also added some psychedelic scenes which aren’t in the book for those Fear and Loathing fans that are sure to inundate movie theaters with their loud and obnoxious drug abuse.

If you have read the book, you know that the love interest in this story was not only a secondary focus but far less “Hollywood.” This was my biggest disappointment with the movie. The book was nothing close to a love story, but that’s pretty much all you get with the movie. I guess this is to be expected considering two hours is not much time to get an audience intrigued, but that doesn’t make me like this aspect of the movie in any way, so it’s a moot point.

My favorite part of the movie was seeing the character interpretations by some of my favorite actors. The cast was excellently picked, specifically the role of Sala (played by Michale Rispoli). I don’t think anyone could have played the roll better.

My overall opinion on the movie is that it’s great. This film is filled with adventure, conflict, romance and intrigue that every movie go-er will find worthwhile. But if you want this film to go from great to amazing: I’ve heard tell of a game being played all over the country that can get it there. And it involves actual rum.

Now, I’m not condoning getting drunk in public but the rules go like this: sneak bottles of rum into the theater and take a shot every time the characters in the movie drink. I may or may not be telling you this first hand, but “they” say you’re wasted by the end and you feel far more in touch with the movie. Make sure to bring a designated driver or go to a theater near a bar.

The book, as usual, is far better. I recommend you take a peek when you get a chance; it was, after all, written by one of the greatest writers of his time.

Ready to get into the Halloween spirit?

Then make sure you hold your sweetheart tight as you watch Somebody Help Me 2, produced by our very own Zeus Zamani!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW IT ON NETFLIX

If you’ve ever done a project at AZ studios you know that Zeus is one of the most calculated and driven producers in LA right now.

With a seriousness that rivals that of a general in war, Zeus prides himself on getting productions done with the least amount of problems and as close to under budget as possible.

But what is it that makes him tick? How does he keep going in such a competitive field? Well, why don’t we ask him!

How long have you been working in film production?

I’ve been producing since 2006, so it’s been almost 6 years. My first project took me and my brother, Ali Zamani, to Sweden to shoot parts of a feature film he had written and was planning to direct.

What are your three favorite things about working in the film industry?

1) I’ve always loved working on projects; the satisfaction of seeing an idea develop into a living/breathing entity has always been great for me!
2) There are no two projects that are exactly the same; as a producer you can never “see it all”! The new challenges and obstacles you face are never ending, making each project I work on an enlightening adventure.
3) The human contact, interaction and networking aspects of the film industry are all things I definitely love and have always excelled at.
A big part of being a producer is the ability to understand and appreciate the importance of relationships with other individuals. In this industry you must embrace the fact that every single individual and position is just as important as the next.

What are your three least favorite things about working in the film industry?

I don’t really have three things but, if anything, I would have to say it’s that as a producer you never ‘clock off’. It’s a lifestyle commitment rather than a job, which is fine 90% of the time, but I wish I could just clock off now and again!

Out of the 300+ productions you’ve worked on which one is your favorite or most memorable?

Every single project has had its own great memories and experiences; however there is definitely a couple that spring to mind. Producing the video for Tyler the Creator was great in that we had to order large hissing cockroaches, stage a vomit and even a suicide by hanging. That stuff is just fun to me.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced in the industry?

The biggest challenge to date I would say was producing the feature film project “Battlefield America”. This is a dance movie which we spent 2 months in pre-production for, and shot in 27 days.

I worked for an average of 14 hours per day without a single day off in that period. Every day presented itself with logistical challenges and obstacles so it was a huge learning curve for my career.

Overseeing a large budget production, 15 million to be exact, and managing my personal crew of about 50 members was definitely not easy! Working with children was also definitely no piece of cake as anyone in the industry can tell you. So many restrictions, rules, laws, etc.

But – we were able to come through and complete it. It’s now being screened at various studios (I am not allowed to say which ones) and will hopefully be released theatrically January or February of 2012!

What are your plans for the Future?

The plans of the future definitely include producing more feature films, including a project written by and directed by my brother, Ali Zamani. We’re planning to put together projects which involve shooting in different parts of the world and would need collaboration with production companies/producers in other countries.

As you can see Zeus is a busy guy and his eye is always pointed toward the future.

If you would like to get more information on upcoming projects feel free to leave a comment below.

If you’re interested in reading some of Zeus Zamani’s producer journals we’ve featured on the blog click below to read them!

Producer’s Journal – February 2011

Producer’s Journal – The private screening

Producer’s Journal – Summer 2011

Tyler the Creator was nominated for The Video of the Year award and Best New Artist award for 2011.

He ended up winning the BEST NEW ARTIST award! The underdog has come out on top!

To see what Kanye West said of the video our very own Zeus Zamani produced: CLICK HERE!

Tyler the Creator’s song “Yonkers” has become an internet sensation!

And now it has been nominated for a VMA from MTV!

What did Kanye think of the video?

BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU HIT PLAY! THIS VIDEO IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK!

Here are some sneak peaks of a new video we produced for Olu Maintain. Can you guess who the #1 girl was on the video?

That’s right!

Natalie Nunn of Bad Girls Club fame!

CLICK HERE TO SEE MORE PHOTOS NOW!

Snoop Dogg and the force from Asia known as Blush are working the charts and preforming on Fox, Thursday July 21st, 2011

You may have already heard about Blush. Their song Undivided (featuring Snoop Dogg) has been working its way up the charts. Undivided is actually the song the group will be performing on July 21st. So hip hop fans be ready, five of Asia’s hottest singers/dancers are about to blow your mind with one of hip hops all-time greatest icons.

When Free told me that he was working on choreography to be debuted on So You Think You Can Dance I was excited and happy for him. But when I found out he was choreographing for a girl group that was put together with the greatest talent the entire continent of Asia has to offer, I was more than intrigued. So on Friday I worked my way over to the North Hollywood Preforming Arts Center to get a first-hand look at what he was working on.

I got there and the girls were in the middle of practice. There was a fairly good amount of people watching. Even a guy from Disney was there watching with a smile from ear to ear.

The girls were dancing up a storm with their beautiful bodies seamlessly working Free’s distinctive choreography. Free had given them a combination of fast/intricate movements with complex formations sure to hypnotize the audience and get their hearts pumping.

At one point I even tried to tell Free how much I enjoyed his new work but imagine a small room with a stereo pounding out beats and melodies– it was impossible to hear anyone!
Suddenly one of the girls started to sing. A soul-filled voice came radiating from her mouth filling the room and giving me goose bumps. Could this girl really have such a strong voice that she’s out-singing the stereo with ease?

But before I could actually ask myself that question the other girls joined in. It became apparent that we weren’t dealing with your run-of-the-mill talent.

Even without microphones their voices released pure soul into the room. No quivering and no cracking despite the rigorous dancing! All of them had specifically unique, strong and beautiful voices. My bottom jaw was on the floor by the end of the first song. Now I could see why Free was so excited to be working on this amazing project.

Ladies and gentlemen please welcome to the world stage: BLUSH

The name of the group is Blush; it’s the brain child of Jon and Stacie Niermann. The Neirmanns have been working in entertainment for years, but this is the first time they are heading a project this unique. During a stint in Asia, and after watching the Grammys on TV, they decided the west needed to see the talent in Asia which has, for one reason or another, stayed hidden.
So they put together a girl band using the most talented girls that the largest, most populated continent had to offer.

But how EXACTLY did this band of singers/dancer come together?

What is the reason for putting a girl band together with girls you have to fly out from five various Asian countries?

Those questions and more will be answered in the next installment when we interview Jon & Stacie Niermann.

First things first. Don’t take my word for it. See Blush for yourself on So You Think You Can Dance on July 21st.
Then make sure to come on back for all the juicy background details!!!

See you then!

For information on Blush or to book Free for choreography please contact AZ Studios

Most small to mid-sized businesses are hesitant to film a commercial even though it is proven to be one of the most alluring forms of advertising, online and on TV.

For starters you are looking at a minimum of $30,000 in filming expenses and then you have to pay for placement. While placement is a topic for a separate blog, today we are going to talk about keeping your costs down during filming.

Hire a creative agency, experienced director, or experienced writer

You might think calling an ad/creative agency or production company like AZ studios is expensive because there is usually a 15-20% creative markup, but think about it. Your video will be how your clientele view you and your brand. Putting creative into the hands of professionals will prevent you from making a cheesy commercial that turns people off. Go ahead. Hire them. Delegating tasks will make things easier and much more appealing. Also remember that you’re the client, so the commissioned parties should be working hard to keep you happy.

Cut down on special effects

Special effects, including custom animation, are not cheap by any means. If you choose to write your own treatments try to make sure and work with resources that are readily available. There are simple animation templates online for those of you who have the time and are slightly more tech savvy. If not, a lot of creative companies out there can do simple template based animation for you at a very low cost. Or, you can simply write a treatment that minimizes any use of animation! Get creative.

Location… Location… Location!

If you are from LA, you know filming permits are inevitable and expensive if you are going to be using a public area. The more exclusive the area, the more it costs, too. Using a film studio with green screen or white cyc. can be a great way to cut down on permit costs. You can also try to base your commercial in your own store/location.

Use an experienced production team

How does that cliché go again? Time is money? Professional videographers and production companies will not only make sure your subjects are well-lit and presentable, but they’ll shave off any extra steps created by amateur trial and error mistakes.

To sum up

As you can see there are so many factors in budgeting for a commercial but the main thing you need is a proficient team who will not waste time and money creating a commercial you might not be proud of. That kind of end result will end up costing you more than you can imagine.

Remember, you can always count on AZ for help so feel free to give us a call or comment here for additional help.