Mazi O Shoots People For a Living: An Interview With The Brooklyn-Based Videographer & Film Director

After years of watching his work, we wanted to speak with videographer and film director, Mazi O.

The Brooklyn-based creative businessman lets us in on keys to brand strength, being humble in the business and how to succeed as an entrepreneur in the hip hop community. Here, the man who “shoots people for a living, speaks with Birthplace Magazine’s Andrea Krepelka.

Can you briefly describe how you got started in the business?

I began my career in the business years ago, Buckshot of Black Moon was a family friend, and at the time he was talking about doing a DVD called Shot, he wanted me to put the whole thing together. I purchased a video camera off TV from one of those home shopping network type shows. I began teaching myself how to shoot. We never actually did the DVD but I was hooked on videography. A few more years passed and I was working at a radio station in New York, WBAI 99.5FM, I met a lot of rappers that way, and I met Dylan while doing an interview. I became good friends with Dylan, and sort of became his personal videographer. We were doing these video blogs on MySpace and one day I asked him to let me shoot a music video for him, we shot two videos Swagger Like Us and DOA. The overall feedback was so positive I felt like it was my calling, and so my journey began as a hip hop video director.

If you could describe your brand in a few words, how would you describe it? In your opinion, what makes your brand strong and unique in comparison to others out there?

As a music video director I would describe my brand as the “affordable professional.” I think my appeal is my accessibility to the local rapper, and also the platinum selling rapper. I have worked with budgets of $300 and up to $7000, there aren’t [m]any directors like that. You can get an inexpensive director for your video, but have they been on MTV? Hot 97? The Source? Have they worked with hip hop legends? Do they have over 50 million views? Probably not, and if they did they’re definitely going to charge way more than I do. I like the underdog. [How] my brand strength compared to others, is when I cover an event my turnaround is less than 24 hours. When I began, there really wasn’t a 24 hour standard, my brand started that, and now more people are doing it.

I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, and I barely sleep, so I’m always focused when that camera is in my hand. At the end of the day I am competing with every other videographer and I have to win.

How did you first get your brand out to the hip hop community? Do you select your clients? Do they select you? Do you have a selection process for the kind of work you want to take versus the kind of work you may not have interest in?

My cousin was CEO of Motown a few years back, and I used to go up to the offices all the time so I gained some exposure then, plus working at the radio station is what really gave me more exposure to hip hop. I met a lot of rappers and maintained relationships with them even after leaving radio. I began building and establishing my brand when I ventured into mixtapes. The record labels used to send me new music all the time at the radio station, [with] too much to air, so I started doing mixtapes with the help of Justo award winner DJ Kool Kid.

I have been lucky to have done such a good job that clients usually contact me, it’s all word of mouth. I just got a call from the legendary DJ Kid Capri the other day to do some work.

Generally I take all jobs. I’ve only turned down a couple jobs. One was a political video that I didn’t agree with and the other was porn.

It seems that you’ve got your hands in all the media paint jars (music videos, commercials, interviews etc.) how important is it to you, to involve yourself in various mediums? Is it a conscious decision, or does it happen organically?

I really believe in the 10,000 hour rule. If you want to be successful you need to put in 10,000 hours in your given craft. The more you practice the better you get. I don’t believe in instant success, somebody [once] said it takes ten years to become an overnight success. In everything you do there should be growth and progression. I see the different mediums as progression (interviews, music videos, commercials, TV, movies.) and I am currently making a conscious decision to expand into other areas.

Out of all the work you do, do you have a favorite type of work? For example, do you prefer music videos to interviewing people? Does it matter to you?
I used to enjoy music videos, but honestly the creativity is gone in hip hop videos. A lot of my clients come to me and they want something that looks like a Rick Ross video or a P. Diddy video, or they just want a club scene with dancing girls and bottle popping. I’m not interested in those types of videos. I want to shoot something creative, something that makes people say “WOW.” I tell my clients all the time that I am also an artist, a visual artist, so I need the freedom to create.

I just finished directing my first feature length movie called Date ‘N Game, and that’s what I really enjoy. I want to do at least five more movies this year, plus I am writing, producing, and directing a new web series called Arizona Ron based on characters created by Notorious B.I.G..

How important is having a good team representing your brand? Have you mentored others or would you have interest in mentoring someone who was looking to get into the business?

A team is so important, but also so difficult to build. I am a hard worker and it just seems like a lot of people these days are looking for that microwave success, the overnight rocket to the top. I don’t have a traditional team, I have a small group of people that I work with on different projects. I have a make-up artist I work with, Tish Ferguson, she’s like a little sister to me. When we first met I was hard on her about being the best she could be and now she does make-up for Love & Hip-Hop, and she’s the key make-up artist on Ja Rule’s new TV show. Also, my homegirl Naysimone, partnered up with me and my IDOIT4TV brand, and now she is an on-air personality in Florida on X102.3 FM. [Currently] I’m doing a lot of work with social media comedian Lowkey Mar. I love to share my experiences with people [and] I enjoy mentoring.

What is the most important business advice you can give to someone starting out?

The main thing I would really stress to new directors is that they need to be driven by the passion and not the paycheck.

Some opportunities are greater than a big check.

How important is it to have strong entrepreneurial role models in the hip hop community?

I think in hip hop we need more examples of successful entrepreneurship [and] not just successful rappers. We need to see more businessmen and businesswomen on all levels, not just the billionaires. I know several successful business people in hip hop that aren’t rappers. I think hip hop needs more positive role models.

Finally, are there any common business mistakes you’ve made or perhaps witnessed that have been a learning experience for you? Can you elaborate on any of them and describe how you may have learned from them?

One of the biggest mistakes I see is the need for attention and self-importance. We’re in an era where everyone on Instagram, is a boss and getting paid, etc. Jay Z said, “Fame is the worst drug known to man.” Sometimes it’s a big deal to be in the company of your favorite celebrity, it can be overwhelming to the point of making a person believe that they have “arrived.” You have to be humble in this business, and protect your brand. I have a great story from ten years ago of me getting caught up in my own hype and missing out on an opportunity with Akon, but that’s for another day.

You can access Mazi O’s content and contact him through his website: Directed By Mazi O.