THE COMBS CONNECTION
• A Client Case Study •
powered by Kiss Creative Films & VGY Productions
From 1999-2004 Robert Young, going by the pseudonym's Katt Brown (Editor) & Bobby O'neill (Director), executed a multitude of multimedia initiatives for Sean Diddy Combs and his Bad Boy Entertainment entities.
Sean John Combs, also known by his stage names Puff Daddy, Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy's, two MTV Video Music Awards, and is the producer of MTV's Making the Band. Forbes estimated Combs' net worth at $500 million, making him the richest figure in hip hop.
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• 2005 •
Young directs Kiss Creative Films' first music video for Sean Combs' Bad Boy Entertainment, The Notorious B.I.G.'s Hold Ya Head featuring reggae legend Bob Marley. The video for "Hold Ya Head" features Young's inherent documentary-style filmmaking, taking viewers on a journey through the urban neighborhoods of Miami and Brooklyn, New York. An incredible cameo appearance by Biggie's mom, Voletta Wallace, standing on the steps of the brownstone where her and her son once lived, is one of the most memorable images in the piece. The popular video clip was the debut release from the album "The Notorious B.I.G. Duets: Final Chapter.
Execution of the video required management of sensitive media that included personal video clips of B.I.G. on tour. Young also played the role of liaison between Bad Boy Entertainment and the Estate of Bob Marley.
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• 2004 •
Sean Combs and Tracy Waples, former GM of Bad Boy Entertainment, made an unprecedented move in the record industry by contracting Young’s VGY Productions to become their exclusive provider of post-production services.
In the deal, Young would edit all music videos released by the label as well as oversee the overall post-production of documentary specials that were included on greatest hits enhanced cd’s. Young was also charged with conceiving and executing all television advertisements for the forthcoming albums releases.
The dynamic 2004 Bad Boy releases included projects from Bad Boys top stars including Mase, Carl Thomas, Mario Winans, and New Edition.
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• 2003 •
Young post-supervised, co-wrote, scored and edited the MTV Networks/Bad Boy Films Docu-drama "Diddy Runs The City". Under incredible time constraints Young assembled and lead a team of editors, assistant editors, colorists, graphic artists and sound mixers in the creation of this 2-part, 90 minute documentary film.
Diddy Runs The City was a brand re-inventing documentary for the Sean Diddy Combs persona. Remembered for the humorous introduction of his "Hawkie" haircut, his own version of the Mohawk, and the hilarious 'Ice Bath" scene, Combs was his ever-entetaining self in the film.
The mogul also gave viewers and in-depth look at the true meaning of his mantra "Don't Stop, Can't Stop, Won't Stop", as pushed himself to his physical limits training for the New York City Marathon. He also exhibited a relentless commitment to fundraising and liaising with government agencies, like the NYC school board, and influential politicians, like Mayor Bloomberg.
In the end Combs finished the marathon raising over $2 million dollars for the New York City school system. To date, Young considers the execution of "Diddy Runs The City" as his proudest triumph in his post-production and editing career.
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• 2002 •
Commissioned by Sean Combs, Young enters the Reality Television arena by way of editing the premiere episode of MTV's Making The Band 2. Young was tasked with using his unique sense of timing and story-telling to set the rhythmic tone for the 2nd season of the hit series.
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• 2001 •
Young was asked to work on-site with Mr. Combs at Daddy's House Studios in Manhattan, New York. Privacy and security concerns stemming from issues regarding a night club incident while Combs was out with his then girlfriend Jennifer Lopez, required that edit to come to Mr. Combs. A portable Avid edit facility was moved in to the luxurious Daddy House Studio lounge in Manhattan for the execution of the edit for the hit record "Let's Get It" starring Diddy, Black Rob and G-dep.
It was during this unique working experience that Young and Combs built a strong creative rapport as Combs would give the young filmmaker the license to break all the rules and produce the most entertaining outcome the footage could provide.
The video hit the MTV and BET airwaves receiving outstanding reviews for it's incredible sets, imagined by director Little x, the infectious introduction of the Harlem Shake dance craze, and the powerful rhythmic edit style by Young that would introduce the famous 'jump-cut" to music videos.
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• 1999 - 2004 •
From 1999-2004, Young's VGY productions would be the go to post-house for Bad Boy Entertainment producing an endless list of hit music videos.
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• 1999 •
Young launches his film career with his first official music video edit, "Sitting Home", for legendary Bad Boy recording artists, Total. In a few short years Young would become one of the most sought-after non-linear film editors in the music business.
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• Summary •
The music video/film industry would be the impetus for the launch of Young's VGY Productions and eventually Kiss Creative Films.
Want to see some classic music videos edit by Young? Log on to http://theavideditor.tumblr.com
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The Combs Connection • Client Case Study powered by © Kiss Creative Films
