Members of 'Sipp Talk’s Production and Content teams had the opportunity to serve as Production Assistants on the set of Big K.R.I.T's “M.I.S.S.I.S.S.I.P.P.I” video shoot in his hometown of Meridian, MS. Ahmarey Stimley (photographer), Bryony Murphy (Writer), Jasmine Williams (Creative Director), and Meredith Williams (Videographer) made up the entire Production Assistant team for Day 2 of shooting. Two team members were even selected for a few scenes in the video. Keep an eye out and let us know who you see!
Experiencing the making of a large scale video on our own soil was important to us as students of media. We gained valuable experience and knowledge while on set. That day, we were able to see all pieces (Director to Production Assistant) of the production team work in tandem to produce a beautiful representation of Mississippi culture. Child, the Director of the video, paid special attention to detail and effectively communicated her needs to the crew and cast. There were times when she even showed the team exactly what she needed to make sure each shot told the right story. From the lights to equipment, the entire experience was exciting!
So what's a PA?
A Production Assistant serves as the hands and boots on the ground to ensure the project runs smoothly. The production team focuses on the “big picture” of the project, so it’s left to the Production Assistants to complete the seemingly simple tasks like moving chairs and tables, setting up tents or running water from scene to scene. Acting as support for the production team requires flexibility, endurance and patience. This is not a glamorous job. However, the experience and insight we gained was priceless.
We have noticed that access to opportunities for media production on this scale are limited in Mississippi. It may seem small, but providing opportunity is necessary for creatives here who are self-taught. The opportunity to experience this means a lot. Mississippi is rich with raw creativity and innovation. The flip-side is that we spend time re-inventing the wheel due to the limited access to opportunities to cultivate our natural abilities. This experience provided us a chance to learn by example. It also showed us where we stand and where we have potential to grow.
"Seeing a different perspective of how videos are shot, from sun up to sun down it literally took a VILLAGE to make sure everything was done the right way. It felt like we were apart of history. It wasn't easy at all, but I'm grateful. The video is insaaanneee."
-Bryony Murphy (Content Writer)
Big K.R.I.T.’s “M.I.S.S.I.S.S.I.P.P.I. video is a beautiful display of our Mississippi culture. The simplicity and complexity shows our value. It provides a window into the art that is us, offering A Peek Into The Culture. It was so dope for K.R.I.T's crew to bring this opportunity home. If you haven't watched the video, watch below!