Wayne Wonder

THE music video for Wayne Wonder's Billboard hit No Letting Go, was shot on location in St Ann last Thursday. The shoot took nearly 24 hours to complete. Scenes were shot at Reggae Beach in Ocho Rios, and Drax Hall Estate in Runaway Bay.

The project featured a predominantly Jamaican cast and technical crew. Producer of the video was Maxine Walters, Assistant Director was Ras Kassa, while L'Antoinette Stines and Patrice Levy from L'Acadco, handled the choreography of the dance routines, executed by 10 dancers who were recruited from Kingston. Cecile Burrowes from Cinecom Productions was in charge of make-up.

Little X being interviewed by US television talk show host Mike Bullard on his Open Mike programme.

Noted music video director, Toronto-based Little X, who called the shots during the duration of production has worked on a number of high profile videos for industry giants, among them P. Diddy, Usher and Beenie Man. He recently received critical acclaim for his work on Sean Paul's Gimmie The Light clip.

No Letting Go which has been doing well at rhythmic, and mainstream radio in the US, was released on the popular Diwali rhythm. Wonder said he was confident that the video would further boost the success of the song.

"A lot of people were asking when the video would be done, and now its about to be released. I am just happy with the way it has turned out," Wayne told the Observer on the set of the video shoot.

James Goring, A&R Executive at VP Records, who has responsibility for Wayne Wonder's project, declined to reveal the budget for the production. "It's a decent budget but I am not at liberty to say how much it is," was all Goring was prepared to say. However, sources close to the project revealed that the budget was in the region of US$100,000.

Walters, who has worked on a number of high profile projects on the local scene over the past few years, was drafted along with her Mars Media production entity to work on the project.

"Little X's production house contacted me and that's basically how we got involved with the video," said Walters.

She added, "Little X is a genius. He takes the smallest budget and makes it look big. He came into the island seven days before we began to shoot. He was very much involved in the casting, choreography as well as the selection of the locations that we shot the scenes".

Little X said that No Letting Go is the third dancehall video that he has worked on. His previous ones were Sean Paul's Gimmie Di Light and the Beenie Man/Mya track Girls Dem Sugar.

"I am fascinated with dancehall music and I like it for what it represents," said Little X.

"A lot of work was put into this video. Everyone played a vital role. Everybody's job is important," assistant director Ras Kassa assured.

Walters, whose credentials include videos for R&B singer Donnel Jones, Lauryn Hill, the Fugees, Damion "Junior Gong" Marley, and Snow among others, concluded, "Little X is one of the best there is. I only work with the best. That way I am guaranteed quality".

19-year-old Toronto-based Guyanese national Monique Simmonds, plays Wayne's love interest in the video. A dancer and model by profession, she said it was her first time to Jamaica.

"I am having a good time, and the crew is just wonderful," she said.

One on one with Little X

Kevin Jackson: How did you come by the name Little X?

Little X: It's the name I got back home in Toronto when I was 16 years old.

KJ: What's your real name?

LX: Julian

KJ: Where are you from and what is your nationality?

LX: I am from Toronto, Canada. My mother is Trinidadian and my father is from Switzerland.

KJ: How do you conceptualize your ideas for the videos that you work on?

LX: I have always been an artist, drawing and stuff like that, so it was just a progression. I did stuff for comic books while I was a teenager. Then I got a job with Much Music TV station in Toronto, and that led to my interest in music videos. I studied on set.

KJ: What was it like growing for you as a kid, seeing that you are from a mixed background?

LX: I was a regular kid growing up. Nothing special.

KJ: What was the first video that you worked on?

LX: An artiste from Toronto named Shock-Lin. It was collaboration with Jully Black. Eventually they both got signed to major labels.

KJ: How many videos have you done to date?

LX: A whole lot. I haven't really counted them.

KJ: Why the interest in reggae/dancehall music?

LX: Cause I am from Toronto and a lot of island people are there and the music is hot. The dances have always been hot, and no one has really exposed that in the videos. I have always been saying that I wanted to do something that speaks to Caribbean music and culture, a little bit more than what hip hop does.

What we did with Sean Paul's video was brand new for us, it was just fresh and new".

KJ: Which US-based acts have you worked with?

LX: P Diddy, Usher, Jadakiss, Alicia Keys, LL Cool J, Mobb Deep, Nelly and Jay-Z. I am out there working. That's why I have been stressing to go out there and do some new stuff, some reggae stuff. There are just so many party videos you can do".

KJ: What is your favourite video?

LX: I don't have a favourite video. Everything has its moment. I like everything for its own reason.

KJ: Who would you like to work with?

LX: Lauryn Hill. I like her music.

KJ: You have been credited for pushing reggae in the forefront with that Sean Paul video, how do you respond to that?

LX: It's not just the video. The video was a pretty picture for something that had always been there. It's the culture, the music, the dancing, and the people. So many elements came together to make that video something. I directed it, but I can't say it's just me. Everyone felt so excited about it. It's a part of all of us that was involved in it".

Trousers in Denim

Cream of the 'Crop'

Cheeky's World