| Ryan Leslie's "Diamond Girl" (The Movie) - 728 sec
So here it is. I shot this movie to express my many sides as an artist. It's my acting debut, my screenwriting debut, my (co) directorial debut, my scoring debut, my movie producing debut. In short - it's everything I could possibly give. It's a start, and I know there's plenty of room for growth!
I worked with an eager team that also was very new to filmmaking and I am proud of and thankful for everyone who invested their time, talent, and energy to make this happen.
Why a short movie? Besides the fact that this idea would have haunted me if I wouldn't have produced it, I wanted to exemplify the following:
This is evidence that if you have an idea, you should see it through, even if it means assembling a team that includes a film student from another country... Give it all you've got and learn from the experience. That's what I've done here. Most of all, don't let anyone limit you by telling what you are and are not capable of doing. Just do what you believe in and believe in what you do. Remember it's entertainment so people will (and are entitled to) have their opinions. Despite their feedback, be creative and continue to grow.
For all of you movie lovers that want to know the full story, here it is: A Military Intelligence Agency has been assigned to recover a diamond that's been stolen from a very powerful Russian family. They suspect that a notorious dealer has been hired to sell the diamond on the black market. After shadowing her for a few weeks, the agency finds that she's very close to a certain music producer. They decide to recruit him into their service, and this is the story of how he manages to help them recover the precious stone.
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The final scene was taken from the Diamond Girl photo campaign that I shot. Special thanks to Pieter Henket (photographer), Kim at SNAP Pro (production manager), Inge Fonteyne (stylist), Scott Lipps at ONE Model Management (Irina's Agency), Keith Custodio (production manager for NextSelection), Cameron Smalls & Sam Kochman (extras).
God bless and I encourage you to subscribe and share with your friends. Album in stores September 16th, 2008!
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie diamond girl movie film nextselection ns4life jeannena flores guillaume doubet irina sheik fabrizio brienza joy evan rogers yamill vallecillo next selection vladimir tatarinov
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| Ryan Leslie Making "Gibberish" - 363 sec
Songwriters sometimes sing unintelligible syllables to lay down a guide melody during the creative process. Here's an amusing example of this with my voice running through a very strict pitch correction processor.
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie live in studio music production producer next selection nextselection ns4life making of gibberish
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| Happy Mother's Day, MOM! - 139 sec
No real song structure - just a free-form expression. A virtual card for my Mother:
"Mother" (Ryan Leslie)
Allow me to congratulate you on your day
I hope you find some eloquence in what I say
'Cause I am your child
And I live for your smile
And I'm thankful in so many ways
'Cause you were always there to walk me down the road
And when I needed you'd extend a hand for me to hold
You would always wipe the sadness from my eyes
So the reason why I love you comes as no surprise
You were there to lift me up
When my world fell down
You would always know the words to say
You gave the kind of love I can't repay
...but I can say
Mother, Mother, I love you
Mother, I really do
I love you
R
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie ns4life next selection live keyboard mothers day mother happy mom
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| Ryan Leslie Diamond Girl Live - 327 sec
Ryan Leslie performs "Diamond Girl" at R&B Live spotlight NYC
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie diamond girl nextselection
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| Ryan Leslie Rehearses "Irina" - 271 sec
Live music always adds the best twist to a song that feels good...
Many people have asked about this song - what it means and why I wrote it.
Here's the answer:
I wrote this song during a very tough time in my life. My 'Diamond Girl' had just left me. If you've ever had someone leave you - you know what I'm talking about. It's very easy during that time to feel like you're just not "good enough".
Sometimes all it takes is just a nice person to say "I'm diggin' you", and it can turn your whole life around - make you feel like you're not all bad.
"Irina" is about that person, whomever it may be in your life. Someone that made you feel like you were worth something again. It could be anyone. The song's not sexual. The word 'love' doesn't appear once. It's about the feeling you get when you know you're making someone happy by just being yourself.
Sometimes you need that encouragement to appreciate the person you see in the mirror. I know I did.
Still miss my girl though.
Enjoy the clip.
R
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie irina ns4life next selection rehearsal live in studio band
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| Ryan Leslie Makes "Addiction" - 347 sec
Ryan Leslie Makes "Addiction"
Yes we were in the studio until 8am doing this one. Everyone was sleeping and the sun was up by the time I finished. It's not a game - this music stuff. I will not stop.
Listen to the song at:
http://www.myspace.com/ryanleslie
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie ns4life next selection nextselection live in studio addiction featuring cassie
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| Ryan Leslie Plays Over "Lollipop" by Lil Wayne on SIRIUS - 308 sec
Live on The Invasion Radio Show with DJ Green Lantern.
If you've never heard 'The Invasion', you should know that Green Lantern is about exposing the real deal. I knew this wouldn't be a normal interview when I walked in and saw they had a keyboard set up for me.
Keep in mind, I take my hat off to the true improvisational players out there. I've been around the world and seen some amazing piano/keyboard players. In fact - I've even hired a few of them to play with me at live shows or in sessions.
I taught myself to play by ear, and I was thankful I figured out the chords in time to get an arpeggio going. I posted this video to show that no matter your talent level - it's always important to give your all. People will respond as long as it's sincere.
Live radio on the spot is no joke.
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie ns4life next selection nextselection green lantern sirius radio lil wayne lollipop live in studio
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| Willie Dancing to Ryan Leslie's "Addiction" - 119 sec
My rookie intern Willie "The Hungry Dancer" Caba rockin' to "Addiction" feat. Cassie. Filmed on the corner of 14th and 9th Avenue in NYC, just before we walked Lotus to test the mix in the club.
Listen to the full song here: http://www.myspace.com/ryanleslie
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie ns4life next selection nextselection dancing willie caba hungry dancer addiction cassie
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| Ryan Leslie "Diamond Girl" Official Video - Rough Cut - 286 sec
This is the edit of the video that premiered on BET's 106 & Park on Friday, April 4th. Since it's my channel, I've added some sound design to the version that aired.
As I posted in my previous video, I had a huge vision for this video to feel like a live television performance that gave tribute to a James Brown piece I saw on the Ed Sullivan show.
I saved up my money and had the EXACT same stage built that James performed on. I then hired a band to cut the live version. After that, I worked with everyone on the stage to have that throwback vibe. I paid to shoot the performance on a blue screen with the intention of having the set of the Ed Sullivan show digitally recreated behind me. My label disagreed.
They felt that the live version felt too much like a remix.
They also felt that we needed to rush on the video so the final edit came back without the digital stage - just changed the blue to black and added some lights, and cutaway graphics of diamonds.
My original treatment called for the video to be set in the late 60's just like James Brown's performance. I wanted to have families huddled around the television watching this performance like they used to back then.
When I got to LA to shoot, the entire set was modern and a piece of me died. My vision was compromised. Rather than be an ungrateful artist, I stayed and gave my best performance.
The video that's airing is really only a partial representation of my artistic vision.
Here are a few of the audio edits I've made that are featured in the vid that you're seeing:
* First, I had someone come to the studio and say the following dialogue in French:
"Ryan. Wait for me. I'm not even ready! I can't believe you're gonna leave me here...You're driving me crazy - I can't do this anymore. Ryan - if you leave - we're finished! YOU SPENT $3000 ON A DRESS - don't you wanna see me in it?? Oh..ok - fine... GO! Amuse yourself with the girls at your show!! And if you think I'll be here when you get back - THINK AGAIN!!"
* Second, I convinced Evan to do the voice-over of my manager.
* Third, I re-cut my dialogue from the beginning and added the sound of running water to enhance the vibe of our bathroom conversation.
* Fourth, I added the sound of the door opening before the video starts.
* Added a few horn stabs to parts of the performance when I'm gesturing to the band to "hit me".
* Put some applause at the end of the performance scene.
* Added the sound of screaming girls, running feet, more screaming girls and the car door closing.
The lesson I learned here is that when you have a strong creative vision - do everything in your power to see it through. I am very thankful that I have a video on TV. Many artists are still striving for that milestone. Regardless, this experience encouraged me to shoot another video as well as an 11 minute short film based on "Diamond Girl".
I will not stop.
R
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie diamond girl ns4life next selection nextselection
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| Ryan Leslie arranges "Diamond Girl" for Video - 65 sec
In the studio creating a live arrangement of "Diamond Girl" for my music video.
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie ns4life next selection nextselection live in studio diamond girl video
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| Ryan Leslie - Valentine - 259 sec
Thank you all for making "Diamond Girl" my first charting single as a solo artist...here's a record I made for Valentine's day. The performance is a nod to what I think Morris Day would do in the studio. Thanks to my talented staff, especially Guillaume Doubet for filming this performance and Yamill Vallecillo for the logo animation. Enjoy...
VALENTINE (Ryan Leslie)
VERSE 1
i don't have to say you're beautiful
you've got plenty other guys to say those words for you
and i don't have to say you run the show
all it takes is a word, i lose control for you
HOOK
i know you're not my girlfriend, but
i swear that i love you
baby i do
i know you're not my girlfriend, but
i swear that i love you
baby i do
VERSE 2
i don't have to say you stole my heart
'cause anything i have i freely give to you
and i knew right from the very start
that the only place i belong is next to you
HOOK
BRIDGE
even thru all
the ups and downs
you can't stop
the way i feel now
even thru the storm
joy & pain
i won't change
still feel the same
anytime you call
i don't care
no matter the reason
i'll be there
constantly on my mind
and that's why i'm hoping
you will be my
valentine (valentine)
HOOK
...and i know you love me too
VOICEBOX
i swear that i love you...yes i do
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie next selection ns4life valentine nextselection in studio day valentines
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| Diamond Girl Radio Teaser - 100 sec
Diamond Girl Radio Teaser
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: Ryan Leslie Diamond Girl Radio Teaser
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| Ryan Leslie Creates Diamond Girl - 267 sec
Me (the Artist), Myself (the Producer), and I (the Engineer) get together in the studio to create my single "Diamond Girl". Great fun as usual.
Reviewing and re-sequencing the footage from this session revealed that it was possible to edit the video with an interesting twist: as though all of my alter egos were recording the song simultaneously, and even interacting with one another.
Please enjoy, request the song at radio, and share my music and vids with anyone else you think may appreciate them.
http://www.myspace.com/ryanleslie
God bless,
R
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie ns4life next selection nextselection diamond girl in studio music production r&b soul
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| Ryan Leslie: I-R-I-N-A (Shot in 113 seconds) - 225 sec
SONG: I've spent the last 2 weekends shooting a crazy photo story for my single "Diamond Girl" starring Russian fashion model Irina Sheik (http://supermodels.nl/irinasheik ). The concept required that we have some chemistry on set and since I speak very little Russian, I started singing this song and melody to break the ice and lighten up the vibe. By the end of the shoot, the boys on my staff suggested I lay it down, so here it is.
VIDEO: A few months ago, I hired Guillaume Doubet (http://www.myspace.com/ilovegeedub ), a talented young director from France to come and work on our video team. He came up with the concept to shoot this video at double speed so when we played it back in real-time, it would have the slow motion effect that you see. So - imagine dancing and singing this song at 2x the speed all in one continuous take - no edits. Watch closely, the end of the video where I walk off screen really gives it away. PLEASE NOTE: This means that the video was shot in exactly 113 seconds (or 1/2 the time it will take you to watch it).
Enjoy, share, and stay tuned for the "Diamond Girl" photo story shot by my good friend Pieter Henket. You can see a preview image on my website (http://www.ryanleslie.com ).
God bless.
R
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags: ryan leslie ns4life next selection irina r&b soul diamond girl r-les nextselection gee dub guillaume doubet
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| Ryan Leslie's Diamond Girl on Power 105.1 - 117 sec
on phone with richie dollaz
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags:ryan leslie next selection nextselection dj clue power 105 richie dollaz
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| Ryan Leslie Makes I Gets Money - 302 sec
A record I made for the new Tape Masters Inc. R&B Mixtape. Had a blast on this one, enjoy!
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags:ryan leslie next selection nextselection ns4life get gets money black card perez hilton in studio
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| Ryan Leslie Makes Sometimes for Cassie - 211 sec
There's a certain magic in the room at Sony tonite...the final version of Cassie's song can be found on her myspace profile: http://www.myspace.com/cassiemyspacemusic
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
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| Ryan Leslie - Clip from Sony Studio Sessions - 250 sec
Creating a new instrumental for my album.
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
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| Ryan Leslie Marches for Justice - 74 sec
Today I marched with thousands of others to demonstrate the need for improving Police and Community relations. This was in response to the fatal shooting of Sean Bell by undercover policemen on November 25th. Five cops, 50 rounds, one dead, two injured, zero guns found on Bell and the other "suspects." In this holiday - remember the need for better understanding on a human level. God bless...
Song: "Place in the Sun" by Stevie Wonder
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags:ryan leslie next selection nextselection ns4life al sharpton sean bell march for justice harry belafonte 5th avenue
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| Ryan Leslie Single Promo Vid - 72 sec
Promo trailer for Ryan's single "The Way That U Move Girl"
Auteur : RyanLeslieTV
Tags:ryan leslie the way that you move girl next selection ns4life nextselection diddy cassie donell jones cheri dennis loon
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