‘Genius Productions’ have been making music videos and live videos for the last 5 years with groups from all round the world: THE COOPER TEMPLE CLAUSE (UK, Morning Records), ZEN GUERRILLA (USA, Sub Pop), THE YELLOW MELODIES (Spain), WALTER (Spain), SALOON (UK, Track & Field) y BUNNYHUG (USA, Elefant Records).
 To prepare for a video we need to know what exactly the band want in their video, we normally require 3-4 weeks of preparation before we can go out and film. A Video takes up to a month to edit and then two more weeks for possible changes required. We use High definition cameras and Professional edditing to produce exactly what the group require.
 Editing and filming is the most exciting part of making a music video so the finished work is always something that will interest the fans and help promote the group. There are many different ways of filming a video, these include filming in a studio with exterier shots, filming a band live and mixing with extra footage, or filming a band without there instruments and using a completely original idea, each one is dependedent on what the band wants to show to its audience.

1. When did ‘Genius Productions’ start? Why did you decide to make video-clips? Are you not interested in making movies?
 ‘Genius Productions’ started in 1997 when I came back from travelling around America and Canada; I decided I didn’t want to work in an office for ever, I better do something I love. I have made some short films and some documentaries, I would like to make a full length documentary at some point and maybe a sureal comedy.

2. Who is “Genius Productions”? Is it you alone or there’s someone else?
  When I work in England I have some friends who work with me to film music videos, and in Spain I have some friends there, I like working with people from whatever country I am in.

3. Why did you get interested in Spain?  Were you in Spain before?
 I always wanted to speak Spanish and I like ‘Tapas’, ‘Jamon’ specially and ‘tomatoe alinado’. I remember a girl I met in a bar told me that all english people are ignorant because they don’t try to speak another language, this annoyed me but I thought I better prove her wrong.

4. Which reasons made you come to Spain to live for some years? Why did you choose Granada?
 I was doing some voluntary work  on a farm in Almeria and I stayed in Granada before hand. I thought it was a fantastic city, I liked the way everyone would talk to you, and the beers were cheap. I realized I could continue making music videos and combine that living with Spain, when I was with the English band SALOON at the Contempopranea Festival to make a music video. I met a lot of people who were interested in what I was doing.

5. Why did you get in touch with the bands you have worked with? Or did they get in touch with you?
 I had met a nice chap called Rafa Skam at Contempopranea and he helped me a lot, he got me in touch with Luis from Elefant Records, and then I met more spanish bands from word of mouth.

6. Tell us about your experience making clips to spanish bands... which was the funniest experience?
 I made a lot of videos for spanish bands outside in the summer and normally that involved bad sunburn and unhappy band members but I realized when making the video for THE YELLOW MELODIES if the band has some alcohol to drink everybody seems so much happier.
 The funniest moment was probably filming “The championship cup”. I think if you can understand what a band and you get on with them, then your bound to make a good video, and it’s normally fun as well. I made a documentary of the video which is shown on the Channel 4.
 
7. How do you find spanish bands? Which are your favourite ones?
 I like the Spanish bands like LA BUENA VIDA, HUMBERT HUMBERT, THE YELLOW MELODIES, UNDERWATER TEA PARTY and 12TWELVE... there are always so many good new Spanish bands to listen to.
 
8. You have been in some Spanish festivals such as Contempopranea or Lemon Pop... Which is your opinion about them? Which memories do you keep from them?
 I am very fond of Contempopranea because of the people and the ambience. Also Lemon Pop I like very much. I prefer the smaller festivals because of the ambience that you get with them.
I will always remember at Contempop carrying amplifiers back down a hill to a hotel at 6 in the morning with SALOON singing ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN songs.
 
9. Name some of your favourite videoclips:
 “Bittersweet symphony” - THE VERVE
 “Praise you” - FATBOY SLIM
 
10. Now tell us about your favourite band or artist from each decade:
-From the 60s: THE SMALL FACES, THE ROLLING STONES, THE BEATLES -There were too many good bands to choose from in the 60s.
-From the 70s: JIMMY CLIFF, GRAM PARSONS, MIKE NESMITH - I’m not too keen on rock music in the 70s but Country Music and Reggae were really good then.
-From the 80s: THE JESUS & MARY CHAIN, NEW ORDER - In England it was a crap decade for music but NEW ORDER helped.
-From the 90s: PIXIES, PRIMAL SCREAM, JANE’S ADDICTION - I was 16 and all music was finally brilliant.
-Today’s: CARIBOU, MODEST MOUSE, BLACK REBEL MOTORCYCLE CLUB - I think this decades pretty good for music, isn’t it?
 
11. Have you thought of coming to Spain again?
 Yes definitely, I miss the life, I hope to come back to Contempopranea this year, and I want to see some friends.
 
12. Which are your plans for 2007?
 I am working with a Spanish Band called LAXULA in London on a new video for them, and also a video for Adam from SALOON’s band ARTHUR AND MARTHA. I am making some new documentaries at present, also I want to come back to Spain and make some more videos.
 
My favourite videos I have made:
“Le weekend” - SALOON --> This was my first video I made in Spain at Contempopranea 2002. I took a long time to edit because I put every image possible in, but it was good fun to film.
“Napalm girl” - BUNNYHUG --> I managed to find 120 Japanese students to come into a night club in Reading and completely fill it up, normally the club was empty at 8, it freaked people out.
“The championship cup”- THE YELLOW MELODIES --> It was all filmed just before sunset so there’s beautiful colours, it’s definitely the most fun I've had so far.

 WEB: www.ageniusproduction.com