944

Atlanta-based video production and design company Motion Family is on the forefront of new trends in hip-hop videos. Their mission: to bring videos back to basics, but with better cameras. The creative collective includes former college roommates David KA and Sebastian “CBASS.” The duo dabbled in music video production and after graduation, KA was introduced to photographer Diwang Valdez, who was then shooting for the now infamous BMF clique. Thus, Motion Family was born and their work — in just one year — has received the type of attention that’s more commonly received by veterans of the industry. Named by Fader magazine as “Directors to Watch in 2010,” the group sat down with 944 at Parish (one of their favorite restaurants) in Inman Park and chatted about what sets their work apart and what the future holds.

944: You filmed rapper Drake in Atlanta during his cover shoot for Complex magazine. He seems so cool with all the fans screaming. Did you stage that?
SEBASTIAN “CBASS” URREA: We were sitting on the corner. It was the last shot and it was so funny because the cars would pull up and they wouldn’t realize it was Drake. Then you would hear the girls, even with the windows up, “Oh my god, it’s Drake!”
DIWANG VALDEZ: It was really cool to see someone at that level of success.

944: Who does the filming?
DAVID KA: All of us. We all have different viewpoints.

944: There are countless burgeoning filmmakers out there. What’s different about Motion Family?
SU: There are three of us. It’s a group effort.
DV: Yes, and we are all fans of the music. We want to be authentic to what the music is.
DKA: Computer generated graphics have pushed people to the other side. We have brought back a documentary-like style [from the past].
SU: Plus, a lot of people do it for the paycheck. We do it for the art.

944: Some of your videos make people nervous. Did you plan out the Pill “Trap Going Ham” video?
SU: Not at all. It’s raw and completely un-fabricated. The lady smoking crack is actually smoking crack.
DV: That was the craziest thing. I was just kind of following her around the store and she went outside and just started [smoking crack]. It felt really strange.

944: What’s next?
DV: We have a video with singer Lloyd featuring rapper Mystikal that we shot in New Orleans. It was Mystikal’s first since getting out of jail. We also have some new videos with The Dream.

944: Do you feel like you’ve made it?
SU: If I died tomorrow I’d be happy. I mean [we] have worked with artists that [we] listened to as kids!

motionfamily.com