Shawnette Heard

A Director, Producer and an Industry Buff walk in a coffee house…

(A Candid with Shawnette Heard & Melissa Ciampa)

By Samantha Jayne and T. Lynn

On a sunny but cold day in Los Angeles, I sit in a local bakery and coffee shop, sipping
on a latte awaiting the arrival of two of my favorite ladies in the entertainment
business. With great anticipation I watch the door for the lovely and talented,
choreographer turn director, Shawnette “360″ Heard and the witty and exceptional
producer, Melissa Ciampa. With the much publicized (writers) strike being over and

the new publicized (actors) strike in the horizon, I wanted to dive into the thoughts

of these ladies to gain a little insight on their perspectives on the industry and just catch up.

Shawnette Heard:

In comes “360″

My last encounter with Shawnette was at the start of Janet Jackson’s “All for You”
project. She displayed many of her talents on the “All for You” project and wore many
hats including those of co-creator, co-director and choreographer. Following 9/11,
Shawnette and i lost touch but recently caught up with each other and talked about all
she has taken on in her professional life since our last meeting. Shawnette is an
acclaimed and well known choreographer in the entertainment industry and now has
re-emerged as an up and coming director. This talented director has been tremendously
busy and has several direction credits under her belt such as her work directing music
video projects for artists such as Lady O, Iman Jarrett and one of the current internet
favorites, Romeo (formerly Lil’ Romeo). Shawnette’s latest video project for artist
Paco, called “No Le Digan” is one with a beautiful story and the direction is wonderful.
For me, this video shows the beginning of the caliber of visual creativity we can expect
to see more of from Shawnette. You can see the development of a style that’s uniquely
“Shawnette” throughout the video. People will be banging her door down over this one
project!

After her arrival, Shawnette and I sit and begin to chat about what inspired her to begin
he path of directing. Always engaging, Shawnette recalls the first time she seriously
considered becoming a director. “I remember sitting on the tour bus, during the Velvet
Rope Tour, watching the movie “Set It Off” and there was a scene I fell in love with. I
would say to Janet, “Hey Jan, look at this scene” and she would ask me if I wanted to be
a director. I didn’t think anything of it. Janet’s “All For You” Tour came up and I was
still very into cinematography. Janet brought it up to me again [about getting into
directing], so I thought I might just be into this.”

Shawnette decided after 9/11, that she wanted to focus on other things in her life and
one was the sudden itch to become a director. “I decided to take courses at the New York
Film Academy”. “I did that for about the year and decided I wanted to complete the 2 year
program. After my first project, I spoke with an instructor and she advised me against
it. She felt that I was ready; more ready than I believed. She said “Just do it, you’re
ready”.

It’s about style

Although she has broadened her artistic horizons, I wondered if Shawnette would merge her
skills or find new filming opportunities in her travels as a choreographer. I asked her
about her latest dance projects in Japan and if we could expect to see any Japan film
work from her that may have been inspired by her travels to the country. She shares that
although that could be a possiblity, she doesn’t have Japan projects in the works any
time soon. We discussed our favorite film styles and putting my bid in for “Film Noir”
from such directors as John Ford (My Darling Clemetine, Doc Holliday and Wyatt Earp). I
wanted to know if there have been any cinematic work that she found exceptional;
giving her the “WOW” reaction. Shawnette views her directing style as having an
“indepentent abstract feel to it” and though she’s a “huge fan fo Fim Noir” she doesn’t
see her directing style falling in that category. About her choices for expectional movies/videos she replied,
“Gosh,[there are] so many but to name a few, I would have to say the movie “Across the Universe“, and don’t laugh
you know what Music Video I really like, that just recently came out. Paula Abdul’s
video. I have always been a fan of hers. I loved everything about that video. Visually
and Choreographically.”

In the past few years, there has been a huge surge of “underground”
directors surfacing in the mainstream media. We discussed this growing trend in the
cinematic world and I ask Shawnette if she considers herself an “underground” director
and to tell me what differences she’s discoved in her personal experience between working
on stage shows and working on films/videos. She replies “Yes, I do consider myself and
underground director. Reason being is that, I love the independent world. I am very
attracted to movies that have that gritty feel to it. Recrium for a dream type. Love it!
“Video/Film is very technical. And Stage shows, are bit easier because you get to give
the audience the whole picture on a broader canvas. There are so many aspects that you
have to consider when it comes to film/video. It’s all relevant but, for example. If I
want to do a creative shot, in film not so much music video. But in a film. How does that
help the story, what’s my purpose for that. Just to show I can do a creative angle/shot.
No!! It has to move the story along. Alot more freedom in the Music Video world
definitely.”

Inspiration and the Internet

The entertainment industry has always yielded great artists and creative minds with
credit being given to the cinematic innorvators who continue to push the envelope of the
mainstream to bring extrodinary films to viewing public and finding new and exciting
methods for promoting their work. Shawnette expressed that the directors she has found
most influential in her career have been those who “think outside of the box but still
create a great product.”
On promoting her work, Shawnette feels that the internet is a very useful vehicle for
getting her work exposed to the world. “The internet is a great tool for getting my work
out there. I have received a great response to my work. I want to be very picky on what I
put out there, even though my production company puts everything out. LOL!!! But I am
starting to see my directing style come to life with my latest works. So I am more open
to showing my work. I can be the hardest on myself. Everytime I shoot I learn more and
more, which is an incredible experience.”

At this time Shawnette is taking time to develop her directing and when asked about
“Broadway Remix”, an off Broadway production she worked on, Shawnette shared that

she has no plans to do anymore Broadway productions anytime soon.

Melissa Ciampa:

Enter the Producer -

Melissa Ciampa is the savvy owner of “Spittn Image Productions”. Spittn Image is one of
the leading production companies around. One of the things that people immediately
connect Melissa with is the bad ass and action packed Kid Rock video, “American Bad
Ass”.But make no mistake about it, Melissa has been in the production game way before her
work on “American Bad Ass”. Once Melissa settles in, my focus shifts to her and her
beginning as a producer. Melissa is more than happy to discuss her beginnings in the
industry. “My first project would have been a Kathy Ireland Commercial”. She giggles and
recalls her first two music videos she ever worked on as well as her extensive background
working in the music business.
“I had never had done any production for those videos.” I use to do management for
artists (music)”. Melissa started at the executive assistant to Tracy Edmonds, then moved
to Flav Unit ran by the Queen herself Queen Latifah. “I brought the likes of Naughty by
Nature, to front. It was a really good time for music back then. It’s not like that
anymore.

At Spittn Image we are honored to be surrounded by such a wealth of creatives. It is our
job to nurture and support there visions while being creative—both artistically and
financially for the client. We are talented, creative individuals with valuable resources
and a wealth of knowledge.”

Finding My Shine

Melissa went from executive assistant to Tracy Edmonds to working with Queen Latifah and
now she’s doing her own thing. Many times it is difficult to make the leap from the
music industry to film. With Melissa making that leap as a producer, she explains how
she felt during this major career change for her.

“I felt inspired after executive producing Monifah’s “Mo’Hogany” album. I had been
interested in producing from the sidelines and when that album was over, I decided it was
the perfect opportunity to take that plunge. After attending UCLA and working on my first
video, I was hooked. I have been described throughout the years from clients like Monifah
as being ‘the glue that hold it all together’ and one of my colleges, Kirdis Postell at
Aftermath as being ‘the Deal Maker’ of my talents and gifts. As I mentioned from my first
day on set, I was hooked and inspired. A good friend and colleage, Avery Williams, made
this observation about me and it is the best way to describe it:
“The producer is like the conductor of an orchestra. Maybe I can’t play every instrument,
but I know what every instrument should sound like.”

Melissa’s influences include many of the creative and successful entertainment industry icons but
she singles out Russell Simmons, Christine Vachon and Barbara Streisand as three people who have been exceptional influences for her.