“I’m From Jane” by Sling Dadz is a
lyrical breakdown of different aspects of the “Jane Strip” which
runs from Bloor St. to Steeles Ave.
The music video, directed by
Chris Strikes, gives a visual image of the aspects touched on by
Sling Dadz. With this video, Chris Strikes’ goal was to
illustrate the Jane Strip artistically, using a variety of
camera angles, movements and framing; fast paced editing; and a
number of different locations to cover Jane St from top to
bottom.
“I’m From Jane” was done in black and white in the aim
that the video would show unity and represent the whole Jane
Strip and make everyone who’s from Jane St feel proud that they
are. Shooting the video in black and white also eliminates the
gang colours of those in the video, as the main scenes were shot
in Threthewey a.k.a. Chuch (a Crip area) and Grandravine a.k.a. Lane
(a Blood area), also featuring a few Gator man in the video.
This is a strong statement to show that Black people can unit
together for a better cause - music.
Director bio: Chris Strikes
Born February 23, 1986 in Toronto’s west end, Chris Strikes is
a young director on the rise, aiming to achieve goals of
success in the music and film industries. Film wasn’t always a
career that Strikes wanted to pursue. As a young boy and for
most of his life, Strikes always had ambitions to be a
professional soccer player. Anyone who knew Strikes, from
elementary to high school knew that this was his one and only
passion. He has experience playing competitively all around
Ontario, in many regions of the United States and even in
England and France. However, as Strikes grew older, he
realized that his passion for the game was weakening and his
dreams of turning pro were fading. At the age of 18 Strikes
decided to quit playing soccer.
At this time, Chris Strikes decided follow another interest
that was first sparked at the age of 16; video and film
production. Strikes’ new interest strengthened throughout his
latter years in high school, as he excelled in his grade 10,
11, and 12 comm-tech and video production classes. After
quitting soccer, Strikes made a firm decision that video and
film production was the career he wanted to pursue.
In 2005, Chris Strikes was accepted in Centennial College for
Broadcast and Film. With the determination to succeed in the
program, Strikes excelled. Arriving to school early and
staying until early hours of the morning learning how to edit
videos and improve his overall production skills. He soon
became one of the top students in his class.
During college, Strikes also
worked on set of music videos and commercials in Toronto.
Although just a Production Assistant (PA; the lowest on-set
position), Strikes carefully observed the whole process in
creating a production. Always asking questions to different
people of different positions, including other more
experienced PAs, grips, electricians, art directors, directors
of photography, directors, producers, even make-up and
wardrobe personnel.
Also during this time, Chris
Strikes worked a telemarketing job for 18 months. In May 2006,
Strikes saved up enough money and bought a hi-end Canon XL 2
video camera. Although very expensive at the time, it was a
purchase that would prove well worthy. During that summer,
Strikes was hired to do various videography jobs, now having
his own camera. Having quit the telemarketing job, Strikes now
had a lot of time to work as a videographer and also practice
his shooting and editing skills.
The summer of 2006 was prosperous for Chris Strikes, having
been hired on to many jobs, meeting and networking with a lot
of people. That summer was capped off in late August when
Strikes shot his first music video for a Montreal artist named
Swift KID entitled “Take Me Away”. Although the video was a
super low budget, it was still a project to get experience in
shooting and editing a music video. The following September
Chris Strikes teamed up with a new friend, Aaron A, to shoot
the “Hate The Game” music video for Toronto artist Nem-S-ISS.
In his second year in college, Chris Strikes became
increasingly frustrated and upset with the Centennial’s film
program, feeling that the program was more of a cash grab
rather then actually teaching and developing skilled students.
In December 2006, Strikes shocked his peers and faculty when
he went to the department head and announced he wanted to drop
out, despite being one of the top students.
2007 was very slow in the beginning for Chris Strikes.
However, work soon became bountiful in late spring and early
summer, shooting five more music videos and doing freelance
videography on the side. In late June 2007, Strikes registered
his own production company Striking Videos & Production. That
following July, Strikes was asked by, now good friend, Aaron A
to assist with a project in Jamaica for adult contemporary
artist Jarvis Church. A job that Strikes couldn’t turn down.
Chris Strikes continues to work freelance for various
companies, like Maxamus Ent. and Zigga Zagga Productions; and
continues to shoot music videos for up and coming artists such
as his latest production, Sling Dadz’s “I’m From Jane”. At the
tender age of 21 Chris Strikes has the world ahead of him to
achieve the goals he has set for himself.
