I almost didn’t want to touch this topic, but I couldn’t resist.
First and foremost I consider myself an actress. I know a lot of you get caught up in the assumption that EVERY girl in a video is a groupie or a whore but in my experience on set, this simply is NOT true. Have I been in two or three (at best) music videos? Yes. Does this give me authority to speak on it? Maybe not, but who cares? I will anyway.
I don’t have the big fake booty that is dominating the rap videos of today nor do I wear ridiculous layers of fake hair that grab the attention of some of the video casting directors. Ever wonder where the 90′s age of real looking music video girls has gone? Sigh. I digress. That’s another blog post entirely. Many girls on set are actresses looking for on camera experience but MOSTLY for networking, exposure and quick money purposes…NOT to sleep with artists.
The sets that I have been a part of have all been very orderly, calm and RESPECTFUL. Models bring laptops, books and many times I see girls working on school work. Toothbrushes are a must to ensure the after lunch fresh breath and phone chargers are hot commodity for the rookies who didnt realize being on set is an all day affair. The artists are usually in a separate area and I have yet to see a woman be anything but cordial to the artists. There is no sneaking in and out of trailers on any set I have been on that I have witnessed. Maybe I just pick the right projects.
Are their groupies/golddiggers on set? Of course. The WORLD is FULL of clinger-oners (made that word up.) I’d bet you’d find a few groupies working at Target or maybe some easy to give it up ladies working in your local real estate office as well. Just because a beautiful woman gets cast in a video DOES NOT mean she is sleeping with, planning to sleep with or has slept with the artist. Contrary to popular belief, a lot of women I meet on set are just hustlers. Being a video model most likely is a PART TIME gig….not something that any woman with common sense thinks will help them bust their way out of their childhood bedroom in their mother’s house….Mayyyybe being a video or two is just something to help pay for a few overpriced college books at best. Mayyyyybe being in a music video is something that satisfies an urge to be on stage and performing. I know I don’t speak for myself when I tell you there is NOTHING like the adrenaline of being on stage….and this brings me to my next topic: performance.
If you are constantly on set for music videos like Nelly’s Tip Drill or any song that urges female listeners to “Bust It Wide Open,” unless you truly are a stripper, I beg you to reconsider your purpose on set. With that being said, if adult entertainment is your hustle and you are also getting booked for BET UNCUT type videos, good for you on the extra cash flow. That’s of course if you don’t mind horny men and angry parents alike seeing most of your goodies..and I’m guessing if you are part of that industry you probably don’t mind that at all. I personally have never had to do anything I was uncomfortable doing. Ever. If you choose your projects well, it’s an all around positive experience.
With all this is mind, please understand that not all women who are in a video are sex crazed, gold digging lunatics looking to catch a meal ticket. Some, like myself, just like adding cool projects to their resume or dope clips to their video reel. They might know a director personally or maybe casting directors have reached out to them for their acting abilities as well. Keep an open mind when you see a music video. Realize a few celebs and actresses had humble beginnings in music videos as well.
Shout out to all my beautiful SELF RESPECTING ladies out there who just happen to be in a music video or two…but know that the world has much more to offer and use videos as a stepping stone to bigger goals.
