Directors Coodie & Chike on Kanye West, Serendipity, and Being Too Nice

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05/04/20 • 95 min

Overshare: Honest Conversations with Creatives

Directing Duo Clarence "Coodie" Simmons & Chike Ozah, better known as Coodie & Chike, have so much infectiously positive energy and perspective from all their years in the business. We're thrilled to have them on this week's episode of Overshare.

Coodie & Chike started collaborating in the early 2000s and got their big break directing Kanye West’s music video “Through the Wire,” followed by music videos for “Two Words” and “Jesus Walks." They had less than two days to put "Jesus Walks" together from scratch, making it nothing short of a creative miracle, not to mention a classic. Their recounting of that experience with host Justin Gignac is a celebration in the art of scrappiness.

Coodie & Chike went on to work with big acts like Pitbull, Erykah Badu, Lupe Fiasco, and Mos Def. In 2007, they founded their own production company, Creative Control. They’ve since directed ESPN "30 for 30" documentary Benji, BET documentary Muhammed Ali: The People’s Champ, and just released A Kid from Coney Island about Stephon Marbury.

In this episode, you will learn that not having the time or money or resources to make great work are just excuses. You’ll also learn that wherever your happiness is coming from right now, that’s what really matters. This conversation is packed with insights and endless positivity.

Follow Overshare (@oversharetalks) and Working Not Working (@wnotw) on Instagram.

SHOW NOTES:
Coodie & Chike ( @officialcoodieandchike / @coodierock / @cozah)
Kanye West's debut album The College Dropout
Chike's favorite craft cocktail bars - Dutch Kills, Dullboy, Pegu Club, Death & Co,
Car Wash film
Ernie Barnes' painting "The Sugar Shack"
Bill Withers
Artist Nina Chanel ( website / Instagram )
Coodie's favorite album as a teenager, LL Cool J's BAD
Chike's favorite album as a teenager Big Daddy Kane's Taste of Chocolate
Coodie & Chike's videos for Kanye: Through the Wire, Two Words, Jesus Walks
Channel Zero TV
Pitbull "Culo" music video
Erykah Badu "Window Seat" music video
Matt & Kim "Lessons Learned" music video that inspired Erykah Badu
Lupe Fiasco feat. Ed Sheeran "Old School Love" music video

Follow Overshare (@oversharetalks) and Working Not Working (@wnotw) on Instagram.

Previous Episode

Robot-Proof Your Career with Mad Scientist Dr. Vivienne Ming

Dr. Vivienne Ming is a theoretical neuroscientist, entrepreneur, author, and self-described mad scientist. She's been named as one of the BBC 100 Women in 2017, and as one of the Financial Times' "LGBT leaders and allies today". Dr. Ming co-founded Socos, her fifth company, an independent institute exploring the future of human potential. In her free time, she has invented AI systems to help treat her diabetic son, predict manic episodes in bipolar sufferers weeks in advance, and reunited orphan refugees with extended family members. Dr. Ming also speaks frequently on issues of LGBT inclusion and gender in technology.

In this conversation with host Justin Gignac., Dr. Ming talks about choosing a college major based on a coin toss, how her ultimate goal is to give the key note at Comic-Con, and why Dr. Ming sees creatives and the creative economy as an integral part of the future of work. Coming from someone who creates AI and Robotics, that’s pretty reassuring.

In this episode, you will learn that the scientifically proven secret to a more successful and rich life is living with a sense of purpose, and in order to future-proof your career, one of the biggest skills you need is resiliency and a growth mindset. You'll also be armed with a whole lot of knowledge that you can drop in your next Zoom call with friends, family, or coworkers.

Follow Overshare (@oversharetalks) and Working Not Working (@wnotw) on Instagram.

SHOW NOTES:
Socos Labs
Dr. Ming's 99U Talk "Share Your Vision With the World"
NOVA on PBS
Dr. Ming's home town of Monterey, CA captured in The Pastures of Heaven by John Steinbeck
Roy Batty's final monologue in Blade Runner
Westworld on HBO
Some of Dr. Ming's favorite cartoons: Bojack Horseman, Venture Brothers, and Rick and Morty
Dr. Ming's new entrance music: You Haven’t Done Nothin' by Stevie Wonder
"I Built a Superpower to Treat My Son's Diabetes" article by Dr. Ming
"There is a Tax on Being Different" article by Dr. Ming
James J. Heckman - University of Chicago
Article on the "Lost Einsteins" research by Raj Chetty
Meta learning
Socos.org - Socos Academy

Next Episode

Romance in the Time of Quarantine: A Masterclass from Photographer, Drone Flirter, & Bubble Boy Jeremy Cohen

In the season 3 finale of Overshare, host Justin Gignac sits down with Brooklyn-based photographer Jeremy Cohen, who has received A LOT of attention recently. Like most of us, Jeremy has had a lot of time on his hands these past couple of months. He’s used this time to think, to look out his window, to cook naked, and to cook up a quarantine record for the most romantic gesture.

From his balcony, Jeremy could see his neighbors’ roofs. He started photographing and filming all of the activity: yoga, working out, kite flying, book reading, and dancing. But one neighbor stood out. He waved to her from his balcony. She waved back. He then taped his phone number to his drone and flew it across the street to her. That meet-cute has snowballed into "The Quarantine Cutie" romance, which has since taken over the internet. Millions of people have watched videos of him sending the drone, asking her out, and showing up to their date in a human-sized bubble to practice proper social distancing.

Jeremy has offered not only a great distraction for all of us, but a reminder of our shared humanity. He has a great perspective on these times, as well as the personal and professional effects that come with suddenly having half a million Instagram followers.

In this conversation, Jeremy discusses the whirlwind nature of these past couple months, which included landing his first magazine cover for New York Magazine. And well-timed with Mother’s Day, Jeremy also discusses the impact that his mother, a Stage IV cancer survivor, has had on his work as well as his positive outlook on life. This episode will help you keep your head up in these times, which makes it a great finale to this season.

Follow Overshare (@oversharetalks) and Working Not Working (@wnotw) on Instagram.

SHOW NOTES:
Jeremy Cohen ( Working Not Working / Instagram / website )
Jeremy's first drone flirtation to Tori across the street
Bubble Boy date with Tori
Jeremy's cover of New York Magazine
Roof Culture During Quarantine (Part 1 & Part 2)
Enema of the State by Blink 182
Deja and Entendu by Brand New
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver