Tuesday, October 6, 1998
Reel
MUSIC: R&B group Reel Tight struggles for success and fame,
which often includes bearing the lesser-known aspects of being a
band – tedious video and photo shoots
By Tenoch Flores
Daily Bruin Contributor
A sunny day in Los Angeles is very typical and monotonous at
times. But to a group of four young men from Chatanooga, Tenn.,
it’s anything but typical.
Danny Johnson, Bobby Kane, Reggie Long and Bobby Rice are a long
way from home; they are also the first R&B act signed to
multi-platinum producer Warren G’s label G-Funk Music. Collectively
known as Reel Tight, the group is aiming for recognition and
success like any other group, but first, they have to go through
the seldom mentioned initiation process that every new group
experiences – i.e. video shoots that drag on for hours as crews
prepare sets, catching numerous red-eye flights and being nice to
reporters, just to name a few.
Sony Pictures was the setting of the video shoot for the group’s
first single "(Do You) Wanna Ride?" scheduled for release this
month. A brightly lit set was the focus of everyone’s attention as
cameras rolled and the members of the group acted their respective
parts. Johnson pretended to talk on the phone while the rest of the
group members leered at him suspiciously. Warren G took advantage
of the distracted camera and nodded off. The video director called
for a cut, and the group headed off to get some lunch.
A crowded dressing room eventually became littered with generic
pizza boxes (no Dominos or Pizza Hut here) and napkins as the group
devoured its meal. In the middle of the room, Warren G was involved
in a game of Madden ’99 on the Sony Playstation. In between bites
of his bland-looking slice of pizza, Kane described the change of
atmosphere that transpired when Reel Tight came to Los Angeles.
"It’s very different," Kane said. "Down there in Chatanooga it’s
a small town. When we came to L.A. it was like ‘wow’ because in our
hometown everyone knows each other."
Kane proudly explained that they hailed from the same town as
Reggie White, Samuel L. Jackson and chart-topping R&B sensation
Usher. Although the group enjoys national exposure, that success
did not come overnight. Reel Tight had been performing at talent
shows, assemblies and church functions for years before there was
even talk of a record deal.
"Back then, we were playing in talent shows for the girls you
know … at some point we (thought) we could really do something
for ourselves with this," Kane said.
A product of the ’80s, Reel Tight had been performing for years.
Johnson recounted how as a sixth grader he would perform in clubs,
sometimes being too tired to go to school the next morning, which
prompted his mother to put an end to his late-night sessions.
Although ranging in age from 19 to 23, they grew up on groups
such as the Temptations, Delphonics and the Stylistics due to their
parents’ influence.
Besides Michael Jackson as an obvious generational influence,
Kane said, "The group that we came up on was New Edition." When
asked to describe their own style, Kane offered a seemingly
well-rehearsed answer: "modern-day old school with a little twist
of hip-hop."
Long jokingly said, "Did you get that? ‘Modern-day old school
with a little twist of hip-hop.’"
Reel Tight’s album is a collage of the aforementioned styles,
with contemporary sounding songs such as the first single "(Do You)
Wanna Ride?" and the remake of Earth, Wind and Fire’s "Reasons,"
produced by member Larry Dunn. Working with a member of one of
R&B’s most renowned groups proved a valuable experience for the
band.
"It was good ’cause he made us work," Reggie said of Larry Dunn.
"We sang that from (start to finish); no samples like they use
nowadays. He made us do it the old school way."
Before anyone knew it, it was time for the group to get back on
the set for another five hours of waiting around. Sometimes the
camera was on, but most of the time it wasn’t.
After all this, one would expect a night of partying, right? Not
with a photo shoot at 10 a.m. the next day.
The location changed from Sony Pictures to the Hollywood Hills,
but the job description remained the same; lots and lots of waiting
around. Overlooking Los Angeles (so high above that La Cienega
appears tranquil), the photo shoot didn’t get started until the
photographer arrived at 11 a.m. After each member got prepped by
the makeup artist, the shoot was ready to begin. Sort of.
This particular photo shoot was for publicity shots, but mostly
to find an album cover. It was the fourth one for this purpose.
Apparently the label wasn’t satisfied with the previous three
shoots.
Amazingly, the photo shoot managed less excitement than the
video shoot.
Long asked the group’s manager for coffee as he attempted to
suppress a huge yawn. When the shoot began, no detail was left
unattended, but everything seemed to matter – from the creases in
the shirts to whether or not the cuffs of the shirts should show.
In a word, it was very tedious.
By the end of the day, after umpteen rolls of film had been shot
and the group’s patience had been tested to the limit, Kane broke
into his best rendition of the movie, "The Shining." After the
photographer asked what must have seemed like the millionth
request, Kane jumped up screaming, "Redrum, redrum, redrum," much
to the amusement of the other members of the group as well as the
photography crew.
So there you have it. Two "glamorous" days in the life of an up
and coming R&B group.
Somehow, it always looks better on T.V.
MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin
Outside the studio, the members of Reel Tight practice their
routine before going in front of the camera to film their first
music video.
MICHAEL ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin
Before the photo shoot for the new album cover, Bobby Kane
(left) autographs a poster while Danny Johnson gets made up.MICHAEL
ROSS WACHT/Daily Bruin
Shooting a music video takes a lot of energy, and after lunch
Bobby Rice takes a five-minute nap.
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© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board