Press, press, press, press, press
Cardi don’t need more press
It’s ironic that Cardi B would drop such an iconic video and not expect any press. The video that’s been out a whole TWO DAYS has already received over 13 million views and counting.
Not only is the “Press” video a masterpiece, but it’s also a visual reference for how hard a music video crew can really go.
From the cinematographer and the HBICs on set to the dope choreography and fancy nails, we had to investigate and find out who was the creative crew behind the visual magic.
HBICs
Cardi B
First and foremost Cardi is to thank for the creative vision for “Press.” The Grammy winner not only starred and performed an insane choreography in her own music video but she also has director’s credits.
The creatives and crew on the project applaud her for her vision and hard work on making what is not just a music video but a cinematography masterpiece.
Jora Frantzis
Jora Frantzis is a Director and cinematographer based in L.A. Her previous work includes JLo’s “Medicine” music video with French Montana. Her photography is unique in its focus on color, sophistication, and sheen.
She has regularly worked with fashion brands like YSL and magazines like People. She worked with Cardi on the art direction and photography of Invasion of Privacy and took her amazing pregnancy photos as well.
The music video for ‘Press’ brought together her acute sense of colorful high fashion visuals and strong female agency.
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Cinematography
Rob Witt
Robb Witt was the Director of Photography for ‘Press’. Witt has a long resume of music videos that feature stunning visuals that create a real larger than life artistic narrative.
Witt has worked on the video for the Grammy award-winning Kendrick Lamar track “Alright.” Robb Witt regularly shoots commercials starring artists and actors alike. He worked on Dua Lipa’s Pepsi commercial for the UCL Opening Ceremony.
Creative Direction
Franquie Zeron
Jora Frantzis lists Franquie Zeron as her right hand and creative director for Cardi B’s “Press.” Zeron worked with Frantzis on the video for “Money” and the Invasion of Privacy album as well as JLo’s ‘Medicine’ video.
Zeron designed clothing as the creative director for Coveted Society featured in “Be Careful” music video. He has also worked with Cardi B on her Fashion Nova collab.
Franquie Zeron also was part of the Covergirl X Katy Perry project.
Production
Kareem Johnson
Kareem Johnson is an Executive Producer/ Video Commissioner. He’s also the owner of Over Scene Productions. Kareem Johnson has worked with Cardi B before on several projects like the video for “Money” and “I Like It.”
He’s worked with several artists including Wiz Khalifa, DJ Khaled, NAS, Bad Bunny and recently worked on IV Jay’s “Care” music video. In an interview with ORG, Johnson says that what he’d like to focus on now is working with more female directors.
Kareem Johnson is big on helping new artists and creatives flourish and gain the opportunities they need in order to do so.
Jay Tauzin
Music video producer Jay Tauzin has worked on several artists’ videos including the DJ Khaled “Higher” music video featuring Nipsey Hussle and John Legend as well as JLo and Bad Bunny on ‘Te Guste’ and ‘WHO DAT BOY’ by Tyler, The Creator.
He’s also worked on videos with Cardi B before such as “Money,” “Thotiana,” and “Wish Wish.”
Johnny Hernandez
Production manager on Cardi B’s “Press” video Johnny Hernandez is a cinematographer born and raised in L.A. His 10 years of production experience began in television with EPKs and evolved into film and commercials.
He also builds custom handcrafted furniture. He’s produced Rolling Stone covers and worked with FILA, Leon Bridges and Triton Films. He’s produced the music video “Lucky” for Tommy Genesis, “Easy” for Tayla Parx and Future’s “Government Official.”
Joe Barbalaco
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Joe Barbalaco is a video producer and self-proclaimed music nerd. He’s often worked with Johnny Hernandez and his resume of music videos includes Megan Thee Stallion’s “Realer,” and Wiz Khalifa and Curren$y’s “Getting Loose” ft. Problem.
He’s also worked on “Te Bote 2” music video with JLo. But now he can add an iconic video production credit to his resume.
Photography
Flo Ngala
The beautiful photography taken during the “Press” video shoot is all thanks to Flo Ngala. Ngala worked with the Met Gala in 2019 to document Cardi B’s extravagant gown for the evening.
She has also worked with NYTimes and Nike.
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Editing
Emilie Aubry
Emilie Aubry is a film editor based out of LA. Her previous work includes editing for music video “Tyrant” by Kali Uchis ft. Jorja Smith. She’s also worked on “it’s not u it’s me” by Bea Miller ft 6lack and “Carry On” by Rita Ora ft Kygo and many more.
Aubry also works on her own projects including the recent Irrelevant that has her signature color-focused style.
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Arianna Shining Star
Colorist Arriana Shining Star works on feature films, television, commercials, and music videos. She’s based at Apache in Santa Monica and often works remotely. She has a background in painting drawing and photography.
Her work includes the Netflix film Ibiza, JLo’s “Medicine” and DJ Khaled’s “Wild Thoughts” music videos. adding to her resume, she also mixed the colors on Kylie Jenner’s Adidas Originals commercial.
Her work often has amazing color schemes and acute talent for hues.
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Choreography
Tanisha Scott
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Tanisha Scott is the choreographer for the iconic dance sequences in “Press.” She’s worked with Cardi B in the past on “Money” and with Offset and Cardi for their 2019 BET Awards “Clout” performance.
She also did the choreography for Lil Nas’ and Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road” music video and 2019 BET Awards performance. She worked with Coach and Equinox on their Pride campaigns targeted at LGBTQ+ homelessness, health, wellness, and community.
She’s also worked with Drake, the Jonas Brothers, J Balvin and Khalid.
Styling
Kollin Carter
Kollin Carter has been working with Cardi B for a while now. He explained how their choice of maintaining a relationship is what brings the beauty of her evolving style to light.
He was behind many of Cardi B’s iconic looks including her Fenty Puma fit, her princess gown at Diamond Ball, half and half ‘Set Gala’ look and of course her gem-embellished Moschino gown for the 2018 Met Gala.
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Carter has been there for it all, including the ‘Money’ and ‘I Like It’ music videos. He’s gone above and beyond for Cardi’s looks, including getting her in a Manfred Thierry Mugler piece for the Grammy’s. The ‘Press’ outfits are no different. Carter gives us the outrageous and stunning Cardi looks we love and admire.
Vincent Smith Jr.
Styling assistant, Vincent Smith Jr has also been dressing Cardi for some time. He’s been there for Cardi’s green suit look for Christian Siriano’s show, her Entertainment Weekly velvet cutout dress with gold jewelry accents, and her 2019 Met Gala extravagant red camp gown.
He’s styled bridal campaigns, worked on pop-ups with LIV Streetwear, and frequently freestyle shoots. He’s also worked with Kollin Carter on looks for Sophia Richie and Zendaya.
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Jennifer Udechukwu
Jennifer Udechukwu is a fashion stylist, designer, and creator. She’s worked with Cardi B on numerous occasions including her red paisley look as well as the looks in the “Money” music video.
Udechukwu is a designer with Amarachi Designs based in L.A that specializes in Nigerian inspired clothing. She’s also worked with Meghan Trainor.
John Allen
John Allen is an artist, designer, tailor, and illustrator. His designs are both high fashion and eclectic. His work pulls from both fantasy and history.
For “Press” Allen acted as a tailor for Cardi’s many outfits. He has tailored for other big names including Chantel Jeffries, Becky G, Hayley Kiyoko, Blueface, David Guetta and Colton Hayes.
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Karlay Miranda
Karlay Miranda is a costume designer and tailor who has worked with Michael B. Jordan, Margot Robbie, Mahershala Ali, Justin and Hailey Bieber, Troye Sivan, and Lakeith Stanfield. Often working with W Magazine and Vogue.
She’s also worked on Future’s ‘Mask Off’ music video, the Weeknd’s ‘Party Monster’ music video and many more. On ‘Press’ she did the extra’s costumes.
Douglas VanLaningham
Douglas VanLaningham was also the stylest on deck for the extras on ‘Press.’ He’s worked with Schon! Magazine, Jake Gyllenhaal, Ricky Martin, William H. Macy, Iggy Azalea, and Natalie Emmanuel.
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Nails, hair, and makeup
Erika La Pearl
Erika La Pearl is the key makeup artist for Cardi B. She does all of her looks, from music videos to photo shoots to public appearances. Makeup looks include the hot pink look for DJ Khaled’s ‘Wish Wish’ music video and the iconic beat for the 2019 Met Gala.
For “Press” Erika gave us the natural ‘inmate’ look and the ‘all white’ courtroom look along with every other amazing makeup look in the video. Erika has also done makeup for Kandi Burruss and hairstylist Tokyo Stylez.
Tokyo Stylez
Tokyo Stylez, an amazing model in her own right, did all of the hair looks on “Press.” From Cardi’s glossy cascading hair in the cover art to Cardi’s natural inspired hair to the ‘all white’ look.
The talented hairstylist has worked with Cardi before, on Cardi’s braids in ‘Please Me,’ her red silky hair on ‘Twerk’ and many more.
Stylez often also works with Kylie Jenner.
Sandrine
The wigs and extensions in “Press” are all from Tresses x Sandrine. They’ve been working with Cardi to bring you many of her iconic looks.
On ‘Press’ you have Sandrine to thank for being able to mimic Cardi’s natural hair texture for the inmate look without requiring the singer to undo her braids.
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Jenny Bui
If you don’t already know, Cardi only works with one nail tech, Jenny Bui. All of Cardi’s nail art is by Jenny. On “Press” her red nails in the bloody choreography scenes are recognizable.
With hundreds of examples of her talent, Jenny Bui is always upping the game with her nail art.
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Josie Melano
Makeup Artist Josie Melano’s work on ‘Press’ was providing glam for the extras. She’s worked on projects with JLo, Saweetie, Lyric Andersin, Halsey and Arianna Grande.
Flavio Angel Alvarado
The Glam team for the extras included Flavio Angel Alvarado. The Makeup Artist regularly works with fashion nova and has worked with Nikita Dragun as well.
Yalina U. Flores
Yalina U. Flores provided hair styling for the extras on set for ‘Press.’ She’s worked with fashion nova in the past, with models including Jesi Le Rae.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
There’s so much that goes into creating a music video let alone one as amazing as ‘Press.’ Here are our honorable mentions, without which none of the moving parts of the music video would have been possible.
Commissioner/SVP of Marketing: @StHuby
Label/Management: @sthuby @atlanticrecords
Publicist: Patientce F. @iam_kingpee
1st AD: @jadalion
2nd AD: @dimpace
2nd 2nd: @lambskincondomsandprayer
Steadicam: @thorgodofbass, @zayy_12
Co-Editor: @oggizery_june
Beauty/VFX: @digital.axis
Key PA: @sergio.works
PA: @thechristianallen
PA: @_jibriel
Co-Starring: @jesilerae
Casting:@harlowecasting
Additional Casting: @milltickett