Saweetie’s “Best Friend” music video went off for more than 18 million views over its debut weekend. Along with Doja Cat, Saweetie showed in the video why she is a superstar blossoming.
The director of the video Dave Meyers, director of photography Joshua Zucker-Pluda, and stylist Bryon Javar deserve an immense amount of credit for the end-product of this successful video.
Even with Saweetie’s prowess as a star, the video was not successful due to her name and skill alone. Massive work from Meyers, Zucker-Pluda, and Javar, in particular, was needed to propel this video to extreme heights.
So let’s show some love to the creatives behind Saweetie and Doja Cat’s “Best Friend” video. An effort like this star-studded music video is not ever accomplished by one person alone.
Director Dave Meyers
You may know Dave Meyers for his successful music videos in the past. There was Kendrick Lamar’s “Humble” in 2017, “Havana” by Camila Cabello the next year, and Taylor Swift’s “Me!” in 2019.
Meyers also directed “I’m Real” by JLo, “Sicko Mode” by Travis Scott, “Bad Guy” by Billie Eilish, and many other award-winning music videos.
And possibly his biggest hit yet? Directing Drake’s “Laugh Now Cry Later” wide-ranging video.
Seemingly everything Myers takes under his belt winds up being successful. And now Myers has another hit under his belt. Saweetie and Doja Cat’s “Best Friend” music video is a hit for all the right reasons.
Camaraderie, women empowerment, and hot girls doing hot sh**. Dave Meyers made it happen, and like Saweetie, he doesn’t miss.
Director of Photography Joshua Zucker-Pluda
Joshua Zucker-Pluda is a cinematographer and photographer based in LA and NYC. His work has been included in the New York, Telluride, Venice, and Toronto International Film festivals and has been included in the esteemed Criterion collection.
Most recently, he worked with Meyers on Saweetie and Doja Cat’s “Best Friend” video. One can see the stunning visuals of the star duo’s video were delicately crafted and executed to perfection.
Zucker-Pluda, who goes by “hamletpowpowpow” on Instagram, captures beautiful landscape shots when he’s not helping create popping videos. The talented and multifaceted cinematographer/photographer is on our watch list for big city photographers going up in 2021.
Stylist Bryon Javar
Bryon Javar is a celebrity wardrobe and stylist, as well as a creative director himself.
The many outfits and styles Saweetie and Doja Cat rock in the “Best Friend” video are all possible because of Javar.
“I wanted it to feel like she was a chick in Harlem in 1994,” Javar, her stylist of three years, told BAZAAR.com in regards to Saweetie in “Best Friend.”
The nostalgic throwback to the ’90s look was important for Javar, especially going as far as to reach out to Dapper Dan and have him deck out Saweetie in Gucci head to toe.
Bryon Javar’s work on this soon-to-be-iconic music video cannot be overstated, as the fresh looks and vibrant colors that propel this music video to legendary status are the product of Javar’s vision.
Saweetie is setting a new standard in music
We tip our cap to the amazing trio (and others) who made Saweetie’s “Best Friend” music video so hot. Fun, uplifting content like this is so important during uncertain and problematic times.
Saweetie’s debut album is expected to drop this year, and it will be interesting to see if the three creatives who worked on “Best Friend” join her when it does.
We also acknowledge that star creatives behind the scenes need star artists in front of the camera to prosper. It is a mutually beneficial relationship, the type we all strive for in our creative endeavors.
Because once that perfect symbiotic note is reached, we are left with some of the greatest art we have ever seen.
Dave Meyers, Joshua Zucker-Pluda, and Bryon Javar all deserve a ton of credit for their superb work on Saweetie and Doja Cat’s “Best Friend.”
The creatives behind the scene getting recognition is what we like. And let’s hope they don’t stop creating anytime soon.