Cobran makes his way through video

Sadeke Brooks,  Staff Reporter

His foray into video production wasn't planned, but Gareth Cobran has been making a name for himself in the local film industry for his work in music videos.

Cobran explained that he went to the University of Central England to do a degree in graphic design, but somehow he developed an interest in video production.

"I have always been an artist, and in digital art. I went away for graphic design and I realised that it wasn't my calling. I did a video module and I just took to it," he told The Sunday Gleaner, noting that he switched his major to video production soon after.

After graduating in 2004, Cobran said he got offered a job at the university's TV station, but he just wanted to return to Jamaica, as he "had a calling for home".

Upon returning, Cobran said the plan was to do commercials and some developmental work. However, with a love for music and friends in the industry, "I kinda just fell into doing music videos. And there's a market for music videos in Jamaica. It was really the place that I could express my creativity," he said.

"Ever since I can remember, I was sitting in front of my TV. I have always been fascinated with how things look on TV. It's just my love for storytelling, movies and images. I may not be the best writer, but I can convey a story using a sequence of images."

work to date

He did the music videos for Protoje's Dread, Bounty Killer and Elephant Man's This Is How We Do It and co-directed Konshens' Realest Song. He has also done videos for Gramps and Peetah Morgan, Lutan Fyah, Busy Signal, Beenie Man, Anthony Red Rose and Kariuki. He will also be doing music videos for D-Major and Busy Signal's Party Like It's Your Birthday and Christopher Martin's Paper Loving.

Cobran has also done advertisements for companies like Red Stripe, Mackenson, Jamaica National, Digicel and KFC. In addition, he says he does video production for weddings, "but on a more cinematic level. When you get it, it's more surreal than the real thing", he said.

While he has had an interest in film for years, Cobran, said he will be doing his first film early next year.

"I am in the process of developing a script. I am also looking for some funding for this script that I am going to be shooting next year," he said.

Cobran said the film will be an adaptation of a play written by Omall Wright.

"It's not the everyday kind of story that comes out of Jamaica but still very relevant to our culture," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

But a step in the direction of film is only a natural progression for him, as he says he has been doing music videos for a while.

"Jamaica needs films coming out of here. We need to start stepping up on the international market. We have a film industry here. If we did more for ourselves, then we would get more support, and then maybe people would start taking us more seriously. You need to show that you are very structured," Cobran said, noting that he does not plan to become complacent.

"I would like to be able to transfer the knowledge I have to others. When I was younger, I used to look at Kevin Lee's work and that is inspiration for me. I hope I can influence people to do greater work than I do," said Cobran, who is also the owner of Image Development Studios, a pre- and post-production company.