Photo Gallery: Behind the Scenes Photos from BE COUNTED Music Video for Tacoma Refugee Choir

At the Sea Mar Community Center

Camera Assistant Ryan Enkema, Cinematographer Ryan Purcell, Director Laila Kazmi, Executive Producer Erin Guinup with Choir guest filming outside the Sea Mar Community Health Center.

Last Scene of the Day 1

Tacoma Refugee Choir founder and executive director Erin Guinup, Ryan Purcell, and Laila Kazmi.

Prepping the Actors

Director Laila Kazmi and cinematographer Ryan Purcell with Rocky Sandoval and child actor Mycah Hopkins.

Tacoma Refugee Choir

Behind the scenes with Tacoma Refugee Choir at the Tacoma Art Museum.

Filming at Tacoma Art Museum

Cinematographer Ryan Purcell.

Day 1 of Edit

Editor and colorist Tess Stuart with Laila Kazmi at Clatter & Din in Seattle.

SteadiCam

Daniel Mimura on camera.

In Between Shots

Laila Kazmi at Tacoma Art Museum.

Be Counted Filming at Tacoma Art Museum

Erin Guinup with the Tacoma Refugee Choir; Director Laila Kazmi; Cinematographer Ryan Purcell.

Framing the Shot

Ryan Purcell, Laila Kazmi, Daniel Mimura, Ryan Enkema.

With Tacoma Mayor Woodards

Laila Kazmi talking to Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards and Ryan Purcell at Tacoma City Hall.

Filming Outside City Hall in Tacoma

Cinematographer Ryan Purcell with Daniel Mimura on SteadiCam, Gaffer Mike Walker, and director Laila Kazmi filming a scene with soloist Princess Guinto from Tacoma Refugee Choir.

Makeup

Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards getting ready for the shot.

Peace Queen and Kwabi from The Peace Bus

Tacoma Peace Queen Melannie Denise Cunningham and Kwabi Amoah-Forson from The Peace Bus.

At the Steps of Museum of Glass

Director Laila Kazmi, Cinematographer Ryan Purcell and crew behind the scenes at BE COUNTED music video shoot.

The Wanz

Grammy winning hip-hop artist Wanz in music video BE COUNTED by the Tacoma Refugee Choir.

Family at Dining Table

Soloists Rani Weatherby and Rocky Sandoval in the BE COUNTED music video.

Frame the Shot from Above

Director Laila Kazmi, Cinematographer Ryan Purcell, with Camera Assistant Ryan Enkema at Tacoma Art Museum.

At Sea Mar Community Center

Ryan Purcell and Laila Kazmi.

In December last year, I received a message from Erin Guinup—a singer, music composer, and the founder of Tacoma Refugee Choir. She was looking for a director for their very first music video. The song is BE COUNTED and it was written to raise awareness of the 2020 US Census.

WATCH ‘BE COUNTED’ ON FACEBOOK >>

WATCH ‘BE COUNTED’ ON YOUTUBE >>

The Tacoma Refugee Choir is made up of a diverse group of community members, singers, and musicians. More than 100 people participated in the music video. We filmed in seven locations across Tacoma, WA. over two days in late January. We worked hard and had fun.

The song featured Grammy Award winning artist Wanz (from "Thrift Shop" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis) along with soloists (in order of appearance): Princess Guinto, Rocky Sandoval, Chamgane Honeybee, Mariia Pozhar, Tina Van, Sophia Palacios, and Sarah Tweet.

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO

Video Crew:

Director/Producer: Laila Kazmi
Executive Producer: Erin Guinup
Cinematographer: Ryan Purcell
SteadiCam Operator: Daniel Mimura
Gaffer: Mike Walker
Camera Assistant: Ryan Enkema
Drone Footage: Corvus Eye Media
Editor & Colorist: Tess Stuart
Post Production: Clatter&Din
Produced by Kazbar Media