BY: JADE LEONARD
PHOTOGRAPHY BY: Andre "DreVinci" Jones
Lights. Camera. Action. His videos? Guaranteed Satisfaction. Terrius Mykel has directed and produced the music videos of some of your favorite artists. What started as a hobby a few years ago formed into a full blown production agency, New Order Media Group, which has taken him from coast to coast, all in the name of Hip Hop and visual media. Terrius' vision is far from one dimensional, venturing beyond music and exploring various avenues of film. Terrius is a realist who knows tomorrow isn’t promised, and living for today with no regrets is a great way to achieve your dreams, and accomplish your goals. To have reached such great heights, he’s down to earth. Proud and confident in his work, but he doesn’t keep his talent and knowledge to himself. He educates others and gives his time back to those hungry to advance in their careers and for opportunity. Curious to know more about the day in the life of a prominent video director? Keep reading as Terrius shares a slice of his life with us, advice on how to manuever in the industry, and the value of having a team. So without further ado, Welcome "Terrius Mykel The Director".
The UpNext: Who is Terrius Mykel? What does he help other people achieve?
Terrius Mykel: "Terrius Mykel is an influencer, leader by example, humble but very confident individual. The brand Terrius Mykel originated has created windows of opportunities for young talent and created lanes for stars just seeking guidance to their next big destination.”
The UN: What is the New Order Media Group? What does it mean to you?
TM: "New Order Media Group is a production company I created. Over the years the goals and formula have changed - adapting to new discoveries and the forever changing world. New Order Media Group is something I’m very proud of because we started with no investment money, no real financial support or guidance & we were able to create jobs and help continue careers for various entertainers. So it was like my green light for pursuing any other crazy business ventures - “You did it once with this formula, it's a pretty great chance it’ll work with another brand as well.”
The UN: How do you plan and keep yourself on track?
TM: "I plan daily, and I keep like-minded people in my circle to keep me guided to where I would like to be in life. I look at life sometimes like a simulation game, meaning you have full control over your destiny to an extent - as long as you focus on the detail and be consistent on the trajectory.”
The UN: How Has COVID impacted your career?
TM: "Covid definitely impacted my career because it has taken away a lot of opportunities & deals that were in the closing process. It was that eye-opener that the world is not as secure as we think. It is just a daily reminder to live how you want, cause ultimately no single person “can fix the world.”
The UN: How did you come to the road of video directing and editing in the world of Hip Hop?
TM: "I honestly think I was bored at home just researching different creative things. I’ve always had an interest in music and music videos, but not knowing I had a passion for creating them. It was probably something already embedded in me, I just had to discover my God-given talents."
The UN: How long have you been producing and editing? How many videos do you produce a year?
TM: "Professionally I would say year 2-3 years I have been in this field. We produce videos weekly - sometimes 2-3 per day, it's not only music videos my company produces. We are actively working on creating different series/documentaries; content pieces that will shape the entertainment future."
The UN: What have been some of the biggest challenges you’ve had to face? What did you learn from those experiences?
TM: "Biggest challenge is making sure your team eats, making sure you provide the best quality of work so your team can continue to be taken care of. If I take a day off, so one else can potentially suffer, that's what'll happen. So every day my priority is to make sure the brands I create are self-sustaining, long after I’m gone; I’ll be able to pass them to my wife, kids, grandkids, etc."
The UN: What’s the day in the life of Terrius Mykel?
TM: "I have several different types of days I can break down. On my chill day, I'm eating, researching the internet, reading online articles about information, and talking to my girlfriend about different business ideas. I love information, it genuinely excites me knowing about different strategies, technology, entertainment history. After hours of that, I may watch a movie or two- along with playing Madden or Call of Duty. Then I’d return to making sure my businesses are flowing well.
On my workday which is mostly 6-7 days of the week, I'm “working working”. Talking to 50+ different people a day, all about different matters. I’m at the age where I want to be involved in so many different endeavors. My clock could end today, tomorrow, so I’m well aware of knowing time isn't unlimited; so I gotta move like a mad man.
On any other typical day, I'm probably out shopping & buying some relatively expensive sh*t, eating some really good food. I eat out probably 4-5 times a week. If I've been neglecting my social life and seriously been working, I'll splurge and go shopping."
The UN: How would you describe your directing style? What makes working with you unique?
TM: "My style of directing is very practical based. Meaning I like to film what you actually see on set. I like to create environments that audiences can feel like “Wow, I would like to be a part of this scene”; so not really any special effects right now, just real-world elements. I feel like my style is like that because a lot of the other films did not rely on effects to paint stories, they just had really great storylines and acting."
The UN: What's your team like and why is it important to have one?
TM: "Yes I have a great team - we move something like a corporate America. If your business structure is right - you will be prepared for all the big financial gains. If I was doing everything by myself I would be limiting my potential. “You want to make 1 million dollars by yourself or 100 million dollars with 8 other people? Then invest that money into jobs for 20-50 other people- now you are able to impact the lives of 50 plus families."
The UN: What are 10 tips for someone following in your footsteps should know?
TM: "1. Don’t follow 2. Be original
3. Be Genuine 4. Have Purpose 5. Don’t do corny stuff 6. Analyze the room 7. Monthly - look yourself in the mirror and review yourself from the outside looking in
8. Keep family first 9. Don’t get fanned out -celebrities are regular humans
10. Don't be scared to leave a situation that’s fun but you’re not getting what you want out of it 11. Don't worry about what the next man is doing 12. Don't try to do it on your own".
The UN: What is it like working with some of the world‘s most famous celebrities today? How do you stay grounded?
TM: "Its fun working with different people, the energies are mostly always different. The bigger celebrities have the best energy typically. I think they are at peace, simply because they have experienced both sides of the spectrum. Working with a celebrity is simply working with an intelligent human being that's just notably known for showcasing their intelligence. I’m intelligent as well, so I feel like I'm just working with another intelligent person, we’re speaking the same language."
The UN: What’s your greatest accomplishment thus far?
TM: "My greatest accomplishment was being born. The fact that I’m here and alive and able to actively pursue my goals is a major accomplishment. Everything is already written in stone, we just have to unlock what's destined for us. Stay tuned as Terrius Mykel changes entertainment."
Follow Terrius on IG: @terriusmykel
& Checkout his work
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