Today we’d like to introduce you to Swanye “Signature” Smith.
Swanye, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I actually started in the business as an artist in the music industry. I was a rapper known as “AzIz,” (As is), without knowing a lot about the music industry, I was signed to a label that shall remain nameless, and for the length of the contract, which was four years, I was stuck to the label without the release of any music. However, I grew up in the era of DJ Screw (RIH), the Screwed Up Click, along with SwisherHouse. Shout out to DJ Michael “5000” Watts, because he actually gave me my first real opportunity in the rap game after I broke free of my contract, and started going by my name Swanye. He featured my song, “Texas Styling,” and me on his SwisherHouse, Final Chapter 2K11 mixtape CD. Although, I was associated with two great people from the Screwed Up Click, (Big Moe & D-Pac aka Lil Dexter) both gone now, may the rest in purity. I always been around the local celebrities here in Houston since a kid. As it was told to me long ago by my parents, “In order to be successful, you surround yourself with successful people.” Yet, on the flip side, the support I felt I should’ve gotten I didn’t, I was getting older and being this big rapper wasn’t looking like it wanted to be in my future.
Fast Forward, in 2008, I was sitting at home one day when my aunt stopped by, handed me an SD card, asked if I could put together a video for her from the footage captured with her camera. I was like, sure. With no prior knowledge, I went to my computer, downloaded the trial version of Adobe Premiere, pulled up both the editing software and YouTube tutorials of how to you Adobe, sat there and did exactly what she asked me to do. Seeing the finished product myself, I realized I had tapped into a natural gift that God blessed me with. At that point, I told myself I need to go to school to learn the science of this. I believe that everything has a psychological science behind its existence, I wanted to tap into the film production aspect. So, seven years later I got my break. I heard about a movie being filmed in the city, reached out to the director, he needed a spot in the hood to film at, I offered and just like that a blessing. I was casted as an actor in a local independent film called “iCrush the Movie,” by director Derrick Williams. I became the cinematographer also because I was three years deep in school at Lone Star College University Park, I was already gaining the jewels to filmmaking.
From there I went to Texas Southern University to get my bachelor’s degree in the Communications department with a major of RTF (Radio, Television & Film), and a minor in ERM (Entertainment, Recording & Management). From hard work, proving that I have the desirous passion, along with the talent to produce good quality audiovisuals, my name began to ring on campus, I became the go to person. Now I am here talking with you.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Wow, great question. Ummm, just like the streets of any city, there’s been some well-paved smooth roads, in other areas not quite so. I think for anyone who is chosen or destined for greatness, there’s gonna be some challenges that we face, for example how many games did the Rockets lose before they became champions? Plenty. The thing is to never give up, don’t quit. I had a lot of struggles, some financial struggles because I got fired from my job about a few months in when I first started college. I think one of my main struggles that I have fought to let go off is dealing with the loss of my parents as a kid. I harbored that pain for so long and looking at the fact, they won’t be there to scream my name at graduation, if I have nowhere to go, they’re not there for me to lay my head.
It took me looking into knowing this is what they wanted for me, over the life I had once chosen when I had turned to the streets for acceptance, that became my motivation and determination. The love I get, the support from friends, family members and colleagues makes things smooth. We all have rough days, but I try to make the best out of any situation, especially now because I look at everything as the big motion picture production. Therefore, I embody my role and play it to a tee, until it’s time to say goodbye, I know my role and I play it well. I once heard that the purpose of life is to live with a life of purpose.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Signature Media Entertainment story. Tell us more about the business.
My company started out from a phrase, which was kinda amazingly crazy. That’s how I came up with the name “iVision Media Network,” because like I said, I see life as this big motion picture, so I vision media on a daily. The Signature Media Entertainment part came because of my brand name which is Swanye Signature, being that my signature is my brand. That’s what everyone calls me. As a filmmaker, I specialize in audio-visual storytelling. From development to post-production, I focus on transmitting your ideas into a stunning visual representation. I cater to bringing your visions to life. As a native Houstonian, from Texas, I am most proud of the fact my company is recognized for the quality of work it produces.
I have gotten credits with multiple roles in the film industry, and worked on numerous productions, such as iCrush the Movie, Real Love, (my first short film), The Harvey Movie, Awakened Butterfly, (my second short film), as well as music videos, Tears, TrueStory, Devil’s Pie, Juice Godz, Girl A Star and more. I have produced commercials for corporate business, along with local companies around the area for their social media market. My goal is to always bring the idea to an audio-visual delight and making it a tangible product of value. Our company focuses on creating quality visual aesthetics featured in ultimate HD excellence. Just as Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese, John Singleton, Tyler Perry and many more, who put their person touch into their film that identifies them through their work, so do I. It’s not a Signature Film if it doesn’t have my signature on it. “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.”
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
I wouldn’t necessarily call it good luck or bad luck, but more-so, opportunities and experiences. Both of which can be good or bad. However, most of the time the good things that spontaneously happens in life, we consider it to be luck, I look at it as God’s blessing of opportunities. Which have played a major role in my life. To be specific, I was granted the opportunity to learn priceless film techniques from some prestigious people already in the business, who took me under their wings, on major projects, and to learn more from a hands-on perspective about the business.
Thanks to instructors like John “Dr. Teeth” Tucker, Dr. Tyrone Dixon, Steve Goyette, Robert Willems, Cliff McBean, Don Okolo, Dr. Chris Ulasi, and others I may have forgotten to mention, providing me with the opportunity to learn the proper etiquette of the film industry. Don’t get me wrong, some of these opportunities came with intricate experiences because it hasn’t always been well put together like peanut butter and jelly. Still, I don’t consider it bad luck, but more like wrong timing or a lesson learned that this way doesn’t work quite as well.
Pricing:
- Social Media Commercials, Promos, ReCap & BTS videos $350 & up
- Short Films $550 & up
- Photography $45 hr & up
Contact Info:
- Website: https://swanyesignature.wixsite.com/mysite
- Phone: 832-386-6573
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swanyesignature
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/swanyesignature
- Other: http://www.youtube.com/c/SignatureMediaEntertainment
Image Credit:
Ronneisha Holden Photography
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