Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Neta Ben Ezra. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Neta, thanks for joining us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

I always knew I wanted to do something creative, just didn’t know what exactly. I grew up in a conservative religious family, so music was never really a big part of my life. I remember when I was 13, I found an mp3 player on a stroll on a beach—you know, those early ones that were huge but could only hold 32 MB. It had 8 songs in it; I still remember to this day track #1 was Kryptonite by 3 Doors Down, and I thought, “Shit, this is the best song ever!” (Minus the shit; I obviously did not know what shit was.) Then I started exploring music, and whenever I would hear a song, I could imagine a whole visual world as it was playing, like it wasn’t just a song but a whole world within it—a story, movement, colors. To this day, I hear a song or a musical piece, and when I close my eyes, there is a video playing.

Neta, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I am a music video director. I am also a mother of two amazing kids. I went to school for visual communications back in Israel. I quit after one year and took the money I had saved for school to buy a new camera instead and used that to create my portfolio. Then, once the portfolio was done, I sent 1000s of emails trying to get into companies and agencies. I didn’t really know what the path to get into music videos was, but I tried so hard. I got a lot of dead ends and no’s, thankfully I can say now. Then I tried being a PA in different productions, I tried to do some art direction, and eventually, when COVID happened and the production I was on was put on hold, I had all this time in my hands, and I just reached out to the management of my favorite band—just cold emailed them and offered to create a video for them at no cost. They said yes, and from there I got connected to the commissioner at their label who started sending me music video briefs. Later on, I met an additional commissioner, created videos for his label and eventually signed with my Rep, Laure Scott. I think the biggest thing I learned from this process is to just keep emailing, asking, and trying. I mean, there were a lot of no’s, but I only needed one yes.

About my art, I write the ideas for the music videos I direct. I love creating stories that visually have another level of meaning. Even in performance videos that, on the surface, might not have a story linked to them, I try to draw references and use motives that can come full circle by the end of the video. In my works, I draw a lot of references from the Bible and classic art. We live in a world where everything that could have been created was already created, but if I were to go to the genesis of it, that’s where my inspiration lies. I also think that the world has a lot of pain in it, and using humor is therapeutic for me, so in my narrative videos, using irony and drawing inspiration from life itself, I do try my best to make people laugh or at least say WTF?!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

For me I think it is the need to make this life something. I always joke that I save many lives daily by not becoming a doctor. But to put joke aside in all seriousness, I don’t think I had a choice but to create. I don’t see a world without it and I think that is also one thing that makes me extremely grateful when a musician choses to work with me, and when people are watching my videos.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

My father in law who I love so much and respect, always reminds me whenever a music video comes out. In the midst of trying to get into the industry and getting no positive feedback or any feedback at all. I came to their living room, ugly crying, saying “I am not hirable!!!” I think as a female, and as an immigrant it was not always a clear easy path. I sometimes look back and wonder how I didn’t just stopped and chose a different career but I am still here.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://netabenezra.com/
• Instagram: @netabenezra
• Linkedin: Neta Ben Ezra

Image Credits

Bella Mazzola
Seth Dunlap
Chris Acosta
Zane DuMont