Today we’d like to introduce you to QPZ .

Hi QPZ, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I originally started out as a photographer back in 2017 interning at a Seattle Music Venue Neumos. I was at the time working 2 jobs as a Barista and a Line Cook and was growing frustrated from both places. I knew deep down I am a creative person and needed an opportunity to find a means of a way to express myself. When I was accepted the offer I took on as many shows as much I as I could for about 6 – 8 months before the internship ended.

During this timeframe I was struggling to get myself inserted in Seattle’s Music Scene since I just moved from Wisconsin after college and I knew nobody out there. I just had to take a leap of faith and see what happens.

Eventually, I saw some local artists were performing at a nightclub and sent a DM on Instagram seeing if I could get on a guest list which I was and that started my journey getting involved in Seattle’s Music Scene creating photos for local artists in the city.

Ended up quitting those two jobs to work on some side hustles to cover my bills while I was busy creating art for the scene.

Then sometime in 2019, I was slowly getting into videos doing show recaps on top of photography. Thus it was starting point where my passion for filmmaking was slowly starting to wake up.

The day I started shifting focus into soley more video & film based projects was due to a lesson and a failure during a music festival in Atlanta. Around that time I was originally had thought wearing a media pass and a wristband (Same as the artist wristband) would naturally let roam parts on stage without interfering with the artist performance. Though the festival’s production crew miscommunications and misunderstandings, it caused me to only be able to document some photos but any footage which would had helped not only my career but also the artist’s as well.

This artist and I no longer work with each other anymore due to this and among other things that couldn’t get us on the same page.

I was dealing with depression at that time since it was a moment in my life where I began to questioned whether or not creating was something meant for me but I kept creating occasionally until sometime in 2020 I was slowly beginning to understand what my purpose was.

I had landed an opportunity to do some camera op work for a music video for an artist named Ayron Jones for his single Take Me Away.

I ended up doing a couple of shots inside of a recording studio to filming on top of one of Seattle’s iconic landmark The Space Needle. The music video ended having over 2 million views on YouTube as of today. (At the time of writing this sentence 7/30/2024)

This helped me find my purpose.

To Become a Music Video Director.

I started working on some music videos with some artists I knew at the beginning but unfortunately I was seeing things that I could not agree with artistically and I wanted more creative freedom so after ending that relationship my journey as a Music Video Directed had finally begun.

At the time of this writing I had dropped 18 music videos that I had Directed. I intend to do more directing in the near future so stick tuned for those!

I’m very excited about them.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A lot has been rough but the diamond in me is starting to smooth out.

Had to quit plenty of jobs since I was losing more time doing the things I love which is making art. I needed to make my own schedule where i can have my own personal finances lead me to places where I can get more opportunities.

I even stopped talking and working some artists in Seattle since my worth and the value I had just wasn’t seen by them. I couldn’t justify working for many long hours just to create something that couldn’t give me any joy. My time and vision for creating art was just too important to waste on individuals who never saw me for who I am.

Had been 6 months homeless back in 2023 due a lot disagreements on how the bills were getting paid and it was exhausting dealing with two roommates who couldn’t give me their portion of bills so we can keep doing things we need to do become successful in our field. I no longer speak to these two individuals anymore.

Having dealt with a lot of nos, people outright ghosting me, not getting the credit I earned through my labor, and shady people taking advantage of me. For most people who aren’t entrepreneurs and creatives, it’s easy for an average person to quit and go do something else. For me, I seen and met so many interesting people as well as good people that I can’t turn back on my passion. The universe intends to keep me on this journey and I don’t plan on quitting at all.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am a Music Video Director based out of Seattle & Tacoma Washington.

This playlist below is a library of the work I had personally Directed from 2020 to present.

This list is always updating constantly on a 3-4 month basis so keep checking back for the newest drop!

In the near future I would love to be to direct a music video for a major label artist such as Maeta, Snoh Aalerga, Logic, Joey Bada$$, or Rihanna. Essentially someone in this particular space. I really want to show how far I have gone from doing local videos to showcasing on a bigger platform.

Another goal in my Music Video business is to do Music Videos internationally in places like, Japan, Europe, Korea, China, Africa, South America and the rest of the world. Art is a beautiful and universial language we all can relate to.

Currently I am proud of my Music Video with my client Sarey Savy and Ke’Ante for their sing Lonely. Even though it was my third music video I did that year. Directing and editing that video is what kept me going during 2023 when I was homeless and crashing at a homie’s crib. To have to deal with something that extremely stressful while still doing what I love will always push me further to be the best Music Video Director I can be.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
It’s never perfect but it is always finding ways to improve itself. Thats the i like about Seattle.

We have great Seafood. can’t complain about that. One of the reasons I won’t leave the West Coast any soon.

As for the things Seattle can improve on in my opinion is a couple of things.

Rent Control
Seattle’s rent keeps rising in places where local businesses are forced to raise prices and wages which can put some people out of work while others need to find different hustles to pay their bills.

More opportunities for Creatives
We’re not like LA or New York where going to a couple of networking events, doing a shadowing for a job, meeting up with someone will have a profound effect on your career and your finances. Seattle is trying to understand how to do it but it always seems like the Seattle Freeze, Ego, or you have to this one person whom is a gatekeeper who will treat your passion like a 9-5 instead of cheering you on for your success.

It’s more exclusive
What I mean for this is that it’s like back in High School where you have tables where one group is the nerds, the jocks, the outcasts etc. Except if you’re friends with this one person the other group doesn’t like because you hang out with group A. It’s weird.

Passive agressiveness
For a city that’s been around for a long time, being passive aggressive isn’t healthy for you long term. The fact that a lot of people here in Seattle carry this trait is pretty wild. It often will always keep you from where you want to be in the future.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://set.page/quintinpetersqpz/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/qpzess/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZkOet8H8mslJGer9BY8IjGuW9vADR2ME