Lara M. Schwartz (born December 6, 1970), a music video producer and authority on the art of making music videos, is the author of Making Music Videos: Everything You Need to Know From the Best in the Business [1] The book was published by Random House, and the foreword of the book was written by famed Director Brett Ratner [2]. Lara has produced or directed over 100 music videos, commercials, feature films, short films, documentaries, live broadcasts, and DVDs. She has worked with artists such as Mary J. Blige, Whitney Houston, Tom Jones, Harry Connick Jr., Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Salt-n-Pepa, Branford Marsalis, Boyz II Men, Jermaine DuPri, Al Jarreau, P. Diddy, The Notorious B.I.G., K-Ci & JoJo, Teddy Pendergrass, and Smokey Robinson among many others. Several music videos that Lara has either produced or directed have been nominated for music video awards.
After learning the music video business as a freelance production manager and producer in the early 1990s, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs asked her to establish and oversee his production company. Subsequently, Lara started Bad Boy Films in 1994 and, at that time, was Executive Producer of several of Bad Boy Records music videos. In 1995, Lara opened her own production company, 361 Degrees, and began directing as well as producing music videos. Soon thereafter, she expanded into commercials, short films, documentaries, live broadcasts, and DVDs.
Lara taught the class "Music Video Production" at the University of California, Los Angeles, giving students a working familiarity with the process of making music videos from both the business perspective and the creative perspective. In December 2003, she traveled to Cuba as part of a UCLA Extension program filmmakers' delegation.
As producer and/or executive producer
Aaliyah “Hot Like Fire”
Aaliyah “The One I Gave My Heart To”
Anthony Hamilton "Nobody Else"
BOB Clique "Hostage"
Boogie Monsters "Beginning of the End"
Bo-Shed “Come On In”
Bounty Killer “Deadly Zone”
Boyz II Men "On Bended Knee"
Branford Marsalis "No Pain, No Gain"
Craig Mack "Making Moves With Puff"
Craig Mack "Get Down"
Da Brat & Jermaine DuPri "Funkdafied"
Damage "Anything"
Da Ruffness "1 N 1"
Day Ta Day "U Represent"
DeVante "Gin and Juice"
Doug E. Fresh & Little Vicious "Freaks"
Doug E. Fresh "It's Ii-ght"
Dub War "Strike It"
Faith; "You Used To Love Me"
Front Line Assembly; "Millennium"
Funkdoobiest "XXX Funk"
Harry Connick Jr. “Let’s Just Kiss”
Hoez With Attitude (HWA) EPK
Jaz B. Lat'n "Set It Off"
Johnny Marrs "Hubba Bubba Baby"
Junior Mafia "Player's Anthem"*
(*Nominated for Best New Artist Clip; 1995 Billboard Music Video Awards)
Junior M.A.F.I.A. "Get Money"
Junior M.A.F.I.A. "I Need You Tonight"
Kali Ranks "Kill Dem All"
K-Ci & JoJo “All My Life”**
(**Nominated for Best R&B Video; 1998 MTV Music Video Awards)
Kedar Mgmt. "At The Apollo"
Keith Sweat "When I Give My Love"
Keesha “You Got Me Where You Want”
Kenny Lattimore & Heather Headley “Love Will Find A Way”
Kino "Game Recognize Game"
Lil' Kim "Crush On You"
Lil' Kim "My Time To Shine"
Lil' Kim (featuring Da Brat, Left Eye, Missy Elliott, & Angie Martinez)"Ladies Night"
Little Vicious "The Glock"
Lost Boyz “What’s Wrong...”
Mary J. Blige "Be Happy”
Messiah "I Feel Love"
Mic Geronimo “Wherever You Are”
Michael Jackson "History II" Home Video Titles
Napalm Death "A Plague Rages”
NKRU "Computer Love"
Nonchalant "5 O'Clock"
Nonchalant “Take It There”
Notorious B.I.G. "Juicy"
Notorious B.I.G. "One More Chance"***
(***Nominated for Best Rap Video; 1995 Billboard Music Video Awards)
NTC "Try My Love"
112 "Only You"
Once Blue "Save Me"
Outta Control "Sinful Wishes"
Ricardo da Force "Why"
Ryan Reynolds "Do I Ever Cross You’re Mind”
Sable "For Old Times Sake"
Salt-n-Pepa "Champagne"
Section 8 "No Love"
Sister Machine Gun "Hole In The Ground" and "Burn"
Sway “When Suzanna Cries”
Tom Jones “Sex Bomb”
Total "Can't You See"
Total "Can't You See" Re-mix
12 Gauge "Dunkie Butt"
Vesta “Somebody For Me”
Whitney Houston "I Believe In You & Me"
Elevator Suite “Backaround”
Smokey Robinson “Sleepin’ In”
Keesha “You Got Me Where You Want”
Kenny Lattimore & Heather Headley “Love Will Find A Way”
Nonchalant “Take It There”
K-Ci & JoJo “All My Life”*
(*Nominated for Best R&B Video; 1998 MTV Music Video Awards)
Vesta “Somebody For Me”
Peter Andre “Kiss The Girl”
Amari “Callin’”
Bounty Killer “Deadly Zone”
Lost Boyz “What’s Wrong With The Way I Live”
Teddy Pendergrass "Give It To Me"
Tasha Holiday "Just The Way You Like It"
Tracey Lee "The Theme"
Sybil "Still A Thrill"
Day Ta Day "Smile"
No Coast “City Streets”
YZ "The Ghetto's Been Good To Me"
Maestro & Showbiz "Fine Tune Da Mic"
Dirt Nation "Khadejah"
Al Jarreau & Kathleen Battle; TV spot
Deborah Harry Interview
Michael Speaks Performance
ABC Daytime Promo
Faith Evans Promo
Mary J. Blige WTLC Radio Advertisement
Hyundai Car Advertisement
Stouffer's Advertisement
Donna Karan (DKNY) Advertisement
Kobecker Co. Shoe Advertisement
Gap Advertisement
Women in Hollywood Television Awards Show
Democratic National Convention 2004
Greg Godek Satellite Broadcast
Money Magazine Satellite Broadcast
Eckerd Corporation Satellite Broadcast
Salt N’Pepa EPK/Documentary I
Salt N’ Pepa EPK/Documentary II
Ahakhav Tribal Preserve Youth Cultural Festival
Brand New
Le Bateau Indiscret
The Fear Mechanic
Repeater
Girls Town**
Won the Filmmakers Trophy Award at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival & earned a Special Recognition for the Screenplay
Released by October Films
Directed by Jim McKay
Starring Lili Taylor
Quills
Short Documentary and Director Commentary Production
Released by Fox Searchlight
Directed by Philip Kaufman
Starring Geoffrey Rush, Kate Winslet, Joaquin Phoenix, Michael Caine
