Daily Inspiration: Meet Patrick “embryo” Tapu

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick “embryo” Tapu

Hi Patrick “Embryo”, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was interested in Directing after helping Co-Produce a Music Video for a band I wrote and produced a song for around early 2009. My curiosity was sparked and intrigued after being unimpressed with a friend I hired to Direct the Music Video. He was very experienced in Photography, and a protege of a big name Celebrity Photographer. I watched him do great on his photoshoots, but I felt he fell short on the Music Video and I really believed I could have done better myself. That year my Dad died in a car accident which really shocked my world. It was a reminder that life is short and not guaranteed, which lit a fire underneath me to pursue my creative interests full time. At the time I was working in the financial world and really hated it because my heart and mind was in creativity. It always has been since I was young in one form or another. So later that same year, an opportunity presented itself and I convinced the managers of a Chicago rap artist named Paypa (currently known as Marcus Black) to let me Direct a Music Video for a song off his upcoming mixtape they were releasing. One of Benny Boom’s protege’s was set to initially Direct. Having no previous experience Directing, they were apprehensive (rightfully so) to let me do it, but I convinced the managers by offering two Music Videos for the budget they were going to spend on one Music Video. The art of negotiating. To be totally transparent, I didn’t have nearly enough experience or knowledge to know what I was getting myself into, but I had faith in myself and I’m the type of person who dives off the deep end head first. One of my strengths has always been a bold deep inner self confidence. I knew I would figure it out, and I did. So I Directed and helped produce two Music Videos which turned out to not really be that bad considering how green I was. Both videos ended up being in the top 5 and top 10 placements for MySpace Music Videos (which was a thing at one point) sandwiched between big artists like Lady Gaga and Rihanna. After that I went full time into Directing, also picked up Cinematography along the way and basically self taught myself the craft video by video. 15 years later, I am still learning and still growing.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been a smooth road, but it also hasn’t been a rough road. It’s been a mixed bag of all of the above. Anything you do or pursue comes with challenges, there’s no way around that. If you’re driven by a passion and love for what you’re doing then it gives you the energy and drive to push through any challenges that come, and believe me, they will come. The challenges have definitely helped me learn and grow as a creator. So I’m grateful for all of those challenges and even now I continue to learn and grow from new challenges. The only difference is my attitude and response to challenges have improved. When you’re younger in your career, sometimes those challenges feel like they’re going to break you. It can make people quit and if anything, it’s kind of a test on who’s worthy to continue. Most of the challenges come from lack of experience and internal issues more often than not. Lack of experience can easily be overcome with learning, the internal issues are the biggest challenges. Especially as a creative artist.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Director/Cinematographer, and more often than not, a Creative Director. I also edit and also produce music. For the last 15 years I’ve specialized in Music Videos, but I’ve done short films, commercials, sketch comedy and documentary style content. I’m mostly known for my Music Videos which often lean toward some type of surrealism and usually have a creative artistic approach. I’m also known a little as a rebellious creative. I really hate to be micro managed or told what or how to create. It’s the antithesis of my creative approach. I would say any authority or set of rules is the antithesis to creative exploration. It’s a way of living for me. A lifestyle I share with my girlfriend and creative partner Ciara Johnson who’s also an artist. She has a multi media art brand named ‘Rulerless’ that embodies that philosophy at the core of it’s creative approach both to art and life. As far as my body of work, I’m not really “proud” of any of my work. I do like seeing the growth and development in my work because it shows me that I continue to learn and improve, but I more so proud of my rebellious spirit and bold inner self confidence. We are all free to create and have the ability to engage in a relationship with the unknown and discover the creative outcome of that relationship. It’s really a magical and mystically profound reality when you consider what creativity is. What sets me apart from some others is I really don’t give a fuck what other people think and I’m truly not scared to push boundaries or offend. I really think art should provoke.

Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned along the way is to be completely aware and to fully attend the present moment which is the only reality. All insight and learning come from an open awareness of the continuous present moment we all are in.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.directedbyembryo.com
• Instagram: @DirectedbyEmbryo