Marlon Wright: Vision in video
Since filming his first music video in 2012, Marlon Wright’s approach to those promotional clips has evolved. He wants the visual to tell a story while projecting the artiste.
He pointed to videos for Lieutenant Stitchie’s Wear Yuh Size, I Can See Clearly Now by Jimmy Cliff, and Cham’s Ghetto Story as examples.
“They are all more than just music videos; they are short stories that leave an impact. They evoke emotion, whether it’s through laughter, reflection, or inspiration. Each video, in its unique way, offers a lesson — a reminder that life is full of ups and downs, but through it all, we can find humour, strength, and hope,” Wright told the Jamaica Observer. “They speak to the power of storytelling in music videos and have shaped how I approach visuals in my work.”
Self-taught, the New York-based Wright operates Cyber Leaf Entertainment, which has done music videos for Derajah, Richie Innocent, Rad Dixon, and Sledge. He also edited and produced Life Journey With Queen Elise Kelly, a YouTube show on the veteran broadcaster.
Born in Kingston and raised in Westmoreland, Wright has lived in the United States for over 30 years, serving in the US Army for 14 of them.
He earned a master of science degree in aviation safety from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, and is an air traffic controller by profession.
Getting involved in videography came after years of reading books on the craft, which included lessons on lighting and camera positions.
Originality is a focus of Cyber Leaf Entertainment productions.
“The biggest difference is that music videos are collaborative. I encourage artistes to contribute their ideas and vision, which brings a level of excitement and fun to the project. For artistes struggling to come up with a script, I always suggest focusing on the reason why they wrote the song, this often brings clarity and direction to the visuals,” said Wright.
Jamaican acts began filming music videos during the early 1980s, when that trend exploded through the emergence of MTV in the US. Local visuals have transformed from low-budget farces to cutting-edge productions shown on leading overseas platforms.