Edwin Decena

{{Infobox person

| name = Edwin Decena

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| birth_place = Passaic, New Jersey, U.S.

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| alma_mater = Rutgers University

| occupation = Film director, editor, music video director

| years_active = 2005–present

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Edwin Decena is an American music video and independent film director.{{cite web|last1=Toussaint|first1=Jimmy|title=A Leader is Born|url=http://blackstreetonline.com/2011/03/24/jimmytoussaint/|website=blackstreetonline.com|publisher=Black Street|accessdate=24 March 2011}}

Edwin first contribution as a filmmaker came directing and editing the reggaeton documentary "Chosen Few: El Documental."{{cite web|title=Chosen Few: El Documental|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/edwin-decena-mn0002088755/credits|website=allmusic.com|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=14 November 2006}}

Early life and education

Decena was born in Passaic, New Jersey and is of Dominican descent.{{cite web|title=About Edwin Decena|url=http://edwindecena.com/about.html|website=edwindecena.com|access-date=8 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140909004306/http://edwindecena.com/about.html#|archive-date=2014-09-09|url-status=dead|df=}} He graduated from Passaic High School and studied sociology at Rutgers-Newark.{{cite web|last1=Decena|first1=Edwin|title=Edwin Decena {{!}} Bio|url=http://www.edwindecena.com|website=edwindecena.com|publisher=Edwin Decena|accessdate=3 September 2014}} While at Rutgers, he hosted a college radio show where he interviewed several independent hip hop artist that he would eventually direct music video for.

Career

= Music Videos =

Decena has created a number of music videos for many artists, including Plies featuring T-Pain ("Shawty"),{{cite web|last1=Gotlieb|first1=Steve|title=Shot: Plies f/T-Pain|url=http://www.videostatic.com/content/shot-plies-f-t-pain-edwin-decena-director|website=videostatic.com|accessdate=7 May 2007}} Cupid ("Cupid Shuffle"), Lil Boosie featuring Jeezy ("Better Believe It"), Jaheim ("Never"), Webbie ("I Miss You"), Rich Boy ("Let's Get This Paper"), Saigon featuring Swizz Beatz and Just Blaze ("C'mon Baby"),{{cite web|last1=Gotlieb|first1=Steve|title=Shot: Saigon - Edwin Decena|url=http://www.videostatic.com/content/shot-saigon-edwin-decena-director|website=videostatic.com|accessdate=10 October 2007}} DG Yola ("Ain't Gon Let Up"), Troy Ave ("Rep For My City"), Governor ("Blood Sweat and Tears"), Anthony Hamilton featuring Musiq Soulchild and Jaheim ("Struggle No More"), Red Cafe featuring Fabolous and Diddy ("Money, Money, Money"), Maino featuring Swizz Beaz ("Million Bucks"), and Slim featuring Yung Joc and Shawty Lo ("So Fly").

= Short and Feature Films =

In 2006, he co-directed the feature film, Transformations with his childhood friend Javier Molina. The film went on the win an Odyssey Award for best feature film at the 5th Annual H2O International Film Festival. In 2011, Edwin directed 2 part short film series entitled [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2114402/ Hunting Shadows] starring Rob Morgan, Darlenis Duran, Goya Robles and Tanaya Henry.

Style

Throughout the majority videos in which he collaborated with cinematographer Kitao Sakurai, Decena employed the use of handheld camera which enhanced the immediacy of the visual experience. As a response to declining production budgets, Decena's work focused on realism, cinematic aesthetic, and an attempt honest characterizations of his subjects as opposed to hype realistic and flashy imagery.

Filmography

class="wikitable sortable"

! Year

! Title

! Type

! Role

2004

|"Chosen Few: El Documental"

|Documentary

|Chief Editor{{cite web|title=Chosen Few: El Documental - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1693637/|website=IMDb.com|accessdate=8 September 2014}}

2006

|"Transformations"

|Feature Film

|Director

2006

|"Chosen Few II: El Documental"

|Documentary

|Director

2010

|"Aardvark"

|Feature Film

|Assistant Director{{cite web|title=Aardvark (2010) - IMDb|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1668029/|website=IMDb.com|accessdate=8 September 2014}}