Darren going in right direction

The last time the 'MAIL' caught up with Darren he was working on cult teen drama Skins and also putting together his own sitcoms.

Since then he's directed several music videos for local bands and has made an impression on the other side of the big pond during a recent trip to Hollywood. He even has a fan in Snoop Dogg.

He told the 'MAIL': "After Skins I went on to do music videos for up and coming Northern Ireland bands.

"As was the case with Skins it came about by accident when I was asked by White Mountain Music based in Maghera to do a music video for Aaron Shanley.

"I hadn't filmed for a while so I agreed. They loved the video so much I became a creative partner doing videos for all their acts. Around this time they signed a deal with a company in America called Musicbox who sync music to big television shows like Desperate Housewives and the Big Bang Theory."

He continued: "I was told of plans to bring artists over from Northern Ireland to Hollywood as part of a Musicbox 'Made in Ireland' night. I was asked to document the trip and of course agreed. Who wouldn't? It's Hollywood. The artists we took over were Aaron Shanley, Michael Mormecha (Clown Parlour) and Shauna Tohill (Silhouette).

"The plan was to relax in West Hollywood for five days until the showcase. We had no idea what was in store for us. The artists and I arrived at our hostel - The Banana Bungalow - around 10pm. We had travelled half way across the world and we were more than ready to get some shut eye.

"When we walked through the doors of the hostel we were greeted by a young drunk French man sporting a top hat and waist coat. It turns out he was the receptionist. We could barely comprehend him as he was so off his head.

"We then proceeded to our dorm room. We opened the door to our courtyard and couldn't believe what we saw. They had turned the courtyard into a nightclub. Our dorm was party central for young backpackers wanting a taste of Hollywood. Any other night this would have been great. We all managed to get some sleep thanks to some noise cancelling headphones."

Darren had a memorable time discovering LA with the help of a well known music producer and a big time rapper.

The 27-year-old said: "The next day we explored Los Angeles. We loved it. Hollywood is everything you imagined and more. It's so widespread. You really need a car to explore it.

"That night in our dorm room we met a guy called Chris Knoxx - a Canadian music producer from Nova Scotia. The gang and I made friends with him and just as we were going to bed in walked in the most colourful character I have ever met. An African American by the name of Krashman.

"Krash was to show Chris around Hollywood. Krash and Chris' manager know each other from way back when. Krash had a lot of connections in Hollywood and would show us the REAL Los Angeles.

"As we were all in the music business and wet behind the ears Krash let Michael Mormecha and I tag along in Chris' underground education. We learnt Hollywood etiquette. What to say and where to go to be seen. He took us around the celebrity haunts and showed us where paparazzi would be waiting to take snaps."

When the group learned a bit more about Krash they were in awe: "We weren't sure of Krash's connections but the next day we were in for a big surprise," said Darren.

"It turned out Krash was a big time rapper in the early nineties signed to Island records.

"That day he introduced us to Mopreme Shakur (Tupac's brother). Mike and I were in shock. Mopreme told us to come to his brother's anniversary party. Unfortunately we would be back in Northern Ireland when it kicked off.

"We then met people from Win Win Global. Ty (Mista) Perkins and David Ruffin Jnr. We hung out in Win Win's studio for a while then when Ty asked what I did. I told him I was a music video director. He asked to see some of my work so I showed him Mike's latest video, 'Stanley Kubrick'.

"He loved it and wanted Mike to do some studio time with him. Work on a track or two. We decided to do it on the spot. The track came out great blending west coast rap with Mike's Northern Irish Indie sound."

Darren continued: "The day after, Krash took Chris and I to Ironworks studio owned by Josef Leimberg. I couldn't believe my luck. This is the place to be, so many big names in the rap industry pass through this studio to hang out and record. Busta Ryhmes, Snoop Dogg, The Game, Jay Z, Jamie Foxx and many others."

The reason Josef's studio is called Ironworks is because it's part music studio and part iron works. He owns both.

"Again I got asked about what I did. So I showed Josef my music videos. He loved them. It was strange getting this sort of feedback from someone so renowned. I was thinking, this guy produces songs for Snoop Dogg and he's telling me he loves my work. After an hour or so in walked LaToiya Williams. A huge name in the RnB game.

"She's sang with every rap artist you can think of. She sounds like Aretha Franklin. We got talking and it turned out she needed a music video for a new single she was releasing. Krash suggested I do it, she also thought it was a great idea."

The Lurgan man explained: "Now I was in a bit of a pickle I had three days left in Los Angeles. I pitched my idea to LaToiya. She thought it was excellent. We went from concept to filming in two days. A personal best I don't think I'll ever better. The video was released a couple of weeks ago on YouTube and has had nearly 10,000 views. I've just been told that Snoop Dogg has seen the video and loves it."

Back home Darren is working on two sitcoms: "One I'm keeping close to my chest and the other is called Beer Bros," he told the 'MAIL'.

"It's set in Northern Ireland and it's about the extraordinary adventures of three less than normal lads. It's a wacky comedy with a sprinkling of action. I'm writing it with local comedian Phil McEwan.

"We have just finished filming the pilot for the first episode. It stars local lads Phil McEwan, Darren McDonald, Ruairi Coleman, Joseph Kingham and Cherry Bomb's Kat Kirk. We also have Peacefire's Seanny Roberts in a short role."

He continued: "We are hoping to get the sitcoms commissioned next year. I'll also be doing a music video for local singer/songwriter Joe Echo. Joe penned two songs for Madonna's latest album.

"As well as doing all of the above I still manage on the odd occasion to do deliveries for my Dad's Chinese takeaway the Wok Inn!"

For updated information on beer bros or to see Darren music videos, both are available on Facebook. If you search for 'Beer Bros' and 'Maverick Renegade Productions' you should locate them.