Taylor Swift’s ‘Fortnight’ Music Video Director Shares How Travis Kelce ‘Supported’ Her on Set (Exclusive)
Travis Kelce was Taylor Swift’s No. 1 fan while filming the “Fortnight” music video.
Rodrigo Prieto, who directed the MTV VMA-winning and Grammy-nominated black-and-white video, opened up to PEOPLE about how the Kansas City Chiefs tight end showed up for Swift, 34, while working on the video, which also featured Post Malone.
Swift previously gave Kelce, 35, a shoutout when she won for video of the year at the VMAs, so her admiration is evident.
The director calls Kelce “a lovely man.” “I would say that it seems like their parents educated them well,” he says of the couple.
He also notes that the 14-time Grammy winner was “probably also proud to show him what she does.”
“She does her research and thinks deeply about the concepts and ideas she comes up with,” Prieto says of Swift’s artistry.
Below, Prieto tells PEOPLE about moments that stood out while shooting the music video, along with her storytelling processes and commitment to her craft.
What do you admire most about Taylor’s artistry and overall vision for her art?
I find it amazing that she has such a vivid imagination for music, lyrics, and images. She is a storyteller at heart, and she uses all the mediums at her disposal to express herself. It’s not just her songs but the world she has created around her music.
Those who follow her can really get immersed in an experience that goes beyond the albums and the videos. I find it fascinating how she connects with her fans and invites them into her subconscious through her art.
Are there any memories from the “Fortnight” set, or any other video sets, that stick out to you as an example of just why Taylor is so good at her craft?
One thing I have loved of being on set with her is that when we are discussing a camera angle or a moment of the story of the video, is that she will softly sing to herself the lyrics of the moment in question. She connects each lyric to an image. It’s never about just filming random stuff to figure out in the edit. She creates a script where the images have a meaning that is intrinsically related to a moment in the song.
Whenever I ask her a question about how the camera should behave, she will sing that moment to remember what it is that inspired a visual idea. It is both lovely and inspiring to share those moments with her.
Your first project with Taylor was “The Man” music video in 2019. What surprised you about her when you first met? Is there something about her that fans might be surprised to know?
I don’t know if this is surprising to her fans or those who know her, but I remember very well all the visual references she had put together for that meeting. You might think that someone with that level of success might be jaded or may just rely on others to feed her ideas, but she puts in the work.
She does her research and thinks deeply about the concepts and ideas she comes up with. She seemed to be a much more experienced director, the way she spoke about the cinematic language of her ideas.
It did not seem to be a musician pretending to be a director, it felt like I was talking to someone who had deep experience in that role.
She’s had such amazing things to say about filming the “Fortnight” video and said onstage at the VMAs that her boyfriend Travis was there sort of as a hype man while filming. What was it like having him on set? What kind of energy did he bring?
Travis is a lovely man. They both are. I would say that it seems like their parents educated them well. They are not just polite, but actually interested in what others have to say. I think she felt very supported by his presence, and probably also proud to show him what she does, and the kind of leader she is.
She makes her own kind of touchdowns! And her crew follows her lead, not only because she is the boss, but because she has demonstrated to be a strong and inspired director.
What do you think the world still has to look forward to with Taylor?
Oh, she has so much energy and love for creativity, I am certain there is much more where that came from. She is unstoppable, and her enthusiasm for her craft is contagious. I know she will keep giving us wonderful music, but surely she will continue branching our into other areas of creative output.
Source: People