Mr. International ready to say ‘Yes’ to fame, success and fortune
September 2, 2009
“Yes Girl” movie music video premiere
Altar Bar
Thursday, Sept. 3
7 p.m.
$6 general… “Yes Girl” movie music video premiere
Altar Bar
Thursday, Sept. 3
7 p.m.
$6 general admission, $25 VIP
Ages 21 and older
Sometimes spitting sick rhymes isn’t enough.
When he’s not rapping, Pittsburgh native Alan Lee is busy managing models, actors and mixed martial arts fighters.
But Mr. International, as Lee is known in the rap world, runs his own film company with the attitude and resilience of Ari Gold, making many people want to “hug it out, b*tch,” as Gold puts it on the HBO show “Entourage.”
Lee’s new music video, “Yes Girl,” will make its debut tomorrow night, and it would be no surprise for him to feel overwhelmed, but that’s not the case. In fact, he feels like he’s lacking something — time.
“I never have enough time,” Lee said. “I stay really organized with journals and my computer, but I just wish I had more time in the day.”
Lee also said that he reads a lot and doesn’t let anyone tell him that he can’t do something, an attitude he applied to finishing his newest movie music video.
“Yes Girl” is a movie music video about a modern-day Bonnie and Clyde and is based on a song Lee wrote. Directed by Dustin Dowling with MJ Meehan as the cinematographer, “Yes Girl” will premiere at Altar Bar at a Hollywood-esque event that will include a red carpet and quite the party.
“People should expect a few live performances, the premiere, some local stars coming out and a lot of dancing,” Lee said.
DJ Stylz, DJ Magic Mike and The Pittsburgh Kid will provide the music. Lee said that he, as Mr. International, Pheni and Choze will do special performances.
“Yes Girl” is backed by a clever promotional website — www.yesgirlmovie.com. The site functions much in the same manner that films such as “Cloverfield” and “District 9” promoted their movies online, with profiles, surveillances and updates on the progress of the fictional bank robbers Mr. International (Lee) and Lizzie Parker (Mimi Banner). The viral marketing campaign is useful in generating hype and excitement for those attending the premiere, Lee said.
Students from universities all around Pittsburgh are excited for the event.
“I’m really excited to go to the premiere. I was invited to go on Facebook and have been following it on the “Yes Girl” website and Youtube where a few trailers can be found — all I need to do now is figure out what I’m going to wear,” Alyse Carpenter, a junior at Point Park University, said.
Lee is also excited for the premiere but is no amateur when it comes to the entertainment business. When Lee was a kid, he always dreamed of being a car salesman, but his interests quickly shifted to the entertainment business after he memorized every word to the entire soundtrack of Disney’s “Aladdin.”
He laughed as he recalled putting on performances with his sister — who took on the role of Jasmine — for his mom and also at talent shows.
“Aladdin and I go way back,” Lee said. “But yeah, I love working with and around people, and I’ve been interested in theater, movies and music for a long time. My best advice for young entrepreneurs is to not wait. Don’t wait for a degree, keep moving forward and learn from experience.
“I admire P. Diddy as a businessman and musician, and I also admire Mark Wahlberg as an actor, director and producer,” Lee said. “Wahlberg produces the TV show ‘Entourage,’ which is my favorite show. I love Ari Gold.”
Lee’s attitude reflects his success, and this Pittsburgh native has bigger and better goals in mind. It would be hard to imagine him stopping anywhere short of the goal his rap persona suggests: “international” success.