Photo courtesy of Aztech Productions.

The Reason the latest music video by hip hop artist Upwords, received more than 18,000 YouTube views within the first 16 hours it was available online. Less than five days later the video, directed by Joseph Lombardi (CCAD 2010) was at more than 117,000 views.

Lombardi, who majored in Media Studies,  is the CEO of Aztech Productions, based in Los Angeles. Clients include Matisyahu, The Crystal Method, and the Black Eyed Peas. While serving as Director of Photography for a documentary about the closing of famous record store Fat Beats, Lombardi interviewed popular hip-hop musicians like Xzibit.

“I also work with Shane Dawson, who is the number three most subscribed person on YouTube,” said Lombardi. “Dawson has over two million people subscribed to him (every video reaching five to seven million views). [I also work with] a large number of other big YouTube personalities as well.”

This is the first single off Upwords’s new album, I Am Music. Click here to watch the music video. For more information about Aztech Productions, check out their Vimeo page.

Ohio Theatre

Columbus College of Art & Design presented 233 diplomas during the 131st annual spring commencement on Saturday, May 15, at the Ohio Theatre in downtown Columbus.

The commencement speaker was Author, Editor & Illustrator Michael Rosen. The 2010 class had two valedictorians, Stacey Lawless-Gibson and Erica Podwoiski, and 10 outstanding seniors:

• Susan Burke, Advertising and Graphic Design, New Knoxville, OH
• Tyler Mele, Animation; Wellington, OH
• Elizabeth Munn, Fashion Design; Aurora, OH
• Ian Horn, Fine Arts; Hyde Park, OH
• Erica Podwoiski, Fine Arts; Garden City, MI
• Jacob Murray, Illustration; Fort Wayne, IN
• Shawn Fortner, Industrial Design; Canton, OH
• Kimberly Priestman, Interior Design; Lansdale, PA
• Matthew Dickerson, Photography; Columbus, OH
• Joseph Lombardi, Media Studies; St. Louis, MO

A copy of Rosen’s commencement address is available here (pdf).