BEATWATCH FILMS -

a VISUAL STORYTELLING company EST. 2008 SKY ORCHID - music video AWARD WINNING FILMS BANGERS - music video GOD'S FIRST NAME - short narrative COMMERCIALS, NARRATIVES, CORPORATE and BEYOND INNOVATION and STYLE I GETS NO SLEEP - experimental short OVER 150 COMMERCIALS, MUSIC VIDEOS, SHORTS AND ONE KICK-ASS INDIE FEATURE FILM

BeatWatch = Audio / Visual

Over a decade of innovative film making

JD Ferenc has been directing and producing award-winning music videos and short films for over ten years before completing an MFA in Creative Producing at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. Born and raised in Boston, MA, he started his career in Southern California before moving to New York City for the last decade.

In 2016 he directed and produced the shoestring indie feature, Corinthian Leather, which received awards and nominations at several Hispanic film festivals. His passion for the marriage of music and film led to the creation of his film company Beatwatch Films in 2008. Since then he has directed over 60 music videos and dozens of narratives. His #BLM video for Josh Wells song Bangers won Best Music Video at the 2016 Harlem Film Festival.

While at Columbia, he has produced the short films Family Politics, Heaven’s Hotline,God’s First Name, Take5! and his thesis film High Strung directed by Austin Hsieh. 

Director
Director

JD has directed over 100 projects including music videos, short films, commercials and a super sweet indie feature.

Producer
Producer

As a producer, JD has collaborated with amazing talent, produced for others and self-produced many projects.

Videographer / Editor
Videographer / Editor

From cameras to software, JD has worked with them all as a DP and editor for the majority of his music videos and feature film.

BEATWATCH Flicks

Featured Productions

Suburban Quarantine Music Video #1

Scene from “Go!”

Josh Wells – Bangers

Music Video Reel

View all projects

Since 2008

Making History

2021
I Gets No Sleep

The experimental six-pack music-video short-film, I Gets No Sleep, is completed.

2020
Graduation

JD graduates from Columbia and directs pandemic music videos

2019
Thesis

JD produces his thesis film, High Strung (14 mins), directed by Austin Hsieh on location in the White Mountains of New Hampshire

2018
Film Summer

JD directs God's 'First Name' (9 mins) and produces 'Family Politics' (12 mins) directed by Ron Brown

2017
Film School

JD begins his MFA in film at Columbia University, directs 'Tenderstorms' (5 mins) and produces 'Heaven's Hotline' (5 mins) directed by Scott Gerlomes

2017
Three days in Kansas

The band Sky Orchid films three music videos in three days directed by JD in Kansas

2016
Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter-themed music video- Bangers by Josh Wells and directed by JD- wins best music video at the Harlem Film Festival

2016
Viva Latino!

Corinthian Leather wins Best Independent Feature at The Viva Latino Film Festival

2015
The 4 Elements

JD directs The 4 Elements music video with Saigon and Skematics

2014
First Feature

The $9,000 feature film Corinthian Leather is shot, with JD as director, producer and editor (98 mins)

2013
Stop and Frisk

JD directs the anti-stop-and-frisk-themed hip-hop video, 'Vultures'

2012
The Money Tub

JD writes and directs The Money Tub (8 mins)

2011
First Short

Jason Marrero writes and stars in JD's first short film, Writer's Block (13 mins)

2010
In the Heights

Washington Heights rapper Skematics teams up with JD for the first of many music video collaborations

2010
LAX to JFK

JD moves from the West Coast to NYC

2008
Stakk Dollars

JD directs his first music video for hire

2008
BeatWatch Films Established

BeatWatch Films begins as a project to intertwine music production and film-making, completing 20 music videos over two years

2004-2007
We talkin' 'bout practice

Countless roadtrip and party montages ensue

2004
Mac Daddy

A used iBook with iMovie completes the first digital film making kit for JD

2003
21st Century digital boy

The Canon Powershot A70 arrives under the Christmas tree, allowing digital video recording up to 30 seconds at a time

2001
Battle of the Joe's

While among the many "Joe's" at Northeastern University, the name JD Ferenc is born as an online handle and DBA name

1999
The camera rolls

The first film directed by JD is a health class safety video, complete with simulated car crash

1997
Early Inspiration

JD scores a ticket to David Lynch's The Lost Highway at the Kendall Sq. theater

1991
Musical Background

JD's parents attend Lollapalooza and set him up to be the biggest music snob of all time

1989
The seed is planted

JD sees Back to the Future for the first time

1982
It was all dream...

Joseph Ferenc Dooling is born