MELISSA CIAMPA | OWNER/PRODUCER
As a Los Angeles based Producer of music videos, commercials and films, Melissa Ciampa doesn’t simply make things happen—she makes them happen creatively, economically and expediently. Her track record is a remarkable demonstration of one woman’s capacity to turn creative ideas and half-baked concepts into marketable ventures and fully realized projects. In short, she produces.
Melissa’s steady climb to Producer status began with her first foothold in the music industry when she worked for Yab-Yum (now Edmonds Entertainment) as the Executive Assistant for Tracy Edmonds. It was there that Melissa developed a proficiency in budgetary matters, handled promotions and labored over the voluminous details involved in the daily operations of running an entertainment company. Melissa’s next ascension carried her to Queen Latifah’s company, Flava Unit West, where she further
honed her artist management skills by helping to orchestrate the business affairs of artists like Naughty-by-Nature, Monica, Faith, SWV, OutKast and Total. Following that position, Melissa managed hip-hop and R&B artists Xzibit, Monifah and Koffee Brown. It was at that time she executive produced Monifah’s album “Mo’hogany”—a million-dollar budget project that soared to gold status.
Following the success of “Mo’hogany”, Melissa sought to broaden her knowledge even more, and to gain hands-on experience; she worked on various music videos including Simple Plan, Pink, and Kid Rock. Melissa’s experience would expand even more when she was hired to Produce commercial projects for MasterCard, Ikea, Kathy Ireland and Jaclyn Smith. Melissa’s indomitable efforts eventually brought her to the “big screen” where she produced several projects including the feature film “Max Havoc: Curse of the Dragon” shot in Guam.
Melissa has proved that not only is she an exceptional producer, but she’s also incredibly adept at running companies. In addition to being hired as the General Manager for Tycoon Entertainment, Melissa was hired by a struggling Santa Monica based production company to “get them on their feet.” She did that—moving them from a fledgling boutique business to a flourishing full-service production company—in just six months.
In her various capacities, Melissa Ciampa has administrated projects that range in a wide variety of budgets. Whatever the amount she has to work with, it is her unwavering desire to be the vehicle of someone’s creative vision that continues to drive her. And it is her resourcefulness and genuine love of creativity that consistently fuels her. "The producer is like the conductor of an orchestra,” says Melissa. “Maybe she can't play every instrument, but she knows what every instrument should sound like." In short, she knows how to make a project or an organization harmoniously sing. Thus, whether Melissa Ciampa is orchestrating a company or brought on board to take a project from concept to completion, she does what someone carrying her title must inevitably do: She produces.
