NYFA is proud to announce that alumni Beatriz Santamaria Pinha directed four-time Grammy award-winning Ed Sheeran’s “That’s On Me” music video. Pinha, who graduated from our 1-Year Filmmaking program and our AFA in Filmmaking, was one of thousands of Ed Sheeran fans who submitted a video idea for Sheeran’s “Autumn Variations” album. As one of 14 selected, the “That’s On Me” video is part of a broader series of fan-created videos for Sheeran’s latest album. When working on the video, Pinha brought in the assistance of another NYFA Filmmaking student, Mara Knight, as well as NYFA alum Dani Taouil to serve as the production designer.
NYFA Alum Beatriz Santamaria Pinha Directs Ed Sheeran’s “That’s On Me” Music Video
Her music video offers a unique and heartfelt narrative, thanks to Pinha’s innovative creative vision. Beatriz was selected to represent her home country of Brazil in crafting a visual story for this song, and her personal journey beautifully parallels the song’s message of self-discovery and resilience.
“I never thought about pursuing filmmaking until my fourth year of a bachelor’s degree in Pure Mathematics at the University of São Paulo. During that period, I was feeling lost, and I knew I needed a change,” Pinha said in an interview for NYFA’s Alumni Network.
“After doing a summer college internship at the Walt Disney Parks, I was able to connect with people who studied and worked with arts. I honestly never felt more at home. After this introduction, I started my journey with photography and quickly became obsessed with it. I took a plethora of courses trying to learn as much as I could. However, I still felt like I was missing something. It all clicked when I realized the obscene amount of time I spent watching and dissecting movies and TV shows. For the first time, I thought, why not do something that I enjoy so much that it doesn’t even feel like studying?”
“I knew I needed a good foundation to pursue this passion. Early that year, I stumbled upon a NYFA handout at a photography equipment store. As I learned more about the institution, I knew it was meant for me. I was lucky enough to have grown up with very supportive parents who helped and encouraged me to follow this newfound passion and move to Los Angeles.”
Pinha’s Work Shines with Nostalgic Easter Eggs
Beatriz’s video is rich with Easter eggs that pay homage to Ed Sheeran’s earlier work, creating a sense of continuity and nostalgia for longtime fans. These include:
- Infomercials inspired by the promotion for “Out of Variations.”
- A Lego house, a nod to Sheeran’s beloved song “Lego House.”
- The actor Skip, previously appeared in the “Overpass Graffiti” video.
These subtle references connect the dots between Sheeran’s past projects and his current work, adding depth and texture to her visual storytelling.
NYFA Student Mara Knight Costumes Sheeran Music Video
What helps provide even more color to the video is the exceptional work of current NYFA student Mara Knight. While earning her associate degree in filmmaking, a mentor at NYFA advised her to the costume design production track of the Academy of Motion Picture Art’s Gold Rising program. With over 7,000 applicants, Knight was one of the 90 applicants who became Gold Alumni. The work on Sheeran’s video is what Knight refers to as a “wonderful collaboration” with her fellow NYFA community member.
“I first met the director of the Ed Sheeran music video, Beatriz Santamaria Pinha, at NYFA,” Knight shared with the NYFA alumni network. “She knew I was a Gold Rising alum, and was familiar with my fantasy cosplay work. One day, she called me and told me how she’d been chosen to direct the video. I was so happy for her! She’s a huge Ed Sheeran fan, and I knew how much this meant to her.”
“And then – she asked me to join the project as the costume designer. Of course I said yes. I was very excited to work with Beatriz, because I knew she would bring so much to the table. As a former Marvel intern, she had a world of professional experience and creativity to apply to her directing.”
An All Hands-on Deck Production
Though the video was fan-created, it boasts professional production values with a full crew, including producers, cinematographers, and production designers. This collaboration between the NYFA crew ensured that the final product not only captured Beatriz’s vision but also met high production standards, making it a poignant addition to Sheeran’s body of work.
With this accomplishment, the two NYFA community members join an esteemed club of students and alums who have worked on music videos. Hannah Lux Davis, 1-Year Filmmaking alum, has worked on content for Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus, Kacey Musgraves, Lana Del Rey,
Hilary Duff, and Nicki Minaj, most recently, for the Barbie movie music video. NYFA alums, students, and faculty also partnered with Sony and Cooke Optics for the music video “Country Song II” by The Thing.
Ready to learn more about pursuing skills in filmmaking, directing, and more? Request information from NYFA today!
Cover image via YouTube.