Quest for Craft: Season 3 | Chapter 10: Yo-Yo Ma

CRAFT AND CONNECTION WITH LEGENDARY CELLIST YO-YO MA
In a discussion that ranges from the humorous to the profound, Questlove and Yo-Yo Ma dive into the importance of human connection as it relates to craft and creativity. A documentary segment on the Silk Road Ensemble examines how connection is brought to life in a cross-cultural musical ensemble, and former bartender and The Balvenie East Coast Ambassador, Naomi Leslie talks about how finding common ground among disparate humans is part of The Balvenie whisky experience.
A “conversational investigation” of craft and creativity, each episode of Quest for Craft explores a specific theme, combining free-wheeling dialogue between Questlove and a fellow creative along with other interviews, animations and documentary segments. The main conversations are filmed at the iconic Electric Lady Studios in New York City (commissioned by Jimi Hendrix in 1968).
Questlove describes this series “educational TV for adults - I follow my curiosity wherever it leads and I never fail to learn. As a creator, I am increasingly moving from a head space to a heart space and this season reflects that. We’re interested in how people’s passion drives and improves their work. And surprisingly, it turns out I have a lot in common with a 131-year-old whisky based in rural Scotland.”
The Balvenie is committed to its distillery not just as a place of production, but as a community of makers. This commitment to maintaining a collective of craftspeople working together brings invaluable skill, knowledge, experience and passion to every stage of the whisky-making process. The partnership with Questlove allows the whisky maker to explore the very creativity and craftsmanship that drove the family-owned distillery to begin making scotch in the first place.
Quest for Craft Season One launched in 2021 with episodes featuring The Godmother of Punk, singer-songwriter Patti Smith, SNL comedian Michael Che and more. The season won the 2021 Shorty Award in the Industry: Wine, Beer & Spirits and 2021 Brand Film Award in the Consumer Goods categories. In 2022, Quest for Craft Season Two highlighted conversations with GRAMMY Award-winning musician Mark Ronson, professional ballet dancer Misty Copeland, and others, which earned the show the 2023 Webby Award for Series (Branded) Video.
Now in its third season, the series continues to peel back the curtain through new perspectives, unveiling the uniquely human attributes and deep intrinsic values that elevate something from great to exceptional. With insight from some of the world’s most creative minds, the series uncovers the nuances integral to the creative process through their own pursuit of craft across music, dance, writing, comedy and the whisky-making process.
CREW CREDITS:
Director - Trevor Undi
Executive Producer - Rob Meyer
Producer - DC Saxton
Associate Producer - Kecia Romiel
Supervising Producer - Matthew Thurm
DP - Ming Jue Hu
1st AC - Steven Tong
2nd AC/DIT - Matt Vasquez
2nd AC - Tommy Espinal
Cam B - Tinx Chan
Cam C - Jono Daudoin
Cam D - Jon Chen
Gaffer - Julian Tran
Key Grip - Harrison Rusk
Best Boy - Aaron Herschlag
Best Boy Grip - Jean Luc Boon
Swing/Truck Driver - Noah Yu Schifrin
Production Designer / Props - Cassia Maher
Art Assistant - Maddie Kruse
Art Assistant - Colin Walker
Assistant Director - JP Bouchard
Sound Mixer - Wesley Grant
HMU - Tiphereth Danger
Driver/PA - Jade Hunter
PA - Jennifer Garcia
PA - Alexis Aguilar
PA - Natasha Duran
Stand in - Allen Murabayashi
Questlove Wardrobe Stylist - Kah Li Haslam
Questlove Hair Stylist - Elliott Simpson
Questlove Makeup Artist - Rashida Bolden
Still Photographer - Michael Schwartz
Still Photographer 1st Assitant - Eric Bouthiller
Still Photographer Tech - Dallas Raines
POST CREDITS:
Editors -- Connor Kailsta , Corry Wiens
Colorist - Andrew Ceen
Assistant Editor - Danny Garfield
Sound Design & Mix - Pattrick Donahue, String and Can
Additional Footage - Provided by Film Supply
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The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky ©2023 Managed by William Grant & Sons Inc. New York, NY. 43% Alc./Vol. Must be of legal drinking age to engage (21+). Handcrafted to be enjoyed responsibly.

[@monalisaamparan8235]

Why are there always tears when I hear Yo-Yo-Ma...

[@durrwooddude]

Yo Yo Ma’s work demonstrates the benefits of diversity in what a team produces. 👏👏

[@FrankBell]

Brilliant video, and cool series!

[@sinceOhSeven]

Brilliant episode. Quest for Craft is an excellent series, keep this going! Its super encouraging with all the great conversations had with all the great minds you have as guest

[@DouglasSandvos-yo1lt]

I'm always amazed by the number of views vs. the low number of folks that would spend a split second to give a thumbs up. Why aren't audiences more engaged? I was listening to the Bach and trying to imagine a 4 year old performing the piece. There are clips of Yo-Yo Ma performing for President JFK as a child on KZbin. What could be better? Great musicians and great Scotch! Bravo! Thanks! Cheers!

[@alysdexia]

Who is a folk? One isn’t a that. Everyone’s a child. Great isn’t good, dolt.

[@dldavi]

No matter how many times I hear him play this piece, I will always get chills!

[@tedbaron1798]

These guys is good.

[@rachelwarner8882]

Yesssss

[@alysdexia]

I can’t stand the taste of alcohol nor the sound of jazz. Those instruments came a century after Silk Road. describe → relate. Harmonics are annoying: the string sounds sticky and coarse like a rasp; the wood groans and grunts like the player; the song isn’t one to be played often.