Coming soon: LET’S TALK HAIR television show

Let’s Talk Hair will be a TV magazine show geared to African-American women, who seek culturally relevant information about their hair textures and concerns.

Let’s Talk Hair will feature interviews, demos and on-the-scene video packages, and will broadcast as a half-hour series. 

With an engaged audience seeking culturally relevant and generation-aware messages, Let’s Talk Hair offers the ideal context to connect with African-American women around hair, beauty and a variety of goods and services.

Connecting with cosmetologists, do-it-yourself’ers, everyday women and the occasional celebrity, our show will go on a journey through the latest news, styling techniques, products and hair discussions – the beauty at heart of hair.

For more information, go to letstalkhair.tv

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Harry Connick Jr. Show features makeup tutorial for ebony-skinned women

Beauty and diversity done right — Harry, the Harry Connick Jr. TV talk show features makeup tutorial for ebony-skinned women, featuring a high fashion model and a popular YouTuber. Here’s why this episode works so well.

Ebony, the darkest and rarest of woods, has been desired and held in high regard throughout history; however, while craftsmen and connoisseurs value ebony as the most prized wood, skin tones of that same rich color are often not held in such high esteem. Those blessed to have it often struggle with questions of its desirability as well as limited availability of makeup products and techniques that showcase it properly.

That’s why it’s no small matter when a major television show features ebony-skinned models in a beauty tutorial designed just for them.  Harry, the eponymous talk show hosted by Harry Connick Jr., recently featured gorgeous dark-skinned model Nyakim Gatwech and beauty blogger Nyma Tang in a makeup demo that highlights the beauty of dark skin.

Louisiana -born singer and bandleader Connick, known for bringing back the sounds of classic jazz ballads and big bands to a modern, worldwide audience, has also proved his skills as an actor and now talk show host. Now in its second season with a solid daily viewership of about 1.4 million households, Harry features Connick’s engaging interview style and a rich showcase of talented musical guests.

My experience working in Asian American Television at LA18/KSCI-TV

As a member of the studio production team of LA18–or as one might call it, the Asian Univision–I’ve had the unique experience of working in a cross-cultural, multi-lingual environment right here within the United States. As part of a cross-trained crew, I worked as Floor Manger, Camera Operator, Audio Technician, CG person and, most recently, Senior Technical Director. I also edited video, prepared graphics for the shows and other important functions that helped make our 4 to 5-per-day shooting schedule run.

Producer, Crew and Co-Hosts for LA18 Midday Buzz

According to Los Angeles Magazine article The Unique Challenges of Being the Only TV Station That Caters to L.A.’s Asian Communities: “Like Univision, LA18 draws from a potential viewer base that, despite a tough media climate, is actually expanding…The Greater L.A. area contains the largest number of ethnic Koreans living outside of Korea and the largest number of ethnic Filipinos living outside of the Philippines. More than a half million Chinese live here, too; in the United States only New York and the Bay Area have more.”

The main question I get about my experience at LA18 is,  How does the crew, not being bilingual, communicate with the talent? Interestingly enough, the process is very efficient. Though the shows are not conducted in English, the on-air talent and producers were bilingual, and they communicated with crew regarding when to insert videos and when to wrap segments the communication was very efficient.

Urban Hollywood Entertainment (UHE TV) features CHOICES

CHOICES TV & Web Series is now featured on premiere online channel Urban Hollywood Entertainment. UHE TV is a multimedia network whose mission is to use a diversified platform to reach viewers from all walks of life. It is available on satellite TV via the DISH Network.

-O.G.

Special thanks to Shirley Burris

LINKS:

http://uhetv.com/

Adventures in Multi-Camera Televsion Part XIII: Joining the crew of the Better Show

Exciting news! I am now a Studio Camera Operator for The Better Show show, a nationally syndicated lifestyle TV program hosted by Audra Lowe and JD Roberto. Produced by media and publishing company Meredith, Better cleverly takes its name from Better Homes and Gardens magazine and features celebrity interviews, on-location segments, expert advice, studio performances, cooking and more.

Better is shot at Meredith Video Studios, a multi-camera studio in the heart of Manhattan where branded content and other programming are also created. The show is in its sixth season and is broadcast in 85 million homes.

You can watch Better in New York City weekdays at 6:00 am on CBS-owned WLNY Ch. 55.  For other locations, check your local listings!

-O.G.

LINKS:

Better.TV

Better on IMDb

CHOICES is now on IMDb…add your review!

Rate it! Review it!

CHOICES TV and web series is now listed in the Internet Movie Database (IMDb) at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2288614/

IMDb is the world’s most popular and authoritative source for movie, TV and celebrity content, a key online database that verifies and lists shows and allows users to discuss and submit reviews.

Submit your review for CHOICES TV & Web Series at IMDb!

Adventures in Multi-Camera Televsion Part XII: Studio Camera Person for TV’s “The Jump”

Working as studio camera person for TV’s The Jump and other shows on MNN-TV has influenced my work as a multi-camera director. 

The Jump, produced by Vaughn Oliver’s DJTR Media & Production Company and broadcast on the country’s largest public access station MNN-TV, showcases a beautiful and eclectic array of musical talent. Live bands perform in studio under the best lighting, sound, camera work and direction money can’t buy. Vaughn Oliver transformed the studio into a space comparable to notable shows on network and pay cable television. The Jump is public access’ answer to PBS’ Great Performances and MTV’s Unplugged.

It’s been great being part of a team that was encouraged to take risks: deliberately soft focus shots; deep close-ups; panning, zooming and trucking; dissolves; straight cuts, and starlight filters were all techniques we employed under masterful direction by Vaughn Oliver and others.

Check out some of the episodes of The Jump that I worked as camera person for. You can see me in the show’s opening in the control room on the right :)

The Jump Season 2, Episode 2
Musical Guest Sarah Renfro f. Michelle Casillas
[blip.tv http://blip.tv/djtr-media-production-company-presents/the-jump-season-2-episode-2-1986914%5D

The Jump Season 2, Episode 1
Musical Guest Christina Lee and band
[blip.tv http://blip.tv/djtr-media-production-company-presents/the-jump-season-2-episode-1-1932137%5D

The Jump Season 1, Episode 1
Musical Guest “Gringa”f. Jessica Sarles
[blip.tv http://blip.tv/djtr-media-production-company-presents/the-jump-season-1-episode-1-1677672%5D

Shout out to Vaughn Oliver, hosts Ohene Cornelius & Jen Kwok and The Jump’s amazing crew!

Adventures in Multi-Camera Televsion Part XI: Olu Gittens Multi-Cam Reels I and II

Multi-Camera Reel I
Drama, Soap Opera

Rehearsing actors, leading crew, envisioning lighting, determining shots, editing on the fly, sound design and editing were all skills I utilized to make the award-winning series CHOICES on which my multi-camera reel is based.
Also viewable on YouTube at youtu.be/UWQGVbvVhRc

Multi-Camera Reel II
Talk Show, News, Live Music

Talk shows, news/public affairs and live music formats, all shot in studio as Multi-Camera Director and Technical Director for “Education Matters,” “The RTS Club” and “Different Voices”, and more.
Also viewable on YouTube at http://youtu.be/3SS3TBJTQdo

-O.G.

3 wins for CHOICES at LA Web Fest 2012!

3 WINS for CHOICES TV & Web Series at the LA Web Festival 2012!!

Best Ensemble Cast, Best Writing and Best Series in the Drama/Dramedy/Soap Opera category.

Screening Info for CHOICES at LA Web Fest 2012

On Sunday, April 8, 2012 at 4:00 pm, CHOICES will screen in the Los Angeles Web Festival 2012.

Screening will take place on the first floor of the Radisson LAX, 6225 CENTURY BLVD., Los Angeles, CA. CHOICES will screen in a block with 2 other webseries. Admission is $10.

Creating CHOICES was a labor of love, even more so because of its genre — an in-studio, multi-camera TV soap. It’s amazing to see this classic style of production find a home amongst the most cutting edge web series out there. Being part of the LA Web Series Festival 2012 is truly an honor.

LA Web Fest 2012 Schedule at Facebook