How and ‘Y’ I started directing television [VIDEO]

I directed a lot of stuff in college, but it was all film directing. I took a class in “TV Studio Operation”, but because it was like 30 of us in the class I never got around to directing. It was years later that I actually got a chance to direct television.

Everybody at work knew about my background in media. I kinda let everybody know that I was a “superstar”, I won some contest , had my degree in film and get to know me now before I become famous (more famous? LOL). One of those people who knew about all of that was Duane Murrill. Again because of my background Murrill and I would often talk about movies and when he started hosting this new show he told me I should come check it out. I did and met the producer and creator of the show Arleen. The show is shot in a television studio donated for public use by Howard County Comcast (in Maryland). It's free to use the equipment; all you have to do is volunteer to be there to run the show.

Said show “The Y-Factor” is a one-hour discussion talk show about relationships between men and women. The host, Duane Murrill, asks questions to a roundtable of 2 to 4 people. It's a free flow of discussion about everything it involved. Murrill is a great host because, and I don’t think I’m putting him out here, he knows a lot about relationships and he knows how to talk! A mutual friend of ours (what’s up Faye) asked “is he a good host” and I said “Of course. You know Murrill can talk!” LOL

I started on the show working one of the cameras. Soon I was directing. As director I am in the control room viewing studio action through a set of television monitors. Each one links to one of the three studio cameras and I issue instructions to the cameramen. I also set up microphones and set layout. Some times, if needed I work the camera on the floor while Arleen directs, wherever she needs me.

I haven’t directed The Y-Factor in a while for two reasons. One, is my schedule is busy because I’m trying to expand the ‘Nother Brother Entertainment brand and work on my short film The Part. (I know that’s two things, but bear with me.) Two, (or three if you want to be technical) is when I am available I like to work on Arleen’s new show 15 Minutes of Fame (I spoke about it in the blog post here). I miss the Y-Factor not only because it’s where I got my start directing, it’s a fun show to not only watch, but to direct. Sometimes I have to stop watching and laughing and concentrate on directing LOL. I think I’m going to ask Arleen if I can I direct the Y-Factor again next month.

The Y-Factor gets down without being dirty about the good and bad of relationships. If you think they go soft on the talk because it’s on television you’re wrong. They get quite frank without being lewd and raunchy. Like philosopher and psychologist William James said “Whenever you're in conflict with someone, there is one factor that can make the difference between damaging your relationship and deepening it. That factor is attitude.” and the Y-Factor has plenty of attitude!

Thanx again Arleen for this great experience and of course my main man Murrill for introducing me to Arleen.

You can watch a clip from one of the first shows below.

15 Minutes of Fame

I’ve talked about my “day job” so now it’s time for the “night job”. Sometimes in the evening I direct public access television shows. We shoot in television studios donated for public use by cable companies. It's free to use the equipment; all you have to do is volunteer to be there to run the shows. We tape this show in the Howard County Comcast public access studio (in Maryland). As director I am in the control room viewing studio action through a set of television monitors. Each one links to one of the three studio cameras and I issue instructions to the cameramen. While the action goes on I switch to one of the three cameras while we record it. I also set up microphones and set layout. Sometimes, if needed I work the camera on the floor while the producer directs, wherever the producer needs me.

One of those shows is the new 15 Minutes of Fame. Below is its intro.



I actually started directing that other show mentioned “The Y-Factor”, but recently I have been concentrating on “15Mins” as we call it. Below is a segment of one of the first shows if not THE first show I directed. The set looks empty because we had to move the set because the singer needed room for her dancers. There are three songs and the dancers appear in the last song.



Website: http://www.myspace.com/15minstv

My First Day

After taking care of all of the administrative stuff for my new assignment (paperwork, parking space etc.) I immediately went on a video shoot. In fact I was in the garage on the way back from parking my car in my new space when my peeps from the Media Production Unit (what's up Laylla and Gino) gave me the tripod and said let's go we're on our way to the van.

It had been years since I had my hands on a professional video camera (in school) , but it was like riding a bike. I jumped right in! It was a FREEZING cold February day. I had nice insulated leather gloves that I COULDN'T operate the camera with so I had to take them off to shoot the video. :(

You'll see the purpose of the video, but it was requested (by the guy in the video) because of the many "Larceny from auto" crimes in the area to air as a PSA.

A public service announcement (PSA) is a non-commercial advertisement broadcast on radio or television, ostensibly for the public good. PSAs are intended to modify public attitudes by raising awareness about specific issues. Television stations are required by law to allot a certain amount of time for PSA's each year.

Below is a famous 1987 PSA

Below is the kickass 1998 "remix" with actor Rachael Leigh Cook.


The video from our PSA wasn't taken from a "street camera" it is a recreation. Actually that opening shot from the street sign to the "criminal" is one of mine :)

A mini van was towed from the police impound lot to that street for the recreation. Here are some cell phone photos I took "after the smash".

We only had one chance to get the smash so we had to do it last and get it right. Good thing too because the actor cut his hand during it. (He was fine. A bandage was all he needed.)

Anyway, our PSA (below) wasn't as slickly produced as those anti drug ads, but I like it the most because...it was my first day.

What’s In A Name, Mine Specifically

As production on my film progresses I’m going through sort of a name change. My real name is Donald Dankwa Brooks. That’s the name I go by when I write scripts. My Internet name when I write is “Cool Black”, but that is another blog, another entry.

My directing name is Dankwa Brooks. No I’m not getting like Puffy, I mean P. Diddy, I mean Diddy, I mean Sean Combs. It’s not that complicated.

My friends and family already call me Dankwa and variations thereof “Dank”, “Danky” and such. I think it’s unique enough to stand out like Arsenio, Oprah…Cher? Not quite that far, but you get the idea.

When I first became famous…well famous might be a vainglorious term to describe it. When I first became known (by more than friends and family of course), when I won that contest, I decided to use my full name. I thought “Donald Brooks” or even “Donald D. Brooks” sounded plain and ordinary and I’m so much more than ordinary, maybe even extraordinary or just extra ordinary.

What does Dankwa mean? To paraphrase a line from Pulp Fiction “I’m American, our names don’t mean sh*t”. But seriously the only thing I know is that it’s African, from what I can tell an African surname. I never did get a clear origin of my name from my mother and when I was a kid I thought it was weird and even on occasion told people the D in Donald D. Brooks stood for David.

Exactly how to pronounce Dankwa is simple. It’s pronounced just like it’s spelled Dan-kwa. The “kwa” is pronounced like “claw”. If you mispronounce it that’s fine, you won’t be the first, won’t be the last. In the past I have been called “Dankwon”, "Dank-wuh" and one person even called me “Jaguar”. I never felt the need to correct the “Jaguar guy” because it was never that serious.

Here's to the Heroes

This is one of the few videos I have worked on at Baltimore Police that is public. Most of the stuff I work on is strictly internal and not for public dissemination.

Anyway, here is the video. Much props to Gino who edited this fantastic piece and to the rest of the unit who worked on this for about a year before I got a chance to add my input. All of the people who worked on it is named in the credits.

Without further adieu...the Heroes.

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NEW 2009 VIDEOS

Here are some new public videos I worked on at Baltimore Police in chronological order

From August 2009



From May 2009


I didn't work on this last slideshow, but supplied editorial input.
From February 2009