..... Press Reviews
Go Straight to Ragga interveiw credits
(NYS OMRDD)
New York State Office of Mental Retardation
& Developmental Disabilty
and (WARC) Westchester ARC
Award winning Documentry
914-769-0676
39 WASHINGTON AVENUE,
PLEASANTVILLE, NY 10570
www.creatorsmedia.com
Pleasantville filmmakers earn award
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SCOTT GARGAN - THE PATENT TRADER
(Original publication: July 20, 2006
Ron, who suffered permanent brain damage following a car accident when he was just 17, was taking piano classes in his Binghamton home, but was largely isolated from his community. Paula Weckel from the Broome County Developmental Disabilities Service Office (DDSO) helped Ron to rejoin the larger world by taking him to piano classes at SUNY-Binghamton University.
The work done by Weckel, a direct support professional who assists the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled, is among 15 stories featured in the recent Telly Award-winning training film "Everyday Heroes," produced by Creators Media Group, a Pleasantville production company.
Made as an instructional tool for the N.Y. state Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disability (OMRDD), the film was picked from more than 13,000 entries worldwide in categories involving social issues and government training.
"Critical acclaim by industry experts is most certainly an honor for Creators Media Group, but we're especially thrilled that the mission of 'Everyday Heroes' is getting the recognition it deserves," said 26-year-old Anthony Trama, CEO of Creators Media Group and the film's co-creator.
After getting the go-ahead from OMRDD last September, the group spent six months traveling across New York state to film the stories. The film's mission, said producer Dana Barakat, is to "train, inspire, and motivate."
"It's important for people to understand that anyone can be a hero," Barakat said.
For the film's artwork, Trama borrowed a quilt knitted by Beth Mount, founder and director of Capacity Works, an Amenia, N.Y. organization working with artists with developmental disabilities. Trama placed moving images from each story inside a different section of the quilt, which displays an array of multicultural and religious symbols.
"The artwork makes the images more recognizable," said Trama, who started working at the production company when he was 19 and took on full ownership when he was 25. "We want people to relate to more than just a picture."
Trama also enlisted the help of Jamaican-born Peekskill reggae artist Ragga Lox, whose song "I and I Feel Like You Do" is played in the film.
"It's tremendous to have the song in the video," said Ragga Lox, also known as Rohan Robinson, who got inspiration from the song from his work at the Westchester Association of Retarded Children. "It's incredible how they put together the whole film ... It's really informative."
Founded in 1978, the Telly Awards is an international, peer-judged competition recognizing exceptional work in television commercials and non-broadcast video productions
Creators Media Group, which has done countless projects, including an instructional DVD for Harrison-based Universal Remote Control, will distribute thousands of copies of "Everyday Heroes" to developmental disability services officials throughout the state. There are 15- and 30-minute versions.
"It's important for people to recognize what these heroes really do," said Barakat. "There are so many people who need support."
Internet Press
Re: Music is my life
Album By Ragga Lox
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Tuesday, February 21, 2006
I can't believe I didn't mention last time the most noteworthy thing that happened on Sunday. We were at the gas station, and I was filling up the car, and this colorfully-dressed gentleman with his dreadlocks mostly stuffed into a stocking cap came up to me holding something and said "Do you want to buy some..." and various interesting possibilities passed quickly through my mind, and then he said "reggae?".
So now I have a copy of "Music Is My Life", the Tenth Anniversary Collection by Ragga Lox. Good solid reggae (not that I'm a reggae expert, but it sounds good to me) in a nicely packaged jewel case with pictures of Ragga Lox himself on the liner and on the CD itself, and M says she thinks the gentleman I bought it from was the artist himself, which is cool. ($10, just like it would have been from iTunes; you can buy it from his website also, but it looks like it'll cost more.)
Buying music from the artist himself at the gas station is better than online, because you get the liner notes and the jewel case, and you get to shake hands with the artist.
On the other hand the selection is quite a bit smaller.
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Re: Ragga lox In Ethiopia
.Pre-millennium Roots Rock Reggae bash to stage in Adama
By Alemayehu Seife Selassie
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – the town of Adama/Nazereth (116 kilometers form Addis Ababa) is going to entertain international and local artists from Jamaica, England, New York and Washington and Shashemene next week Saturday September 8th.
“This is a Rastafarian production with an Ethiopian hospitality. This root rock reggae is aimed to bring entertainment for the locals and people who come from abroad looking for a down to earth outlook and view of Ethiopia”, Sydney Solomon one of the performing artist and co-organizer of the event stated. The show that is aimed to be a getaway from the hustle and bustle of events in Addis Ababa is the third one of its kind to take place at the Safari Lodge.
The dance hall and hip hop mix artist Ragga Lox, singer and songwriter Sangie Davis that has written songs for many artists including Bob Marley’s song “Wakeup and Live” and “Rastaman Vibration” is also the other international artist that will be performing. Sydney Solomon will be playing two of his new singles on the event and Sangie Davis will also be promoting his new album. The long-standing dancehall artist from Jamaica King Kong is another international performer for the night. This artist is famous for his performance in Europe but currently has returned to his home in Shashemene.
The Kenyan Necessary Noize is a group, which have made their presence felt at the Safari Lodge last year. And this year each member of the group have pursued with their individual performance. And Sydney said, “Nazizi has exploded and she is a Rastafarian at heart so she is here and she wants to participate.”
Artists that have been overlooked in Ethiopia are also said to take part in the event. In this regard the Yared Music School distinction graduate Netsanet will be playing. “She plays the Kirar, the Masenko, and keyboard, she sings both English and Amharic Tizita Minor and everything so she is our secret weapon”, Sydney explains. The US artist that has been entertaining the Addis crowd at Harlem Jazz K. Alyn is going to be playing with us intertwining in different songs.
“This is the continuation of what we have formed with Sydney in 2005 where we have had artists like Rita Marley”, manager of the Safari Lodge Lela stated.
Sydney on his part added that, “This is a annual thing and we hope to make it even broader and we have been trying to make Africa develop through music and art, and the activities have been going for the past five years thanks to the dedication of some advisors that we have like Dr. Desta”.
The DJs for the night are going to be DJ Flippins, a friend of the reggae music king Bob Marley and DJ Speng a contemporary DJ.
September 1, 2007
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