Lola Ogunnaike Entertainment Correspondent - CNN’s American Morning Lola Ogunnaike is the entertainment correspondent for CNN's flagship morning news program, American Morning. Based in New York, Ogunnaike joined CNN in May 2007 and reports on pop culture and entertainment news as part of American Morning's daily news coverage. Ogunnaike has been covering entertainment news since 1999. Prior to joining CNN, Ogunnaike was the top culture reporter for The New York Times and spearheaded its entertainment coverage, writing profiles of celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Oprah Winfrey and Sting for the paper's "Arts and Leisure" section. Before that, she was a features reporter at the New York Daily News, where she covered breaking news on celebrities and entertainment for "NOW," the paper's entertainment section, and for the Rush and Molloy column. Previously, Ogunnaike was a contributing writer for Vibe magazine, where she was responsible for monthly music features and cover stories. She has also had her work published in Rolling Stone, New York, Glamour, Details, Nylon, the New York Observer and V Magazine. On air, Ogunnaike has also made regular guest appearances on NBC's Today Show, MTV and VH1. In May 2007, she was named one of Ebony magazine's "150 Most Influential Blacks in America." Ogunnaike received her master's in fine arts degree in journalism from New York University and a bachelor's degree in English literature from the University of Virginia. A. Doran Reed Casting Director - Robi Reed & Associates Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, A. Doran Reed began his “career” at an early age. As a child actor, Doran appeared in various television commercials, including a 7-Up spot featuring a rookie NBA player by the name of Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson. It was during Doran’s acting days that he developed a love for action behind the camera. His interests were unprejudiced. Every faction of production fascinated him. Doran was fortunate enough to land production positions on such films as director F. Gary Gray’s debut feature “Friday,” Mario Van Peebles’ “Panther” and “Sunset Park” starring Rhea Perlman. Doran was also blessed with working three seasons on the hit TV series 'Roc,' laboring hard as a stage manager. In 1996, Doran joined the Emmy award winning casting company, Robi Reed & Associates. There he became a Casting Associate working on films like Tupac Shakurs last film “Gridlock'd” and critically acclaimed “Love Jones.” Never letting go of his desire to direct, Doran was presented with the opportunity to work closely with writer/director Kasi Lemmons on her critically acclaimed film, “Eve's Bayou” In 1998 Doran continued with Robi Reed & Associates, helping to cast such projects as Takeshi Kitano’s, “Brother’, HBO's “Don King: Only in America” and “A Lesson Before Dying,” TNT’s “Freedom Song,” Eddie Murphy's “The PJ's,” Universal’s “Undercover Brother” and Denzel Washington’s directorial debut, “Antwone Fisher.” Having so much experience under his belt, in front of and behind the scenes, Doran moved forward with Producing. He recently co-produced the indie feature “Flip the Script” starring Robin Givens and Miguel Nunez. Doran also has several reality shows in development as well as a feature film. To date, projects Doran has been involved with have grossed in excess of $350 Million Dollars. With his charisma, knowledge and determination supporting him, there’s no limit to what he will accomplish. Bryce Wilson Actor/Music Producer Bryce Wilson, two-time Grammy award winner, three Grammy nominations, 50 million sold and counting! Bryce is an Entrepreneur, Executive/Producer, Actor, and Musician. Formerly one-half of the late 1990’s R&B duo, Groove Theory, he’s made his mark on the music industry by producing for such national recording acts as Beyonce and Whitney Houston. In 1997, Bryce won a Grammy for production work on Toni Braxton’s hit “You’re Making Me High.” Bryce also played an intricate role in the Boost Mobile ‘Where you at?’ advertising campaign that featured heavyweight rap artists Kanye West, The Game, and Ludacris. In addition to his stellar music background, he’s also an accomplished Actor. Since making a guest appearance with Groove Theory on an episode of the television drama, New York Undercover, Bryce has acted in a variety of films and televisions shows. Most notably, as James, in the 2005 film, Beauty Shop, starring Queen Latifah. Other highlighted works, includes starring in the 2000 film, Trois, with Gary Dourdan, and the 2003 film Guilty By Association with Oscar winner Morgan Freeman. Additionally, Bryce co-founded CZAR Entertainment a management company, which manages artist such as The Game. Bryce career is definitely on the fast track, and it will only get better! Bille Woodruff Director - Honey & Beauty Shop Billie Woodruff has worked with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Raised in Virginia, Billie attended University of Maryland, College Park, as a National Merit Scholar on a full academic scholarship with plans of becoming an anthropologist. Things took an unexpected twist once he began an internship at Black Entertainment Television (BET) in Washington, DC, and switched his major to film. Billie's career in show biz began as he worked his way up through the ranks at BET, where he initially acquired practical production knowledge and experience, topping off his rise from intern to Executive Producer of Specials and Original Programming. It is while at BET that Billie also began directing EPKs and Music Videos for up-and-coming artists. After his successful stint at BET and a rapidly growing list of credits, Billie felt that it was time for a change. That change came with an offer from Atlanta-based LaFace Records, the label started by Antonio Reid and Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, to serve as Senior National Director of Music Videos and Video Production. Spending three years at LaFace, Billie felt that it was time yet again to move on in his career. Backed by a solid reputation as one of the most desired music video directors in the business, Billie relocated to Los Angeles to venture off on his own. Billie's distinct searing visuals have earned him a special place in the Industry. He has directed some of the most memorable videos for artists such as Jessica Simpson, Kimberly 'Lil' Kim' Jones, Britney Spears, Céline Dion, R. Kelly, Nas, OutKast, Aaliyah, Missy 'Misdemeanor' Elliott, TLC, Toni Braxton, Trisha Yearwood, and Usher Raymond, among many others. He has been nominated for numerous MTV video awards, and won a VH-1 Fashion award. Billie's foray into feature films was Universal Pictures' _Honey (2003/I)_, starring Jessica Alba and Mekhi Phifer, which has grossed US$60 million worldwide. Most recently, Billie directed the MGM feature Beauty Shop (2005), starring Queen Latifah, with Djimon Hounsou, Kevin Bacon, Andie MacDowell, Mena Suvari, Alicia Silverstone, and Alfre Woodard. This highly anticipated feature spin-off from the hit BARBERSHOP films was released in the Spring of 2005. Effie Brown Producer & Founder - Duly Noted, Inc Los Angeles based producer Effie T. Brown has produced critically acclaimed, awarding-winning feature projects, including Stranger Inside; Real Women Have Curves (winner of Sundance Film Festival’s Audience Award and Special Jury Prize for Ensemble Performance); Everyday People and In the Cut. Brown received the Motorola Producer Award at the 2003 Independent Spirit Awards, and the 2003 Distinguished Young Alumni Award from Loyola Marymount University, her alma mater. She serves on the board of the FIND / Film Independent. Effie’s latest film Rocket Science won the Sundance 2007 Grand Jury Prize for Directing and is nominated for Best First Feature by the Independent Spirit Awards. She has several films slated for production this year, including Lighthouse currently in pre-production and Bury Me Standing by Caran Hartsfield with Alfre Woodard, Mos Def, and Kerry Washington set to star. Samantha Taylor Pickett Director of Development - Focus Features Samantha Taylor Pickett is a development executive for Focus Features in Los Angeles. Prior to working at Focus Features, Samantha was a production & acquisitions executive at Paramount Vantage and she worked for director Michael Mann on MIAMI VICE. Before entering the film business in 2004, Samantha practiced corporate law in New York City. Samantha is a graduate of Cornell University and Rutgers Law. |