A young writer/producer/editor with the Creative Services Department for NBC 5, who was born in Dominica, has won a regional award from the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for Graphic Arts/Animation/Art Direction/Set Design.
Jason Benjamin received the award on November 3 at the 55th annual Midwest Emmy Award ceremony, before a room full of industry peers.
The show was hosted by Jerry Springer.
“In my current position it is the highest and most visible award for personal achievement. I’ve only been in the TV industry for three years … this is my first Emmy nomination and first Emmy award,” he told Dominica News Online.
Benjamin, 28, was born in Roseau on July 29, 1985 but his family migrated to the US when he was close to three years old.
“We moved to Miami, Florida then to Houston, Texas where I ultimately grew up,” he said. “I caught a passion fro the creative arts and developed my skills in media first in my church as a teenager and subsequently within the Houston community college system where I studied broadcast technology. I developed many of my skills specifically for graphic design and broadcast motion graphics beyond what was afforded by an institutional education, by studying on my own.”
He worked in local large media driven churches for about five years before making a transition into the TV industry. “I was nervous because I wasn’t sure the industry would value my previous background,” he noted. “As it turned out my array of skills quickly landed me at a local TV station in Houston (call letters KIAH, CW39, parent company Tribune Broadcasting) as a 3D motion graphics and visual effects artist, where after one year I decided to apply for a job at Harpo Studios (Oprah’s production company) in Chicago. I got that job as a graphic designer and shortly after I had the opportunity to leave for position I currently hold today at NBC 5. I’ve been in this role for almost two years.”
Benjamin told DNO that he remains ‘a proud Dominican.’ “I am proud to be from Dominica, I am proud of my heritage,” he stated. “There was a season in my life where I didn’t want to be from a place other than America, because it’s all I knew. That day has passed. There is much more for me to learn about my family and cultural history and as I do I know that pride will only grow more.”
Click on link below for the award winning work that was submitted by Benjamin. It’s all graphics and effects that he designed, developed and animated, and video that he produced, shot and edited.
Well done and continue to develop your skills and be guided by the Most High.
Congratulations Mr Benjamin! Yours is a magnificent achievement. May God bless you with many more!
I’m happy for this guy but Lord what am I doing with my life? We’re the same age but definitely not on the same level.
Congrats and continued blessings Mr. Benjamin!
Good work, love to see when Dominicans go abroad stay focus and do something uplifting, continue your journey on the right path and best of luck to you in the near future.
i am happy to know that Dominican still press on and live up for our country..
marvelous work brother!
Congratulations Jason. You have done well and acquired much talent. Best wishes to you in your career.
I do believe you that you are a proud Dominican. Your parents have also been instrumental in ensuring that you learn and know about your (their) beloved country as they knew it which you probably could not remember since you left as a young child. Therefore, through the years you heard a lot about Dominica even though you were a young child when you left. This did not hinder you to know more about your land of birth and fall in love with it as an adult, realizing how much you missed throughout especially those youthful years when you left it and as you grew up in the US. No one should deny you your right as a Dominican-born, son of the soil.
Dominica has become such a place today that all those who visit it will fall in love with it, people as you and also visitors. Better yet in years to come.
Build up your roots. Keep on visiting when you can and your love for it will increase to the point that who knows, you might decide to set up a business there and assist it and fellow Dominicans in whatever manner you could and later, plan to retire. Whatever your future plans, good luck and God bless you!
Yeah we should congratulate this young man for his achievement. If he was raised by Dominican Parents, well they taught him well. He was born in Dominica but he did’nt grow up there, so we can’t say he is Dominican. He experienced a different culture. Again, he deserve to be honored for his achievement and not his birth place.
He is from Mahaut Dominica!!!
His father is from Giraudel – he was born at the PMH left Dominica at 3 is now 25 HE IS A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD;
But MOST IMPORTANTLY HE IS A “BORN-AGAIN” CHRISTIAN a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and so is his Mom
left 25 years ago he is now 28 – never been back
This is the kind of news we should be waking up to every morning, Dominicans making Dominica proud particularly abroad. Shine brother shine.
proud of u cousin keep up the good work
well done brother job well Dome.
Way to go Jay! It was wonderful to receive a Birthday Call from you with such great news. Congrats again!! Take care of yourself and God bless you!
Bravo! Well done!
Time and time again the greatness of Dominicans is proven but the country continues to lag behind because of too much divisiveness.
I watched the link. Thats really good stuff! keep it up!
Dominica is full of talent, everyday we hear of great achievements overseas and negative views on the island I just pray Linton can do better job than skerrit or else we will send him packing too, Dominicans deserve better.
Congratulations to him! And blessings to all Dominicans in this field to never give up
Congratulations TO YOU !! We do not know each other yet we are links in a strong chain reaching round the world – a torch lifted high and flaming bright and shining around the whole wide world!!!
When you make yourself proud you make Dominica proud and you make me proud. THANKS FOR LIFTING OUR SPIRITS COMPATRIOT.
Ministry of Diaspora Affairs & Ministry responsible for TV & film industry I hope we are keeping a database of all these Dominicans. DNO’s reporting on these achievements must not be seen merely as a moment to “BIG-UP” these compatriots. More importantly, it must be seen as an opportunity to chronicle the progress of Dominica’s sons and daughters, an opportunity to establish a repository of contacts and skill sets that can be taped into for the requisite (readily identifiable name and recognition) that we can associate with and that is essential for success in a viciously competitive world. OUR NASCENT TV/video/Film industry needs such linkages.
If the Ministries I mentioned are already doing what I suggest then more applause and encouragement to you and I wish more success in taping into the wealth of rich Human resource that is Dominica.
ALL STRIVING, ALL ACHIEVING !! ALL FOR EACH AND EACH FOR ALL.
UBUNTU
Someone actually put a thumbs down to this comment? After all man
. that is very true what was said. We have a lot of talented Dominicans outside. we just need to tap into our resources to get them out and be noticeable. well said my brodda
Well done
proudn to be dominican….but he doesn’t know what it is to be dominica…..his experience growing up is very different….i was saying the same thaing to may nigerian freind and she got angry…she was born in the Us but her parents are fromm nigeria she wears nigerian clothing and so on…but i told her she stil dont know what is to be nigerian …she will need to spend time there for that…i dont know what is is like to be fro zimbabwe…can you imagine gong to the river and watching outfor crodociles….but at least..life in the ariban is similar to tht in afreica….we grew up going to the rivers to bathe…( bathe with soap)..also for drinkin water..to wahs our clothes…
like really?
This must be Comedy Central.
I am fed up of people like you with that attitude. I have lost count of people telling me that I don’t know what it is to be Dominican.
Even though I did not grow up in Dominica, I am still a proud Dominican with a Dominican passport.
So proud that I returned after 48 years. No matter where you reside, your country of birth will always be your home.
True , but this young man achievement s are due to hard work not because of where he was born.
I understand what this person is trying to say , he was born in domininca that is all , all she trying to say is that
he was not educated there and he did not face the challenges that people face on the island every day, I agree with her but that does not minimize his achievement , he deserves all the regonition well done .
What is your point? You insinuated that those whom you mentioned know nothing about their country even though they left it for some years. Also they were never told about it. Daughters and sons of the soil, it burns in their heart to love their country and want to return to it even to reside there. Are you denying them their God-given privilege and right?
Thiny, you are insulting, oppressing and suppressing. Educate yourself on this matter.
Well done young man!