Facebook & MTV Broadcast
Fall of 2020, amid the Covid 19 pandemic, Blackbird Presents was contracted to produce a special honoring the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations, of which I was the producer and lead editor of the program. The program focused on the UN’s global issues, such as Human Rights, Equal Justice, and Climate Change. It featured special musical performances by a host of international musicians. The special was broadcast on Facebook’s home page (183,217,882 followers) for GivingTuesday. We later produced a shortened version for MTV India. The full 2.5-hour program is currently available on YouTube.
CLIENT:
United Nations
YEAR:
2020
ROLE:
Producer, Editor
About The Program
Through the universal language of music and the art of storytelling, the event called for equality, human rights, and an end to discrimination, spotlighting people of African descent and championing the full protection and promotion of human rights for all. It embodied the unity and common purpose that beat in the heart of humanity.
The global virtual inspired people to act for peace, justice, and equity everywhere and for everyone. It featured performances from some of the world’s most iconic artists, including Aloe Blacc, Angélique Kidjo, Annie Lennox, Becky G, Brandi Carlile with Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, Carlos Santana and Cindy Blackman Santana, Gabi Melim, Gary Clark Jr., Jack Johnson, Jim James, Keb’ Mo’, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Peter Gabriel, Rhiannon Giddens, Ringo Starr, Robbie Robertson, Robert Randolph, Run The Jewels with Josh Homme, Sheila E., Skip Marley and Cedella Marley, The War and Treaty, Yo-Yo Ma and many more.
Special appearances included Billie Eilish, Ellie Goulding, Killer Mike, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird, Norman Lear, Prince Ea and Sara Bareilles.
About The Production
The program was produced by Playing For Change, Blackbird Presents, and The United Nations. It included productions in over 20 countries with multiple production teams and multiple languages. I oversaw the complete program, developing the run of show, interview segments, breaks, special features and host segments. I was the lead editor and post supervisor working with multiple music and video editors around the world. The final run time of the Facebook program was 2.5 hours. I would continue on to create an alternate version for YouTube and a shortened version for MTV India.
Contributions from partners and all donations made to Peace Through Music’s Facebook Fundraiser supported the Playing For Change Foundation, the United Nations Population Fund, Sankofa, Silkroad, and The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foundation – organizations that strive to eradicate poverty, inequality, and systemic racial and gender discrimination around the world.