Zsolt Luka (born June 10, 1969[1] in Cluj, Romania) is a television director, editor, videographer and producer. He is best known for his role in the reality show Around the World For Free.[2]
Zsolt Luka | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Zsolt Luka June 10, 1969 Cluj, Romania |
| Occupation(s) | Television director, editor, Videographer, Producer |
| Years active | 1997 – present |
Career edit
His TV career began in the mid-1990s working as an editor on Canadian children's shows like Popular Mechanics for Kids and Mystery Hunters. He started directing in 2002 on Mystery Hunters and continued with children's shows such as Prank Patrol, usually editing his own work. He also edited Great Hotels, Passport to Europe and other travel-oriented shows for the Travel Channel in the early 2000s.
In 2007, together with partners Alex Boylan and Burton Roberts, Luka launched Around the World For Free [3] and set off on a trip around the globe, from September 18 to February 23, 2008. Luka directed, filmed and edited the online series on the fly[4] (once, in a butcher shop with newly slaughtered pigs hanging behind him), producing eight hours of edited content for the online audience.[5] The program had a loyal following that even included schoolchildren,[6] who welcomed the travelers back at the end of the journey during a visit to their school. The online project was re-packaged for television by Luka and sold to WGN America who began broadcasting in spring 2009.
Luka undertook a smaller online/broadcast hybrid project mirrored on the same model for Rachael Ray in the summer of 2008 called[7] Rach to the Rescue.[8]
On July 26, 2010, Luka reprised his role of producing, directing and editing the second season of Around the World For Free, this time for CBS.com,[9] with new host Jeff Schroeder of Big Brother 11 and The Amazing Race 16 fame,[10] and major sponsors AT&T and American Airlines attached.[11] They set off from The Early Show on a 105-day journey around the world, with Luka filing popular webisodes (over 7 million video streams and 4 million page views[12] ) from thirteen different countries visited.[13][14] Only one week after wrapping the show on November 4, 2010, Around the World For Free won both "Best Video Series/Show" and also "Best of Show" at the inaugural Diva Awards in New York City.[15][16]
Luka's charity efforts include in-kind donated videos for organizations such as the Cambodian Red Cross.[17]
Awards/nominations edit
Luka was nominated for the Canadian Gemini Award in editing a few times for various works.[18] He received an Emmy nomination for his work in Great Hotels[19]
References edit
- ^ Zsolt Luka at IMDb
- ^ Richard Huff (April 12, 2009). "Free thinker from 'Amazing Race' goes global". Daily News. New York. Retrieved April 13, 2009.
- ^ "New Video Showcases the Cambodia Integrated Health project". Fox5sandiego.com. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ Zsolt Luka who produces, directs, films and edits the series
- ^ Gail Pennington. "'Around the World' relies on kindness". stltoday.com. Retrieved April 17, 2009.
- ^ Kevin Giles. "Hillside Elementary students find the world at their doorstep". star tribune. Retrieved February 20, 2008.
- ^ Doris Cook. "RV's Rachael Ray to feature Geauga County Amish". Star Beacon. Retrieved February 10, 2008.
- ^ "Rach to the rescue". Rachaelrayshow.com. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "Official CBS site for Around the World For Free". Cbs.com. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ Published Thursday, Jul 22, 2010, 10:00 am EDT (July 22, 2010). "Digital Spy Interview with Jeff Schroeder and Zsolt Luka". Digitalspy.com. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "AT&T, American Back CBS Web Series 'Around the World for Free". Adage.com. June 15, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "DIVA 2010: Best Video Series/Show Finalist: CBS Interactive / Around the World for Free – DM2Pro: When You NEED to Know". DM2Pro. November 5, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "Jeff Schroeder's 'Around the World for Free': World class". Jason-cochran.com. September 5, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ Cochran, Jason (January 12, 2011). "Jeff Schroeder finishes going 'Around The World for Free' and visits WalletPop first". Walletpop.com. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "DIVA Awards". Divaawardshow.com. November 11, 2010. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ DIVA Award Winners Announced: CBS Interactive Takes Best of Show Archived December 25, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "New Video Showcases the Cambodia Integrated Health project". Redcross.org. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "Best Picture Editing in an Information Program or Series". Academy.ca. March 28, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
- ^ "Nominees for the 31st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards". Retrieved January 11, 2012.