Monday, July 19, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
PVIFF 2010 Celebrity Chat Series Week 2 Featuring Billie Woodruff
PVIFF Celebrity Chat Series...Week 2 Featuring Acclaimed Director Billie Woodruff Moderated by Celebrated Journalist Edward Adams....Tuesday, July 13- 7 p.m. EST
Billie Woodruff:
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Billie Woodruff:
He was born outside of Denver, Colorado at the Army Base Hospital and named after his father, a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force. A couple of months after that his family relocated to Germany, then France, then England and the whirlwind life of a military brat kindled the flames of his desire to explore the world at an early age. The family finally settled in their native Virginia where Bille Woodruff spent his summers on the farm learning to drive tractors and the rest of the year in Richmond. His mother worked in the school system and pushed him to excel in academics. He became the first African American page for the Virginia State Legislature as he worked for then Lt. Governor Charles S. Robb while in high school and had aspirations of becoming a politician. The up close look at the world changed his mind however and he decided to enter the Air Force following the footsteps of his father but once he discovered the work of author and anthropologist Zora Neal Hurston his life was changed.
Inspired by Hurston, Bille 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 a double in Film and Cultural Anthropology. Bille'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 creating shows like the popular “Caribbean Rhythms” and “Black Classic Films”. It is while at BET that Bille also began directing EPKs and Music Videos for up-and-coming artists of the time like En Vogue and TLC.
After his successful stint at BET and a rapidly growing list of credits, Bille 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, Bille 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, Bille relocated to Los Angeles to venture off on his own.
Bille's distinct searing visuals have earned him a special place in the Industry. Known for his high quality style and heartfelt storytelling, he has directed some of the most memorable videos for artists such as Enrique Iglesias, John Travolta, Jessica Simpson, Timbaland, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, R. Kelly, Nas, OutKast, Aaliyah, Missy 'Misdemean 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 and NAACP Image Award.
Bille's foray into feature films was Universal Pictures' “Honey”, starring Jessica Alba and Mekhi Phifer, which has grossed US$60 million worldwide. Most recently, Bille directed
the MGM feature Beauty Shop, starring Queen Latifah, with Djimon Hounsou, Kevin Bacon, Andie MacDowell, Mena Suvari, Alicia Silverstone, and Alfre Woodard. HE is currently developing other feature film projects, working in commercials and music videos and resides in Los Angeles, CA.
Inspired by Hurston, Bille 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 a double in Film and Cultural Anthropology. Bille'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 creating shows like the popular “Caribbean Rhythms” and “Black Classic Films”. It is while at BET that Bille also began directing EPKs and Music Videos for up-and-coming artists of the time like En Vogue and TLC.
After his successful stint at BET and a rapidly growing list of credits, Bille 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, Bille 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, Bille relocated to Los Angeles to venture off on his own.
Bille's distinct searing visuals have earned him a special place in the Industry. Known for his high quality style and heartfelt storytelling, he has directed some of the most memorable videos for artists such as Enrique Iglesias, John Travolta, Jessica Simpson, Timbaland, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, R. Kelly, Nas, OutKast, Aaliyah, Missy 'Misdemean 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 and NAACP Image Award.
Bille's foray into feature films was Universal Pictures' “Honey”, starring Jessica Alba and Mekhi Phifer, which has grossed US$60 million worldwide. Most recently, Bille directed
the MGM feature Beauty Shop, starring Queen Latifah, with Djimon Hounsou, Kevin Bacon, Andie MacDowell, Mena Suvari, Alicia Silverstone, and Alfre Woodard. HE is currently developing other feature film projects, working in commercials and music videos and resides in Los Angeles, CA.
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