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Tongwa “Gabriella” Akanji Aka
Email: gabriellaaka@gmail.com
Cell: 202-749-6803
Website: http://www.iamakanji.com
Core Skills
- Camera/Cinematography/Cellphone videography
- 3-point Lighting/Set building and breakdown
- Audio Recording
Experience
Freelance Production Assistant Nov. 2016 – Present
Charm TV Baltimore, MD
- Operate camera for monthly Commuter Connections TV show
- Research background information for upcoming studio tapings; assist with studio setup, input scripts and run teleprompter
- Support camera crew during on-site shoots; technical direct live broadcasts of City Council hearings; Board of Estimates, Zoning
- Special occasions host; interviewer for MLK Day 2019 parade, audience engagement host for AFRAM 2019
- Edit Mayor’s News Conferences for air on Charm TV
Acquisitions Production Intern May 2019 – Nov. 2019
Discovery Communications / Science Channel Silver Spring, MD
- Review and timecode 45-minute episodes to assist the editor in creating digital clips for social media packages
- Fact-check international scripts from Britain and Canada to ensure accuracy prior to airing on science channel
- Incorporate fact-based content or encourage curiosity, through multiple Facebook posts for daily shows
- Facilitate content re-versioning through several layers of research and review for daily shows
- Research and organize show credit lists in addition to timing narrator bites for audio recording sessions
- Create digital branding content using Adobe creative cloud
- Generate content for video listicles from precut shows for social media clips
TV Production Intern May 2015 – September 2015
PBS – To the Contrary Arlington, VA
- Researched background information on women’s affairs, political and social news for panelists
- Updated website daily, to include breaking news and top articles from Slate, Washington Post, CNN, Mademoiselle, etc
- Generated Facebook and Twitter posts for audience engagement with over 33,000 followers across platforms
- Assisted with setup for on-site shoots and interviews; sound, lighting, notes
- Wrote two blog posts and cut a short clip as additional content on the website
Digital Video Production Assistant Aug. 2016 – Feb. 2018
Verizon Media Ashburn, VA
- Captured ACE, BIG10, NFL, and NBA games for “Video on Demand” on ESPN platforms online
- Inserted prepaid and preselected commercial breaks into live event programming; maintain communication with onsite director for accurate breaks and ad placement
- Anticipated, resolved and communicated occasional event related video/audio/game delay/technical issues with ESPN MCR for seamless record and playback.
Notable Skills
- Non-linear Editing: Adobe Audition, Photoshop and Premier, iMovie, KineMaster(phone editing)
- Computer: Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint; Word, Google Docs, Google Sheets
- Social Media & Analytics: Buffer, Facebook, Hootsuite, Instagram, Snapchat
- Television Programming; Cablecast
- Blogging: Canva, WordPress
Education
American University May 2020
MA, Film and Media Production Washington, DC
Honors: graduate assistantship; GPA 3.85
University of Maryland Dec. 2015
BA, Broadcast Journalism with French Minor College Park, MD
Honors: Letters and Sciences Scholarship recipient 2013-2014
