On 04.14.10, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
Hitz Committee and @MempHitz chart topping artist K. Michelle’s “Fakin’ It” video with Missy Elliott.
On 03.31.10, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
The Deal is back and better than ever with exclusive interviews with your favorite artists, juicy celebrity gossip, entertainment news, and the latest in music videos. But we’re missing one thing – YOU! Wanna be a part of the movement?Your original video may be used by BET Networks for on-air programming, BET wireless outlets, and in any medium in perpetuity.
BE A PART OF ‘THE DEAL’
The Deal is back and better than ever with exclusive interviews with your favorite artists, juicy celebrity gossip, entertainment news, and the latest in music videos. But we’re missing one thing – YOU! Wanna be a part of the movement? Check out how you can be involved with the show and upload your submissions to www.bet.com/thedeal. Check us out weeknights on Black Entertainment Television!
GOOD IN YA’ HOOD
Is there a hot trend that’s bubbling around your way? Wanna big up your town/city? Upload your one minute (60 seconds) video showing and telling us what’s good in your ‘hood for a chance to be featured on The Deal.
Entry Rules:
*You must be 21 years or older to enter.
*Clearly identify that you are applying for ‘Good in Ya’ Hood.’
*Your video must be of you only, the entrant (and not include anyone else in it).
*Your video must be one minute (:60 seconds) in length.
*You may not use any music in your video.
*Your video must be clean, and not contain any curse words or sexually explicit lyrics or gestures.
*No logos or name brands can be visible anywhere in your video.
*Tip: Avoid wearing white or striped clothing.
*Tip: Videos should be shot in a well-lit area. NO Dark videos please!
Upload Format Requirements: Only upload one of the following file formats.
*QuickTime = Mov or Mp4
*Windows Media = Wmv
*Mpeg = mpg
*AVI = avi
Your original video may be used by BET Networks for on-air programming, BET wireless outlets, and in any medium in perpetuity.
WORDSMITH
Is there a slang word or phrase that’s buzzing in your area or in your circle that people have no clue about? If you wanna educate the masses on your favorite slang word, be our Wordsmith of the Day.
All you have to do is upload your one minute (60 seconds) video with the word. Define it, use it in a sentence, and if it’s hot enough, you may be featured on The Deal!
Entry Rules:
*You must be 21 years or older to enter.
*Clearly identify that you are applying for ‘Wordsmith.’
*Your video must be of you only, the entrant (and not include anyone else in it).
*Your video must be one minute (:60 seconds) in length.
*You may not use any music in your video.
*Your video must be clean, and not contain any curse words or sexually explicit lyrics or gestures.
*No logos or name brands can be visible anywhere in your video.
*Tip: Avoid wearing white or striped clothing.
*Tip: Videos should be shot in a well-lit area. NO Dark videos please!
Upload Format Requirements: Only upload one of the following file formats.
*QuickTime = Mov or Mp4
*Windows Media = Wmv
*Mpeg = mpg
*AVI = avi
Your original video may be used by BET Networks for on-air programming, BET wireless outlets, and in any medium in perpetuity.
15 SECONDS TO SHINE
Do you have a talent you want to share with the world? If so, upload a 60 second video of you doing your thing – rhyming, singing, or reciting poetry! The submission must not contain music of any kind. It may be your time to shine!
Entry Rules:
*You must be 21 years or older to enter.
*Clearly identify that you are applying for ’15 Seconds to Shine.’
*Your video must be of you only, the entrant (and not include anyone else in it).
*Your video must be one minute (:60 seconds) in length.
*You may not use any music in your video.
*Your video must be clean, and not contain any curse words or sexually explicit lyrics or gestures.
*No logos or name brands can be visible anywhere in your video.
*Tip: Avoid wearing white or striped clothing.
*Tip: Videos should be shot in a well-lit area. NO Dark videos please!
Upload Format Requirements: Only upload one of the following file formats.
*QuickTime = Mov or Mp4
*Windows Media = Wmv
*Mpeg = mpg
*AVI = avi
Your original video may be used by BET Networks for on-air programming, BET wireless outlets, and in any medium in perpetuity.
THE BAR EXAM
Do you have a hot 16? Upload a video of you spittin’ your hottest freestyle for a chance to be featured on The Deal!
Entry Rules:
*You must be 21 years or older to enter.
*Clearly identify that you are applying for ‘The Bar Exam.’
*Your video must be of you only, the entrant (and not include anyone else in it).
*Your video must be one minute (:60 seconds) in length.
*You may not use any music in your video.
*Your video must be clean, and not contain any curse words or sexually explicit lyrics or gestures.
*No logos or name brands can be visible anywhere in your video.
*Tip: Avoid wearing white or striped clothing.
*Tip: Videos should be shot in a well-lit area. NO Dark videos please!
Upload Format Requirements: Only upload one of the following file formats.
*QuickTime = Mov or Mp4
*Windows Media = Wmv
*Mpeg = mpg
*AVI = avi
Your original video may be used by BET Networks for on-air programming, BET wireless outlets, and in any medium in perpetuity.
THE CORNER
The Deal is all about hip hop culture and talking about what’s going on in the world, so we wanna hear from you! All you have to do is gather a few friends (3 or less), and discuss one of the following questions in 60 seconds or less and upload your video clip.
Choose from the following and talk about it!
• Male celebrities step outside of their relationships and typically, their status/image remains untarnished. Can a female celebrity do the same thing? Why or why not?
• Do you think hip-hop artists deserve lead roles in movies OVER trained & accomplished actors? Why or why not?
• Do you think artists need the backing of a record label to be successful or can they create a movement independently?
• How do you feel about celebrities going off on Twitter?
• When you are trying to ‘holla’ at someone, do you call, text, or Twitter with them?
Entry Rules:
*You must be 21 years or older to enter.
*Clearly identify that you are applying for ‘The Corner.’
*Your video must be of you and three people only (4 people maximum).
*Your video must be one minute (:60 seconds) in length.
*You may not use any music in your video.
*Your video must be clean, and not contain any curse words or sexually explicit lyrics or gestures.
*No logos or name brands can be visible anywhere in your video.
*Tip: Avoid wearing white or striped clothing.
*Tip: Videos should be shot in a well-lit area. NO Dark videos please!
Upload Format Requirements: Only upload one of the following file formats.
*QuickTime = Mov or Mp4
*Windows Media = Wmv
*Mpeg = mpg
*AVI = avi
Your original video may be used by BET Networks for on-air programming, BET wireless outlets, and in any medium in perpetuity.
On 03.29.10, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
For those who don’t know, I am hard at work on BET’s The Deal, a hip-hop entertainment show that airs at 3am AKA the graveyard shift. I am very proud of our show because we’re not just playing what’s hot; we are showcasing many aspects of hip-hop and shining a light on mixtape artists, producers, executives, entrepreneurs, and even some culture. Clutch the pearls.
BET Producer Kristen V. Carter
Kristen V. Carter is the owner and CEO of JazziDreamer Entertainment and producer/writer for BET Networks. Please follow her on Twitter. This is her celebrity blog post and WE absolutely love everything Kristen V. Carter does! Thanks Kris.
“Happy Spring Everyone,
Thank God for some sunshine. I don’t care how long it lasts; warmer temperatures are here for now and that’s all that matters. For those who don’t know, I am hard at work on BET’s The Deal, a hip-hop entertainment show that airs at 3am AKA the graveyard shift. I am very proud of our show because we’re not just playing what’s hot; we are showcasing many aspects of hip-hop and shining a light on mixtape artists, producers, executives, entrepreneurs, and even some culture. Clutch the pearls. (If you can, please DVR the show and spread the word.)
Last week, we hooked up with Snoop Dogg so that he could co-host the show. Prior to our tape day, I was a little nervous. I knew I’d have to prep him for his reads, etc and I’m always a little bit weary of ‘high-profile’ talent. They are usually pretty detached, moody, and they like to show off by singing and dancing all over the place while their team laughs at all of their jokes. But my producer quickly told me that Uncle Snoop is a ball of fun and will do anything that I ask of him.
Although reassured, I did get a little worried when Snoop showed up hours late and went straight into his dressing room to smoke. That dude is a straight chimney! I mean firrraaaaah. I thought maybe he’d be very mellow & kinda grumpy (I don’t know a thing about smoking or smokers), but when he came out of his room, he was awesome and so sweet. He danced around, he joked around, he even messed up and said ‘wait am I supposed to start off, baby girl’? Also, he didn’t have enough clothing to change for three shoots so we thought he was going to stay in the same outfit for the second shot of the day. When we asked him, he turned around and said, ‘I can’t look like yesterday’ and ran off to get a new jacket.
Besides getting a mean contact and smelling like weed on the way home, the experience was great and I realized why Snoop has been a mainstay for so long. He connects with everyone and makes people feel comfortable without being flashy, arrogant, or showy. And you know it’s a good shoot when my staff (who are comprised of people who are ‘unimpressed by fame’) all got up to take pics with Uncle Snoop. By this point, I was holding in coughs because of the smoke but I’ll do it for tha Doggfather.
Good times…
except for the fact that the train conductor started sniffing when he went by me to take my ticket! 
”
On 03.26.10, In Current Events, by Gerard Spinks
It’s no secret that ideas, concepts, & dialogue float through my head all day every day. We can all have these visions but without follow through, it means nothing. One of my partners always says ‘just get one thing done,’ and now I am finally beginning to understand what she means
BET Producer Kristen V. Carter
Celebrity Blog post by BET Producer and CEO of JazziDreamer Entertainment, Kristen Carter. Kristen V. Carter is a producer of BET The Deal and other reality shows on both BET and VH1 Networks.
We’ve got a lot of catching up to do. When the elders said time flies after 25, they were not lying. So with that said, I’m gonna try to bring everyone up to speed real quick. The last month seems like a big blur but honestly, there were some major accomplishments in 1st quarter ’10. After a year or so of trying to figure out what to do with our works, my writing partner and I shot the first few episodes of our scripted web programs. We decided to turn my feature film and her pilot tv series into content that you can jump to & click on while you’re bored at work. Chea! So I’ll definitely let you know when our work is up and running online just for you! We are excited for the possibilities and of course, the continued learning lessons and growth.
It’s funny to think about the ebbs & flows that my creative team has encountered and will continue to experience as creative beings. We’ve gotten things in motion, doubted, had schedule conflicts, gone back to the drawing board, had a productive meeting, cancelled shoots, started over, and then all of a sudden…something just clicked. It wasn’t overnight; but I realized what it was. We made a decision that we were going to shoot something – anything!! – in the first quarter of 2010. That decision really put things in motion because we were determined to take these characters off the page and stand them right in front of our faces!
It’s no secret that ideas, concepts, & dialogue float through my head all day every day. We can all have these visions but without follow through, it means nothing. One of my partners always says ‘just get one thing done,’ and now I am finally beginning to understand what she means. KRISTEN, GET ONE THING DONE AT A TIME. JUST DO IT! We must stack our bricks before we can stand on a sturdy wall. We must be able to handle thousands of dollars before managing a million. We must produce one project before handling a slate of productions! There are steps to this thing and no matter how badly I try to jump to some far off land where I do and get everything my heart desires, I must be able to handle what’s in my midst.
I must be in the moment, enjoying the process, the beautiful struggle of learning more of who I am & observing what it is I do and don’t want in my energy field. And quite simply, making a decision on what I want and setting the universe in motion to achieve whatever goal I have set forth to accomplish.
I watched this Will Smith video on Monday…and I was just blown away. I need to step my game up. We, as a community, need to step our games up. Here’s to new dreams and decisions. Keep pondering and using your ability to choose what you want. The strongest thing we can do, besides loving one another, is make a decision to live our best lives!
On 01.26.10, In black business, black colleges, black famous people, Current Events, Entrepreneur, hbcu, small business enterprise, television, by Gerard Spinks
had a little bit of outside foolishness struggling through my doorways but I was so pre-occupied with more important things that the door was forced shut. Thank the Lord I really didn’t have a moment to even allow my emotions to get the best of me. I am so excited to be back into the swing of productivity of writing/producing a series (BET’s The Deal which airs at daily at 3am) while diligently working my personal plan; I feel alot more alive when I’m running around with no time.
BET Producer Kristen V. Carter
This guest blog post is from a dear friend of mine and BET The Deal producer, Kristen V. Carter. She is a great script/screenplay writer and has an upcoming film that she is producing. Stay tuned for Kristen V. Carter and all she has to offer the entertainment world.
I hope everyone had a fabulous weekend. It’s been way too long since I’ve sat down to the computer, although I have been writing to you all in my head for weeks on end! 2010 hit the ground running – I had a little bit of outside foolishness struggling through my doorways but I was so pre-occupied with more important things that the door was forced shut. Thank the Lord I really didn’t have a moment to even allow my emotions to get the best of me. I am so excited to be back into the swing of productivity of writing/producing a series (BET’s The Deal which airs at daily at 3am) while diligently working my personal plan; I feel alot more alive when I’m running around with no time. I have always accomplished more with less time. Funny how it works that way…
Last weekend I treated myself to a stroll around the neighborhood. Although I walk to various locations in downtown Newark all the time, I rarely take the opportunity to just sight see or walk around aimlessly. I didn’t have a goal in mind; I just wanted to walk and breathe. One particular block caught my attention and I continued to turn the same corners 7 times while engaging in a rivoting phone conversation about relationships with my writing partner. Although I was running my mouth, I was very aware of my surroundings and taking mental notes. Interestingly, I noticed something new about the block every single time I circled around.
Once I got off the phone, I went into the Art Kitchen, the Coffee Cave, and two art galleries. All of these landmarks were foreign and completely new to me. I had a great time sitting or perusing through each one. I was in no particular rush so I spent the entire day just relaxing as I arrived at each destination.
I found extreme excitement and joy in spotting something new every time I turned the corner of Halsey Street. I feel that way about every experience; nine times out of ten, we do not receive the entire lesson when we experience something the first time around so sometimes we have to keep going back to that familiar place in order to obtain something else. We may not even realize there’s more to experience but we find outselves at similar junctures time and again until finally, we see and experience all that’s there for us.
Creating Always,
Kristen Victoria
