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Showing posts with label Florence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Florence. Show all posts

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Take A Leap Webshow

The time has come to premiere the Pilot Episode of Take A Leap.  No further introduction is necessary-- here it is!!


Also, check out the full line of videos on our YouTube Channel, including all four of our short films; several Take A Leap teaser videos; and the two short films by the youths who participated in our Summer Film Camp in July 2012.  Yes, the Holidays have arrived!!

All the best!!
We Connected Productions, LLC
Rhonda & Sharee Washington



Saturday, November 10, 2012

Arreviderci


We're back!! Today was travel day or as I kindly note as the longest day, ever.  The 10 1/2 hr flight from Rome to DC was our longest to date.  Our trip to China in December will clock in at more than 12 1/2 hrs in flight time from Los Angeles to Beijing.

Yesterday, Friday, our last full day in Italy was spent traveling from Firenze (Florence) to Roma (Rome). While everyone else toured the Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica, we hopped in a taxi to a Mediterranean restaurant called Obika to meet with Arlene Gibbs, screenwriter for Jumping the Broom. We sat around for a little over an hour and gabbed about everything from filmmaking to politics to living and working in Italy. Per a special request, we did not film our conversation, and will be using a previous Skype recording for the show. Nevertheless, we did take the time to take a picture, and will share it during the Rome segment of Take A Leap webshow.

We then rushed back to meet up with the group to head towards the hotel. We were to film our second interview at the hotel prior to dinner, but due to unfortunate circumstances, it did not take place. We will conduct the interview with Ashley S., a 20-yr old Claflin University student, via video Skype next week. We will add her commentary about her 2 month duration in Rome as a United Nations intern to the Rome segment of Take A Leap premiere webshow.

We finalized the night with more than 40 persons at a farewell dinner. The pictures speak for itself, but in case you could not tell, the food was DELICIOUS!!








Thursday, November 8, 2012

Lazy Days of Fall

Yesterday we had a lazy day around the hotel.  We walked the streets of Montecatini Terme, the small town outside of Florence where our hotel is located.  What's so funny is that the hotel we stayed at 3 years ago, Augustus, is one block over.  Here's a picture of Hotel Ercolini & Savi during our last night before heading back into Rome in the morning.

Hotel Ercolini & Savi
Today we went back into Florence and made it in time for our hair appointments that we set up two days prior. TravelistaTV's Andrea Adams gave us the recommendation of Nails & Co. near the Piazza Della Stazione.  We are now ready for our final interviews set for tomorrow in Rome. Ciao Bellas!!

Repping Clemson Univ.

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Firenze!!


Bridge over Arno River

Seafood Pasta
Duomo in Florence
We spent the day in Firenze (Florence's Italian name) on Tuesday.  We toured several Piazzas and interviewed Andrea Adams of TravelistaTV.  Check out her personal blog of life in Italy.
                          
                                          Cali native Bria (center) with fellow travelers as models at leather shop

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Florence American Cemetery, San Gimignano, and a Winery Tour

We had a world wind couple of days. I'm going to post Monday's events. Tuesday's activities will be posted in the morning. Collette Vacations took us on a surprised tour to the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial. It is at this location where we were able to see the grave of original Tuskegee Airman, Captain Erwin Lawrence. His grave is among the more than 5000 men and women, including names on the Wall of the Missing, who died during the last phase of the Italian campaign from June 1944 to May 1945.










San Gimignano

From there we went to the windy, but very scenic San Gimignano. Lots of shops, including La Buca for salsiccia cinghiale (wild boar sausage) which we read about in Doing Italians...Oops...Italy by The Delusional Divas'.










Finally, the part of the day that everybody was waiting for: WINE TASTING and it didn't disappoint. Chianti is the wine made in the Tuscany region. This particular brand was produced by Tenuta San Vito.

Tomorrow we will post about our visit into Florence and our first of three interviews here in Italy for Take A Leap with BET/AOL Travelista Host Andrea Adams.

With those who are not familiar with Take A Leap, we are chronicling the lives of African-American expats. The pilot episode will feature our interviews in Italy.

Grazie,
Rhonda W

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Take A Leap Logo

We officially have a Take A Leap logo. We want to personally thank former magazine Art Director Errol Alger and Graphic Designer Allen Johnson for collaborating on the logo. We will be using it as much as we can to market the Take A Leap Webseries.




We have until September 1st to raise $5,500. We recently added a new perk of 2 XL Black Girls Travel T-shirts for a donation of $50, plus the $20 donation level perks.


Rhonda W.

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

It's Bigger Than Us!!

I've had a thought on my mind the last few days when I think of what Take A Leap and We Connected Productions, LLC represents:

It's Bigger Than Us!!

I envision the Take a Leap webseries in the near future reaching back and giving young kids and teens the opportunity to travel. Travel will break your fear of the unknown and of other people by learning about their culture.

I follow blogger Tracey Coleman, a former Columbia, SC resident. Her blog, which is on our Blog Roll, is entitled the Brooklyn Travel Addict.  Currently residing in Brooklyn, NY, she will be hosting a Passport Party.  The Passport Party Project is a travel-theme event that gives ten girls age 11-16 their very first passport.  It is on our radar to implement a similar concept in Columbia, SC area in the near future.

We hope you will enjoy the webseries once it airs next year. It will inspire and educate you to the world that is out there.  Support: www.indiegogo.com/takealeap


Thank you.

Rhonda W.
"To Whom Much Is GivenMuch Will Be Required"- Luke 12:48

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Happy 4th of July! Take A Leap is 4 Months Away Until Our Adventure Begins


We Connected Productions, LLC are EXCITED as we are 4 Months away until we begin our Adventure to Italy in November and China in December. Find out how you can support Take A Leap by going to: www.indiegogo.com/takealeap Enjoy your 4th. Rhonda W.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Take A Leap Teaser Videos

Rhonda and I have been keeping some abnormal hours the last few nights.  We have interviewed via Skype two superb individuals thus far.  Latraia D. is a 25-year old SC-resident that moved to China 10 months ago to teach.  Arlene G. is a former Hollywood-based screenwriter and current "Roman" who has expanded her creativity with the launching of her home decor business, Arlene Gibbs Decor.  Check out excerpts of their interviews at http://indiegogo.com/takealeap.  The teaser videos can be found on the home page and in the gallery tab.

We will have one more teaser video to add by the weekend with our interview early in the AM with personal trainer Coach G., who currently resides in Rome, Italy.  And guess what....he has a South Carolina connection as well.

Coach G (pic via Twitter)
As a point of interest, we have landed an exclusive interview with a fashion media entrepreneur and world traveler (over 40 countries visited) during our visit in Florence, Italy in November.  We'll share more about this travelista in later blogs.

Don't forget about supporting our funding efforts.  Our goal is to raise $5500 by September 1.  We're a far cry from our goal, but we haven't lost faith.  Spread the word to your Facebook friends, twitter followers, email recipients, and word-of-mouth.

A closing note to this post is that Rhonda and I will be on the radio show Urban Scene with Don Frierson on Columbia, SC 620 AM on June 4 at the noon hour.  We're going to talk about We Connected Productions, LLC and our various projects, specifically Take A Leap.  Please take a listen if you live in the area or have access to internet radio.   Blessings!!


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Speak Up!!

Today is Rhonda and my birthday! We've been responding through a slew of Facebook msgs, tweets, emails, and text messages of well wishes.  But only a few well wishes in person.  It made me think of how we've been promoting our new project, Take A Leap. We tend to promote with emails, tweets, and Facebook. Very little by word of mouth. So as we head into a busy weekend that includes flying to Detroit to attend the Glory Reelz Christian Film Festival and then back Sunday to attend our dad's church service and celebrate Mother's Day with our mom, we've both made vows as a part of our birthday wish.  We need to open our mouths and speak up.

Speak up about what we've accomplished in filmmaking. Speak up about the DVDs we are selling. Speak up about our new project, Take A Leap. Speak up about the boy we like. So, I snuck the last one in there, but it served as a point. In speaking up, we are formulating relationships.  We are getting people to trust us, and we them.  Relationships are reciprocal. It's a give and take.  In selling a DVD, we take in $7 and viewers are given a 4 short stories to watch. We take that $7, and give a portion back to God. The viewers take the DVD and share with others. A relationship has developed, and the circle of trust has begun.  Makes sense! Well it does in my mind.

Anyways, the same can be true about speaking up about Take A Leap. Instead of talking about the money , speak more to what we want to experience. We want to experience the life of an entrepreneur with the "power" to create and shape our careers. We want to travel not only for cultural sake, but also with a purpose of sharing inspirational stories of African-American expats not often heard.  For that reason we have narrowed our international abroad locations to Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy; and Shanghai/Beijing, China for our pilot, second, and third episodes.  We'll take some time in Spring/Summer 2013 to promote the three shows in NYC and LA.

These are the experiences we want to share with people not the dollar signs. When we talk to people about Take A Leap, we're developing a relationship with people who are also trying to find their calling in life. Many people  "dream" about a new job, new home, or a new relationship, but fail to speak their "dream" into existence. So I say, shout it to the universe. To anyone that bears to listen.  From day 1 we've been told that our lives are purposeful, and the only life to live is the one we're destined to live. The more we speak up, the more likely it'll catch on, and the support that we'll have will be tremendous. We can't stay quiet any longer!!

Sharee

Monday, April 30, 2012

Take A Leap Facebook Page

Take A Leap has a Facebook Page. Check us out at www.facebook.com/WCPTakeALeap

Spread The Word!


 Currently seeking to interview African-Americans who live abroad in Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy; Shanghai, China; and Beijing, China.



Upcoming Trips: 
Tuscany (Rome & Florence Italy) November 1-10, 2012 Collette Vacations via Midlands Technical College Continuing Education Department

China (Shanghai & Beijing) December 27, 2012-January 6, 2013 Friendly Planet

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Take A Leap...of Int'l Travel!!

We have been contracted as producers on a number of other people's projects, and in doing so, we have neglected to craft any personal new projects. Should we film another short? How about our first feature? What about the new rage of webisodes? And as alluring as those options could each be as our future project, the one that kept us truly passionate about was the thought of international travel. We went to Rome, Florence, and the French Riviera in May 2009, and our lives have never been the same. We still enjoy our vacations to Myrtle Beach or Hilton Head, and traveling to the big cities of NYC, Chicago, and LA.  But the thought of leaving our typical American life to enter another country's culture is so exhilarating.  What maybe shocking is that we are African-American females. How could we possibly identify ourselves in the mostly white population of Europe, and our interest to step foot into every continent in the world?

The historical presence of Rome in relation to modern day Christianity was very appealing. If I wasn't of a Protestant faith, I'm sure I would be Catholic. I fell in love with Rome with every images of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus on her lap.  I fell in love with Florence for their beautiful hillside landscape and the Renaissance inspired statute of David.  The country with so much history in a backdrop of ruins was a wonderful place of peace.  I could live here I've said over and over. Or anywhere outside of America.  But can I really?!

I've tried to answer that question over the last three years, and even looked into jobs overseas. But without a sponsored work visa or going back to school on a student visa (learning a foreign language qualifies), I found it to be difficult.  So as the thoughts consumed my mind as to how can I combine my love of travel and filmmaking (within an educator by day salary), a concept took root after reading a number of blogs of African-Americans living overseas and viewing numerous episodes of House Hunter International.  Why not document the stories of African-Americans living abroad? Thereafter..."Take A Leap" was born!!

Sharee Washington
We Connected Productions, LLC Co-Owner