ARISE NEWS & ALAN WEISS PRODUCTIONS RECEIVE EMMY NOMINATION
(February 2015) The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominations for the 58th Annual New York Emmy Awards.
The documentary “Game Changers: How the Harlem Globetrotters Battled Racism” – produced by ARISE News and Alan Weiss Productions (AWP) – is recognized in the Nostalgia Program category.
“Arise News is a different kind of 24/7 news & entertainment channel,” says co-executive producer and chairman of ARISE News Nduka Obaigbena. “We provide coverage and perspective on global events seldom given airtime.”
Former LA Lakers owner Don Sterling’s explosive comments exposed the undertone of racism that still exists in professional basketball. No players are more aware of this pernicious bias than those who played for the Harlem Globetrotters in the 1940s & 1950s.
Long after Jackie Robinson hit his first ball as a Dodger, the NBA was still a “whites only” league. This Arise News Special takes an historical look at the early days of professional basketball and how the Harlem Globetrotters not only dealt with racism, but helped change the world of sports.
AWP president and co-executive producer Alan J. Weiss adds, “The story of the Harlem Globetrotters mirrors the Civil Rights struggle in America. It’s important that these often overlooked heroes – lionized around the world, but treated as second class citizens at home – receive the recognition they deserve.”
Hosted by Julian Phillips, the documentary includes interviews with former Globetrotters: Wilt Chamberlain, Meadowlark Lemon, Marques Haynes, William “Pop” Gates, Gene Hudgins, Andy Johnson, Charlie Hoxie and Carl Green.
This is the first nomination for ARISE News since its soft launch in 2013.
AWP staff contributing to the nomination:
Executive Producer – Alan J. Weiss
Producers – Jana DeHart & Marilou Yacoub
Writer – Deborah Gobble
Camera – Rick Lavon & Sean Wilk
Sound – Will Vaultz
Editor – Rick Lavon
AP – Kristen Kamsler
For the team at Alan Weiss Productions, this brings their Emmy tally to 34 nominations and 14 Emmy Awards.