Professional  Experience

January 1998 to Present Owner/Manager, Bliss Enterprise, LLC, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Media production, public speaking, media consulting and audio/video community services. Director’s Reel available.

January 2010 to June 2010 Media Manager, George Hernandez for Congress, Responsible for media strategy and execution, specializing in internet media.  Managed 3-5 crew members.

September 2003 to August 2005 Juvenile Delinquents Case Manager, Running Rebels Community Organization-SCOP Program, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Monitored court appointed cases of serious chronic offender juveniles. Managed 3-5 clients.

September 1998 to December 2003 Music Video Director, Merge@Crossroads fka Crash Films, Inc., Santa Monica, California, Responsible for creative vision of music video projects. Average budget $200k.

February 1998 to November 2003 Record Label Manager/Executive Producer, Nile Entertainment, Los Angeles, California, Responsible for locating and identifying music projects from Midwestern United States and developing them to a regional/nationwide level. This is accomplished by consulting start-up labels/artists on production and marketing approaches/strategies then facilitating manufacturing with Sony and retail distribution with Baker and Taylor. Catalog available.

January 1992 to June 1998 Executive Producer/Film Director, Tribal Communications, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, Executive producer of music video division of a prosperous film production company. Responsibilities included overseeing film productions and overall direction of company. Generated $750k-$1m annually in revenue. Staff of four. As film director, responsible for the creative vision from concept to completion of nearly a hundred nationwide projects. Average crews of 30-50 people.

September 1992 to May 1993 Assistant Station Manager/Urban Sounds Director, WRST 90.3 NPR, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Assisted the station manager in day to day operation of programming and news department. Created and established urban sounds programming. It became one of the most popular shows in area. Crew of 8-12 djs.

September 1990 to May 1991 Stage Manager, Fredric March Theatre, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Responsible for the technical aspect of running a theater production such as, calling cues and creating logistical scripts. Managed two productions, with crews of 15-20.

 

CREATIVE PROJECTS (PARTIAL)

2015 No Huevos (narrative) – Director/Co-Producer/Co-Writer – a 15 minute high definition format, a emergency room and marijuana link these various socio-economical narratives together.

2015 Destiny (narrative) - Writer/Director/Producer – a 14 minute high definition format; two men are in love with Destiny..

2014 Civilian Life (narrative) Director - a feature length high definition Arri Alexa. socio-economical multi-narratives.

2013 Mad Black Men (web series) - Producer/Director/Co-Story - Distributed by Dailymotion.

2012 Role Play (narrative) - Director/Editor - a feature length high defintion format. Edited on Final Cut Pro. Distributed by UME.

2012 Dreams (narrative) – Editor – a feature length high definition RED-One format.  Edited on Final Cut Pro. Distributed by Lionsgate.

2011 Hillbilly Highway (narrative) – Editor – a feature length high definition RED-One format.  Edited on Final Cut Pro. Distributed by Lionsgate.

2010 to Present Various Projects, (music videos) - Writer, Producer and/or Director – Over 10 digital film music videos on MTV.com and assorted digital video networks.

2009    Sisters (narrative) – Writer/Director/Producer – a four minute high definition format; lessons of life are shared between two young girls on their way to school.

2008    Destiny (narrative) – Director/Producer – a 12 minute high definition format, bilingual (Korean and English); two men explore their destiny, only one walks away.

2007    My Milwaukee (documentary) – Director/Videographer – Short form documentary exploring various experiences of inner city youth in Milwaukee.

2007    The Game Start (narrative) – Writer/Producer/Director – a four minute high definition format, period piece; an interpretation about the man who created, Pong, the first popular mass produced videogame.

2007    The Shortlist (audio series) – Writer/Producer/Engineer – a talk show with interviews from an eclectic pool of people. Audio podcast.

2006    Hangin’ with the Freshest: Digital Underground: (documentary) –Producer/Director/Videographer – a multi-camera short documentary that follows the life of hip hop legends and pioneers.

2004    Addicted 2 Battle (music documentary) – Producer/Director/Videographer – a multi-camera short music documentary on a B-Boy breakdance battle held at The Rave Milwaukee, WI.

2002    Legends of Hip Hop: Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, MC Lyte, Doug E. Fresh Slick Rick, & Whodini (documentary) – Executive Producer/Producer/Director – a multi-camera long form documentary with interviews, live performances and music videos of several hip hop pioneers.

1992 to 2003 Various Projects, (music videos) - Writer, Producer and/or Director – Over 50 music videos on MTV, MTV2, VH-1 and BET video networks.

1995 Born Suspect (short film) – Producer/Director – a forty-minute 35mm short film about three black males involved in a crime.

1993  Tennessee, Arrested Development, EMI (still photos) – Still Photographer - cover and insert photos for Arrested Development’s single.

1993  Teen Forum Episode 1 & 2, WISN-TV Milwaukee ABC Affiliate (talk show) – Writer/Producer/ Technical Director - a 30-minute, multi-camera television teen talk show dealing with teen issues.

1993  What Do Your Parents Do?, Academy of Television Arts & Science (public service announcement) - Camera Operator/Editor - Student Academy Award for public service announcement. Broadcast nationally.

1991 -1993    S.O.S. Muzik, Titan TV (music video series) – Creator/Producer - 30-minute, multi- camera television show. Produced more than twenty episodes over three seasons have aired on Titan TV-Oshkosh. Program format adopted and ran for 15 years, second longest show at station.

1991  Ko Thi is... (documentary) - Writer/Producer/Technical Director - a documentary on an African dance troupe.

 

BROADCAST & DISTRIBUTED MEDIA

2015 MC Breed: The Da Beat (documentary) - Director/Editor - a 22 minute broadcast piece that tells the story of the first national hip hop artist out of the Midwest.

2011 Greater Los Angeles Agency for Deafness “Waiting” (psa) - Director/Editor – a short form public service announcement addressing the lack of resources in the deaf and hard of hearing community.

2011 AllHipHop.com Various Segments (internet journalism) – Videographer/Editor – a short form video journal providing current new content on pop culture happenings.

2009    10 Rules for Dealing with Police (narrative) – Director/Producer – a 40 minute high definition format, three victims of police harassment share their ordeal and seek advice from a lawyer in a courtroom.

2009    My Milwaukee (documentary) – Director/Videographer – Short form documentary exploring various experiences of inner city youth in Milwaukee.

2008    My Milwaukee (documentary) – Director/Videographer – Short form documentary exploring various experiences of inner city youth in Milwaukee.

2007 to Present internet/MTV2, (music videos) - Writer, Producer and/or Director – Over 20 digital music videos with unique viewers exceeding one million viewers.

2004    20th Century Masters: The Best of The Temptations, Motown Records, (long-form video) - Writer/Director - A DVD collection of five music videos. Wrote and directed, I’m Here.

1995    Cocktales, Too $hort, Jive Records, (long-form video) - Writer/Producer/Director - A long form compilation of five music videos. Wrote, produced and directed, Cocktails, Paystyles and Topdown.

1994    Views from the Beehive, Arrested Development, EMI Records, (EPK) – Writer/Producer/Director - An Electronic Press Kit (EPK) promoting Arrested Development’s Zingalamaduni album.

1993    Teen Forum, WISN-TV Milwaukee ABC Affiliate, (two television episodes) - Writer/Producer - A 30-minute, multi-camera television teen talk show dealing with teen issues.

1993    Droppin’ Soulful H2O on the Fiber, Gumbo, EMI Records, (album release) - Still Photographer - Cover and insert photos for Gumbo’s Droppin Soulful H2O on the Fiber album.

1993    Tennessee, Arrested Development, EMI Records, (single release) - Still Photographer - Cover and insert photos for Arrested Development’s Tennessee single.

1992 to Present MTV/MTV2/VH1/BET, (music videos) - Writer, Producer and/or Director – Over 50 music videos have aired or periodically air on MTV, MTV2, VH-1 and BET video networks.

1992 What Do Your Parents Do?, Academy of Television Arts & Science, (PSA) - Camera Operator/Editor - Student Academy Award for public service announcement.

1991 to 1993    S.O.S. Muzik, Titan TV (music video series) – Creator/Producer - More than twenty episodes over three seasons have aired on Titan TV-Oshkosh.

 

UNPUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS & CONTINUING RESEARCH

Whitmore II, R. (Article) (2015) Working Title: Ultra-Lo: Shooting Longform Narrative on DSLR

Whitmore II, R. (Book) (2015) Working Title: The Beastmasters and The Beasts: A Comprehensive History of the First Quarter Century of Urban Music Videos

Whitmore II, R (Essay) (2011) Working Title: Magical Negros and the Magical White Men that make them: From Hallelujah to Hustle & Flow an Analysis of White Filmmakers in Black Cinema

Whitmore II, R. (Story & Editor) & Yang, L. (Author) (2007) Working Title: Free Sprits (short story)

Whitmore II, R. & Collison, M. (Screenplay) (2007) Working Title: The Big Fish Killer Whitmore II, R. (Story) & Vaughn, D. (Author) (2006) Working Title: The Journey Home (novella)

 

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS & INTERVIEWS

“Marijuana’s Cultural Moment” (Speaker). (2009, November) Panelist for Drug Policy Alliance – Reform conference on media’s current favorable portrayal of marijuana.

“Hip Hop: Who’s Pimping Who?” (Speaker). (2008, May) Facilitator at Lawrence University’s forum on Hip Hop and masculinity

“Women in the Media” (Speaker). (2008, March) Keynote for 3rd Annual Women Empowered Seminar at Metropolitan State University on the impact of media on women

“Hip Hop Congress” (Speaker). (2008, February) Panelist for Hip Hop Conference at UM-Ann Arbor. Ann Arbor, Michigan

“The Portrayal of African Americans in the Media” (Speaker). (2008, February) Keynote for Sociocultural Programming at UW-Milwaukee on the portrayals of African-Americans in Media. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

“Film & Hip Hop’s Influence on Gender Relations in the U.S.” (Panelist). (2007, November) Hip Hop Symposium, Oshkosh, WI.

“We Did It to Ourselves...or Did We?” (Speaker). (2007, October) Colloquium for Black Student Union at UW-Milwaukee on the perceptions and portrayals of African-Americans in Media. Milwaukee, Wisconsin

“Demystifying Hollywood” (Speaker). (2007, April) Keynote for Film Society at University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh, Oshkosh, Wisconsin

“Superfriends” (Speaker). (2007, April) Keynote for 10:45 Break at North Carolina Central University, Durham, North Carolina

“Superfriends” (Speaker). (2007, April) Department of Mass Media Arts lecture series at Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia

“1st Annual” (Panelist). (2002, August) Rules of the Game Music Conference, Milwaukee, Wisconsin “Hip Hop as a Movement” (Panelist). (2002, April) Hip Hop Generation Conference, Madison, Wisconsin