CYBER-INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH:
This month the Writers Forum Interviews 15 year old cable t.v. host Jeannette Rosario who is better known to her viewers as DIAMANTE.
For those of our readers who haven't seen your show, how
would you describe it as? What type of show is it?
The Diamante Show is a Public Access Cable Show of Local and
well known talents. All the technical work and editing is done by
non-professionals, for example the camera crew volunteer their
time or charge a small fee if we hire them to do festivals. The
Producers Rosa and Indio are certified by the cable company to work the
cameras which keeps the cost of hiring to a minimum. The Show is
basically a forum for those who which to promote their acts to a growing
viewing audience. We have had a wide variety of singers like English &
Spanish rappers, R&B singers, Salsa and Merenge bands. Also, a
wide variety of Dance groups from mambo/salsa to hip hop. We have had
poets come on the show and entice us with latin rhythm poetry. I
am the host of the show and My name is Jeannette Rosario. I am artistically
known as DIAMANTE. and I'm 15 years old. I studied acting and voice with
Susan Rybin Talent agency, I am a member of SAG (Screen Actors Guild) and
have appeared in movies like the BAD LIEUTENANT and Batman. I have
done a wide range of commercials for the Spanish and English market
especially for voice overs and jiggles. For More information on Diamante
http://members.tripod.com/~DiamanteProductions/Diamante.html
What made you think of the concept of your show?
The concept of the show was developed basically by a simple
question from me to my grandparents. After waiting a long time
to appear on one of the shows in the Spanish station I questioned if
their was another show I can go to perform? The answer was "not
really". Some public access and regular cable shows charge a fee
for promotional acts and the alternative was long waiting periods.
This triggered my Grandmother Rosa and Grandfather Indio to research,
get trained and implement a show that asks nothing of its acts or
viewing audience.
What finally made you decide to make your idea into reality?
In other words what made you finally produce this show? Did you have
a lot of support from friends and family?
With the support of family in strategic areas in New York, a lot
of support from other young artists, and a whole lot of hard work
we were finally able to kicked off the show.
Was it hard to get this off the ground? Where do you get your
funding?
Yes, at first since we were new and non-professional's in the
field and had to rely on word of month to promote the show. This
limited the amount of performers and diversity. As far as funding
went it was all personal funding.
What type of problems did you run into in the beginning?
Aside from getting performances, the biggest problem was the
over all appearance of the show. It is still a simple show but
back then we did not have to many graphics or editing experience.
Do you think that the fact that you are Latin and a woman,
made it harder for you? If so why?
The show itself is family oriented, the producers are my
Grandparents and the regional producers are friends and family, so
the show itself has not been effected by this factor. But, being a
singer has been harder for me individually because as a young
salsa/merenge/english female singer in a mostly male dominated and
competitive industry , it is harder to get established. But I am
only 15 and have a lot learn and experience. I know deep down inside
that I will make it someday, if not as an artist at least in life in
general.
What makes your show so different from any other out there
right now?
As I stated early, The DIAMANTE Show asks nothing of its acts or
viewing audience. Anyone, I mean anyone that feels they have a
talent can perform. One might say, this makes for a low quality show but
where else can one go to do their thing, and watch the out-come on
TV. This show provides new performers a venue to judge their overall
appearance, style, talent, even although painful, lack of talent.
Because of its increasing popularity we are fortunate enough to
have well known artist like the Barrio Boys, Cuban salsero Miles Pena,
Merenge bands like Banda Sorberbia and La Migra. Also a lot of
popular 80's latin club singers like N more, Ardi Rodriguez, Christy Iessy
and Fast Forward. We also get to enjoy cultural typical music. Or
events that promote our culture and youth.
Where is it that you shoot your show? How many times a month
do you tape a program? and How many acts appear in one program?
The Show is shot in two locations and unfortunately, we rely on
availability. But basically we tape at least twice a month and we
usually book as many acts as we can in order to make the most use
out of our scheduled slot. We then edit the tape for a few shows.
(We suggest that people either call for time and place or look on the Web page.)
Where is it seen? Whats stations, times and days is the
programmed viewed?
The DIAMANTE Show is viewed in:
Manhattan - channel 16 on Saturdays and Thursday at 1:00 p.m.
Brooklyn - channel 35 on Mondays at 6:30 p.m.
Queens - channel 57 on Fridays at 6:00 p.m.
Bronx - channel 69 on Tuesdays and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Jersey City - channel 51 on Fridays at 6:00 p.m.
It is also seen via satellite.
How long has the show been on the air?
We have been airing for four wonderful years.
How do you feel about Salsa music? Do you like dancing to it?
I love Salsa music, so much so, that I invested in my own salsa
song titled "Ahora me toga mi." Inspired by my aunt and her husband that
love dancing and have a lot of friends that teach, I have been taking
lessons every chance I get. Also, I have been honored by having Ismael Otero
from the Caribbean soul Dancers, Nelson Flores, and Charles Liz Castillo of
Salsa Con Clase do back up dancing for my salsa song.
What type of mambo/salsa acts appear on your program?
We have had a lot of new mambo/salsa acts on the show over the
last four years like the up and coming talent of Willie Palma, La Banda
Brasa and just recently we had the Cuban sensation Miles Pena.
How often do you have Mambo dancers perform on your show?
We usually have had quite a few dance groups. A lot of the
calls that we get are from young up and coming dancers from Mambo to
hip hop.
Can you name some of the dancers or dance groups that have
been on your show?
Some of the Dancers on the show were featured on your salsa web
page like Ismael Otero from the Caribbean Soul Dancers, Nelson Flores
which is part of a few dance groups and Luis Zegarra from Fuerza
Latina to name just a few well known groups. We also have had a lot
of up and coming groups like Salsa Con Clase lead by Charles Liz
Castillo from Tropicana Night Club in Jersey City. And groups of
young latin dance groups like Sensacion 2000 and Las Estrellas Del
Caribe. I apologize for not being able to mention them all since
they all did so well.
Do you think that mambo dance performers get the respect
they deserve?
Yes and No. In the performance aspect I have seen some
of these groups perform a lot of promotional acts before they
actually get paid or before they get hired for a big event. When
Nelson Flores was kind enough to share the stage with me at the 116
Street Festival, I too was doing promo so I could not pay him but I
worked hard to get him a gig somewhere else that did pay. We believe
in one hand washs the other and if we know of events or festivals in
New York we usually contact the Dancers that have appeared on our show
from that area or if in New Jersey then we'll contact the NJ Dance
groups. But the general public loves the groups and usually sign up
for classes after watching the shows.
What type of feed back have you gotten from people who have
seen your program?
We have been getting very positive feedback. People really
enjoy a lot of these aspiring acts. So much so that we have been
contacted by different festivals this summer to host and to bring our
promotional acts. Like the Puerto Rican Day Parade festival in Jersey
City. We hosted the festival during the early afternoons Thursday -
Sunday and the growd just loved all the promo acts like the salsa band
"La Band brasa", the latin rap group "Son Callejero"
Do people have to audition to appear on the program? Or can
people send you a demo tape of their act?
All people have to do is contact us at 212/420-8538 and
in Jersey City at 201/432-8990.
Where is it that you see your program going in the future?
One goal is to improve the overall appearance of the show and
join the new millennium. My Aunt Rosa established a WebPage for the
show and a database link in order to keep better track of everyone
that participates on the Show. We would also like to get involved
with sponsoring special events in different locations and at the same
time help the promotional acts get gigs either by our special events
or through others.
What other projects are you involved in that our readers
should be aware of?
I am also involved in a kids program called "La Nueva Ola" (The
New Wave). This program is for young kids to get experience on the
stage. It involves dance classes, acting, and voice. I am mostly
active behind the scenes. On a personal note, I attend the High
School of Performing Acts and really love "Alternative Music." A
group of my classmates have been organizing a band. Once I have more
info on the name and where we will be performing I will post it on my
web page. As you can see I believe in getting involved in all aspect
of music and believe that hard work will find its reward.