No Strings Attached
had the opportunity to catch up with Antonio Freeman television host of the BlinkShow
TV and get a one on one interview!
By
Beatrice Davis
NSAEN
How
are you? We’re glad to finally connect and meet up with you and thank you that
you took time out to be interviewed by NSAEN.
Antonio
Thank
you. I’m truly happy to be here. I’ve
been reading your magazine since the beginning, so I’m much honored to be here.
NSAEN
Please
introduce yourself to our readers.
Antonio
Hello
Everyone, My name is Antonio Freeman. I’m 35 yrs old. I live in Santa Maria,
Ca. I’ve been here some 15 yrs now and I am the founder and executive producer
of the BlinkShow TV.
NSAEN
So
tell us, how did you come up with this concept of this show, and did you need
any special skills to develop it?
Antonio
I
personally feel you do need a certain level of skill or education because you
have to understand or be willing to understand business and I feel you should
be able to communicate with a variety of different personalities and in
particular celebrities. I have a few degrees in production from the best
college in the world, “Allan Hancock College”.
I
came up with the idea when about 10 yrs ago, I was asked to work on another
producer’s show who was having a hard time getting his show going. I saw where
he was failing and I offered my help, but he didn’t seem to accept my ideas, so
after awhile I just decided to do my own thing. I went back to school for a few
years and after awhile I felt I was ready to produce my own show. It was hard
at first and it did take a few attempts at it, but I ended up getting it
together.
NSAEN
So
the title of your show is called Blink Show TV, First of all where did that
title come from..?
Antonio
Ha
ha… well it is called BlinkShow TV with no space in between… People confused
the spelling all the time and it’s a few other things out there with blink show
themes I learned so I like to stand out with my show because it is original. So
I titled it BlinkShow TV.
BlinkShow
came from a childhood name “Blink” that was giving to me when I was about
fifteen or sixteen. I was a bad little boy and I ran with the “Bad crowd” in
Inglewood, Ca. I was there a good
portion of my teen life. I think that’s where a lot of my attitude and
determination comes from.
I
experienced a lot of drama when I was there and I know that there was more out
there that life had to offer.
NSAEN
So
how did you stay away from the violence of the streets and gangs?
Antonio
Well
I really didn’t. I was in a pretty rough part of the city so I had to eat or
get eaten. I fought in school, made bad
grades, played around in class, carried guns and things like that. At the time
I thought that’s what it meant to be cool. After seeing friends killed and
going to jail I found out that it wasn’t so cool. Ha ha ha
NSAEN
Sounds
like you learned a lot from the streets, in business and motivation! Speaking
of which, what is the show about and what’s your motivation behind it?
Antonio
My
motivation for the show is that I want to make a difference and to help promote
new and upcoming artists of all genres here on the central coast of California
and artists abroad.
Another
motivation is I’ve always wanted to build a business that I could pass on to my
kids and hopefully they could take my ideas and incorporate their own and take
BlinkShow TV to another level in business.
The
show basically is about artist, entertainment topics and news that people don’t
get a chance to see or hear. In essence
that’s what separates me from other cable / internet shows or rap shows; my
focus is on the new artist and those who are unheard of.. Yet until they are on
my show. LOL
Although
I do have major artists on the show the focus is not on them. They are usually
already set. They will usually bless me with a shout out or a quick update or
something like that...Artist E 40, G-Unit, David Banner, Pitt Bull etc… they
don’t mind hollar’in at me, some of them even ask to be a guest on the show ha
ha!
NSAEN
What
type of artist or what level of an artist do you mean specifically that will
benefit from your show?
Antonio
…It’s the artist that has been trying to get
that extra bit of a push and or that artist that has just started and they do
not know where to go with their talent.
I’m not GOD so I do not make any promises that I’m going to make you a
star, but I have “very important people” who watch the show.., So anyone can
talk to me about being on the show, but only artists that are truly into their
craft and who are out there putting in work or who really want to put in the
work. Country, Rock, R&B, Rap, Alternative etc…You will be seen by being on
the show.
NSAEN
What
is it that you enjoy most about the show?
Antonio
What
I enjoy most about the show is that I get to help others reach their goals, and
I can give them the tools in the form of interviews, music video, and photo
shoots that they can use through out their career. If the artist or client is
happy then I feel good about my involvement in their success.
NSAEN
Are
you the only person who produces the show?
Antonio
No.
I produce and direct the show…I answer only to myself. But I do have affiliates that contribute to
the show and I contribute back to other companies, such as what we will be
doing here. (NSAEN will now be featured
on BlinkShow TV! ---Ed) The important thing about that is… when I say
“important people” watch the show, some of these other people, companies and
managers, know that only good artist will be on it. So they don’t mind
networking with me.
NSAEN
So
companies can be on the show as well, not just artist? Please explain.
Antonio
Yes,
that’s right. I promote businesses also. It’s the same idea. Businesses that
are just starting out who do not have a lot of capital and who are afraid of
television commercials because they think it’s too expensive. I hook them up to
the fullest capacity and they will have a clip about their business that I will
use “in-store”. It’s similar to when an
artist does a signing but now the focus is on the business…Especially if their
product is music related or can fit in that area.
I’m
starting to deal with record companies more now, because the smaller record
companies are looking for hot acts and they are trying to get their message out
to the artists.
NSAEN
So
what is, in your opinion, the best show you have produced?
Antonio
That’s
difficult to answer…I enjoy every episode I produce, but I do like it when I
have a beginning artist who finds my show and he/she gets that exposure that
they thought they couldn’t afford. And
all of a sudden they see themselves on television. That puts a smile on my
face.
NSAEN
So
for my readers to have an idea of your work, which has benefited by being on
your show so far?
Antonio
Well,
as far as the new artist that have crossed the show…Define (out of the Bay
Area), Colby O’Donis, now with Akons’ Convict Musik, The Swagga Bois, now with
Katt Pack Records, LMS, now with SLORush entertainment, Brown Boy, Thangled
Thoughts with the Dog Pound (Karupt Records)..Etc. I can’t really think of
everyone ha ha… But it’s been a lot. Some have moved on and have landed large
deals with some major companies. I was just at the right place at the right
time to see these artists progress and now other artists can benefit from that
same opportunity.
I
think one of the nice ingredients about the show and its success is that it’s
based in an area that is currently in a booming growth as far as its population
and culture. Here on the central coast,
the city of Santa Maria is now the largest city, passing Santa Barbara and San
Luis Obispo, which is our largest college town.
That says a lot about the music market here.
NSAEN
I
see…It sounds like you have things covered. So what do you do when things get
tough, how do you handle it?
Antonio
I try to rely on my faith in my high power and
my personal faith and my will to be successful. I turn to my mother for
guidance when I’m feeling like I can’t do it. I read a lot of positive material
from my favorite speaker Les Brown and other powerful speakers. I think about
my kids and the potential impact they will have on the world. That always keeps
me focused and motivated.
I
have a best friend in Las Vegas that I talk to on a daily bases that I share
all of my drama with, she and I have been friends for like 20 yrs. Ha ha…Everyone
needs a friend like that.
NSAEN
What
are your future plans for the show?
Antonio
To
continue to expand my network base and help more and more artist get the
exposure that will help them.
I
would expect to be seen on a major network and currently in discussions with a
few networks. I would like to have a
co-host that is excited about the business and can help expand so I can be more
behind the scenes. It’s hard doing it all.
And
I’ve started to look into expanding to a Latin version of the show.
NSAEN
How
long has your show been on the air?
Antonio
The
show has been airing since summer of 2006.
And it keeps continuously growing as the word gets more out.
NSAEN
So,
where can my reader find you when they want to talk to you about your show and
view the show?
Antonio
To
stay tune with me you can always go to myspace address or you tube (Clips), its
www.myspace.com/blinkshow805
there you will find clips of the show can add yourself as my friend. Plus I
have give-a-ways all the time and other special promotions like that.
To
view me on television; you can tune in to Comcast Cable channel 25 in this
county, but obliviously I will be expanding that. My email is Antonio_Freeman@msn.com.
NSAEN
Thank
you for your time. I am excited to have you a part of our team as well here
with No Strings Attached E News… I’m sure you will be as great a contributor to
this magazine as we will be to your show. For our readers to better understand;
“BlinkShow TV and NSAEN have teamed up to expand the market and clientele.
See
you soon on the air!!!!!!!!!!