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Press Room

Get the latest news about AMI programming and learn about accessibility events in your community.

Press Room

Get the latest news about AMI programming and learn about accessibility events in your community.

AMI Nominated for PromaxBDA Best Program Spot

Image from the Book of Negroes promo shows a man holding a spear with a woman embracing a child in the background.

For the first time AMI has been nominated for a PromaxBDA North American Award for Best Program Spot or Campaign. The nomination was received for a promotional spot for The Book of Negroes, a six-part mini-series based on an award-winning Canadian novel that aired on AMI-tv in February and March. AMI Promo Producer Mike Smith details the creative process behind the making of the spot and how it feels to receive this prestigious recognition.

By Mike Smith, AMI Promo Producer

The Book of Negroes promo came together very naturally because the series was shot beautifully and contained a lot of compelling content which really helped sell the show.

Usually when writing a promo I start by watching the TV series or movie and keep an ear out for standalone dialogue clips that tell the story in an exciting way. Because of our blind and low vision audience members, we write the promos as if we are writing a radio spot to guarantee accessibility. I find that using strong dialogue clips is the best way to highlight the program’s vibe and energy without relying on visuals.

While watching The Book of Negroes I found plenty of exciting clips to work with, which always makes my job easier! I narrowed down the options to the clips I felt best told the story in the most interesting way and I used a narrator in between to provide more context to the series. The narration and strong dialogue alongside a variety of captivating visual shots helped to create a well-rounded, exciting promo for all members of our audience.

Our promo for The Book of Negroes is a finalist for the Best Program Spot or Campaign: Syndicator/Distributor category at the PromaxBDA 2016 North American Awards. Please visit PromaxBDA to learn more about the organization and this year's awards, which will be presented in New York City in June.