Zsolt Luka
Encyclopedia
Zsolt Luka is a television director
, editor
, videographer
and producer
. He is best known for his role in the reality show
Around the World For Free
.
and Mystery Hunters
. He started directing in 2002 on Mystery Hunters and continued with children's shows such as Prank Patrol
, usually editing his own work. He also edited Great Hotels
, Passport to Europe
and other travel-oriented shows for the Travel Channel
in the early 2000s.
In 2007, together with partners Alex Boylan
and Burton Roberts, Luka launched Around the World For Free
and set off on a trip around the globe, from September 18 to February 23, 2008. Luka directed, filmed and edited the online series on the fly (once, in a butcher shop with newly slaughtered pigs hanging behind him), producing eight hours of edited content for the online audience. The program had a loyal following that even included schoolchildren, who welcomed the travelers back at the end of the journey during a visit to their school. The online project was re-packaged for television by Luka and sold to WGN America who began broadcasting in spring 2009.
Luka undertook a smaller online/broadcast hybrid project mirrored on the same model for Rachael Ray
in the summer of 2008 called Rach to the Rescue.
On July 26, 2010, Luka reprised his role of producing, directing and editing the second season of Around the World For Free
, this time for CBS.com, with new host Jeff Schroeder of Big Brother 11
and The Amazing Race 16
fame, and major sponsors AT&T
and American Airlines
attached. They set off from The Early Show
on a 105-day journey around the world, with Luka filing popular webisodes (over 7 million video streams and 4mm page views ) from thirteen different countries visited. Only one week after wrapping the show on November 4, 2010, Around the World For Free
won both "Best Video Series/Show" and also "Best of Show" at the inaugural Diva Awards in New York City.
Luka's charity efforts include in-kind donated videos for organizations such as the Cambodian Red Cross
.
in editing a few times for various works.
He received an Emmy nomination for his work in Great Hotels
Television director
A television director directs the activities involved in making a television program and is part of a television crew.-Duties:The duties of a television director vary depending on whether the production is live or recorded to video tape or video server .In both types of productions, the...
, editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, videographer
Videographer
Strictly speaking, a videographer is a person who works in the field of videography, video production — recording moving images and sound on video tape, disk, other electro-mechanical device. News broadcasting relies heavily on live television where videographers engage in electronic news...
and producer
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
. He is best known for his role in the reality show
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
Around the World For Free
Around the World for Free
Around The World For Free aka ATWFF is an online/broadcast hybrid reality series based on the concept of whether a person can circle the globe without any money. The show follows a reality star, as they attempt to travel around the world without any money on hand...
.
Career
His TV career began in the mid-1990s working as an editor on Canadian children's shows like Popular Mechanics for KidsPopular Mechanics for Kids
Popular Mechanics for Kids was a Canadian children's television series based on Popular Mechanics magazine. It was notable for starting the careers of both Elisha Cuthbert and Jay Baruchel. The show's purpose was to teach children how things work...
and Mystery Hunters
Mystery Hunters
Mystery Hunters is a Canadian Documentary television series aimed at a Young audience. It aired on YTV in Canada and on Discovery Kids in the United States. It was also dubbed in Japanese and aired in Japan on NHK....
. He started directing in 2002 on Mystery Hunters and continued with children's shows such as Prank Patrol
Prank Patrol
Prank Patrol is a children's television series currently airing on YTV. Each week, Andy and a team of "ninjas" help kids pull off pranks on an unsuspecting victim...
, usually editing his own work. He also edited Great Hotels
Great Hotels
Great Hotels is a television show on the Travel Channel. The show, hosted by Samantha Brown, travels around the United States to show some of its most renowned hotels...
, Passport to Europe
Passport to Europe
Passport to Europe is a television show on the Travel Channel. The show follows the bubbly and upbeat television host Samantha Brown around Europe visiting various popular European cities, including prime travel destinations such as Berlin, Venice, Florence, Rome, Paris and London, as well as...
and other travel-oriented shows for the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
in the early 2000s.
In 2007, together with partners Alex Boylan
Alex Boylan
Alex Boylan is known as a reality TV contestant, TV show host and producer. He first came to public attention as part of the winning team together with his friend Chris Luca in the second season of the reality TV show The Amazing Race in 2002...
and Burton Roberts, Luka launched Around the World For Free
Around the World for Free
Around The World For Free aka ATWFF is an online/broadcast hybrid reality series based on the concept of whether a person can circle the globe without any money. The show follows a reality star, as they attempt to travel around the world without any money on hand...
and set off on a trip around the globe, from September 18 to February 23, 2008. Luka directed, filmed and edited the online series on the fly (once, in a butcher shop with newly slaughtered pigs hanging behind him), producing eight hours of edited content for the online audience. The program had a loyal following that even included schoolchildren, who welcomed the travelers back at the end of the journey during a visit to their school. The online project was re-packaged for television by Luka and sold to WGN America who began broadcasting in spring 2009.
Luka undertook a smaller online/broadcast hybrid project mirrored on the same model for Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray
Rachael Domenica Ray is an American television personality, businesswoman, celebrity chef and author. She hosts the syndicated talk and lifestyle program Rachael Ray and three Food Network series, 30 Minute Meals, Rachael Ray's Tasty Travels and $40 a Day...
in the summer of 2008 called Rach to the Rescue.
On July 26, 2010, Luka reprised his role of producing, directing and editing the second season of Around the World For Free
Around the World for Free
Around The World For Free aka ATWFF is an online/broadcast hybrid reality series based on the concept of whether a person can circle the globe without any money. The show follows a reality star, as they attempt to travel around the world without any money on hand...
, this time for CBS.com, with new host Jeff Schroeder of Big Brother 11
Big Brother 11 (U.S.)
Big Brother 11 is the 11th season of the American reality television series Big Brother. It began on July 9, 2009 and aired on CBS and Showtime 2 for 73 days, concluding on September 15, 2009 when Jordan Lloyd was crowned the winner with four votes from the jury and one vote from the viewing public...
and The Amazing Race 16
The Amazing Race 16
The Amazing Race 16 is the sixteenth installment of the reality television show The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race 16 features eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, in a race around the world....
fame, and major sponsors AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
and American Airlines
American Airlines
American Airlines, Inc. is the world's fourth-largest airline in passenger miles transported and operating revenues. American Airlines is a subsidiary of the AMR Corporation and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas adjacent to its largest hub at Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport...
attached. They set off from The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
on a 105-day journey around the world, with Luka filing popular webisodes (over 7 million video streams and 4mm page views ) from thirteen different countries visited. Only one week after wrapping the show on November 4, 2010, Around the World For Free
Around the World for Free
Around The World For Free aka ATWFF is an online/broadcast hybrid reality series based on the concept of whether a person can circle the globe without any money. The show follows a reality star, as they attempt to travel around the world without any money on hand...
won both "Best Video Series/Show" and also "Best of Show" at the inaugural Diva Awards in New York City.
Luka's charity efforts include in-kind donated videos for organizations such as the Cambodian Red Cross
Cambodian Red Cross
The Cambodian Red Cross is the largest humanitarian organization in Cambodia. Established on the 18 February 1955, it is officially recognized by the Royal Government as the primary auxiliary to the public authorities in humanitarian services...
.
Awards/nominations
Luka was nominated for the Canadian Gemini AwardGemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
in editing a few times for various works.
He received an Emmy nomination for his work in Great Hotels
Great Hotels
Great Hotels is a television show on the Travel Channel. The show, hosted by Samantha Brown, travels around the United States to show some of its most renowned hotels...