BIO

For LeVar Pickens it didn’t take long before he knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. At the young age of 8, his late uncle gave him a camera to play with. Having no initial idea of what to do he just began shooting things. It was this moment that introduced him to the art of storytelling through photographs and videos.

With his hand-me-down camera he began to tell short stories, create videos of family gatherings and he quickly fell in love. Shortly after he put himself in front of a computer and began to learn the basics of AVID, an industry leading film editing program.

Upon entering high school he joined Strive Media Institute, an after school program that produced both a national magazine (Gumbo Teen Magazine) and a television show (Gumbo TV). Under the direction of Tate Bunker, LeVar learned all aspects of video production including scripting, shooting, storyboarding, lighting techniques, editing and audio.

He also traveled the country with the organization for years filming different events and television episodes and found himself nominated for an Emmy at age 16. He won his first Emmy Award at age 16 as a student, his second at 18 as a student and his third nomination at 20 as an associate producer.

After devoting over 6 years to Strive He now works as a freelance photographer and videographer searching for more unique ways to learn and grow as an artist.

He plans to open his own production company specializing in photography, film and graphic design in the future. And his ultimate goal is to continue to capture the eyes and hearts of the audience by telling a captivating story using nothing more than his camera.

“Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.”

For more information or to check out LeVar’s work visit www.LeVarPickens.com

Awards

Emmy, Outstanding Achievement in Children’s Series, 2003 (Gumbo TV)

Emmy nomination, 2004 (Gumbo Teen TV)

Black Excellence Award, 2005 (Louvenia Johnson Scholarship)

Emmy Nomination, 2006 (Strive Media)

Link Here

Select Works Completed

• DOP: Dear Obama PSA
• Producer: Vezzeo Mobile Vest Commercial
• Co-Producer: Plugged in Politics
• P.A.: Short Film, “Star Light, Star Bright”, Limelight
• Co-Producer: Teen Positive, Fox 6 Milwaukee
• Co-Producer: Teen Positive 2, Fox 6 Milwaukee
• Student Producer: Gumbo TV Episode #26 Hip Hop Show
• Videography/Editor: Breakin’ Motion, Break Dancers, Gumbo TV
• Videography/Editor: Commercialization of Skateboarding, Gumbo TV
• Videography/Editor: Gear Up commercials
• Editor: Wisconsin’s Future Student Exchange Documentary
• Commercials: GTV’s “The Cast”, Gumbo Magazine promotional
• Graphics: Gumbo TV, Teen Positive, Ya’ Heard Magazine