Diva Communications

Diva Communications, Inc. is a programming and production company that specializes in video for broadcast, cable, Internet and marketing use.[1] Founded by Dr. Debra Gonsher Vinik in 1985, Diva Communications has produced 16 documentaries on faith-based and social justice issues and has successfully ventured into short-form video for the web and mobile devices.[2]

History

Diva got its start in 1985, when Debra Gonsher, after stints at Bravo, CBS and Twentieth Century Fox, formed Diva Communications. The company initially made production deals with Orion Pictures and Fox Hills Video, producing a series of wide-ranging home video offerings including How to Read a Woman Like a Book, How to Become the Love of His Life, Bizarre Sports Incredible Feats, and Get Rich Quick By Beating the Odds.

In 1995, the company merged with David Vinik’s Davideo Productions, which owned the full complement of production and post-production equipment. Diva's first film production after the merger was Embracing Judaism: Reaching In, Reaching Out, Reaching Up. It resulted in the book Embracing Judaism: Narratives of Personal Faith published by Jason Aronson.[3] Since then the company has created, written, filmed and edited 16 documentaries which have aired on major television outlets and screened in film festivals worldwide. These films address such subjects as disability, hunger in America, intimate partner violence and healthcare.

Diva Communications also produces video content for the Web and mobile apps. In 2010, the company began creating the short videos Morning and Evening Meditations, for Odyssey Network’s Call on Faith mobile app. Call on Faith is a library of short inspirational videos, available both online and on mobile devices.[4] Diva's "Morning Thoughts" video is the most frequently watched video on the Call on Faith's Prayer Channel.[5]

Along with author and radio host Rabbi Irwin Kula, co-president of CLAL, Diva produced a short video series called the Wisdom of the Holidays [6] and recently completed the sequel, Wisdom of the Prayers.[7]

Diva also curates the Mincha Moment website, a series of original web videos devoted to gratitude. In 2013, a short video from Mincha featuring Rabbi Kula received an Emmy nomination.[8] Dr. Gonsher Vinik was subsequently invited to contribute an article named “Practicing Gratitude” to the Women of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA) website Bold Café.

Films

The Beauty of Their Dreams ABC (in production)
In the Garden of the Ghetto (in production)
Every Word Has Power ABC (in production)
All of the Above' ABC
Divine Prescription ABC 2014 NY Emmy
A Peace of Bread ABC RNA 2nd place
I Believe You ABC & NBC Emmy Nomination, RNA 3rd
A Place for All ABC & NBC Emmy Nomination, De Rose Hinkhouse 1st place
Yearning to Belong ABC & NBC 2009 NY Emmy
Everyone Prays at Holy Etchmiadzin ABC & PBS Emmy Nomination
And the Gates Opened ABC & NBC 2008 NY Emmy
The Eternal Light ABC & NBC 2007 NY Emmy
Legacy of our Ancestors ABC & NBC
The Highest Commandment ABC & NBC
Faith First ABC & NBC
A Sacred Noise ABC & NBC
…To God’s Ear ABC & NBC
Grateful, Am I, To You ABC & NBC 1st prize, Education Category, 7th Annual International Jewish Film Festival
Embracing Judaism ABC & NBC

Films produced by Diva Communications have aired on television networks such as PBS, NBC and ABC.[9] Divine Prescription: Stories of Faith, Health, and Community began airing on ABC-affiliated stations in January, 2013.[10]

Their latest documentary All of the Above: Single, Clergy, Mother,[11] began airing on ABC in March 2014.[12]

Awards

Diva's films have won four local Emmy awards and eight nominations.[13] In February, 2012, Diva's film I Believe You was nominated for two Emmys, one for Best Religious Programming and one for Best Editing.[14] In February 2013, their short web video, Grateful For The Partial, was nominated for a New York Emmy for Best Religion News/Feature.[15] And in 2014, their documentary Divine Prescription won an Emmy award.[16]

Diva won the 2010 DeRose-Hinkhouse Award for Best in Broadcasting for the documentary, A Place for All: Faith and Community for Persons with Disabilities.[17] The film tells the stories of disabled individuals working to make their faith communities more inclusive of them.

External links

References

  1. ↑ http://blog.jtsa.edu/changemakers/2013/03/11/embracing-my-intern-diva/
  2. ↑ http://www.faithtrustinstitute.org/news/diva-comm-award
  3. ↑ https://rowman.com/ISBN/9780765760975
  4. ↑ http://www.maryknollsociety.org/index.php/articles/2-articles/914-gift-of-mission-channel-is-featured-on-the-odyssey-networks-call-on-faith-mobile-app
  5. ↑ http://www.callonfaith.com/prayer/a-prayer-for-the-morning/
  6. ↑ http://www.clal.org/cms/node/2639
  7. ↑ http://www.clal.org/cms/node/3017
  8. ↑ http://www.clal.org/cms/node/2641
  9. ↑ "A Peace of Bread: Faith, Food and the Future debuts in November on ABC affiliated stations". Retrieved 2012-02-10.
  10. ↑ http://www.divacommunications.com/programs/divine-prescription-to-air-on-abc-starting-january-20th/
  11. ↑ http://www.thejewishweek.com/arts/film/single-mom-clergy-public-role-private-path
  12. ↑ http://jwa.org/blog/all-of-above-refusing-to-choose March 2014
  13. ↑ "2009 New York Emmy Awards". Retrieved 2012-02-13.
  14. ↑ "55th Annual Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). Retrieved 2012-02-17.
  15. ↑ http://www.nynatas.org/attachments/wysiwyg/5423/2013%20NY%20Emmy%20Nominees%20Press%20Release%20Feb%208.pdf
  16. ↑ Divine Prescription
  17. ↑ http://www.uconnucedd.org/lend/news_events/2011/film.html
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