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THE FILMMAKERS: pETE AND BEVERLY O'NEAL

BIO

 

PPPETE O'NEAL 

    Pete O’Neal, veteran news photographer, has been in the television business almost thirty years. His desire to record events through the eye of a camera began at the age of eight when an unknown photographer allowed him to look through the viewfinder of his camera. From that moment on, his love for the camera began.

       Growing up in East Baltimore, Pete was always searching for adventure while riding his ten speed bicycle all over the city. In 1985 he combined his passion for the streets of Baltimore and his love of the camera by landing a coveted spot in local TV news. Becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the negative images of the city being broadcast nightly on the news and desiring to offset these images with more positive ones, Pete decided to produce his own television programming.

     In 1991 Pete decided to show the good side of the city by creating the show Turn It Up which featured local and national music artists as well as dancers and comedians. Beginning in 1993, Pete honed his skill at producing while working with Barry Levinson as technical advisor and actor on the national NBC television show, Homicide-Life on the Street. In 1997 Pete again spread his producing and directorial wings as he and his wife Beverly created a children’s television program called It’s Kindertime for which he received several Emmy Awards for directing. Airing weekly on WMAR -TV for six years, the show itself received multiple Emmy Awards and was the impetus for the formation of the It’s Kindertime Toy Drive which now in its 15th year has provided toys to hundreds of thousands of homeless, needy and sick children throughout the state of Maryland. Having worked with or helped people in all walks of life, Pete has become well known among the citizens of Baltimore and the state of Maryland. From police officers and other emergency responders, to religious leaders and politicians on the local and state level, Pete is able to gather resources to bring his many projects to successful completion.       

     Throughout his career, Pete has been the recipient of many professional and community service awards. The following words by William Penn summarize his philosophy on life. "I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do for any fellow beings, let me do it now... as I shall not pass this way again."    

 

  BEVERLY O'NEAL, M.Ed,

 

  Educator Beverly Frazier O’Neal, M.Ed has over 30 years of experience teaching in the Baltimore City Public School System. Beverly has served in many capacities from elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist to library media specialist. Beverly brings her extensive background in education to many of the projects she and her husband Pete create and produce together. Working as a team, Beverly and her husband Pete created the Emmy Award winning children’s television show, It’s Kindertime, which aired every Saturday morning from 1997 to 2003 on WMAR-TV. Beverly helped to produce the show as well as portray one of the show’s characters, Mrs. Alpha Bett. Beverly has also written and helped to produce television commercials for local businesses and for the state of Maryland.   d has over 30 years of experience teaching in the Baltimore City Public School System. Beverly has served in many capacities from elementary classroom teacher and reading specialist to library media specialist. Beverly brings her extensive background in education to many of the projects she and her husband Pete create and produce together. Working as a team, Beverly and her husband Pete created the Emmy Award winning children’s television show, It’s Kindertime, which aired every Saturday morning from 1997 to 2003 on WMAR-TV. Beverly helped to produce the show as well as portray one of the show’s characters, Mrs. Alpha Bett. Beverly has also written and helped to produce television commercials for local businesses and for the state of Maryland.

 

 

eye of a camera began at the age of eight when an unknown photographer allowed him to look through the viewfinder of his camera. From that moment on, his love for the camera began. Growing up in East Baltimore, Pete was always searching for adventure while riding his ten speed bicycle all over the city. In 1985 he combined his passion for the streets of Baltimore and his love of the camera by landing a coveted spot in local TV news. Becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the negative images of the city being broadcast nightly on the news and desiring to offset these images with more positive ones, Pete decided to produce his own television programming. In 1991 Pete decided to show the good side of the city by creating the show Turn It Up which featured local and national music artists as well as dancers and comedians. Beginning in 1993, Pete honed his skill at producing while working with Barry Levinson as technical advisor and actor on the national NBC television show, Homicide-Life on the Street. In 1997 Pete again spread his producing and directorial wings as he and his wife Beverly created a children’s television program called It’s Kindertime for which he received several Emmy Awards for directing. Airing weekly on WMAR -TV for six years, the show itself received multiple Emmy Awards and was the impetus for the formation of the It’s Kindertime Toy Drive which now in its 15th year has provided toys to hundreds of thousands of homeless, needy and sick children throughout the state of Maryland. Having worked with or helped people in all walks of life, Pete has become well known among the citizens of Baltimore and the state of Maryland. From police officers and other emergency responders, to religious leaders and politicians on the local and state level, Pete is able to gather resources to bring his many projects to successful completion. Throughout his career, Pete has been the recipient of many professional and community service awards. The following words by William Penn summarize his philosophy on life. "I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do for any fellow beings, let me do it now... as I shall not pass this way again."

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