PRODUCER: NORMAN PARRISH
While working as a Technical Specialist at Goldman Sachs, Norman Parrish sold a piece of music that managed to get licensed for the soundtrack of the film “Belly”. Although Norman was a novice to the music industry at the time, that soundtrack went on to sell over 500,000 units. He!s been making large strides in music ever since, providing music to artists on record labels including Def Jam, Warner Brothers and MCA to name a few.
A seasoned music connoisseur with a knack for computer technology, Norman went on to consult for Russell Simmons! innovative and acclaimed 360hiphop.com at the height of the dot com boom. The site was eventually sold to Black Entertainment Television.
Norman decided to expand his horizons as well as his understanding of the entertainment industry by working in television production as a production assistant. His various credits include projects for A&E, VH1, Bravo, ABC Family and the Comedy Central networks.
A self-proclaimed “B-Boy,” Norman has dedicated his career to exposing niche music forms to larger audiences. From executive producing and promoting albums by underground hip-hop artists, to co-founding and marketing the Urban Lounge Suite series – a musical lounge experience matching sounds to the sights, colors and moods of some of the hottest hangouts around the world, Norman is a multifaceted talent.
In 2005 Norman founded The Parrish Group and represents a collective of today!s hottest and most cutting-edge music producers and directors. The Parrish Group has successfully licensed music for use by such brands as Burger King and Time Warner Cable. In 2006, The Parrish Group won a Radio Mercury Award for Best Urban Commercial Spot, their first Urban category ever. The Radio-Mercury Awards is the richest nationwide competition devoted exclusively to honoring and rewarding Radio creative for excellence in Radio advertising.
Norman attended Temple University where he majored in Sociology. Speaking in Tongues is his first project as a Producer.
The future is bright, indeed.
DIRECTOR: OMAR AKIL
Since, graduating from Temple University, in 1995, Omar Akil has excelled in all facets of media production, by successfully creating groundbreaking and original television, film, corporate and web content for more than 12 years.
In 2001, Omar Akil joined THE SOURCE: ALL ACCESS family as a consultant/at-large content provider, by creating/producing an auto lifestyle segment titled “WHIPS”. Eventually Omar would move on to serve as senior producer of VIBE Magazine’s syndicated program, WEEKEND VIBE.
At the 2004 H2O International Film Festival, Omar’s short subject “THE DEFENDANT RESTS” was honored as BEST NARRATIVE SHORT. In 2005, another one of Omar’s shorts, “UNCLE POP” (ANDRE ROYO), was honored as official selections for: The Black Hollywood Film Festival, The Independent Black Film Festival, Cinequest Film Festival, and The Arizona Black Film Festival, respectively.
In the Summer of 2005, with Omar Akil credited as Director, the groundbreaking documentary “BLACK WHEELS” debuted in 130 television markets across the country. Omar, along with Executive Producers Tim Reid and Byron Hunter were honored with a TRAILBLAZER AWARD by the Association for Diversity in Motorsports’ (AFDIM).
The trio (Tim Reid, Byron Hunter, Omar Akil) reunited again to produce “RAINBOW ON THE GREEN”, a documentary chronicling the legacy of minority achievement in the sport of professional golf. Like their first effort, the documentary aired in 130 television markets and has received critical acclaim from sports and television professionals.
Since founding Cylent Films, Inc. – a media production suite specializing in client specific content of various production budgets and needs – in 2003, Omar!s production company has created Broadcast, DVD, VIDEO-ON-DEMAND, WEB and CORPORATE media content for such clients as: Black Entertainment Television, FUSE TV, SONY URBAN MUSIC, ATLANTIC RECORDS, VIBE MAGAZINE, U.S. CONCEPTS, and others.
Currently, Omar serves as Senior Producer for RAP CITY on the BET NETWORK, a Viacom company.
Speaking In Tongues 