St. Croix resident Stephanie Chalana Brown started her own television show two months ago as a way to get the younger generation involved in cultural events. “What’s Going Down, Virgin Islands” can be seen at 7 p.m. Saturdays on WSVI Channel 8.
Brown is a fine arts teacher at Central High School, but she used to work at Channel 12 as an editor and production assistant. She said there was a generational gap, in which young people seem uninterested in cultural events on the island.
“I used to try to coax younger people into watching these shows, and so I felt like I could address that gap,” she said.
Brown originally started playing with the idea in February at the Agricultural Fair. She put the video online at the popular video sites YouTube and Vimeo, and after filming a few more events, she realized she could turn it into a show for the younger generation.
Her goal is to attend as many events as possible in St. Croix, and eventually find a person in St. Thomas to do the same. Brown explores many issues, and while she primarily focuses on showcasing local artists and musicians, nothing is off-limits.
A typical show includes a variety of topics. First, there is a weekly wrap-up of all the events she attended, with video footage shot with her Sony PD. Then Brown invites local artists to perform and promote their music or other entertainment. Sometimes there are commercials, and occasionally, comic relief.
Brown uses sponsors to keep the show on the air, but makes absolutely no profit. She feels like she’s assisting the community by showing people abroad local V.I. cultural events, and hopes that more people will tune-in to see what great stuff the islands have to offer.
In total, there are nine episodes, and the tenth will be shown Saturday night.
To watch the show, either tune-in to WSVI Channel 8 on Saturdays at 7 p.m. or type in “Whatsgoingdownvirginislands” on Youtube or Vimeo to watch the past episodes.