Miami Palmetto High School Graduates
Pinecrest, Florida (FL)
Alumni Stories
Marie McMorris-Bruce
Class of 1986
T
his well-seasoned, driven Entertainment Executive offers an extensive background in the multi-media industry with a proven track record of stellar productions.
Marie Bruce graduated from the University of Miami with honors, where she was a member of Alpha Epsilon Rho (the National Broadcasting Honor Society) and was the first black female to win the School of Communication’s Judy Wallace Director’s Award.
Fresh out of University, she entered the media market full of zeal and gained experience in both Radio and Television through her experiences with organizations such as WTMI, South Florida’s leading Classical Music Radio Station in Sales and Marketing, WLRN-TV (PBS Miami, FL Affiliate) where she produced and hosted a television series entitled Caribbean Affair, WPLG Channel 10 (ABC Affiliate) where she gained experience as a Promotions Coordinator and with JBC Radio (Kingston, Jamaica) and Co-produced and hosted a Radio Program entitled “Breakthrough” for Wint, Ltd., for whom she also served as an Associate Producer/Writer for the popular television series “Tuesday Forum”.
The early years of her career merged into the music industry while spending five years in Jamaica, her native country, first on a mission to launch a ½ hour magazine format television show starring Cedella Marley (Bob Marley’s daughter) but later as Director of Marketing and A&R, for Bob Marley’s record label, Tuff Gong International. During her tenure with Tuff Gong, she was involved with the process of the birth of Tuff Gong Pictures, a film production subdivision of Tuff Gong International, where she directed music videos for record labels such as Tuff Gong, Island and EMI Records, and also played a key-role in the launch of the clothing line “Catch a Fire”, along with the New York Division of the company.
She later became involved in free-lance projects developing an impressive client list including international companies such as AT&T and Colgate Palmolive in the role of both 1st Assistant Director and also Production Coordinator. Awards for Directing include the JAMMY Award (the Reggae Grammy Awards), The Reggae/Soca Music Awards and the Tamika Award (International Reggae Music Awards). She also held the post of Vice President of the International Organization, Women in Film & Television (Jamaica Chapter).
After relocating to the US, Bruce joined the EDEFX Group, Inc., in Miami, Florida, taking responsibility for their programming division with focus on documentaries and entertainment-oriented programming. Shortly after EDEFX Group, Inc. closed its doors, she accepted on offer to relocate to New York City and joined PolyGram Records, as Manager, Business Affairs (after a brief tenure with Motown Records as an Executive Assistant to the Sr. VP of National Sales & Distribution).
Hometown Miami, FL reached out to Marie Bruce and called her home, to accept a position with Hearst Entertainment and Syndication (Owner’s of Lifetime, A&E, History Channels and Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire & Esquire Magazines) for the position of Executive in Charge of Production for Cosmopolitan Television; a television network developed as branding extension of the internationally renowned magazine of the same name. Bruce was involved with the development of the channel from conception along with the production and placement of both original and acquired programming, on a 24 hour programming wheel. The network now boasts an audience of over 7 million viewers in its first launch market, Spain.
After the successful launch of Cosmo TV, Bruce accepted the position of Programming Manager for the launch of a Television Shopping Network, named ShoptropolisTV.com for South Florida’s largest post production facility Broadcast Video, Inc. She was responsible for the design of the channel, along with development of original programming.
Bruce is also responsible for the production of various long-format television series, Live Concert Productions, and Concerts produced for release on DVD such as Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers Live! She also served as Producer for broadcast projects such as Reggae Sunsplash for Pay-Per-View for the US Market.
Marriage and family life invited Marie Bruce back home to Jamaica, and she was welcomed with an offer to re-launch and brand the Jamaica National News Network (JNN) a local 24 hour news channel (now acquired by the RJR group of companies) where she conceptualized the channel’s branding, along with the development and production of original programming for the network.
Bruce also re-connected with long time colleague, and popular pop-culture Music Video Director, Ras Kassa to serve as Producer for a Documentary entitled “King Dance”, Executive Produced by Chris Blackwell’s Palm Pictures. The cultural piece explores a historical perspective on Dance in Jamaica.
She was later summoned by the Jamaican Government to spearhead the launch of a Free-to-Air Educational television channel, the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica, where she handled research, development and design of the business plan including cultural, lifestyle and educational programming, branding and creative strategies for its launch.
Bruce’s passion for Child Advocacy, lead her to partner with FarEye Films (a local Jamaican production company) to Co-Executive Produce and Direct Television Jamaica’s (TVJ’S) outstanding Public Service Announcement campaign entitled the “Y-Files” (Sponsored by Digicel), focusing on the exploitation of children. The campaign provides information and education on sensitive topics while working towards community awareness for the prevention and resolution of those issues. The package of six (6) thirty (:30) second PSA’s featuring Olympic Gold Medalist Usain Bolt continues to saturate rotation on TVJ consistently for close to two (2) years.
Prior to returning to Miami with her family recently, her Director’s skills were beckoned by Sunline Jamaica Limited, (a Caribbean-based research and development company) to Produce and Direct an electronic press kit highlighting a technology prototype for international marketing.
Bruce currently works with Univision Management Company, (the company owns Univision Network, Telefutura Network, Galavision, Univision Radio, Univision Interactive Media, Univision Music Group (2001–2008), Univision Television Group, Telefutura Television Group, and TuTV (50% with Televisa) in Doral, FL as a Project Manager for the department of Program and Change Management.
Once again the beckoning call of her hometown Kingston Jamaica calls … to which she will return in June of 2011, continuing to expand the horizons of her career through free-lance and consultancy projects.
*****
his well-seasoned, driven Entertainment Executive offers an extensive background in the multi-media industry with a proven track record of stellar productions.
Marie Bruce graduated from the University of Miami with honors, where she was a member of Alpha Epsilon Rho (the National Broadcasting Honor Society) and was the first black female to win the School of Communication’s Judy Wallace Director’s Award.
Fresh out of University, she entered the media market full of zeal and gained experience in both Radio and Television through her experiences with organizations such as WTMI, South Florida’s leading Classical Music Radio Station in Sales and Marketing, WLRN-TV (PBS Miami, FL Affiliate) where she produced and hosted a television series entitled Caribbean Affair, WPLG Channel 10 (ABC Affiliate) where she gained experience as a Promotions Coordinator and with JBC Radio (Kingston, Jamaica) and Co-produced and hosted a Radio Program entitled “Breakthrough” for Wint, Ltd., for whom she also served as an Associate Producer/Writer for the popular television series “Tuesday Forum”.
The early years of her career merged into the music industry while spending five years in Jamaica, her native country, first on a mission to launch a ½ hour magazine format television show starring Cedella Marley (Bob Marley’s daughter) but later as Director of Marketing and A&R, for Bob Marley’s record label, Tuff Gong International. During her tenure with Tuff Gong, she was involved with the process of the birth of Tuff Gong Pictures, a film production subdivision of Tuff Gong International, where she directed music videos for record labels such as Tuff Gong, Island and EMI Records, and also played a key-role in the launch of the clothing line “Catch a Fire”, along with the New York Division of the company.
She later became involved in free-lance projects developing an impressive client list including international companies such as AT&T and Colgate Palmolive in the role of both 1st Assistant Director and also Production Coordinator. Awards for Directing include the JAMMY Award (the Reggae Grammy Awards), The Reggae/Soca Music Awards and the Tamika Award (International Reggae Music Awards). She also held the post of Vice President of the International Organization, Women in Film & Television (Jamaica Chapter).
After relocating to the US, Bruce joined the EDEFX Group, Inc., in Miami, Florida, taking responsibility for their programming division with focus on documentaries and entertainment-oriented programming. Shortly after EDEFX Group, Inc. closed its doors, she accepted on offer to relocate to New York City and joined PolyGram Records, as Manager, Business Affairs (after a brief tenure with Motown Records as an Executive Assistant to the Sr. VP of National Sales & Distribution).
Hometown Miami, FL reached out to Marie Bruce and called her home, to accept a position with Hearst Entertainment and Syndication (Owner’s of Lifetime, A&E, History Channels and Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire & Esquire Magazines) for the position of Executive in Charge of Production for Cosmopolitan Television; a television network developed as branding extension of the internationally renowned magazine of the same name. Bruce was involved with the development of the channel from conception along with the production and placement of both original and acquired programming, on a 24 hour programming wheel. The network now boasts an audience of over 7 million viewers in its first launch market, Spain.
After the successful launch of Cosmo TV, Bruce accepted the position of Programming Manager for the launch of a Television Shopping Network, named ShoptropolisTV.com for South Florida’s largest post production facility Broadcast Video, Inc. She was responsible for the design of the channel, along with development of original programming.
Bruce is also responsible for the production of various long-format television series, Live Concert Productions, and Concerts produced for release on DVD such as Ziggy Marley and the Melody Makers Live! She also served as Producer for broadcast projects such as Reggae Sunsplash for Pay-Per-View for the US Market.
Marriage and family life invited Marie Bruce back home to Jamaica, and she was welcomed with an offer to re-launch and brand the Jamaica National News Network (JNN) a local 24 hour news channel (now acquired by the RJR group of companies) where she conceptualized the channel’s branding, along with the development and production of original programming for the network.
Bruce also re-connected with long time colleague, and popular pop-culture Music Video Director, Ras Kassa to serve as Producer for a Documentary entitled “King Dance”, Executive Produced by Chris Blackwell’s Palm Pictures. The cultural piece explores a historical perspective on Dance in Jamaica.
She was later summoned by the Jamaican Government to spearhead the launch of a Free-to-Air Educational television channel, the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica, where she handled research, development and design of the business plan including cultural, lifestyle and educational programming, branding and creative strategies for its launch.
Bruce’s passion for Child Advocacy, lead her to partner with FarEye Films (a local Jamaican production company) to Co-Executive Produce and Direct Television Jamaica’s (TVJ’S) outstanding Public Service Announcement campaign entitled the “Y-Files” (Sponsored by Digicel), focusing on the exploitation of children. The campaign provides information and education on sensitive topics while working towards community awareness for the prevention and resolution of those issues. The package of six (6) thirty (:30) second PSA’s featuring Olympic Gold Medalist Usain Bolt continues to saturate rotation on TVJ consistently for close to two (2) years.
Prior to returning to Miami with her family recently, her Director’s skills were beckoned by Sunline Jamaica Limited, (a Caribbean-based research and development company) to Produce and Direct an electronic press kit highlighting a technology prototype for international marketing.
Bruce currently works with Univision Management Company, (the company owns Univision Network, Telefutura Network, Galavision, Univision Radio, Univision Interactive Media, Univision Music Group (2001–2008), Univision Television Group, Telefutura Television Group, and TuTV (50% with Televisa) in Doral, FL as a Project Manager for the department of Program and Change Management.
Once again the beckoning call of her hometown Kingston Jamaica calls … to which she will return in June of 2011, continuing to expand the horizons of her career through free-lance and consultancy projects.
*****
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