Stunning reception for youth-run TV show

By Shaun Inguanzo
A CREW of enthusiastic young people has elevated a television show from the humble setting of a Dandenong living room to the national stage.
As a result, the Fusion Latina show on Channel 31 has been nominated in several categories competing against 400 other programs at community television’s Logies-equivalent, The Antennas.
The Antennas will be held in Federation Square this June, with Fusion Latina nominated for Best Female Presenter, Best Youth Program, and Best Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Program.
The show was conceived in late 2004 after Keysborough resident Carlos Fermin Estrada decided to kick-start a youth-orientated Spanish-speaking show covering local topics and events with a distinct Spanish and Latin American flavour.
Fusion Latina’s executive produce Francisco Lopez said the show evolved with the aid of a group of like-minded young people, all volunteers, with many from Greater Dandenong. He said the then Spanish-speaking show was initially filmed at crew member Milano Livera’s house in Dandenong before later moving to a studio and being spoken in English to appeal to a wider audience.
Other Greater Dandenong locals working on the show include Melissa Benavides from Noble Park North, and new male presenter Rodrigo Agliati from Dandenong.
Mr Lopez said the young crew was ecstatic with the nominations which were announced in April.
“It’s been great to see that with enough passion and commitment, a group of young people like ourselves can create something worthwhile and learn so much along the way,” he said.
“We have gone from shooting in our mate’s living-room in Dandenong, to being recognised Australia-wide for the work we do. The fact that we can share the Spanish and Latin-American culture with other Australians is very satisfying.”
The Fusion Latina team has even attended local events such as this year’s Sumnation Festival, where it interviewed and filmed the Maya Dance group, a Dandenong-based Salvadorian Folkloric dance troupe.
Fusion Latina will find out if its Antenna nominations have been successful on 16 June at the BMW Edge room, Federation Square.