Biography
Born near the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains in Mt. Airy, North Carolina—a town known by many as the hometown of actor Andy Griffith, and the inspiration for the fictional town of Mayberry highlighted in The Andy Griffith Show—Chip Williford, the son of a Pentecostal minister and a former preschool teacher turned homemaker, grew up in geographic locations across America, including South Carolina, Ohio and New York due to his father’s work in ministry. A kind gentleman with strong doses of honor, integrity and humor, Chip learned hard work, innovation, perseverance, fortitude, strength, and love for the community from his parents.
A photographer, videographer, filmmaker, documentarian, family historian, researcher, and writer of prose, poetry and short stories, Chip is also the Treasurer and Co-Host for Poetry Street, which was founded by Susan Dingle and Robert “Bubbie Brown” as part of the East End Arts’ JumpstART program. He has co-produced and filmed the YouTube Series “Poetry Street on The Road,” and is featured on YouTube on “America, Please Learn From The Scars Of History”. He produced and co-directed, “Bohemia, Then and Now,” an educational historical documentary that was internationally recognized and also viewed by Bohemian American citizens along with the Bohemian Ambassador at the National Hall Bohemia Embassy in New York City following a full house premiere and red carpet reception at The Bohemia Historical Society Museum.
He’s the owner of Chip Williford Productions. For the past 10 years he has freelanced many times as Production Assistant, Talent Assistant Crew Manager and Back Stage Manager with Chew Entertainment, as well as worked on several annual BET Honors, Night Of Inspiration Concerts, Finding Ashley Stewart Tour Finales and other monumental events, award shows and concerts, including the Apollo Gala and Showtime At The Apollo. Chip is a constant at Carnegie Hall, The Apollo Theater and Brooklyn’s Kings Theater. He also worked at Madison Square Gardens for the 60th Annual Grammy Awards, the Musique Concert at The Van Nostrand Performance Arts Center, and most recently at The Tribeca Performance Arts Center for The 47th Annual Audelco Awards for Excellence in Black Theater - Red Carpet.
It is clear that Chip is well known in the arts industry and is even sought after as it is said that he is professional, candid, unbiased, a great leader, good listener and a truthful story teller.
Since 2013, Chip has been working in Riverhead. He is Technical Director and Visual Artist at the Suffolk Theater. Prior to that, he worked as a Purser/ Flight Attendant for 15 years with United Airlines. He has also worked for Columbia Home Loans as a Home Loan Officer on new, refinanced and reverse home loans, simultaneously, he worked on completing a degree in Television Production at Suffolk County Community College/ Ammerman Campus.
At the tender age of twenty one, Chip left home and moved all the way to Northern California to set out in search of his truth. It was there that he was inspired to capture the amazing genius of creation on film and contribute to its honest reality with reverence and humility. He and two friends, in 1984, started a business called Marvelous Productions Promotions through which they developed a show named, “Let’s Talk.” hosted by one of his mentors, Minister ElTyna McCree. Their first guest was none other than American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer, Lou Rawls—who creatively developed the Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon in 1980 and has since raised over $200 million through the show. From there, Chip went on to produce another show, for the next two and a half years called “30 Marvelous Minutes” because as their catch phrase stated, “Because Every Minute Counts.” It tackled difficult and heartfelt subjects such as drug addiction, AIDS, homelessness, Habitat for Humanity and community concerns, as well as concerts, and entertainment in the community.
He is more than a mentor to the young people who intern with him at Chip Williford Productions, studied with him at SCCC and those he works with at Suffolk Theater—he is a guiding light—a well lit city, if you would—a plethora of experience and encouragement, inspiring them to stretch themselves and to reach fearlessly for those things the world has told them are unattainable. He motivationally states, “Life is a one shot deal. Shoot your best shot.”
RESUME
Chip Williford
mrchipwilliford@aol.com (718) 930-6649 chipwilliford.com
May 2013 to Present: Technical Director - The Suffolk Theater - Riverhead, NY. - Manage and supervise all visual aspects of the shows and events. Consult with clients, venders, production team, caterers, performers and managements.
2006-2007 - Columbia Home Loans - Mortgage Loan Officer New home loans, Refinance and Reverse mortgage loans.
1997 - 2013 - United Airlines - Purser, International Flight Attendant - Managed onboard flight attendant crew of 8-22 persons, and provided assistance, leadership, and direction to everyone onboard
1990 - 1997 - I.T.C. Atlanta, GA - Media Specialist
Produced, filmed, edited and duplicated course videos for the extended educational curriculum for the students.
1988 - 1990 - Port of Oakland - Safety Specialist/ Traffic Control Officer - Loma Prieta Recovery Task Force
Education:
SCCC, Selden NY - Radio and Television Production, A.A.S. ( PTK AZN VP of Service ), SCCC Alumni Association
International Theological Center, Atlanta, GA - Certificate of Theology, ITC Alumni Association
Laney College - Television Production
Rutledge College - Business Administration - Spartanburg, SC
Freelance:
Videography and Production Service - Chip Williford Productions
Entertainment and Production Experience:
Grammy’s - Maddison Square Gardens,
47th Annual Audelco Awards - Tribeca Performing Arts Center,
Musique Concert - The Van Nostrand Performance Arts Center
Chew Entertainment: PA, Back Stage Manager, Red Carpet, Assistant to Miss Jaynell Grayson, 2nd Assistant to Mr Ray Chew and Mrs Vivian Chew. Apollo 80th Gala - Talent Assistant Crew Manager, ShowTime At The Apollo - Production Assistant, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 BET Honors - PA/Librarian - Warner Theater Washington, DC, Carnegie Hall - NY, NY - Night of Inspiration 2017, 2018 Back Stage Manager, Kings Theater, Brooklyn NY - Finding Ashley Stewart Tour Finale - Back Stage Manager 2018-2019, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Monument Dedication Ceremony - Washington, DC - Production Assistant
Strengths: logistical planning, analytical thinking, problem solving, diverse communication skills, managerial/training skills, trust worthy, works well alone or with others, dependable, creative, innovative, financial/computer savvy.
Videos
It all begins with an idea.
When Black Women Gather "Unpacking Anti-Blackness, Packing Black Self Love", hosted by Helen Higginbotham with guest Dr. Cleo Manago, edited by Chip Williford Productions.
Conversations with Colleen featuring Jayda Ellis,
edited by Chip Williford Productions
Multi-Cultural Solidarity Long Island Grant Proposal Promotional Video 2021,
edited by Chip Williford Productions
The 47th Annual Audelco Awards Red Carpet Interviews
Suffolk Theater Commercial
Hannah Kroner Fundraiser Promotional Video
"Bohemia: Then And Now"
The New Millennium Jazz Band Featuring Jim Altamore and Pamela Lewis
Set One - https://youtu.be/IS5zO51xZiw
Set Two - https://youtu.be/HR3laxg2HJw
Poetry Street On The Road Season One "The Film"
Jay White "America's Diamond" at The Suffolk Theater
Stony Brook University Africana Studies Department discussion on Dr Amiri Baraka
The Dispatchment Society
More Videos On My YouTube Channel
“America, Please Learn From The Scars Of History”
It all begins with an idea.
by Chip Williford
Looking back and knowing where we’ve come from
At all the obstacle that have been placed in our way
The hangings, the torture, even the many mysterious killings of some
makes me wonder how am I even alive, sane and here today
I will never forget the stories told by my parents and grandparents
about the sacrifice our ancestors made
Not that long ago When they were captured, chained, shackled together, and shipped
Across the ocean, far away in a stockade
You know, It really wasn’t that long ago
Even if they try to silence me by cutting off my tongue and ears
My eyes will always tell the stories of (the) oppressed fears
Our stories, our fears:
The fear of being stripped down naked
Tied, whilst stinging lashes thrust upon our rears
While questioning, questioning the existence of God ever being there
Making us pray that god was here and wishing, Yes, wishing this ole life’s End was near
***
We are the proud descendants of those who were treated worse than barren dirt
Our fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers were Beaten, Bought, Sold, Rented And Traded
No Words could Ever excuse Our Hurt
Everything about us they told us was Hated
Slave owners didn’t care about Separating A Black African Man from his family
They were only concerned with their own satisfaction, status, wealth
To them we were all just a commodity
They didn’t give a damn how we felt
I will not be quite, get over it, nor will I forget
That’s right, as long as I can still remember
And as long as I have breath, I will tell our stories:
***
My great grandfather’s father, Peter, was born enslaved
With a value of five hundred thirty-eight dollars he was appraised
Listed As property, right there on the Inventory sheet of slave owner, Allen T. Overby, recently deceased
Negro boy Peter, Bequeath, to Another slave owner
I shame by Not mentioning their name
To whom he was released.
At the very early age of seven, Peter was separated from his family
Peeled violently from the loving arms of his weeping mother Jenny
Snatched, shirt soaking wet with the tears of his brothers, Frank age 4 And two-year-old Joe
Did Peter ever see his family again? I don’t know.
***
Slavery,
Poisoned Heirloom
Passed down from one generation to the next generation, beginning at birth Living their entire lives, most times with little or no hope at all in sight
America,
Words are inadequate to describe or excuse our hurt
No matter what they say or feel about Slavery
Slavery, Just wasn’t right!
***
I will continue to tell our stories, I will not forget:
With wide eyes filled with festering hatred, coming from all directions, closely gathered did they band
By the blazing dirt with babies in their arms and youngins held tightly by the hand
Screaming and yelling “Nigger” as they dragged me by my feet
Delivering my reckoning, while still I weep.
She was forced to spread her young trembling legs
As we cried, pleaded and begged as we bled.
Fire burns high rapidly, loudly when generously kindled with seasoned timber of hate
No one escaped unscathed,
There was no place to run, There was no place to hide,
There was no place sacred, No place was Safe.
What a damn shame!
***
Look, there’s still time to start healing from the scars of history but, by first, Telling the truth.
Yes The Truth! The reality: this nation, The land of the free,
Was formed, founded and is still being governed
With ideology embedded in racism, sexism and other cruel and in-humane atrocities
***
You see, Native American Genocide and Slavery
Are just two of the Many deep scars in America’s History doused in blood and tears,
Evoking painful memories with significance too important not to hear
America, will you ever learn From the scars of history?
***
Now, here we are in the 21st century,
Are things really much better? “Hell No!”
Our judiciary system has gone completely insane
Which only makes me realize that although some things have changed
There are still … just too many things that have remained the same
And we are the ones left …again with immeasurable pain.
While evil and unjust people in the highest office remain
We will all be limited as to what we will gain
***
Yes, We must continue to vote! March! stand up! and to speak out Loudly for what is right
But for how long will we have to live and fight
Those who think they are better than all of us, simply, because their skin is white?
I hate the thought of being shot down because of the color of my skin
But I will always remember, no Unfortunately, I am constantly reminded, when I walk out my door,
That’s the cruel reality all black men are in.
Will it ever end or must we all die
Before god pay’s attention to our desperate cry?
America, will you please learn from our horrid past, and not lose sight?
***
Any action fueled with Hate, Homophobia, Sexism, Racism, White Supremacy Ideology…
Just isn’t right!
Separating children from their parents and family members at the southern boarders.
Denying basic needs and Treating people inhumanly.
Just isn’t right!
Making and enforcing laws designed to disproportionately put and keep Black People and People of Color…
In Prison, Disenfranchised, Depressed and Oppressed…
Just isn’t right!
Killing our Black men, women and children while No One is being held accountable
Just isn’t right!
Please, Please Learn and let’s heal from the scars of history
America, Please don’t lose sight!
***
Based on the notion…
If this idea of “America”
Truly being “The Great Nation” “Land Of The Free”
Then Liberty, Equality and Justice
Must be Inclusive
Yes, Inclusive…
Including people who look like You and Me.
Immaculate Intimacy
It all begins with an idea.
“Immaculate Intimacy ” by Chip Williford
Let Your Head Be Comforted By The Warmth Of My Thigh And Gaze Upon The Ornaments That Fancy Your Eyes
Gently Touch The Thickness Of Life And Taste It’s Nectar As It Gives You Delight
As In All Living Things, When Nurtured, It Too Will Surely Grow And In Time, It Will Give You Even More Pleasure, So Go Slow
Go Slow As You Relish It’s Length, It’s Strength and Beauty Two Lovers Sparing Not A Sliver Of Such Intensity
Immaculate Intimacy
As They Continue To Embrace Feeling The Heat Each Time Their Bodies Meet, They Create A Reservoir Of Delicious Moisture They Taste
A Bit Of Salt And An Iota Of Sweet But Not A Single Drop To Waste.
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