Zsolt Luka (born June 10, 1969 in

Cluj ; hu, kincses város) , official_name=Cluj-Napoca , native_name= , image_skyline= , subdivision_type1 = Counties of Romania, County , subdivision_name1 = Cluj County , subdivision_type2 = Subdivisions of Romania, Status , subdivision_name2 ...

, Romania) is a television director,

editor Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, photographic, visual, audible, or cinematic material used by a person or an entity to convey a message or information. The editing process can involve correction, condensation, orga ...

videographer Videography is the process of capturing moving images on electronic media (e.g., videotape, direct to disk recording, or solid state storage) and even streaming media. The term includes methods of video production and post-production. It used ...

and producer. He is best known for his role in the reality show ''

Around the World For Free ''Around The World For Free'' a.k.a. ''ATWFF'' was an online/broadcast hybrid reality series based on the concept of whether a person can circle the globe without any money. The show followed a reality star, as he or she attempted to travel around ...

''.

Career

His TV career began in the mid-1990s working as an editor on Canadian children's shows like ''

Popular Mechanics for Kids ''Popular Mechanics for Kids'' (sometimes abbreviated to ''PMK'') is a Canadian educational television program based on ''Popular Mechanics'' magazine. The program aired on Global TV from 1997 to 2000. It was notable for starting the careers of E ...

'' and ''

Mystery Hunters ''Mystery Hunters'' is a Canadian documentary television series aimed at a young audience. It aired on YTV in Canada and on Discovery Kids and MeTV in the United States. It was also dubbed in Japanese and aired in Japan on NHK. Teenage hosts Ar ...

''. He started directing in 2002 on ''Mystery Hunters'' and continued with children's shows such as '' Prank Patrol'', usually editing his own work. He also edited ''

Great Hotels ''Great Hotels'' is a television show on the Travel Channel. The show, hosted by Samantha Brown, travels around the United States to show some of its most renowned hotels. Brown stays at the hotel and walks the viewer through the layout, the room ...

'', ''

Passport to Europe ''Passport to Europe'' was an American television show on the Travel Channel from 2004 to 2006. The show follows the bubbly and upbeat television host Samantha Brown around Europe visiting various popular European cities, including prime travel ...

'' and other travel-oriented shows for the ''

Travel Channel Travel Channel (stylized as Trvl Channel since 2018) is an American pay television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery, which had previously owned the channel from 1997 to 2007. The channel is headquartered in New York, New York, United S ...

'' in the early 2000s. In 2007, together with partners Alex Boylan and

Burton Roberts Burton Bennett Roberts (July 25, 1922 – October 24, 2010) served as Bronx district attorney before his election as a judge, later serving as the chief administrative judge for the New York Supreme Court in the Bronx until his re ...

, Luka launched ''

'' and set off on a trip around the globe, from September 18 to February 23, 2008. Luka directed, filmed and edited the online series on the fly (once, in a butcher shop with newly slaughtered pigs hanging behind him), producing eight hours of edited content for the online audience. The program had a loyal following that even included schoolchildren, who welcomed the travelers back at the end of the journey during a visit to their school. The online project was re-packaged for television by Luka and sold to

WGN America WGN America was an American subscription television network that was owned by the Nexstar Media Group, and was the company's only wholly owned, national cable-originated television channel. The channel in its final form under the WGN branding ran ...

who began broadcasting in spring 2009. Luka undertook a smaller online/broadcast hybrid project mirrored on the same model for

Rachael Ray Rachael Domenica Ray (born August 25, 1968) is an American cook, television personality, businesswoman, and author. She hosts the syndicated daily talk and lifestyle program ''Rachael Ray'', and the Food Network series '' 30 Minute Meals''. ...

in the summer of 2008 called '' Rach to the Rescue''. On July 26, 2010, Luka reprised his role of producing, directing and editing the second season of ''

'', this time for CBS.com, with new host Jeff Schroeder of Big Brother 11 and

The Amazing Race 16 ''The Amazing Race 16'' is the sixteenth season of the American reality television show ''The Amazing Race''. It featured eleven teams of two competing in a race around the world. The season premiered on CBS on Sunday, February 14, 2010, and the ...

fame, and major sponsors

AT&T AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications holding company headquartered at Whitacre Tower in Downtown Dallas, Texas. It is the world's largest telecommunications company by revenue and the third largest provider of mobile tel ...

and

American Airlines American Airlines is a major airlines of the United States, major US-based airline headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. It is the Largest airlines in the world, largest airline in the world when measured ...

attached. They set off from

The Early Show ''The Early Show'' is an American morning television show that aired on CBS from November 1, 1999 to January 7, 2012, and the ninth attempt at a morning news-talk program by the network since 1954. The program aired Monday through Friday from ...

on a 105-day journey around the world, with Luka filing popular webisodes (over 7 million video streams and 4 million page views ) from thirteen different countries visited. Only one week after wrapping the show on November 4, 2010,

won both "Best Video Series/Show" and also "Best of Show" at the inaugural Diva Awards in New York City. Luka's charity efforts include in-kind donated videos for organizations such as the

Cambodian Red Cross The Cambodian Red Cross (CRC; km, កាកបាទក្រហមកម្ពុជា, ) is the largest humanitarian organization in Cambodia. Established on 18 February 1955, it is officially recognized by the Royal Government as the pri ...

Awards/nominations

Luka was nominated for the Canadian

Gemini Award The Gemini Awards were awards given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television between 1986–2011 to recognize the achievements of Canada's television industry. The Gemini Awards are analogous to the Emmy Awards given in the United States ...

in editing a few times for various works. He received an Emmy nomination for his work in ''

References

External links

Official site

Official Twitter
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Luka, Zsolt 1969 births People from Cluj-Napoca Romanian people of Hungarian descent Living people