Who’s Hudson

My artistic incarnation, oddly enough, began in television news and sports. I was the first female football sideline reporter for a major network. I was also a commentator with ABC Sports in its heyday. Back then the all boys’ club was united in a war against women entering its hallowed ground of sports broadcasting. Imagine what THAT was like. 

But first…….

Just out of college, I happened to read a magazine article about the first female cameraperson at WABC-TV in New York City. “I can do that!” I thought.  And just like that I decided I would be the second woman in the country to shoot 16mm news film.  

I don’t remember how I managed to get an interview at the top-rated television news station in my hometown. But once there, I exaggerated and told them I knew how to shoot and edit film. I was hired.

Sometimes, timing is everything.

I learned quickly and came to the realization that I liked making pictures - composing scenes and splicing celluloid fragments of film to tell a story. I discovered I had a talent for thinking visually.

To this day, the granular quality and color temperature of film continually inspires a dynamic range of painted images.

But back in the day, covering grisly murders and chasing fire engines became mind numbing. A little girls’ dream of covering sports eventually became a reality. 

Persistence paid off……

I then did time as a local sports producer, reporter and anchor, trekking a winding uphill course until I reached the pinnacle. At that time it was ABC Sports. As one of the hosts for the acclaimed Wide World of Sports, I did “Up Close and Personal” profiles of athletes around the globe in addition to sideline reporting. And I covered several Summer and Winter Olympic Games along the way. 

Additional stints with Entertainment Tonight, ESPN, HBO and TBS culminated in my tenure as Director of Sports for the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. I helped shepherd in the first live national broadcast of the Sports Emmys which helped inspire the ESPYs.

As in sports, no matter how much preparation, a bolt from the blue can happen and the magic of the moment takes shape. In an instant, the tide turns.

“Cliff Notes” below