Today we’d like to introduce you to Television/Film producer Oba Vita.
Hi Oba, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I am one of four brothers born in Chicago Heights, Illinois. It was a rough neighborhood, with few opportunities. My father, Kijauna Vita, wanted to give the kids in the neighborhood something more. He taught and trained them in martial arts and acrobatics. Of course, he trained me and my brothers as well. When we were still very young boys, our father developed an act which combined our martial arts and acrobatic skills. We performed throughout Chicago and even appeared on the Bozo show, making us pretty famous in our neighborhood. But my father saw even more potential in our unique act, so he moved the family away from Chicago Heights when I was six years old. We began our new journey in Vegas, starting small, but soon performing in bigger and bigger venues. There we were discovered by Charles King, who saw where we really belonged. He introduced us to the Felds, the owners of the Greatest Show on Earth, and our whole family began touring with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus!
Can you imagine that? A kid’s dream to travel with the circus come true! After touring with Ringling, we moved to the bright lights of Hollywood, California where we made commercials, television and film projects. This opened up doors for us to travel the world performing our act. We then followed in our father’s footsteps and became teachers ourselves.
After years of teaching, mentoring celebrities and their children we decided to bring our family’s unique story as the first African American Acrobatic team to the screen. We created a dynamic series entitled “THE AMAZING VITAS”
This is a true life story of a family’s journey to make it out of poverty, but more importantly to stick together throughout so many trials and tribulations they encountered while pursuing their Dreams!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I would definitely not call it easy. Even tothis very day, it’s been a difficult journey. Although traveling with an American novelty like Ringling Bros. Circus, we faced challenges. This was during the early ’80s. As you can imagine, traveling through the United States we encountered racism, financial problems, and physical and emotional defeats. My family had to make tough decisions whether to push through to see our dreams manifest or call it quits and go back home to Chicago Heights. Luckily my father had a no turning back attitude. This fueled the family to keep going. He made us believe we can achieve anything we put work into. Even through the process of developing our story, there have been many closed doors, but we not given up. This was bred into our DNA.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
The Amazing Vitas are not only known as the first African American Circus Acrobats, but all the members of my family are martial arts practitioners. We have nurtured, trained, and mentored some of entertainment’s top performers. We have experience in stunts, acting, and of course prepping performers for roles. But I feel what we’re mostly known for is inspiring the younger generation. As former child performers, we relate and can guide them hopefully to detour from some of the pitfalls that come with this business.
That’s what this show is about; “THE AMAZING VITAS” inspiring people to strive for greatness no matter what their passion is and no matter what obstacles they encounter!
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
You can reach us on our
website THEAMAZINGVITAS.COM
Or via our social media platforms
Instagram: Brushfloorfilms
Email: info@theamazingvitas.
Obavita@
Contact Info:
- Website: www.theamazingvitas.
com - Instagram: Theamazingvitastv
- Facebook: The Amazing Vitas
- Linkedin: Oba Vita
- Twitter: The Amazing Vitas
- Youtube: The Amazing Vitas
- Other: Brushfloorentertainment
.com
Image Credits
Getty images Feneco the creator
