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Donnie Seals Jr. /Chronicle
Erica Hubbard, host of UPN’s “Up ‘N Running.”
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When you love what you do |
by Donnie Seals Jr.
Assistant Photo Editor |
Erica Hubbard, native of Chicago and a Columbia graduate, loves her job. Think about that, she loves her job. How many people can honestly say they enjoy heading to work in the morning? Not many. What does Hubbard do? The real question is what doesn’t she do. You are about to meet a young lady who has an attitude and energy about her profession that should make you jealous.
After graduating from Columbia with a major in broadcast journalism, she auditioned and won the role as host of UPN’s children’s show “Up ‘N Running.” “Up ‘N Running,” which was recently nominated for two Emmy Awards, is an educational program that combines learning and fun with a variety of different subjects from all around Chicago. Alongside “Up ‘N Running,” Hubbard has also appeared on television shows such as “ER” and “Early Edition,” And if you caught the major motion picture “Light It Up” with Vanessa Williams, Usher Raymond and Rosario Dawson, you might remember seeing her cast in a small part near the beginning of the film.
“Anything I take part in is an accomplishment, and I learned a lot about working 12-16 hours while working on ‘Light It Up,’” she said.
As an actress, finding work can be difficult in a city that’s not widely known for its television and movie productions. While most actresses are packing their bags and what little money they have to leave for Hollywood, Hubbard is comfortable right here in Chicago.
“There are more and more opportunities arriving here in Chicago for actors and actresses, and besides, my family and friends are here,” she said.
When asked which people in the business influenced her the most, actresses Angela Bassett and the versatile Meryl Streep came to mind.
“I love to watch people in films and TV so I can mirror them,” she said. “That’s how you learn.”
Not only does she watch the many actors and actresses on TV and in films, she pays attention to camera composition and the writing too. She learns what she can, then adds the learned material to her repertoire. Just as a young musician listens to the greats, Hubbard soaks up the knowledge of actors such as Tom Hanks like a sponge, and then transfers the learned information for her own experiences.
Hubbard has not let the lack of African-American parts on television this season lead her away from her goal. What some African-American actors might see as a hindrance to their career, Hubbard views it as an opportunity.
“Struggle improves you physically,” said Hubbard. “If they don’t cast black parts now, that’s OK. It just leaves me more time to work and get better, so when the opportunity does arrive, I’ll be ready.”
If you speak with Hubbard, she won’t tell you it has been an easy road. She began at an early age with acting and modeling, which then brought her to a career in broadcast journalism and acting.
“If you can’t accept rejection, it’s time to get out of the business,” explains Hubbard.
Her advice for broadcast journalism majors stems from her experience here at Columbia’s TV news program, “CCEN.”
“If you can’t get in front of the camera, get behind it. Don’t try to limit yourself to one field. Try to learn everything you can about the business,” she said. She also emphasizes having the ability to write, because broadcasting is not all about how you look on camera.
Hubbard, a product of Columbia and Chicago, is on her way. When you love what you do, the negatives are much easier to brush off. When you see someone like Hubbard, you wonder how she became so successful at such a young age. It’s not that she knows all the right people. It’s not because it has been her dream since she was a child. Simply, Hubbard loves what she does. |
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