Joburg expat Warren Burley has won an Emmy for the ‘Be a Water Hero’ campaign—a water conservation effort that blew the Academy’s socks off!
Global (20 June 2024) — After two South Africans from Cape Town scooped Daytime Emmy Award wins for their creative skills behind the scenes, Joburg expat Warren Burley has joined the tier of South African Emmy winners!
For this year’s National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Pacific Southwest Chapter of the Emmys, Warren’s public service announcement, ‘Be a Water Hero’ alongside Kimberly Wall for Rancho Water (an independent special district water agency) went on to nab the glittering accolade.
For Warren, who moved to California to further his career in film and television (he is an award-winning, re-recording mixer, sound designer, dialogue editor and ADR specialist), the win is a testament to the concept that “it’s impossible until it’s possible”—something he shared in his acceptance speech.
The ‘Be a Water Hero’ campaign hoped to share the simple but powerful message that “every individual can make a difference in water conservation,” as the Rancho Water District said.
This win comes after decades of hard work in the radio, film, and television industry for Warren, who has been nominated for an Emmy before. The sound wizard and Post and Jam CEO told no lies when he said last year he’d get the next Emmy, and his win has certainly inspired more hopefuls in the industry to relentlessly pursue their passions.
“I did say last year that we would get the next one, well here it is. Emmy Award Winner. I’m still in shock but we did it, we friken did it!!”, beamed Warren.
“This was my second nomination, and it feels truly special to be recognised again. Sharing the stage with such amazing and accomplished individuals was humbling,” he added, thanking his team and family.