A new website turns an urban eye to what’s hot in T Dot

By Geena Lee

You may have seen them at a concert or a cultural event. One is usually holding a video camera, the other a microphone. Both wear bright smiles and hot pink T-shirts. Nicole ‘Nikki’ Morgan and Laurel O’Neil are a dynamic duo determined to focus the “urban eye on what’s hot in the T Dot.” Launched this spring, T Dot Exposed is a website dedicated to all things Toronto, featuring “webisodes” that highlight people, places and events of interest to visitors and locals alike.

The partnership between O’Neil and Morgan stems from a friendship that goes back to high school. They both also attended York University, where O’Neil got a degree in film and video production while Morgan attained hers in sociology and went on to get a diploma in multimedia design at Humber College.

As O’Neil moved to New York to pursue a career in film and television, Morgan discovered her “gift of gab” as an on-air personality at CHRY 105.5FM. “I really enjoyed interviewing and getting to know people,” says Morgan of her start in media. Over the years the friends kept in touch, often discussing possibilities of creating their own opportunities together. O’Neil remembers: “We used to talk on the phone and Nikki would say, ‘Whenever you come back to Toronto we should do something in film.’”

That opportunity presented itself when O’Neil relocated back to T.O., and she realized there are so many events in the city that people aren’t aware of. “I thought, not everyone is able to get out to these festivals and parties, but it’d be nice to have something on the web for them to see what they missed,” she says. “I said, ‘Why don’t we get a camera and make a show?’”

With Morgan as the main host, T Dot Exposed gives viewers the scoop on a wide range of entertainment, dispelling any myths that there isn’t much to do in the city.  “It’s not true,” O’Neil says. “In our first webisode, we featured the top three places to take a date. We had quite a few people respond who didn’t know these businesses existed, and wanted to check them out.”

Morgan adds: “That’s what T Dot Exposed is about, exposing exciting and fun stuff to do around the city.” Looking to expand its scope, T Dot Exposed is set to feature a new reality series about dating in Toronto. “It will be very multicultural, featuring women as the main characters,” says O’Neil.

Although still relatively new to the web entertainment industry, the ladies are hitting their stride and getting positive feedback. Morgan believes it’s the quality of their work that stands out. “Most people just flip up a video on YouTube from their camera phone,” she says, “whereas we shoot in HD and professionally edit our footage. It’s a show.”

For information about internship opportunities or contributing to the site, email [email protected]

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