Science and math are important, but are they entertaining? Can you develop a series around these subjects that will have kids leaving the mall early or abandoning their Xbox? With the current administration’s push on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – also known as the STEM initiative – producers are creating programming and networks are designing channels that will both capture the imagination and catapult the younger generation to the stars.
But creating programming around science and math is not a new concept. Several years ago I worked with FASE productions producing a series called “The Eddie Files”. Each episode within the series was divided into three parts. One third was set in a classroom, one third was documentary, and one third was scripted. Through…
It wasn’t too many years ago when they put TV’s in elevators. I must admit it was a marvel. I could travel 32 stories straight up in a small box standing shoulder to knee with other New Yorkers and get the latest headlines, stock quotes and weather. By the time I reached the 17th floor I was completely up to date with world news. Apparently that’s not good enough or accessible enough anymore, now we need to be plugged in while we’re visiting the rest room.
TV’s are getting bigger while television productions are gearing up for the smallest screen in the arsenal of viewing devices – the mobile phone. Albie Hecht, the man behind SpongeBob SquarePants is rolling out his latest animated series Bigby to an iPhone near you.
Got a video recording device? Congratulations you’re a journalist. YouTube announced the launch of YouTube Direct, a new tool that allows news and media organizations to request, review, and rebroadcast YouTube clips directly from YouTube users. Let me spell it out for you. If you have a camera, a phone that records video or a flip device you can record a town hall meeting, a fire, an earthquake, a murder, or take a public opinion poll and upload the clip for use by news organizations. You needn’t bother learning the craft of journalism, you don’t have to know how to write, it’s not necessary to have ever worked on a video crew before, you just need a recording device that you can point and shoot…
A conductor’s role is to make sure the orchestra plays together and is well balanced. A great conductor, together with the orchestra makes music. And that’s really what a show runner’s job is — to make sure everyone in his or her ‘orchestra’ plays together and creates compelling television people want to watch. Achieving that goal can be compared to the various styles of great conductors.
Matthew Ostrom is the VP of Current Series and Development for 
There are really only two tricks to producing on a small budget – hire the right people and do as much as you can yourself. Gone are the heady days when budgets were plentiful and the Brinks Truck backed up to your office and spilled piles of money onto your doorstep. We’re living in a time where we have to learn how to produce on smaller budgets while producing the same great quality work. I affectionately call these minimalist budgets, “Working on the I and I tour. “ (The insult to injury tour). Where once you had 3 production assistants at your beck and call, now you’re the beck and call girl. No shame, it’s just people aren’t shelling out large sums of money these…
When I hire a DP I have a couple of musts – they must have a terrific eye, they must have a personality, and they must be braver than I am. I’ve found myself producing some unlikely scenarios over the years, and the brave qualification has come in very handy.
