TVWritersVault.com Producer
Interview Series
Insider interviews with some
of the TV industry's top producers
and executives at the TV Writers
Vault
Beyond the selling and scouting of television
formats for writers, creators and producers, The
Television Writers Vault works to provide our
members with firsthand, personal insights and
perspectives from many of our top Industry
Executives. In this continuing series, Scott
Manville, Founder of TVWritersVault.com, shares
these focused discussions to bring you more
understanding and knowledge of the inner-workings of
the television industry, with
many of the executives who use our service to scout and
produce new shows.
Byron Allen
Chairman, CEO, Entertainment Studios
"
For me, it was an unbelievable front row
seat...I remember sitting there as a kid watching
them, and that's when I had the epiphany- I knew
what I wanted to do with my life..."
Darryl Trell
Sr. VP Production & Development, Brian Graden Media
/ Smoke & Mirrors Creative
"
I started reflecting on my pitch style, and
noticed that I was far more successful in selling
shows that I had some sort of personal attachment
to."
Chris Cowan
Executive Producer | Angel City Factory
"
Finding an extraordinary adventure in real life
circumstance is something we've always been drawn
to. I love reality competition arcs and I love
relationship arcs. Something that allows you to
follow a set group of characters over a long period
of time. Something that shows growth. Something that
shows the evolution of stories. That to me is by far
the sweet spot of the reality genre."
Rita Mullin
Executive VP Programming & Development | Oprah
Winfrey Network
"
I think there's a golden age for scripted TV right
now, and they often inspire my thoughts about making
our own non-scripted shows stronger."
Fenton
Baily
CEO, Executive Producer | World Of Wonder
Productions
"
What reality TV does more than any other genre is
explode the myth of the ordinary"
Jim Kiriakakis
Executive Producer, Head of TV | Buck Productions
"
TV Writers Vault offers one of the only services out there, where
a Creator can put their concept out to Producers in
a user-friendly manner. Its my go-to source."
Phil Gurin
Executive Producer | The Gurin Company
"
If you believe in your ideas, stick with them.
Passion and skill will rule at the end of the day."
Corie
Henson
Vice President of Alternative Series & Specials |
ABC Entertainment
"
We�re looking for something that will be the next
step in reality. Not to reinvent the wheel, because
there is comfort in the familiar, but to think big
and take a unique approach."
Natalie Mashaal
Executive Producer | Media Brand Consultant
".
..Interesting people or places in the world. Tiny
slices of life that we never realized existed. Those
make for the best stories"
Sara Hansemann
Vice President, Development | Zodiak USA
"
Television and film takes storytelling to the next
level by enriching it with the texture of sight and
sound"
Karyn Smith-Forge
Vice President of Programming | Fox Television
Studios
".
..stay true to your own voice and style... those
fresh, original voices are what studios and
producers look for."
Paul
Gilbert
Senior Vice President of International Formats | CBS
Studios International
"
Be a leader, not a follower. As Michael King used
to say to me all the time, "We have to zig, when
everyone else is zagging."
Stephen
Bulka
VP Original Movies | Lifetime Television
"
At the end of the day it�s still all about the
storytelling--starting with a good idea, finding the
right writer, and then rolling up your sleeves and
doing the hard work..."
Vin Di Bona
President & CEO | Vin Di Bona Productions
".
..When I sold my first network series (Animal
Crack-ups), that sale was the result of 138 pitches.
My second show (AFV) was sold in four minutes on the
first pitch!"
Dan Riley
Executive Producer | E! / Port Magee Pictures
"
Hollywood is chewing its proverbial fingernails,
and on its knees praying every day that something
original and exciting will fall into its lap."
Nate Barlow
Vice President of New Media | Automatic Pictures
".
..every project has its natural format, for which
it is best suited"
John Meindl
President | Sports Branded Media
".
..Do your homework, ask questions, network, do
more homework, and be tenacious as hell"
Dena Hysell
VP of Development | Slate of Eight Productions
"
...Networks are looking for projects that can air
long enough to go into syndication"
Dave Pullano
Executive Producer
".
..the beauty of this town is that any idiot can
make it... It's also one of the problems"
Paul Gagne
Executive Producer
".
..if you have a personal experience that is highly
marketable, definitely write it"
