telling stories • making pictures
When I started writing for Colorado Magazine, I never dreamed that I would eventually travel around the world for The Travel Channel. Or, that I would help launch and program local television stations in beautiful island and mountain resorts for PLUM TV. One of those great Russian writers said there are only two stories: a man goes on a journey — or, a stranger comes to town. I kinda feel like I've traveled both directions.
But I’ve been to the backwoods, too. PBS sent me to the North Country to re-enact the French and Indian War. From the battlefield, I moved to prison life, working on MSNBC’s LOCKUP series and other documentaries.
I’ve been lucky to work with talented production teams. I’ve learned from people I admire, and gained many skills: producing, directing, shooting, editing, writing and art direction. It’s a privilege and adventure to use those tools to tackle the mysteries of storytelling.
"Those who tell the stories rule the world." --Hopi American Indian proverb
producing stories
Let’s face it, ideas are often easy. That’s because most of them are bad. And for good ideas, the magic is inexplicable. But experience is a good teacher. Starting as an editor at COLORADO MAGAZINE, I’ve had the privilege of making storytelling a big part of my life. At THE TRAVEL CHANNEL, I produced travel stories, documentaries, talk shows, cookery shows and even a game show. At PLUM TV, I turned island and mountain stories into national television shows, Internet content and VOD programming. At MSNBC, I pitched ideas for shows and I was part of a screening team that evaluated stores. I went to the dogs for ANIMAL PLANET webisodes, for which I was a story producer and string-out editor. I like to think I have a photographer’s eye, a writer’s imagination and a musician’s rhythm.
INDIE films • narrative storytelling
OK, this was just lucky: a few random but wonderful opportunities to shoot, edit and do sound on small indie features. It was great to work with Broadway actress/singer Idina Menzel (Tony Award • Best Actress • WICKED) and Michael Shannon star of HBO's BOARDWALK EMPIRE. This drama was a murder mystery shot on Fire Island. While indulging my passion for cinematography, I also pursued my obsession for surfcasting.
PBS • HISTORY
Where do the one-man-bands flourish? PBS. For me, it was a historical feature film that required authentic re-enactments of battles and lifestyle scenes from the 1750’s. And, of course, historical research and combing the archives of museums and libraries for archival images. But I loved the idea of leading all aspects of production as producer, director, director of photography and editor. I had new ideas for graphics and animated illustrations, so I also became artistic director. I supervised writing, too. I worked my mélange of production tools to the wee hours every night. I was having the time of my life -- in the 18th century.
tv station management • program development
If you drank some new-age, pumped-up purple juice, you might come up with this crazy, wonderful idea: open local TV stations in the nation's most beautiful resorts. Island and mountain towns, all tied together as a network. We did it, capturing the unique lifestyles of those iconic places. Hyper local and national, in one fell swoop. Aspen, Nantucket, Miami Beach, the Hamptons and other resorts. What a dream job. Somebody pinch me.