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A new class of creative talent will join the PromaxBDA Thrive creative leadership development program at PromaxBDA: The Conference 2016 in June. This unique program is designed to accelerate the development of new leaders emerging from our industry’s creative workforce. Get to know the Class of 2016-17 as they get ready to kick off a new year of Thrive.
Deaton Bell
Senior Coordinating Producer of on-air promos, NBA Digital - Turner
How I ended up in this field:
My Mom tells me that a few months after I was born, we watched the 1968 Summer Olympics together. I like to think those viewings stoked an early affinity for sports television. I knew I wanted to be a writer or broadcaster by the time I was 12. A great AV program at my high school in Georgia cemented that ambition and gave me invaluable experience. I studied at UNC, had internships at CNN and eventually found my way to my first paying broadcast job…at the Olympics. CBS hired me as a runner for the 1992 Winter Games in Albertville; after a week in France I was promoted to Research Assistant and I had the beginnings of a career.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
Television is fun. Sports are fun. Putting them together is also fun. There is plenty of hard work and there are many days that don’t feel that fun – but I am privileged to have found a professional life that includes so many opportunities for memorable experiences. From a pure fun standpoint, the 1999 Women’s World Cup stands out (I was producing a soccer show for ESPN2) as well as my time as a feature producer for a short-lived TNT show called Listen Up! (the exclamation point was part of the title.) Charles Barkley and I traveled the country talking to a variety of interesting people (some more well-known than others.) We got good features and got a lifetime of stories from hitting the road with Barkley. More recently I wrote an MLB on TBS promotion for Bryan Cranston; it is the most rewarding and resonating work I have done.
My dream creative assignment would be:
Developing creative elements for a World Cup. I have been fortunate to produce features for the event; I would love an opportunity to create the open for a World Cup Final.
What I’m watching right now:
Lots of basketball (for work) lots of soccer (for fun) and in the rare time away from sports my latest viewings are Broad City, Gravity Falls and recently lots of Prince videos.
Bridget Blandin
Director of Special Projects, Hallmark Channel – Crown Media Family Networks
How I ended up in this field:
After working for several years with at-risk kids, I decided to indulge my lifelong love of tv and production and landed a job producing segments & promos for a kids’ channel. The rest is history!
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
…when I produced the Kitten Bowl promo campaign: one high speed phantom camera, 25 untrained kittens, and a unique set of logistical challenges made for a truly rewarding experience. As an added bonus this work helped support the efforts of North Shore Animal League America.
My dream creative assignment would be:
My dream creative assignment would involve an unlimited budget, a top notch creative agency, and multiple international locations. The project would be topical, interesting, funny, and cast a light on an important social issue. Hey, a girl can dream.
What I’m watching right now:
Game of Thrones, Better Call Saul, black-ish, Inside Amy Schumer, John Oliver, Dr. Who (it’s my 11 year old who’s obsessed. Honest. ;) )
Joshua Braunstein
VP, Corporate Creative/Sizzles, Nickelodeon
How I ended up in this field:
I actually did an internship back in the summer of 1996 (dating myself) for Nickelodeon’s On-Air Promo team and was able to work on series like Rugrats, Allegra’s Window and Stick Stickly. I also worked on promos for classics like Happy Days, The A-Team, I Love Lucy and Gilligan’s Island for Nick at Nite and TV Land. I kept in touch with the producers I had met and I ended up being hired as a P.A. after graduating.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
This is a really tough one because I’ve probably worked on over a thousand of them but if I had to choose I would say doing a documentary on the making of the new CG Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle series that launched about five years ago now and I interviewed the whole creative team, the voice talent as well as the team that created the first line of action figures for the CP launch, etc.
My dream creative assignment would be:
Working on a car commercial campaign because that would combine my love of automobiles with my passion for creative ideation and execution. I recently came close by creating a parody car commercial for the new turtle truck featured in the new film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle “Out of the Shadows” in theaters, June 3.
What I’m watching right now:
Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Nickelodeon with my kids
Richard Browd
VP Creative Director, PopTV
How I ended up in this field:
Switched into Jim deBarros design class junior year at SVA to try and get a rap video of mine to air on MTV. The video never made it to air however I spent 14 years working at MTV.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
The 2013 MTV Video Music Awards promo campaign. My creative partner and I ate cereal every morning for breakfast while traveling to save the money to secure a tiger for the Katy Perry spot.
My dream creative assignment would be:
Redesign the US currency.
What I’m watching right now:
Schitt’s Creek, of course.
JC Cancedda
VP, Brand Strategy and Creative, Sundance TV
How I ended up in this field:
It was June of 1993, I had just graduated from SVA, I was planning on taking the summer off and start looking for a job later that September. A couple of days after graduation, I received a call from the SVA Placement Office about a freelance job in Astoria, Queens. I got the job, it was for Lifetime Television.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
My first real photoshoot, it was in LA, it was for the image campaign ads for the introduction of Lifetime Television for Women. First time in LA, five-day shoot, in charge of print, and working closely with my friend Kendrick Reid who was shooting for on-air, next door with Pittard Sullivan Fitzgerald.
My dream creative assignment would be:
To create a public awareness campaign for NYC educating New Yorkers about how and when to use they turn signals while driving. Drives me bunkers.
What I’m watching right now:
Game of Thrones, Vinyl, Last Week Tonight, Rectify and Better Call Saul.
Jordana Drell
VP, Nickelodeon Pre-School Games, Nickelodeon
How I ended up in this field:
I thought I wanted to work in the music industry, but after countless grueling days being an intern while also babysitting at night, I decided that I needed a change. I really enjoyed playing games with the children for whom I was caring, and had a realization when I could see that they were learning, but they thought they were just having fun. Sometimes we would play games their parents had purchased, and sometimes I’d make them up. I immediately switched to working in technology, and actively sought out my next step into the children’s entertainment world – working for Sesame Workshop.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
I was part of a team of wonderful people who created the Nick Jr. Dance game for Microsoft’s Kinect and Nintendo’s Wii. The dance moves were designed with a specialist in preschool movement and dance, and were captured from professional dancers via motion capture to be mapped onto the game’s animated characters. I loved working with the specialist on the appropriate moves for a preschooler, watching the motion capture, and of course, the testing! It was so much fun to test the game, dancing our hearts out for hours with this group of fantastic people. Not to brag, but I was really good, because the moves were meant for preschoolers!
My dream creative assignment would be:
Anything new! I love seeing a new device, interface, input, or technology, figuring out how a preschooler would use it both from a manual dexterity point of view as well as a cognitive point of view, and then adding fun on top!
What I’m watching right now:
The Internet of Things – The smarter the product, the more it can anticipate my needs and desires, the more I love it.
Rolando Feliziola
Manager, Creative Services, Univision
How I ended up in this field:
Before starting in the on air promotions field as a producer, I used to be a VO talent for several Latin American cable networks. Discovery Kids LA, The Locomotion Channel,Animal Planet, Travel and Living, Cine Canal, Movie City, Fashion TV, Hallmark LA etc.
I did that for several years, recording so many promos, in many different styles, depending of the network.
In 1991, a friend of mine told me that Univision was creating a new network called ‘Telefutura”, and they needed on air producers. Since I had years reading (and correcting) scripts for on air promotions, Upfront presentations, etc etc, I thought…“I’m gonna give it a try” since it felt natural to me .
I went to an interview, and they hired me the same day. That was 15 and a half years ago, and the rest is history. I started as an on air producer for the morning block, then became producer for the primetime block, Senior producer for primetime, Creative manager of promotions, and after that I got into the Univision Agency as a manager of creative services for the novelas vertical, The main content of Univision primetime.
The most fun I ever had on a project:
In 2009, The president of programming and promotions of Telefutura, gave me a challenging project: I had to build a campaign for Betty La Fea. The original story that gave birth to Ugly Betty. That was a novela already aired for the competition years before, and a very popular story that most of our audience already knew. Now we were going to have it in primetime. So we had to reinvent the whole thing and give it a new look and a complete new approach. Because the show was a comedy, I presented a new proposal. I wanted to introduce cartoonish elements to the campaign, with people fuming smoke out of their ears,cheeks getting red after a slap, etc etc. We composed a new theme as a raggeaton and gave it a very festive look. At the beggining, they were a little afraid with that proposal, but they decided to give it a try. The results: the ratings climbed from 0.9 national to 6.0 national leaving the competition far behind. People were actually waiting for the promos and everybody in the network visited our editing room in a daily basis to see what we were doing and to have a good laugh. I had lots of fun with that project, and the results were amazing.
My dream creative assignment:
There are several creative assignments I would love to have.
I always had a fascination with super heroes. I always wanted to develop a campaign for a super hero show and unleash my imagination working with super powers I would love to have… :) .
Sometime you watch shows that blows your mind, like Game of Thrones and you think “I would love to do a campaign for that show.” Counting on spectacular footage and an amazing plot.
Also, I would love to work in a comedy project.
What I’m watching right now: Game of Thrones, Gotham, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Orphan Black, El Internado (Spanish series), Aquí no hay quien viva (Spanish Series).
Adrian Hilton
Senior Creative Director, BET
How I ended up in this field:
I was born a creative. From day one, I believed that if it isn’t creative I’m really not that interested in the job. Just joking sorta. There was a time where I also wanted to be an astronaut that was until I saw the Challenger tragedy unfold before my very eyes. Then I wanted to be a general because I love strategy but hate war so that was out. So I stuck with the art route. I come from an art and advertising background. At a younger age, I had dreams of being a fashion illustrator and living in Europe drawing beautiful women all my life and going to fashion shows. Along the creative way I ended up falling in love with photography, design and typography as well. So I went to school for advertising and many years later was asked to help a friend out on a television project way back in the year twenty twelve. This is actually my first job in the TV and entertainment world. I’ve been a part of it for four years now and they haven’t allowed me to leave so as of now I am where I am.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
I don’t have an answer. I’ve had too many “fun” projects over my career that’s motivation as to why I do what I do. I’m chasing the fun.
My dream creative assignment would be:
Being a Creative Director for a place that wants to solve real problems. A place that has no creative boundaries when it comes to solving problems that can range from being business related to environmental. Problems that refine communication that lead to solves for bigger social issues. Creative solutions that advance the idea of let’s be creative as a society type problems. A place where there are no limitations on how big an idea can be and the thinking can get. Unfortunately I haven’t found that place yet.
What I’m watching right now:
What I am watching now will sound cliché but Game of Thrones, House of Lies, Veep, Silicon Valley, NFL Network even in the off season and some NBA playoffs.
Ian Kahn
Senior Director of Production, Design, Spike
How I ended up in this field:
After retiring from software development in search of something more creative, I was able to turn a freelance job for Spike’s online team into 13 years and counting on Spike’s design team.
The most fun I ever had on a project:
As stressful as they can be, I love working on branding projects. I also had a blast blowing things up for some Spike IDs, and traveling the country working on our MMA packaging.
My dream creative assignment:
My dream creative assignment would probably be creating a children’s show, or something involving graffiti, breakdancing, skateboarding, Dubai and a Phantom.
What am I watching right now:
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Silicon Valley, Season 1 of the A-Team and whatever Bravo shows my wife subjects me to (and pretend I don’t enjoy.)
Kathleen Marinaccio
Director Design Services, Warner Brothers
How I ended up in this field:
I got accepted into Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, for early admission in November of my senior year. I majored in graphic design and communications. I interned at NBC Studios Advertising and Promotions department my entire senior year. Upon graduation I had a full time job as Junior Designer, creating audio covers at HarperCollins Publishers. Within one year I was a Senior Design at a small design firm on 5th Avenue. I started freelancing for Marvel Comics, producing packaging and style guides 100% digitally. I quickly became Marvel’s go to for all print products. When there head of sales, based in LA, met me and saw what I was doing for Marvel he referred me for a LA-based Creative Director position at New World Entertainment. I moved to LA in August 1995 and have been in the entertainment industry ever since. I always say I went from Intern to Creative Director in five years – wow, how’d that happen.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
I would say the most fun I ever had on a project was building the Press Kit for Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo. When given this assignment, my partner and I knew there was only one solution for this project—a giant condom box. So we sketched it up and presented it. The head of marketing was appalled and sent us away in shame, demanding we come up with additional ideas. Not agreeing but wanting to keep our gig we went off and came up with a few tamer ideas. We sent them over for consideration, but she was on vacation and her assistant decided to present them to her boss. He grabbed the new sketches plus the originals and submitted them all to her boss. He promptly tossed out the new sketches and choose the giant condom package. So to her dismay and our excitement we went with the giant condom concept, with the Leaning Tower of Pisa flip book and real condom cover. This project was an adventure from start to finish and in turn earned my partner and I a Key Art Award Nomination for Special Print Recognition. We believe it was the first press kit ever nominated for a Key Art Award. (see attached)
My dream creative assignment would be:
I would love to create a brand for an entire department store – logo, tag line, bags, end caps, departments, uniforms, dressing rooms, hang tags, store brand packages, etc. I did some of this for Target when they first opened and I loved it.
What I’m watching right now:
I do not watch any live TV. I only watch shows that are on my DVR or Netflix. I currently DVR: Mom, Big Bang, Brooklyn-Nine-Nine, Scandal, Good Wife (best show on TV, I love Alicia), The Americans, House Hunters International (I want to move to Italy in 6 years), Flash, Arrow, S.H.I.E.L.D, and Supergirl. On Netflix I watch Daredevil, Jessica Jones, and Say Yes To The Dress (my daughter LOVES this show). I also love to watch NFL Football, I guess that’s the only thing I watch live.
Sean McEvoy
Vice President Digital Games, Nickelodeon Digital
How I ended up in this field:
I started out in editorial, writing site copy and doing interviews during the dial-up-days of nick.com. I’d always been a gamer, and as games began to evolve as a business at Nick, I switched over and began producing games, then managing game production across platforms. I’ve always loved that games have the ability to tell stories but also to allow players to participate in the narrative—and to me, that’s what’s so exciting about the current direction of the games business.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
Game Shakers is a new Nick show about two girls who start a gaming company. It’s empowering and hilarious and we’re really lucky, because we get to make the games the girls dream up on the show and launch them in the real world. It’s been an absolute blast seeing kids’ reactions to the games and reading their reviews asking us to make more (and we’re gonna!).
My dream creative assignment would be:
I would love to concept, write and lead production for a cross-platform gaming and long-form episodic project. Something with great sci-fi/fantasy bones but really, really (really) funny. With cool connected toys. And VR. And wise-cracking drones.
What I’m watching right now:
Veep, Silicon Valley, Game of Thrones, The Men in Blazers Show, Frontline …And way, way too much soccer
Erica Mesa
Senior Director of Media Planning, Univision
How I ended up in this field:
I believe it was always my fate to work in media—I remember being obsessed with TV as a child. I even used to have my parents video tape me mimicking Pantene commercials in my backyard. I would write scripts for my commercial then lather up my hair and rinse it with the garden hose. When it was time to go off to college I knew I wanted to study media and mass communications. While working my way through college, I had a friend who helped me score my first job in media working at Discovery Channel. I worked my way through the ranks taking on every opportunity that came my way and I have never looked back.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
I joined Univision in 2013 to help launch their English language cable network “El Rey” and from the very first moments I knew it was going to be fun when our early PR releases described the content as being “bad ass.” The brand is cool, edgy, and the content is an extension of director Robert Rodriguez. During that first year, I would fly to LA once a month to collaborate with well-respected creative heads and discuss campaign launch ideas. There were lots of late hours, few resources, and many laughs which resulted in a multitude of great ideas and even more terrible ones.
My dream creative assignment would be:
I love to travel; I love marketing and music…. So if I could combine those three areas into an assignment, I would be ecstatic!
What I’m watching right now:
House of Cards S4, and Game of Thrones. My go-to wallpaper channel is Bravo… I watch it all… Shahs of Sunset, Housewives, Watch What Happens Live, Southern Charm. My guilty pleasure is Shark Tank on Friday Nights.
Stephanie Nachman
VP, Digital Events and Production, Nickelodeon
How I ended up in this field:
I was hired right out of college to work for the head of Nickelodeon Digital. Having studied Television Production, I figured I would take the job as a way to get my foot in the door at Nick and eventually transition over to to TV production or development. However I quickly realized that I really enjoyed working in digital media. At that time there was a level of creative freedom afforded to me that I don’t think I would have experienced had I moved over to production/development. As the landscape began to change I was exposed to a tremendous amount creative technology and innovation so much so that I stuck around and 15 years later, I’m still in digital creative!
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
In the early days at Nickelodeon Digital, I was in editorial. I would go to our live events and interview celebrities on the ‘Orange Carpet’ and live blog from backstage. Being on the carpet/backstage at these events in the early days, getting the inside scoop straight from the celebrities themselves (before social media existed) was an experience like no other. High intensity, fact-paced and packed with lots of unexpected moments—it was thrilling!
My dream creative assignment would be:
To create a truly immersive, second-screen engagement experience for a live event or series of live events where users/viewers could take part in shaping the show as it played out. I would love to move beyond the concept of play along to a place where viewers were calling the shots and crafting the show and its outcome in real time from start to finish.
What I’m watching right now:
Silicon Valley, Billions, Younger, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and I’m eagerly anticipating the return of Orange is the New Black and UnReal.
Shilpa Patel
Senior Manager, Media Strategy & Planning, Disney – ABC Television
How I ended up in this field:
I started my career on the media/advertising side of the business and always wanted to work in advertising and entertainment. I was in between ad agency jobs, taking a break in Cabo San Lucas and received a call from one of my former bosses asking me if I would like to come help her on a project. Of course, I said Yes! From there, I was hired on as part of the team and have been here ever since. 11 years!
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
Launching the live stream on WATCH ABC. We were the first network to launch a live-stream and five weeks to pull it off. It was crazy fun being thrown into a project that touched every part of our business. Being able to create something new on the cutting edge of technology and working with all the stakeholders across the company was quite an experience.
My dream creative assignment would be:
To work with the international teams to create a cross global media launch plan. A world premiere!
What I’m watching right now:
I am addicted to the Walking Dead series. At first, I thought who wants to watch dead zombies and then after the first episode, I completely lost it!! I couldn’t get enough of it, so I also started watching Fear The Walking Dead!!
Robert Poulton
Senior Design Director, CNN
How I ended up in this field:
It is an interesting story—literally from doodling to design. When I was in elementary school, one of my teachers complained that I doodled a lot in my schoolwork. A few years later in middle school, another teacher recognized my doodling as exceptional art. As a result, this teacher approached my parents and recommended that I attend a school for the arts instead of my local high school—Wexford Collegiate in Toronto, Canada (where I grew up), and this is when I was introduced to all forms of art and realized that I had a passion for design. After high school I went on to earn a degree in Graphic Design at Sheridan College of Applied Art and Design, as well as Seneca College where I studied Business Marketing. After college I spent many years in print design and production working for numerous companies, and also as an entrepreneur. However, I always knew I wanted to get into television and motion design, so I taught myself the software and landed a part time job working on weekends at Global Television in Toronto, Canada. Within a year, I was promoted to a full-time position at Global, but I also had another dream of working in San Francisco. Eventually this dream came true and I was hired by KGO-TV in San Francisco as a graphic designer. I later applied to CNN, got the job, and have been with CNN for 13 years.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
I have always been a “car guy”—drawing them and driving them! So in 2007, I was a kid in a candy story when I had the incredible opportunity through CNN to meet Carol Shelby (AC Cobra & Shelby Mustang). We also worked with Chip Foose and the folks from the TV show Overhaulin’ to overhaul a Hummer vehicle that CNN used to cover the Iraq war. The Hummer eventually sold at the Barrett-Jackson auction for 1.25 million dollars and the money was donated to Fisher House, a non-profit that supports the families of wounded veterans. This was an amazing project to work on for many reasons, and it is an experience that I will never forget.
My dream creative assignment would be:
This is a difficult question to answer. I have had a great ride, have done so many interesting things, and have been to lots of interesting places. Because I have received so much, my goal is to find a creative and interesting way to give something back. When I finally figure it out, I know it will be my “dream” assignment and the circle will be complete.
What I’m watching right now:
CNN’s United Shades of America with Kamau Bell, FX’s American Crime Story: The People versus OJ Simpson, NFL Draft, NBA Playoffs (GO Raptors!), black-ish and my guilty pleasure, The Young and the Restless.
Heather Reilly
Director of Production, Cartoon Network
How I ended up in this field:
I blindly sent my resume to Human Resources at HBO for an internship. Shockingly, I was called in for an interview where they offered me a slot in Creative Services. I’ve been working in various promotional departments since.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
I would say the 2 years/campaigns for Hall of Game where Shaq was involved. Fun talent to work with and the energy of a live award show is great!
My dream creative assignment would be:
Working on any kind of home renovation/decorating show. It would combine my outside interests with my production skills.
What I’m watching right now:
Game of Thrones
Matt Silvestri
Senior Writer/Producer Brand Creative, Comedy Central
How I ended up in this field:
I ended up in this field by accident. I was an English and History double-major in college who had every intention of going to law school, but as John Lennon once wrote “Life is what happens to you when you’re busy making other plans.” So after a month-long summer PA job at Nickelodeon between my junior and senior years in college and a less than enthusiastic run through the LSAT testing gauntlet, I found myself looking for a job towards the end of my senior year in college. Nickelodeon was nice enough to take a look at my resume again for a PA opening that summer, but instead sent it forward to Comedy Central. I was given a PA job starting just days after graduation and haven’t looked back since, progressing from PA to AP to Writer/Producer to Senior Writer/Producer to Creative Lead.
The most fun I ever had on a project was:
The most fun I ever had on a project was without a doubt the “Workaholics Red Band Trailer” project. How could it not be? We spent three days in the desert with the Workaholics cast creating all the best parts of an action movie and turning it into an unrated trailer. Over those three days we torched a car, had shoot outs, flipped a custom-made Mad Max inspired car and even hung out a it. Everything about it was awesome.
My dream creative assignment would be:
I hope it doesn’t come off like I’m dodging this question, but pretty much every assignment I’ve worked on already can qualify as a dream assignment. I’ve worked with some of the best comedy talent in the world, creating some really fun, exciting and ground breaking promotional content. I’ve loved every moment of every assignment I’ve had so far.
What I’m watching right now:
Honestly, I watch everything on Comedy Central—that is a not an exaggeration. Beyond that I am currently into Game of Thrones, Silicon Valley, Veep, black–ish and Man vs. Child Chef Showdown.
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