Governor Spotlight: Reality Programming

Briefly describe what you do.

I am an Emmy-nominated television producer and award-winning documentary filmmaker specializing in creating compelling, unscripted content that authentically explores fascinating human stories.

What motivated you to become a governor? 

I became governor of the Reality Programming peer group because I'm passionate about advocating for our community, expanding opportunities for unscripted creators and proactively addressing industry challenges by providing meaningful resources and support for my peers.

What are some of your proudest accomplishments or credits? 

I'm most proud of executive producing the nine-time Emmy-winning series Life Below Zero and its spinoffs; directing and producing multiple award-winning feature-length documentaries; mentoring emerging filmmakers at SXSW; founding the Ladyface Mountain Documentary Film Festival; and serving as governor of the Reality Programming peer group at the Television Academy. And, of course — my kids! 

How do you stay informed about emerging trends and developments within your field, and how has that helped support your peer group? 

I stay on top of emerging trends by regularly engaging with network buyers, executives and industry insiders, as well as attending key industry events throughout the year. I closely track what's happening across unscripted media, and I also mentor up-and-coming filmmakers in both documentary and reality. That keeps me connected to the next generation of talent and helps me understand and advocate for the evolving needs of our peer group.

What do you hope to accomplish for your peer group as a governor? 

I aim to proactively support and empower our peer group by addressing critical industry changes, advocating for resources to help members navigate periods of transition, fostering meaningful connections through programs like the Peer Circle and ensuring the voices and needs of our members are heard and represented effectively within the Television Academy.

What do you like most about being a governor at the Television Academy? 

What I like most about being governor is the opportunity to directly support, advocate for, and connect with my peers in the reality television community, helping to shape meaningful initiatives, foster collaboration and amplify the voices of talented creators within our industry.

Anything you would like to add? 

I'd like to highlight the importance of mentorship. Over the last several years, mentoring has become one of the most meaningful and rewarding parts of my professional life. It's not only an opportunity to give back, but also a way to stay connected to new perspectives and emerging talent. I encourage everyone in a leadership role to consider mentoring — it strengthens our community. It helps shape the future of our industry. 

Briefly describe what you do.

I am an Emmy-winning executive producer and an experienced reality/unscripted television production, development and international format executive and consultant currently developing and pitching projects for a wide range of platforms and markets. (Which sometimes feels like what I do in my spare time when I'm not a governor of the Reality Programming peer group!).

What motivated you to become a governor? 

I was invited to join the Peer Group Executive Committee in 2019. I loved being a part of the process of producing peer group events and giving feedback and votes on issues that came before us and being one of the major drafters of "legislation" to add a new credit title for Emmy eligibility, create a long-overdue vetting procedure for our program categories, and pave the way for the Game Show and Host of a Game Show categories to move from the Daytime Emmys to our Primetime Emmys. That effort also meant updating and revising the descriptions and rules for all of our Emmy Award categories.

Without realizing it, I was already starting to do the work of a governor and learning the process of how things get done within the Television Academy, so I ran for the position when Bob Boden — who has been, and is, a major mentor to me — termed out at the end of 2021. I am so grateful that I did.

I have always gravitated toward leadership positions in my career and throughout my life, and having the opportunity to bring my background, resume and social skills in service to the Academy and its members — especially our Reality Programming peer group — has been one of the most exciting and fulfilling experiences of my life. I highly recommend the job!

What are some of your proudest accomplishments or credits? 

I have been fortunate to be in the reality/unscripted business for a while. I am a proud alumnus of many years at Bunim/Murray Productions, where I worked for, and with, the best people every day — especially my mentors, Mary-Ellis Bunim and Jon Murray. I advanced in development, original programming and international television, while also serving as an executive producer on numerous productions. Every project —– whether it was a long-running hit, a "one and done," a pilot/presentation-only or a pitch that never sold — taught me invaluable lessons. And every person I've ever worked with on both sides of the camera, and both sides of "buyers and sellers," taught me even more about our industry, our audience and how lucky we are to do this work.

In terms of career highlights, serving as an executive producer for multiple seasons of The Challenge was a significant undertaking. Still, it was worth every late-night edit and every trip abroad to be with our excellent crews and cast. Being an EP on the scripted movie Pedro, based on the life of Pedro Zamora from The Real World: San Francisco, was a labor of love for all of us, allowing us to continue sharing Pedro's brave story. And, of course, my proudest moment was being nominated for a Daytime Emmy as an EP of Valerie's Home Cooking, with Valerie Bertinelli, in 2018. (I can barely boil water, so working on a cooking show, let alone getting my first nomination for one, was not something I ever imagined on my resume!)

We lost, but we got nominated again the following year, and we won! Every time I look at that Emmy, I still can't believe it bears my name, and it inspires me to always strive for excellence as my North Star, to work hard and to support and cheer on others as they make their career dreams a reality.

Proudest accomplishment as a governor?

Besides migrating the game show categories from the Daytime Emmys to our Academy’s Emmy Awards, I have been chairing the Television Academy Honors Selection Committee with my fellow governor, Bobbi Banks. It has indeed been an incredible and profound privilege to work with a deeply committed group of governors and members from across the industry to watch hours and hours of impactful programming and make the tough decisions to determine the final list of honorees that enlighten, educate, positively motivate and create awareness for viewers by harnessing the power of storytelling to fuel social change. Everyone involved is proud to play a part in shining the spotlight on such important and inspiring programs through the Honors.

How do you stay informed about emerging trends and developments within your field, and how has that helped support your peer group? 

Working remotely and being a freelance producer over the past few years has made it challenging to stay current. Still, it just means I must work harder to stay informed about trends, developments and staffing changes — especially with all the changes in the industry that continue to impact the lives and livelihoods of our members and colleagues. I strive to maintain contact with former colleagues, buyers, agents, production company executives, international producers and distributors. One of the benefits of being in the reality business for so many years is having a deep bench of talented and committed industry contacts and friends to check in with, learn from and stay up to date with the latest intel. I'm also developing and pitching projects, so the research and outreach involved in that process keep me informed. Additionally, I make it a point to stay informed by consuming trade publications, podcasts, social media and LinkedIn, among other platforms, for the latest news, discussions and updates from around the world.

We also have a fantastic group of working professionals from all aspects of our business serving on our Peer Group Executive Committee: the combined hands-on experience of these colleagues, along with that of myself and my co-governor, Joe Litzinger, creates a passionate team dedicated to creating opportunities for our peer group to meet each other at events and network, gain insights at panels that we are planning, participating in the Academy's Peer Circle program and much more.

What do you hope to accomplish for your peer group as a governor? 

As I enter my fourth and final year as governor, I hope my efforts have already contributed meaningful value to our peer group community.

Working alongside my co-governors, past and present, and our PGEC, I've been committed to representing the interests of our peer group, supporting the growth of our peer group members and creating more opportunities for engagement.

Together, we've aimed to foster spaces where members can connect with industry leaders and innovators, network with and enjoy the company of fellow members and amplify our unique stories and celebrate all we do, all we are and all we strive to become — in our peer group, industry and our broader lives. I look forward to the events planned for our peer group this year and can't wait to share them soon, seeing them come to life. I have strived to be a leader, advocate, listener, mentor and cheerleader while being a voice "in the room where it happens" (to quote Hamilton) on the board of governors on behalf of our ever-growing, diverse, vibrant, talented, active, and committed peer group.

My focus has always been and continues to be on our members. I am doing my best to make our Academy a place where people feel heard, appreciated and welcome — especially during these challenging times, when many are facing difficulties. Together, we represent the best and brightest of the television industry as we work to make sure the Television Academy is at the forefront of industry education, representation, advocacy, career advancement, programming and technical advancements, honoring our legacy and building for the future — and so much more — while always staying true to the excellence embodied by the Emmy.

What do you like most about being a governor at the Television Academy?  

What I most treasure about being a governor is interacting with people. It's spending time with my fellow governors, a fantastic group of visionaries who volunteer all their time in service to the Academy and the Executive Committee (our chair, Cris Abrego, is a member of the Reality Programming peer group!) and staff of the Television Academy. I am constantly in awe of their talents, humor, "can do" attitude, work ethic and dedication.

I also love meeting members — new and not-so-new! — at various events throughout the year, getting to know them better and providing any answers or help I can, while ensuring they know how thrilled and grateful I am that they are part of our Academy "tribe." Oh, and being in the audience at the Creative Arts Emmys and Emmys telecast, loudly cheering on (while still trying to keep it classy) the nominees and winners of our Reality categories, never gets old!

Anything you would like to add? 

Serving as a governor for three years has been an honor of my career. It's a lot more time-consuming than I imagined, but I've enjoyed and cherished every minute, every meeting, every interaction, every ceremony and every member. It's given me an opportunity I never planned on, to try and make a difference, lend a hand, offer an opinion, produce events and make our Emmy category rules as straightforward as possible, all while endeavoring to ensure that all our members feel welcome. I have made many new friends and am constantly in awe of the people within the Board of Governors, the Executive Committee, the Academy staff and our PGEC, who dedicate so much time and passion to the Academy and its members. The reality industry has given me a job, a career, a community of colleagues, a lifetime of memories and stories still waiting to be told! I count my blessings daily and am grateful that I can give something back to the industry by proudly representing it and the fantastic people who work in it, serving as co-governor of the Reality Programming peer group.

Thank you to everyone who made this dream a "reality."