leila abu-saada

Story producer and writer across the four-part Freeform/Hulu series, Keep This Between Us. On top of working in the edit daily, I led weekly editorial meetings with directors and EPs to discuss episode notes to meet network cut deadlines. I scripted graphics and worked in unison with archival, and legal daily. Often pivoting in the edit under extremely tight deadlines as the story was developing in real-time.

Producer on the Emmy-nominated documentary series United Shades of America. Conducted story research, casting, storyline development, script writing, and field produced the episode 'Hawaii for Hawaiians (S7E7).

Produced two episodes of the CNN original series NOMAD traveling to Paris and South Korea. Role included developing story for two one our episodes, hiring crew, casting, field production, AD in field.

BET original series Disrupt and Dismantle with Soledad O’Brien. Directed and produced episode five-Displacement in Mermaid City- which intimately followed through verite and sit down interviews- residents of a public housing community fighting against the city of Norfolk Virginia’s efforts to displace thousands of residents. I led research (including foia requests), sourced contributors, budgeted the episode, managed the field team and APs, and scripted episodes in post working with; legal, archive, and graphic teams.

Producer on the six-hour Netflix docuseries investigating the economic motivators behind the global illicit drug trade. I traveled internationally to Colombia and Kenya for filming producing two episodes.

I pitched, developed, produced, and field directed four episodes of the first season of Problem Areas which examine solutions to police use of force across the country. The series spoke with community leaders, law enforcement, families, and activists and required heavy lifting on access with a fast edit turnaround.

Conceptualized, developed, and produced ten cinematic, global investigative films for National Geographic's flagship documentary series, Explorer. This role involved pitching stories for weekly meetings with senior management. I produced a majority of international episodes including in Gaza, Afghanistan, Russia, and Laos.