Lisa Sichi

Story Producer (Field) for the Pilot / First Episode. Live logging, beat sheets / hot sheets, sit-down contestant interviews

Story Producer in the Field. Live logging, beat sheets / hot sheets, contestant interviews.

Story Producer in the Field. Live logging, beat sheets / hot sheets, contestant interviews.

Story Producer in the Field. Live logging, beat sheets / hot sheets, contestant interviews.

Brought in after finishing another in-house production to assist as concept-to-completion Producer for one tournament. I coordinated, supervised, and directed a three-camera shoot in the field for 4-5 early play-down days. I tracked the ever-changing story lines and conducted dozens of OTF interviews as several hundred players were reduced to six finalists. Then I conducted extensive green screen sit-down interviews with each finalist, wrote the script for our host and analysts, and was lead producer in the booth. In post I took all of the footage and organized selects for three 60-minute episodes per tournament, including writing 2-4 profile/feature segments per episode. Plus I wrote an 8-15 minute package from the early play-down footage including host VO & sound-ups. I supervised 3 offline editors (in the booth and with written notes) to make all that happen, produced extensive ADR sessions for each episode with the poker analysts, and led the team through audio mix and online.

Story Producer in the Field: Live logging, beat sheets / hot sheets, contestant interviews. Story Producer in Post: Strung out segments on Avid, incorporating interview bites with process/judging elements.

Created several segments for each episode of this High Roller Poker series. Conceptualized each segment, Coordinated and Directed 2-3 camera shoots in the field with talent, strung out segments on Avid, worked with editor to address notes and complete each segment. Topics included Player profiles, Player interviews with our Host, Casino tours, Travel-style segments about the tournament locations (such as St. Kitts, Las Vegas, Atlantic City) , local restaurants, etc.

Worked in Post guiding the story beats and creating string-outs for a series of high stakes poker tournaments. Prepped materials for our post-tournament shoots with analysts/commentators, worked with the field team to pre-pro story beats for field packages, and assisted with host copy and research materials.

Created a new, more accurate/efficient system to oversee all footage coming into Post from the studio/field (to rectify lost footage), transcript processing in support of the Story Dept., scheduled & supervised daily & overnight duties for three AEs.

Filled in as Post Supervisor for someone on extended leave. Supervised all post scheduling: offline & online editors, AEs, audio mix. Coordinated with in-house graphics department (extensive graphics on each series). Tracked notes from Production and Network Execs. Final delivery of 3 episodes each week for Nat Geo, Military/Discovery, and The Weather Channel. Tracked and uploaded deliverables.

A reality/science hybrid series with extensive graphics and explainers. A rocket scientist from Huntsville, Ala., and his friends assemble engineering projects using materials like beer cans and moonshine. I actually discovered the main talent, Travis Taylor, for another series I produced for the company (The Universe) and suggested they look into creating a vehicle for him. I conceptualized each episode (including comedic B-story lines) and prepared preliminary beat sheets/element lists for the field team to execute. Then it came back to me in Post, where I strung out segments with Avid and supervised the editors. As part of that process I also planned what graphics elements were needed and wrote additional talent bites for pick-up.

Host casting (including name talent) working with agents and running in-person filmed auditions. Reality casting (proof of concept) casting a wide net, conducting extensive pre-interviews and arranging for camera tests. I was held on staff for this whenever the company didn't have a show for me to Produce, and sometimes would do this in tandem with my other Producing duties.

With extreme attention to detail wrote all announcer copy for 150 episodes, describing thousands of prizes in the tone and length required. Creatively incorporated requested elements from sponsors, and addressed S&P / legal concerns. Also promoted to assist with prize assignments balancing creative, logistic, and budgetary concerns; then worked directly with the EP to tweak and finalize them for each episode.

With extreme attention to detail wrote all announcer copy for 150 episodes, describing thousands of prizes in the tone and length required. Creatively incorporated requested elements from sponsors, and addressed S&P / legal concerns.

Supporting the Writer/Director, researched and coordinated all aspects of production for multiple episodes of this science-based documentary series. Booked expert guests, booked special crew (trained raccoons and dogs, food stylists, etc.) as needed, scheduled all shoots and arranged travel/accommodations, facilitated the acquisition of all stock footage (including negotiating rates and contracts), fact-checked each script with sources for network approval.

Supporting the Writer/Director, researched and coordinated all aspects of production for multiple episodes of this science-based documentary series. Booked expert guests, facilitated interviewing JPL/NASA scientists, booked special aspects (Back to the Future replica car) as needed, scheduled all shoots and arranged travel/accommodations, facilitated the acquisition of all stock footage (including negotiating rates and contracts), fact-checked each script with sources for network approval.

Writer/editor of additional web content (one short form per episode)

Supporting the Writer/Director, researched and coordinated all aspects of production for multiple episodes (Killer Germs, Science of Lies) of this science-based documentary series. Booked expert guests, booked special crew (trained animals, food stylists, etc.) as needed, scheduled all shoots and arranged travel/accommodations, facilitated the acquisition of all stock footage (including negotiating rates and contracts), fact-checked each script with sources for network approval.

Supporting the Writer/Director, researched and coordinated all aspects of production for this one-hour documentary. Booked expert guests, secured participation from the Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, scheduled all shoots and arranged travel/accommodations, facilitated the acquisition of all stock footage (including negotiating rates and contracts, saving over $15k vs traditional rates), fact-checked each script with sources for network approval.

Reality Competition series featuring amateur dancers, three judges and host Joey Lawrence. Coordinated the song selection for each episode with the sound-alike team and music clearance dept. Pre-interviewed contestants and fed info to intro writer, Produced Contestants on tape days.

Senior Segment Producer for a Live Competition Reality show, where 16 Celebrity Contestants (ie Ben Stein, Danny Bonaduce, Sheila E., George Takei) competed in variety-style acts for viewer votes. Supported two show Producers (4 contestants each) with scheduling, talent support, background casting (dancers, aerialists, circus acts), and helping on shoots. Also assisted the EP by designing and maintaining a system to track details on all contestants: multiple pre-show training sessions (some taped), acquisition of personal materials (photos, video), clearance/releases for those materials, and other details. Fun fact: the series was famously cancelled after one episode!

Production Associate in the field during a major recreation of a Civil War Battle. Pinch hitter, extra help for any department as needed - wound up helping all of them in some way ;-)

Lifestyle/How-To field series featuring artists and their work. I was assigned 3 cities per season, then recruited and booked 18 artists in each city, for the Field team to execute. I did extensive pre-interviews with dozens of candidate, to evaluate potential on-camera personality and artistic quality/skills. I selected the project they would feature on our show (based on audience interests, techniques used, ability to shoot in time allowed, and variety among bookings), then wrote up a pitch for network approval with details of exactly what steps (and step-outs) would be shown on camera.

Lifestyle/How-To field series featuring artists and their work. I was assigned 3 cities per season, then recruited and booked 18 artists in each city, for the Field team to execute. I did extensive pre-interviews with dozens of candidate, to evaluate potential on-camera personality and artistic quality/skills. I selected the project they would feature on our show (based on audience interests, techniques used, ability to shoot in time allowed, and variety among bookings), then wrote up a pitch for network approval with details of exactly what steps (and step-outs) would be shown on camera.

Lifestyle/How-To field series featuring artists and their work. I was assigned 3 cities per season, then recruited and booked 18 artists in each city, for the Field team to execute. I did extensive pre-interviews with dozens of candidate, to evaluate potential on-camera personality and artistic quality/skills. I selected the project they would feature on our show (based on audience interests, techniques used, ability to shoot in time allowed, and variety among bookings), then wrote up a pitch for network approval with details of exactly what steps (and step-outs) would be shown on camera.

Show Runner. Involved in every aspect of this brand new how-to series for DIY network. Managed budget, hired and trained staff, developed format, approved all creative elements (set, graphics, music). Primary liaison with the network, making adjustments to resolve their concerns. Led an extensive talent search for the expert host, recruiting and evaluating thousands of candidates. Approved all projects & guests, and submitted them to network in episode pitches. Approved and re-wrote host scripts, ran the set and coached the host (who had limited camera experience). Also Supervised a field team (host, field producer, editor) who created "Man on the Street" style field segments that rolled into the live-to-tape episodes.

Show Runner. Involved in every aspect of this brand new how-to series for DIY network. Managed budget, hired and trained staff, developed format, approved all creative elements (set, graphics, music). Primary liaison with the network, making adjustments to resolve their concerns. Achieved extensive budget savings with a creative and complex schedule for the eight hosts who also served as the guest/experts in each episode. Approved all projects, approved and re-write scripts, ran the set. Also managed a field team (producer and editor) who created field segments that rolled into the live-to-tape episodes.

3 seasons as Coordinating Producer (17, 18, 19), 5 seasons as Segment Producer (12 - 16) for the first series HGTV purchased - a studio based How-To craft show. Booked guests, selected projects, decided what step-outs would be needed on set, maintained prop lists/budgets, wrote scripts, prepped guests (for performance and time). As Coordinating Producer tracked all segments, supervised and assisted Segment Producers as needed, and maintained relationships with manufacturers to donate product for use on the show and/or to feature in "New Product" endorsement segments from our host.

Live-to-tape How-to/Lifestyle series with Host Maty Monfort and 3 expert guests per episode. Topic areas: Cooking/Nutrition, Entertainment, Beauty/Fashion, Fitness/Health, Gardening, Home Repair/DIY, Crafts. Prepped for a couple of months, then shot four 30-minute episodes per day, 4 days per week, for 4 weeks at a time (130 episodes in all). Started as a Show Producer: booked entire episodes (guests and topics), wrote scripts, rehearsed guests and got segments to time, ran set and cued talent on the fly. Then led the transition to Segment Producer structure, with each producer concentrating on one guest per episode. Created organizational systems for the entire production, assisted Segment Producers with all aspects of their segments as needed, worked independently to fill drop outs on the fly. Also Supervised a field team (Producer/Writer, Editor) for roll-in field segments.

Lifestyle/How-To field series featuring Home Cooks creating a special dish. With one other Story Producer, we recruited and booked Home Cooks all over the US, for the Field team to execute. I did extensive pre-interviews with dozens of candidates, to evaluate potential on-camera personality and cooking/baking skills. I selected the recipe they would feature on our show (based on audience interests, techniques used, ability to shoot in time allowed, and variety among bookings). I wrote up pitches for network approval with details of exactly what steps (and step-outs) would be shown on camera. Also created and maintained charts and other organizational structures to ensure we were on track with shooting and editing deadlines.

Live-to-tape lifestyle studio series with two hosts and guest experts. Supported two Show Producers booking and producing segments in fitness/exercise, health/nutrition, beauty, fashion, cooking, entertaining, and new products.

Created and implemented work flow for the entire court research department as the series began. Supervised four local full-time and 40+ remote part time staff, including recruitment and hiring. Developed procedures and forms, and tracked results to ensure cost-effective placement of resources. For every case arbitrated on the show I registered decisions, filed needed paperwork with the courts and accounting, and facilitated property exchanges as needed.

Created and implemented work flow for the entire court research department as the series began. Supervised four local full-time and 40+ remote part time staff, including recruitment and hiring. Developed procedures and forms, and tracked results to ensure cost-effective placement of resources. For every case arbitrated on the show I registered decisions, filed needed paperwork with the courts and accounting, and facilitated property exchanges as needed.

Created and implemented work flow for the entire court research department as the series began. Supervised four local full-time and 40+ remote part time staff, including recruitment and hiring. Developed procedures and forms, and tracked results to ensure cost-effective placement of resources. For every case arbitrated on the show I registered decisions, filed needed paperwork with the courts and accounting, and facilitated property exchanges as needed.

Created and implemented work flow for the entire court research department as the series began. Supervised four local full-time and 40+ remote part time staff, including recruitment and hiring. Developed procedures and forms, and tracked results to ensure cost-effective placement of resources. For every case arbitrated on the show I registered decisions, filed needed paperwork with the courts and accounting, and facilitated property exchanges as needed.

Pilot and 3 seasons Judge Judy, also 2 seasons Judge Joe Brown

Quickly moved up from Intern to PA to Production Coordinator and Associate Producer. As PA, primarily responsible for driving guests to/from set. Took initiative to read all the viewer mail that had been collecting for months, and organized them into potential episodes. Served as Associate Producer and wrote tease copy when requested by Show Producers. Quickly moved up to Production Coordinator, where I was responsible for booking all guest travel & accommodations, tracking travel budgets for each episode, handling releases on set, and assisting Show Producers with computer research (Lexis Nexus).