By Debbie Mitchell
In my recent post Television Survival 101, I mentioned that when I meet television folks I always ask, "how did you get into television?", and always find their stories amazing, since everyone's journey is so different. Today I begin a summer series entitled, you guessed it, How Did You Get Into Television? I ask TV folks, to tell us about about their entry into the television industry, and advice on how to survive it. This morning we meet Lora Wiley-Lennartz, an Emmy nominated TV producer/host coach, who has worked nationally and internationally during her career and is now working in social media.
What’s your job title today and what are your job responsibilities?
"I have a dual job title where I am working now. I am the Managing Director of a creative web agency and the Managing Editor of an online magazine. In my work I am leading and training a young editorial staff for the magazine. I also work with large clients rebranding their image on the web. I oversee production of photo and video shoots and manage the creative workflow of the office."
How did you get into television?
"I have a BFA in Theater Management, one of the first 13 people to ever obtain that degree in the USA. When I left college I was lucky enough to work as an intern on an Off Broadway show that was in the backers audition stage. For five years after that I worked on one Broadway and off Broadway production after another, about 40 in total. After 5 years, I felt like all my Broadway dreams had come true and I was looking for a change. So I went from being a Broadway Business Manager for a very famous producer to a Production Assistant on a women’s talk show on cable television. I needed to work my way up from the bottom and that’s what I did."
What has been your favorite television job to date and why?
"Without a doubt, it was that first year as a Production Assistant. Learning everything was so exciting. I worked with an amazingly talented, funny bunch of people and nearly died laughing every day. In many respects I was overqualified for the job. The more responsibility one has in general, the less carefree and fun the job is. Not that high level TV executives don’t have any fun, but I already had the skills to do my job easily, so I was able to focus on the learning and the fun part."
If you could go back and say anything to your self at the start of your television career, what would it be?
"Work. Less. Hours. No question. Too many times I stayed too late in the office. I could have worked smarter and had more free time."
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned during your years in television?
"Focus. How to hone in on one angle of a story that makes it unique. I have to thank my years at Geraldo for that and I translate it into my work every day."
What is your biggest regret in your television career?
"I was not very good at keeping in contact with people. Handling so many guests, experts, PR people, agents, managers, publisher, etc. every week can be overwhelming. I should have been more diligent about maintaining my contact list. Then I moved overseas for 10 years. This made it even more difficult."
What’s your secret to having a happy career in television?
"Following stories that spark your passion. Whether it’s health and fitness, fashion, beauty, hard news, investigative journalism, everyone has one favorite genre they vibe with. You are a better storyteller when you have a connection to your subject matter. Also this helps with pitching the stories to your superiors. If you can sell your passion to them, you have a better chance of getting your pitch on the board."
What one ritual or practice keeps you grounded in the competitive television field?
"I always felt my creativity set me apart from other producers. So, I nurture it. When I feel depleted, I switch gears and make sure I do something to fill up my creative reserves. You need input to give output. Sometimes it was doing something simple like taking a long meditative walk, other times it was taking a seminar or reading a book about some other creative activity I was interested in or losing myself in a fabulous art exhibit. All these activities outside the television arena fed my inner artist and made me a better creative person. I still practice this no matter what work I am doing."
What’s the most important lesson you would tell anyone pursuing television?
"Be tenacious, not obnoxious."
Which person taught you the most in your career?
"Hands down Geraldo Rivera. The hardest working, most brilliant host/teacher I ever worked for."
What are your top three tips for television survival?
Less drama- more output – Stay out of office politics. Don’t get dragged into other people’s gripes and grudges. The time you spend getting sucked into other people’s problems is less time you are spending being productive in your own work.
Make it happen – No excuses. Your supervisor does not want to hear why things won’t happen. If you can’t get it done one way be creative and find another.
Always have a backup plan- Even when your plan works perfectly, at some point in their career, a TV producer ALWAYS get the rug pulled out from under them at the last minute at least once. 6 Hours to taping and your guests all cancelled? Always have some ideas you can run with in a few hours time in case that happens.
What are you most proud of in your television career?
"Helping put a certain famous slime bag in jail for statutory rape."
If you weren’t working in television, what other job would you have pursued?
"My fantasy job has always been to be a marine mammal veterinarian."
When you think about a career after working in television, what does it look like?
"Transitioning into some other type of creative work where I can learn new skills and at the same time mentor young creatives."
In Her Free Time Away From Television- Lora Wiley-Lennartz is the author of diaryofamadhouswife.com, a baking blog. When she’s not in the kitchen, she travels the world and scuba dives.
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TV/Social Media Producer Debbie Mitchell is an Emmy nominated producer who is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) and is currently a member of the James Beard Broadcast and New Media Awards Committee. If you are a brand interested in blogger outreach campaigns, a blogger or personality interested in television placement follow Debbie Mitchell @TVProducerDeb or contact TheBloggerConnection.com.
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