SARAH KOTZMAN

Passion Project

​

The best way to get to know someone? Ask what they're passionate about.

​

Check out my travel vlogs:

Adventure & Travel TV I live it. I make it.

Field + Post Supervising Producer

sarahkotzman@gmail.com

Based in Los Angeles, CA

Producer | ITV America for Hulu

​RAW, season 1

​​2021 - British Columbia - 8 episodes - in production

​

• Show Concept: Survival + Culinary Docu-Reality. Teams go head-to-head in a cinematic Outdoor Primitive Survival Challenge paired with a 5-star Cooking Competition. A unique fusion of foraging  for wild ingredients, indigenous cultural techniques and a showcase of the wild on a plate.
• On-location creative producer. Directed cast & crew, scouted locations, managed logistics, worked directly with EPs and Network on concepts and story.

​

Supervising Producer | Critical Content for Netflix

​Most Amazing Vacations, seasons 1-2

​​2019 - 2020 - #7 on Netflix worldwide

​

​• Scouted, cast, & locked International & US shoot locations

• Worked side-by-side with EP on all creative development
• Directed scripted & vérité scenes with 3 hosts + local talent

• Made trade-outs, schedules, field notes, hot sheets, & edit outlines

• Oversaw prep & production for an int’l travel show during the outbreak & entirety of

COVID-19, moving locations every 3 days for 10 months

• Shooter/Producer
 

Supervising Producer | Renegade 83 for Discovery

Naked & Afraid of Love, season 1 

2021 - The Philippines - 10 episodes, Survival + Dating Reality Show. Streaming format.

Naked & Afraid, season 6

2019 - South Africa - The Bahamas

• Scouted shoot locations and determined major movements for a Survival Docu-Follow series.

• Directed crew & cast in the field. Developed story as the sole Producer/Director/Writer.
• Carried the seasons through Post (Avid)
• Shooter/Producer

​

Field Producer | Renegade 83 for Discovery

Naked & Afraid XL: Valley of the Banished, season 5 - 10 episodes

2019 - South Africa

​

Associate Producer, Field & Post | Renegade 83 for Discovery

Naked & Afraid XL, season 4 - 10 episodes

2018 - The Philippines

​

• Lived & worked in the field for 2 months on an Adventure/Survival show.

• Adapted with large production/crew moves in an ever-changing ocean & jungle environment.

• Documented and produced cast. Shot daily on Producer Cam. Ran OTF interviews.

• Actively participated in daily Story meetings and plans. Wrote field notes.

• Strung out scenes & pods (Avid)

​

Producer/Editor, Post | Studio City Productions

2012 - present (freelance)

Projects: The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Olympic Games, Content Development & Pilots, Glee, The Talk, Hot Bench, Dr. Oz, Let’s Ask America, Live with Kelly & Michael, Wendy Williams, Queen Latifah, Burn Notice, White Collar, Movies for TV, etc.

• Crafted story, humor & drama by digging for bites & cutaways.

• Made smart edit choices under tight deadlines, often from concept to delivery in 4 hours.

• Produced & Edited pilots, pod busters, show opens, sizzles and original content.
• Worked from start through network notes.

​​​​

Field Producer/Shooter, Journalist | WOIO CBS 19, WUAB My43

2007 - 2011

​

• REALITY / INFO-TAINMENT (arts & music specials, sports, live events, comedy)

• CRIME SPECIALS (segments, PSAs)
• ANIMALS (monthly BTS zoo feature)
• HOME BUILD / RENOVATION (weekend commercial client show)

• TESTIMONIALS, MAN ON THE STREET REACTIONS
• REENACTMENT B-ROLL
• CASTING AUDITIONS

• SWEEPS PROMOS, DAILY TOPICALS
• COMMERCIALS & DIGITAL CONTENT

Field & Post Production:  Promos | Commercials | Events

• Pitched, wrote, produced & edited Emmy Award Winning news segment opens & promos.
• Produced local commercial shoots in the field through post (scripted & testimonial).

• Conducted interviews, guiding a variety of personas through questions & conversation for the perfect sound bite: comedians, citizens, artists, musicians, athletes, victims, actors, etc.

• Prepped and cued talent during live news, satellite interviews, and field shoots.
• Organized helicopter shoot logistics. Coordinated between pilot, camera & control room.
• Shot/Produced a 30-min. show on house-flipping.
• Created a live rock concert for the city's annual parade. 500,000 attended.
• Field produced interviews & shoots during BTS segments at The US Air Guitar Championships, The House of Blues, & Roller Derby bouts.

Casting Call Production:  The Amazing Race, Big Brother, Survivor, Kid Nation, etc.

• Scouted and secured shoot locations.

• Locked down sets, wrangled talent.

• Prepped & encouraged interviewees, logged auditions.

• Managed production team (contractors and Union).

• Worked with police to meet city security standards.

• Designed & oversaw applicant challenge obstacle course.

• Designed event promotion around Sponsor requirements.

​

Camera Op, Documentary | Nowita Films: Magnificent Burden

2015

• Managed five cameras during a fast paced "run & gun" on-location ski shoot in Utah.

• Skied & shot simultaneously between two teams of skiers.

• Scouted mountain terrain and established pre-production plan.

• Assisted in lighting and shot BTS/B-Roll footage for follow up interviews. Obtained releases.

​

Tour Manager, Travel Coordinator, Host | Trafalgar Travel

2017

​

• Sole leader & guide for groups of 52 people on 8-14 day road trips. 24/7 prep & on location.

• Coordinated all logistics & timings (hotel & restaurant confirmations, dietary restrictions, medical disabilities, emergencies, etc.) 

• Researched and provided accurate and exciting narratives for all destinations .

• Entertained a wide variety of personalities & ages.  

• Managed all finances and payments, keeping within budget.

• Maintained professionalism & calm leadership during changes & emergencies.

• Adapted to unforeseen issues (traffic, client needs, weather, etc) encountered while traveling.

• Recognized as "Tour Director of the Month" globally within the first 6 months for exceptional work & photography

​

Special Effects Pyrotechnical Op | POV FX

2016 - 2017

​

Marvel Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. , Imbroglio, Lt. Dan Band Performance

• Licensed by The State of California Fire Marshal, 3rd Class  

• Assisted Special Effects Supervisor in various practical effects on set for film, TV, and concerts (including fireworks, squibs, fire bars, hydraulic vehicle flips, fight gags, etc)

​

Producer/Editor | New Wave Entertainment
2015 - 2016

The FABLife Show

• Directly collaborated with corporate clients, high-profile celebrities & production team on a studio lot.

• Created in-show material, campaigns, clips, sizzles, promos, sales & digital content.

• Read lines on stage with talent, logs live in the booth, writes & edits.

​

Art Director | Exposed Communications

2007 - 2011

Designed corporate image, print & web advertisements, social media campaigns, event promotions, & logos for companies nationwide • Delivered effective visual communication for varying target audiences. Clients included Clear Channel, Soffer Organization, Hollywood Weekly, Hospitality Asset Management Company, Steel City Media, etc.

​

Photography Editor | Panther Prints

2005 - 2006

Responsible for photographing all images & captions of a 125-page university publication including sporting, academic & leisure events • Professionally directed large, diverse groups of people.

Writer/Photographer | Pittsburgh Metropolitan Magazine, Whirl Magazine

2005

Extensively manipulated images & created clipping paths for final magazine layouts • Successfully met tight deadlines • Pitched & wrote articles and cover stories. • Photographed fine cuisine

Digital Image Editor | Photographs by Julie

2003 - 2004

Edited proof & final images, which included airbrushing, head swaps, composites & color adjustments.

Bio

|   PA  ➸  OH  ➸  CA | 

Career: My true calling is Field Producing on Travel/Adventure shows. Stick me in a jungle or a boat for 14+ hours a day, and I'll love every second. But where did it all start?

I began in Magazines, because I love to write & tell stories through photography. Then I moved into TV News & Journalism, which fed my need for unpredictability & creativity... and helicopter shoots. I picked up some Emmys, then headed west, where I was an Editor for some of our nation’s favorites, including Ellen and The Olympics. Fun fact: I was once a licensed Special Effects Pyrotechnician.

I value strong coffee and adventure. 

​

Hobbies: Aerial Circus Arts, Wilderness Backpacking, Off-Roading, Mural Art, Photography

Skills

Avid, Premiere, Final Cut, Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, InDesign, QuarkXPress, Edius, WideOrbit, Wordpress, Dreamweaver, Contribute, Mac OSX, Windows XP, Timecode+, Field Notes

Gear:

Panasonic LUMIX S1H, Sony NX70u, Canon XA40, GoPros, Canon t2i, Canon 5D, DP-Slider, HD/XD Decks, ISDN-Patchbay, Lowell Lighting, Motion Slider 36, Nikon D7000, Nikon D70, Sony Nx5, Olympus TG820, Panasonic DVX 100A, Panasonic HVX200 HD, Sennheiser ew100 & 500, Teleprompter, Control Room, Wireless IFB, Vansion LED Lighting

Personal:

Team Leadership, Time Management, Multi-tasking, Tight Deadlines, Live Television, Post Production, Event Production, Field Producing, Actor Direction, Marketing, Writing, Pitch Meetings, Editorial Meetings, Control Room, Videography, Photography, Writing

Awards

Emmy Awards

Daytime Emmys

Nomination: 2015, Outstanding Promotional Annoucement: The Ellen DeGeneres Show - 1800th Show

Lower Great Lakes

Awards: 2011, Short-Form Editor • 2010, Single Spot News Promo: “Motel Sleaze” • 2008, Arts/Entertainment Special: “Burning River Roller Girls”

Nominations: 2008, Short-Form Editor • 2009, Short-Form Editor • 2009, Non-News On-Air Talent

•  3x Emmy Winner  •  4x Emmy Nominated  •