SARAH KOTZMAN

Passion Project

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

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Check out my travel vlogs:

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

Field + Post Supervising Producer

Based in Los Angeles, CA

Supervising Producer | Critical Content for Netflix

​Most Amazing, Seasons 1-2, in production

Dec. 2019 - Sept. 2020
A 16 episode Netflix Original Series highlighting the world's most amazing vacation homes & cultural activities

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• Cast, pitched & locked international shoot locations

• Directed crew & 3-Host cast in the field. Made schedules, field notes, hot sheets, & edit outlines

• Oversaw prep & production for shoots that moved every 4 days to new countries

• Worked hand-in-hand with EP to develop all segments; secures trade outs and all creative + logistics
 

Supervising Producer | Renegade 83 for Discovery

​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.
• Strung out 6-Act episodes (Avid) in Post.

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Field Producer | Renegade 83 for Discovery

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

2019 - South Africa

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Associate Producer, Field & Post | Renegade 83 for Discovery

Naked & Afraid XL, Season 4 - 10 episodes

2018 - The Philippines

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• 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)

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Producer/Editor, Story | 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.

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

2007 - 2011

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• 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.

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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.

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Tour Manager, Travel Coordinator, Host | Trafalgar Travel

2017

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• 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

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Special Effects Pyrotechnical Op | POV FX

2016 - 2017

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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)

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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.

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Production Coordinator | Hatchback Productions

2018

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Ghost Roommate

• Coordinated production needs on set in the field for a narrative pilot series.

• Approved call sheets, wrangled talent, managed Location, Craft Services and PAs.

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Writer, Actress, PA | HBOLab

2007 - 2009

Appeared as a regular character on “Man in the Box,” an original web show featured weekly on Runawaybox.com.  The series was purchased by Break Media and is currently airing on Break.com.

• Assisted in set-up and strike, lighting adjustments, microphone placement and monitoring. • Contributed to character development through story line suggestions. • Wrote scripted dialogue.

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.

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Advertising & PR Assistant | LarsenOBrien Advertising & PR

2006

Wrote ad copy & PR. • Photographed & designed a variety of media including presentations, logos, websites & print ads. • Actively participated in team brainstorming. • Managed job-list status & employee time.
 

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.
 

Art/Editorial Intern | Whirl Magazine

2005

Organized magazine pagination. • edited layouts. • photographed fine cuisine for a multi-page feature. • edited transparencies. • input on cover-critiques. • Pitched & wrote a two-page cover story.

Freelance Writer/Digital PA | Pittsburgh Metropolitan Magazine

2005

Extensively manipulated images & created clipping paths for final magazine layouts • Successfully met tight deadlines • Pitched & wrote a 400-word article.
 

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. 

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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:

Producer Cams, 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  •