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May 28, 2009
 
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Deb Spera
HRTS Member - President, TV, The Mark Gordon Company.


A member profile by Chris Davison,
chris@lthmedia.com
Deb Spera is President, TV at The Mark Gordon Company. Deb began her career in theatre and has since worked in many areas of the business, from features to cable to broadcast. I recently had a chance to interview Deb to discuss Arnon Milchan, branding, and Grey’s Anatomy.

Q: Can you tell us about your background and what made you want to work in entertainment? How did you get involved with the HRTS?
-I am originally from Kentucky, was the first person in my family to graduate college, and majored in Theatre at Western Kentucky University.  I chose Theatre primarily because I was interested in acting.  There was never any exposure to film making when I grew up so when I started producing Theatre after moving to Los Angeles from New York, I recognized quickly how deeply satisfying producing was.  I also recognized I would never make a real living producing theatre so I sent five resumes out and within two weeks had two job offers.  One from Steve Reuther and Arnon Milchan to assist them at Regency, and one from Debra Hill.  I chose Steve and Arnon and immersed myself in the development and the filmmaking process.  I took classes at UCLA Extension so I could understand the nuts and bolts of producing. I wrote a couple of things (that hopefully will never see the light of day) and produced them.  I spent as much time as I could in the editing room. 

I knew I wanted to understand the craft of filmmaking and I made it my goal to learn.  I have never stopped learning.  I hope I never do.  I was first exposed to HRTS when I was working at Showtime Networks and regularly attended the luncheons so I could gain insight into how the business was run. It was and continues to be very educational.

Q: What is your development process like?
-we seek excellent writers. Writers who aren't afraid of rewriting, writers who love the collaborative process, writers who have a good story to tell. We often come up with ideas in our company and pitch them to writers that we like and that too has been productive.  But it all boils down to the writer and the story.   We then shape the pitch until we feel it is ready to go out to the town.  We continue shaping and never stop even through post production.  Any good story is a living, breathing organism.  Our development process, when you are working with like minded people who care about getting it right, is a joy.   Working with Mark has been one of the singular most satisfying work experiences of my career.  He shares a passion for storytelling and good writing.  It is our goal to have fun while working.  And we do.

Q: What are some of the factors that make Grey’s Anatomy so consistently compelling?
-there are two reasons Grey's Anatomy is consistently compelling and their names are Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers.  I urge you to put anyone up against these two women.  Their standard of excellence is unsurpassed.  Shonda's writing is spectacular and Betsy is a great producer with a wonderful ear for new musical talent.  They, coupled with a wonderful cast, crew and writers, are the reason Grey's is so successful.


Q: How would you compare working at a production company to being a network exec?
-I have the freedom here at The Mark Gordon Company to pursue any story that is worthwhile.  We are not confined by any specific brand.  Our brand here at this company is simply one of excellence.  We tell different stories and sell them where they are best suited.  Being a network executive I was always obligated to serve the brand of the network.  Having said that, being a network executive was extraordinarily valuable to my growth as a producer.  I will be eternally grateful for my time at Showtime.  It was the most valuable education I could have asked for and prepared me well for the job I am now in.

Q: What are your thoughts on product integration and branded entertainment in general?
-product integration has a place if and only if it doesn't interfere with the creative vision for the show and stop the storytelling process.  It can be a tricky thing because product integration can be lucrative and valuable to your show, but it has to be used sparingly otherwise you can lose credibility. 

Q: How do you see the industry changing in the next few years?
-I wish I had a crystal ball and could tell you how the industry is going to change over the next several years.  I do know that making the product is becoming much more economically challenging but storytelling is as old as mankind and I don't believe anyone will ever be tired of it.  It's our job to continue to find ways to tell compelling stories for a price.  I believe we can continue to do that creatively.  But I honestly don't pretend to fully know how dramatically the market is going to change.  It's my job to find and provide quality stories for a market that continues to need them and that's what I do. 

Q: Anything you would like to add?
-if someone would have pulled my head out of a book and told me when I was 12 that  someday you can make a living working with writers and create and produce stories for television I would have said sign me up!   I didn't realize then what I know now; every human being has a story worth telling. Every single story has its own unique stamp and every individual has the capability of telling that specific story.

It is our job to understand story and mentor the folks coming up.  It is the younger generation of executives and producers’ job to educate themselves, immerse themselves in what makes a good and compelling story.  The creative channel has many branches and is not singular.  If you are an actor, produce, if you are a director, act, if you are a writer, produce...learn something creatively new that can contribute to your craft.   How does the editing process work?  What kind of coverage do you need to tell the story you want to tell in the editing room?  Read always, and never ever stop trying to hone your ability to articulate what makes a great story.  Educate yourself.  That is your job.  How lucky is that?

 
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