About FionaM
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Industry Branded EntertainmentFilmInvestmentMediaPodcastingPublishingRadioTelevisionVisual ArtsJournalism
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Sector Creative ServicesDevelopmentIntellectual PropertyOriginal ContentSeries DevelopmentTalent DevelopmentFilm Production
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Preferred Job Title AdvisorBoard DirectorCCO (Chief Content Officer)CCO (Chief Creative Officer)Creative DirectorDirectorEntrepreneurExecutive Creative DirectorExecutive ProducerFilmmakerFounderHead of Original ProgrammingProducerScreenwriterShowrunnerSupervising ProducerWriter
Experience
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1994 - 2020
Fine Line Features
Script Reader, Development
I was a free lance script reader and development assistant for several of the NY based film executives at Fine Line.
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1997 - 2001
Sony Pictures - The Turman Morrissey Company
Vice President of Features and Television
I was hired as head of Development for Features, but then also started developing TV movies and series while there and my time was spent fairly evenly between feature development and production, and Television development and production. I was the lead producer on a project I personally created, then developed set up at CBS and we shot in British Columbia as a 7 Million dollar Television movie.
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2020 - 2021
Davis Entertainment - 20th Century Fox
In House First Look Producing Deal
We developed projects in house with the aim to set them up for Davis to become the production entity. We were also free to develop projects that were not a fit for Davis and set them up elsewhere.
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2007 - 2014
Future World Media
Founder, CEO
Future World Media - a production company based in NYC, which developed and produced unscripted shows for clients including Bravo, E! and Netflix. Coming from a background of working within the Hollywood studio system, and also as a producer and journalist based in Europe, I founded Future World Media with a broad international outlook, and to blend both the TV and film business models. We focused development on high quality feature films, scripted television, and unscripted series with international format potential. - created and packed several female driven, scripted supernatural series for US networks - created and packaged a ten part, one hour series on International Chefs for US network - created and packaged an eight part, global lifestyle series for E! Entertainment
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2019 - 2020
Giant Blue
Co-Founder, CCO
I\'m currently the Co Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Giant Blue, a London based consulting company with a focus on media, entertainment, wellness, and technology. Giant Blue identifies, vets and packages unique concepts and products which land on the cutting edge of culture and technology. We have fostered relationships with several high growth start ups in the US and the UK, and are currently bringing several new entertainment and music related products to market, as well as producing celebrity driven entertainment content timed for each launch.
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2016 - 2020
Ascent Media Group LLC
Founder
Ascent Media Group focuses on IP development, ownership, financing and distribution of premium entertainment content for the US and international markets. Building on our passion for global storytelling, we have now partnered with several European producers and production companies and are currently packaging, financing and setting up distribution for several English language feature films and scripted series all developed and created by Ascent Media Group, with both US and international cast. Ascent Media Group has also just completed the independent feature, Tell Me I Love You, now being represented for US and international TV and film sales and being released in June 2020.
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1998 - 1998
CNN, CBS, ABC
Television Journalist, Producer
I was a writer and producer based in Europe, as well as on air-reporter, for many news and cultural broadcasters. I worked for 8 years for ABC\'s London Bureau covering arts and entertainment (movies, live concerts and pop culture.) I also did several extensive projects for 60 Minutes on location for 3 to 6 months in a foreign country, to lead the Sixty Minutes pre-production for several different in depth programs.
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1997 - 1997
The Gotham Group (Miramax owned)
Creative Executive
I developed feature and TV scripts for The Gotham Group NYC, which had a first look at Miramax. We developed material from NY and flew to LA bi monthly to pitch the studios and networks, and meet with talent managers, agents, directors etc.
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1992 - 1993
Lionsgate/ Gaumont - The Highlander (TV series)
Assistant to Executive Producer
I worked in Paris as the assistant to the series producer of The Highlander a one hour, scripted, supernatural series, produced as a co production between the US, UK, Canada, France and Germany with Lionsgate and Gaumont. Each episode involved extensive visual effects, action stunts and period piece costumes and flashbacks. I was closely involved in all aspects of development, casting, production and post production on the first season, 13 episodes.
Education
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Georgetown Graduate School of Foreign Service
Graduate Degree, Masters of Science (MS) in International Relations- two year Masters Degree in DC
I was accepted into a highly competitive Masters Program, only 22 students per year and over half were non US. We spent two intensive years living in Washington DC, having small, highly focused courses with leaders such as Madeline Allbright, Henry Kissinger and other top political thinkers on how to effectively enhance US foreign policy as well as US International Media and Communications. I also spent my time while there in DC doing internships; I was a White House Intern in the office of Political Appointees (Ambassadorial Appointments); in Capital Hill, for the Foreign Relations Committee, and at Lincoln Center working for the Artistic Director. In my summer between first and second year at Georgetown, I was selected as a paid summer associate at the Wall Street Journal, and lived in New York and worked for various divisions and publications of the Wall Street Journal, both domestic and international.
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UC Berkeley, CA
Bachelor's Degree (B.A) Economics and Politics Science, Minor in English
I did my four year undergrad degree at UC Berkeley, where I got my BA in Econ/Poli Sci, with a minor in English. I also played on the Squash Team for UC Berkeley and was a Phi Beta Phi sorority member.
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Le Centre John Knox, Geneva, Switzerland
Advanced studies in European Business and Businesses French
In my Junior year I studied abroad in Geneva, at a UC Berkeley exchange program Le Centre John Knox, where we studied European Business and intensive Business French, as well all culture, arts, etc.