S A C H A R   M A T H I A S

sacharmathias@gmail.com  •  917 202 2919  •  sacharmathias.com

SUMMARY          

• NY Emmy-winning producer, sound designer and editorial content director working in podcasting, film and TV. 

• Organized, collaborative, multitasking team leader with years of experience managing concurrent productions.


SKILLS + EXPERTISE          

Audio & Video Production & Post-Production • Podcast, TV & Film Development • Non-fiction Storytelling • Marketing & Branding • Editorial Direction • Team Leadership • Project Management • Cultural Competence • Creative Problem Solving • ProTools • Adobe Creative Suite • Final Cut Pro • Google Business Suite • MS Office 


EXPERIENCE

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT January 2022–Present 

Pushkin Industries | New York, NY         

  • Lead all aspects of strategy and structure for multiple, concurrent audio projects, ensuring achievement of the highest standards for conversational and narrative audio storytelling.

  • Help drive overall editorial direction of the company by participating in show development and pitch meetings, working closely with Executive and C-Suite staff on eliciting and reviewing pitches, scouting hosting and producing talent, and staying informed of industry trends.

  • Work with Operations and Marketing teams to create a sustainable, holistic content calendar for the year. 

  • Serve as Department Head for the Society & Culture Programming department.

    • Manage departmental level production staff, including Executive Producers, Managing Producers, Senior Producers, Associate Producers, and freelance personnel; meet regularly with project teams to troubleshoot any problems and move roadblocks.

    • Lead monthly department-wide meetings to foster communication and collaboration across disparate, remote podcast production teams and to ensure that all teams have most current information around best practices, new developments, and industry trends.

    • Act as point person for communication between the Society & Culture department and the Marketing, Operations, Development, Finance, IT, Engineering and HR departments.

    • Work with Finance and Operations teams to create and manage budgets for department and individual shows.

    • Work with Ad Sales, Business and Custom Content teams to discover and drive new business opportunities.

    • Prepare weekly departmental reports for C-Suite staff and outside stakeholders with updates on staff, content, and show performance.

  • Serve as Showrunner for 5 podcasts currently in production: Well-Read Black Girl with Glory Edim, Getting Even with Anita Hill, two launching Summer ‘22, and one returning Fall ‘22 (in pre-production).

    • Work closely with Hosts to develop the editorial concepts and sound of their shows.

    • Build and supervise production teams, onboard freelance personnel as needed.

    • Train staff, freelancers on production processes and adapted processes to suit the needs of individual shows.

    • Work with Finance, Operations and Marketing teams to create and manage project budgets, oversee legal reviews, manage third-party material licensing, manage ad sales and custom content integrations, manage promotional content and facilitate PR.

    • Work with the Hosts, Lead Producers, and Story Editors to create and shape episodes, providing editorial oversight, structural and line edits on all scripts, and mix notes drafts of all published content to maintain quality control for each program.

    • Schedule, lead and participate in ongoing weekly production, editorial and other milestone meetings, providing general guidance and support on story ideas, timelines, production process, and high-level asset management. 

    • Develop bonus content ideas related to audio projects, including free bonus episodes and subscriber-exclusive companion content and series. 

    • Direct hosts’ vocal recordings and produce interview tapings as needed.

  • Train, mentor, and perform mid-year and annual reviews of 4 direct reports, and multiple freelancers.

  • Serve as a member of the Steering and Content Development Committees.


MANAGING PRODUCER February 2021–December 2021 

Pushkin Industries | New York, NY

  • Served as Department Head for  Society & Culture Programming department from April 2020-present.

  • See Director of Content description above for specific tasks and responsibilities.

  • Served as Showrunner for 3 podcasts in 2021: Be Antiracist with Ibram X. Kendi, Solvable, Some of My Best Friends Are…

    • See Director of Content description above for specific tasks and responsibilities.

  • Trained, mentored, and performed mid-year and annual reviews of 3 direct reports, and multiple freelancers.

  • Served as a member of the Steering Committee.


BOARD MEMBER 2021–Present 

Twenty Summers | Provincetown, MA         

  • Serve on the board of a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arts organization in Provincetown, Massachusetts, founded to foster public engagement with art and artists, and to honor the legacy of art in Provincetown, MA. by providing resources, residencies, and a platform for original projects and innovative ideas.


DIRECTOR OF CONTENT 2019–Present 

BRIC Arts Media | Brooklyn, NY         

  • Provide editorial and creative direction, elicit and provide feedback, manage editorial calendars and budgets, inform interview bookings, and lead story ideation and scripting for BRIC TV and BRIC Radio programs.

  • Lead pitch review process for all BRIC TV and BRIC Radio platforms.

  • Lead pilot development and production for all BRIC Radio programs.

  • Scout, recruit and direct on-air and hosting talent for (including Ashley Ford, Franchesca Ramsey, Ahmed Ali Akbar, and more).

  • Lead innovation around new content formats, storytelling methods, and distribution platforms.

  • Collaborate with BRIC’s Marketing team on identifying KPIs and setting goals for metrics, audience development, engagement and promotion.

  • Manage production partnerships and interdepartmental projects.

  • Supervise 6 direct reports and dozens of freelance producers on production of a slate of non-fiction podcasting, film and TV programs.

  • Develop, launch and run BRIClab: Film & TV – a six-month, grant-funded residency program for up-and-coming media makers.

  • Produced The Grand Unified Theory of Howard Bloom (DOC NYC 2019, Santa Barbara Int’l 2020).

  • Host, Direct and Executive Produce BRIC’s flagship series, Brooklyn, USA.


ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, SCREENWRITING 2020 

CUNY Feirstein Graduate School of Cinema | Brooklyn, NY     

  • Taught a portfolio development course for screenwriters at New York’s first public graduate film school.

  • Developed syllabus, managed students, assigned and evaluated coursework, provided and elicited feedback, lead group critiques, and booked guest lecturers.


SUPERVISING PRODUCER 2016–2018 

BRIC Arts Media | Brooklyn, NY                 

  • Managed and supervised a team of freelance and staff producers, editors, animators, associate producers, production assistants and interns – overseeing editorial direction, technical production, budgets, schedules, and quality control.

  • Received, reviewed and responded to pitches for documentary shorts and features, non-fiction and narrative television series, audio documentaries, podcast series, and special projects.

  • Conceived of, developed, built, and launched BRIC’s podcasting network, BRIC Radio.


POST-PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR 2015–2016

BRIC Arts Media | Brooklyn, NY         

  • Created and managed post-production workflows from ingest to final delivery for all BRIC TV programs.

  • Hired and managed freelance editors, assistant editors, sound mixers, colorists and other post-production staff – provided feedback and lead quality control for producers and editors across all content strands.

  • Scheduled and maintained post-production calendar.

  • Produced and edited projects as needed.


AUDIO PRODUCER, MUSIC SUPERVISOR, SOUND DESIGNER 2012–2015

Various / Freelance         

  • Produced and post-produced audio, music and sound for film, tv, radio and podcasting (CV attached).

  • Worked directly with clients and editors to manage projects from conception through completion.

  • Hired, directed and supervised freelance composers, engineers, editors and talent as needed.

  • Set and maintained project budgets and calendars; coordinated contracting, invoicing and billing.

  • Served as series sound designer for Nickelodeon’s Team Umizoomi.


AUDIO PRODUCER, SOUND ENGINEER 2007–2012

Frisbie NYC | New York, NY         

  • Produced, recorded, edited, and licensed music and sound for commercial advertising, film, TV, radio, and podcasting clients at boutique audio production company in TriBeCa.

  • Built and managed relationships with clients at Grey Worldwide, BBDO, McCann Erickson, Viacom, and more.

  • Built and nurtured relationships with creative collaborators throughout New York City.

  • Recruited and directed a rotating team of composers, engineers, sound designers, producers and artists.


EDUCATION 

Bachelor of Arts – Hampshire College, Amherst, MA