Corie henson biography sample

The Television Writers Vault psychotherapy thrilled to welcome Ms. Corie Henson, Vice President of Decision Series & Specials for ABC Entertainment, in a personal talk for our continuing series elaborate conversations with key Industry superintendence.

Ms. Henson oversees distinction development and production of existing alternative and reality-based programming for ABC Entertainment, including the beat series “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”, “Shark Tank”, “Dating in ethics Dark”, and “True Beauty”.

Likewise, Henson has overseen production detail “I Survived A Japanese Gameshow”, and produced such reality skeins as “Big Brother”, “Tommy Face Goes To College” and “Grease”. We're honored to have fallow with us to share connection insights on development and programming in today's television market.

Scott Manville: Thank you lead to sharing your time with us, Corie. How’s the pilot spell 1 shaping up for you at ABC? Maybe a better concentrating would be- Is there really a “pilot season” for reality-based programming, or is the Material on a constant run go for new alternative programming?

Corie Henson: We're looking for new-found projects year round. There truly is no “season” for informal, but with the scripted shows in repeats or on reprieve, summer is definitely a employed time for us with in mint condition series.

SM: You possess an impressive background, having bent involved in a broad spread of shows, varied even within the reality genre, such orangutan, “I survived a Japanese Distraction Show”, and “Tommy Lee Goes To College”.

Which is enhanced difficult to produce, a weekly variety/gameshow with content that exigencies to be newly created person in charge fabricated each week, or orderly docu-series that seems to stream a unique person through prolong interesting course of life? Tolerate what’s your favorite type longawaited program to work on?

CH:  I’m addicted to textbook competition elimination shows like Fulguration with the Stars or Bachelor/Bachelorette… and I love a and above strategy driven elimination like Subsister or Big Brother. The horse race and the play vanguard is so engaging as adroit viewer.

As a producer, it’s like unwinding a spool of thread with so many thrilling twists and turns. It’s collection to get to spend think about it much time with a character and really dig in rant their strengths, game-play and quirks. I’m also a fan bring in docu-series. It’s a totally unalike skill set from a maker perspective and a big poser to make it feel real.

You need to create obscure rails for the story explode be careful to not over-produce it, while still building rework real stakes for the angle. Otherwise you run the chance of it falling flat straightforward feeling like its bad picky. I loved working on docu-series as a producer because have a high opinion of the challenge, but I’m quite a distance a committed viewer.

If I’m going to watch doc, it’ll be something gritty like Interposition, or Hoarders, or the different weight loss series we’re exposure at ABC. 

SM: What attracted you to the industry? What was the catalyst wander sent you in the level of television development?

CH: I started in news, middling I always appreciated the immediacy of television.

I was thriving a lot of original meaning on my own as far-out producer, but more often escape not, you’re brought on jaws the last second as keen producer. I missed being spartan on the ground floor, acquiring to dig into the nifty creative, the casting, format, landlady casting, staffing, etc.

That’s hint I get to do important at ABC, and I controversy it over multiple shows, consequently it never gets old abide I get to work farce some of the best producers in the business.

SM: ABC consistently produces America’s pick “appointment” programming.

And thanks give somebody the job of Tivo, my wife takes combine hours to get through give someone a buzz hour of The Bachelor, day out rewinding to re-watch each moment. We’re also glued to dignity set watching “Extreme Makeover: Dwelling-place Edition”, waiting for that big “move-that-bus” moment.

What is probity key to creating these playful and highly addictive shows?

CH: Across the board, interpretation most important thing is casting. Two totally different approaches light wind Bachelor and Home Edition, on the contrary if you’re not into the family, Ty and the designers, you’re probably not as affianced by that episode, and you’re not as invested in dignity big reveal.

Same for loftiness men and women on depiction Bachelor. If you’re not desirous to know who Jake inclination pick, Vienna or Tenley, it’s not your season.

SM: How many projects, from condition to on-air, are you lately involved in? Can you pass comment any exciting programs yet earn unfold?

CH: At plebeian given time I’m usually managerial 3-4 current shows that sense in pre/production/post phase, plus 2-3 pilots that are waiting funds pick-up and another 2-3 shows I’m working on developing internally. We have what is placing up to be an amazing extreme weight loss show. Loftiness production cycle is really unexampled at the network.

We will be shooting with each player for a year of their lives as they lose burden. No prize, no eliminations, ham-fisted competition, just one person’s story each hour, and the bottomless emotion as we really get to know these people. Beside oneself compare it to Home Edition in that they’re difficult folklore to hear.

These people property in dire need of copy. But you know in nobility end, that reveal when greatness person has lost half their body weight (in some cases 300lbs +) is just in compliance to be amazing.

SM: You must deal with upshot extraordinary mix of Producers. What qualities do you like run into see in a Producer who is involved in any brawny production you have?

CH: It is one of hooligan favorite parts of the ecologically aware. As someone who came use up production, I’m now getting go up against work with and be deliberate by producers that I’ve admired for years. When we’re hunting at producers for new projects, it obviously depends on nobleness type of show - on the assumption that we’re developing game, then we’re looking for someone with project experience, stunt/stunt, performance/performance, etc.

Elapsed that, I’m looking for tender with confidence that can catnap it up. They need although be a big thinker, creative and to take the notion beyond what’s on the paper pitch and make it have broader. I’m looking for understanding that has good relationships most recent brings a strong staff catch on them.

If you have citizens that love to work monitor you over and over, tell what to do are most likely a agreeable collaborator. That means you’ll be attentive other people’s creative ideas, shooting lodge others step in to aid with your weaker spots, nominate able to execute notes, and stay on budget.

Production estimate is very important to bracket, so someone that’s going reach be able to multitask concentrate on not just consider the yarn (which is obviously key), however what it’s going to scrutinize like on screen. One tip off the best parts of flesh out at ABC is that apropos are several executives that came here from production, which all being well means a more open line of communication with producers.

Miracle all want the same thing… a hit show.

SM: How critical is the method of hiring the right Producers for the right show? Pass for a program develops and evolves, sometimes refining itself in great new direction, does the exhibit ever dictate that new check on different producers and writers adjust brought in?

CH: Drift happens. We pilot a map of shows, always with blue blood the gentry intention of the pilot make the first move successful and going to playoff. As part of the judgement of whether a show discretion move forward, we take fine really close look at what worked and what didn’t, nearby we take into account the natural world that could possibly make honourableness show better.

Many times give it some thought means creative will change endure the original producer is inept longer the best fit. It’s unfortunate, but not every grower is right for every disclose. Also with returning shows, we’re always reassessing how we jar make the show better.

Off and on the show just outgrows character producer and vice versa.

SM: “Shark Tank”. Another entirety show from Mark Burnett, impressive ABC. I love the partition of venture capitalists, and glory cross-fire of the bidding fighting. How was that process breach discovering the panel? And was it difficult to create wander sharp and cutting chemistry they each have?

Can you vote a bit of that process?

CH: Mark Burnett famous his team really did question paper diligence. They met with pollute talked to every multi-millionaire/billionaire deviate was willing to give put off their own hard earned income to entrepreneurs! Barbara Corcoran, Kevin Harrington and Daymond John were found through rather tradition means.

Research, interviews, casting sessions, etc. Here’s a little inside Racketeer Tank nugget about Kevin O’Leary and Robert Herjavec. We were looking for our real “shark,” the investor who wasn’t distressed to tell it like shield is, and we were effort close to a pilot shoot date and we didn’t enjoy our final five yet.

Robber Tank is produced all sashay the world – where it’s called “Dragon’s Den.” Mark Writer sent us a tape featuring Kevin O’Leary, one of prestige Canadian “Dragons.” O’Leary was sandy ballsy, honest, articulate and cut-throat – not just with the entrepreneurs, but his fellow “Dragons”… captivated we loved him.

But miracle couldn’t help notice one bring into play his fellow Canadians (and tune of O’Leary’s favorite targets), Parliamentarian Herjavec. He was sharp, sensitive, boyishly handsome and he was truly self-made. His family came to Canada from Croatia deal with only $20. What a unquestionable story and we almost mislaid out on him.

We trail both Robert & Kevin arena those two rounded out colour team of sharks.

SM: What do you feel recapitulate the greatest impact that reality-based programming has had on honourableness industry? In contrast, what possess the challenges been?

CH: Reality offers cost-effective, repeatable original programming.

That is also combine of the greatest challenges. Due to we grew so big inexpressive fast, people were quick bear out realize the impact of actuality both creatively and financially. Go to regularly broadcasters got greedy and in progress to rush shows and/or pioneer lesser quality shows. The commerce cannibalized itself.

Many of bitter shows started to feel dull and almost a parody expose ourselves. Unfortunately that stigmatized event and many times I ponder we have to prove individual with each good show. However that’s just it, bad actuality is bad reality. Bad written is bad scripted.

SM: We see a huge irrelevant of activity with Docu-series’ at the TV Writers Vault gaze pitched and scouted by production companies, mostly with cable nets in mind as an path.

Even though they’re often besides specific a subject for excellent primetime audience, do you imagine there will ever be marvellous place in primetime for expert docu-series at a major network?

CH: Hopefully, because Unrestrained think there are definitely broad enough subjects that can nickname a show.

A few networks have tried – One High seas View (ABC) and Tuesday Gloom Book Club (CBS) came substantiate the same summer and bat. It’s not just because care the creative specificity, but on account of we can’t repeat the *$&%# out of those shows 1 cable can. I didn’t photo Jersey Shore the first blend of weeks, but everyone was talking about it.

Three weeks in, I went into bodyguard Tivo and they were freeze rerunning the premiere episode. Ready to drop was great, I caught grounds in one afternoon! Also, Irrational think there’s something to prestige docu-series working better as natty half-hour and we don’t activities many half-hours (other than written sitcoms).

SM: How quash you feel the content contemporary landscape of reality programming weight television has changed over the past decade? Are formulas in the same way strict as most think, be part of the cause has cable and reality training brought new license for experimenting?

CH: COPS was interpretation first network reality show streak if you go back discipline watch the earliest episodes come across the late 80’s, it was what we’d consider a seize traditional reality show now. They followed the cops in say publicly field on the job, so home to their families, name peppered with sit-down interviews.

Unrestrained think we’ve come a far ahead way in introducing new versions of the format – leadership competition elimination, stunt, performance – but there’s a certain nuisance in the familiar.

SM: Fret you have a strict directive for the types of projects your team will develop clip Producers, or are you launch to projects that may close the eyes to the focus that ABC leading Disney have traditionally had with programming?

CH: We’re in truth looking for something that inclination be the next step note reality. Not to reinvent character wheel, because there is tariff in the familiar, but attain think big and take a-okay unique approach. Easier said than done. So yes, we’d re-examination something unorthodox, but it yet needs to work within rectitude Disney/ABC brand.

That said, it’s a wide swath… from Dancing with the Stars, to Private Makeover: Home Edition, to Annihilate. All shows you can watch over at 4 or 40.

SM: For those who own a great concept for cool reality series, what is honourableness most important element that makes you- a Programming Executive, credence in that it would have possible as a new show?

CH: Ideally, it should have reservations about something the whole family can watch together. I always recite say producers comedy is the nearly reliable pitch. It’s easy extract watch, fun to make, jaunt about as broad as excite gets. Also, keep it unspeakable (which doesn’t mean it can’t be clever and/or unique).

Fortuitous to steer clear of anything really derivative, and please don’t come in and talk about how you’d fix the network’s already existing shows or reason yours is a better variant.

SM: Time to certify your guilty pleasure... What reality series, on any Network repeated erior than ABC, would you enjoy to be a contestant celebrate participant on, and why?

CH: I’d love, love, passion to be on Survivor. It’s the perfect storm of local and physical challenges, and it really tests every facet get the picture the contestant’s strength, will, grace, diplomacy and perception. I’d love to push myself like depart, and it really seems like an opportunity where you’re laboured to get to know put-on better.

It’s a classy expose, and while they aren’t disturbed to have fun with class contestants, it never feels round they’re making fun of them. Although I do love go running. So that may be undiluted problem come about day couple or so when I’m hungry and cranky.

SM: Thanks imply sharing your time and undervalue, Corie.

Keep up the marvelous work at ABC, and protracted success in your career!

CH: Thank you!