The Zack Arnold Podcast On Hiring Editors & AE’s, Fostering Creative Collaboration, and Managing Happy Post Teams | with Paul Leonard
I've often said that being a Post Producer is one of the most thankless jobs in Hollywood. They are tasked with pleasing seemingly opposing forces, i.e. studios, networks, and show runners, while also managing a team of editors and assistants and making sure the show gets finished on budget (and on time). Having a good post producer that not only knows how to keep the trains running on time but also foster a creative, collaborative environment where everyone performs their best and enjoys life outside of work is a winning combination that is far too rare.
Today's guest, Paul Leonard is one of those rare species of producers that has both editors and show runners alike wanting to work with him again and again. Paul has worked in television post production for 23 years and is best known for Co-producing Battlestar Galactica which earned 15 Emmy nominations (with three collective wins). He recently wrapped up a job at Marvel where he was one of the vice presidents of TV Post Production before deciding to go back to freelance producing.
Paul is a fountain of knowledge and wisdom with countless ideas about how to lead successful post teams. He also has a wealth of war stories about managing demanding executive producers. In today’s conversation Paul candidly shares his thoughts on what gets editors and AE’s hired, and what qualities he likes his editors to possess in the bay. He combines a winning charm with a no BS approach that has earned him the well-deserved reputation for making great shows while also keeping his team happy and sane (it is possible!!!! But it takes effort).
This is a rare “Insider Baseball” conversation that will be valuable to anyone wanting to get the unique perspective of a post producer who is both in charge of hiring, delivering a high quality creative product, and also getting maximum creativity out of his team while promoting a well balanced, collaborative team environment.
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Here's What You'll Learn:
- Paul's early years starting out as an editor and getting into producing after earning his MFA at USC.
- Lessons Paul learned in wrangling difficult Executive Producers to try to keep his department from burning out and keep the show on schedule.
- How Paul became known as the 'Hour Long VFX SyFy Guy' and found himself pigeon holed.
- The surprising place Paul learned to become a great team manager and keep people happy, united, and doing great work.
- What made Paul gravitate towards producing rather than directing.
- How Paul learned to bring out the best in his editing teams and facilitated new creative ideas that he would bring to the Executive Producers on his shows.
- The fascinating story of how he and his post team saved the studio a million dollars while earning the show 3 Emmy nominations.
- What it was like working for Marvel Studios and how it affected his career.
- Why Paul got the moniker 'Mother Hen' from an Executive Producer he worked with.
- The questions he learned to ask to ensure that the show runs smoothly and his team is taken care of BEFORE starting the job.
- Paul's thoughts on what it takes to lead a creative team in a collaborative environment and why it's so difficult to cultivate that in Hollywood.
- How Paul learned to set boundaries with executive producers and earned respect of demanding, bully EPs.
- What Paul looks for when hiring editors.
- The sign that he wanted to hold up to editors in interviews to keep them from ruining their chances of getting hired.
- Advice for editors when interviewing and soft skills that they should possess once they are hired.
- KEY TAKE AWAY: Address 'the note behind the note' when making creative changes.
- Paul's advice for getting on the 'inside' at places like Marvel.
- The important quality that editors should always possess when trying to have a fulfilling career. (HINT: it has nothing to do with talent)
Useful Resources Mentioned:
Paul’s Email Address (Please go through the Insider’s Guide to Writing Cold Outreach first.)
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Guest Bio:
Paul M. Leonard has worked in television post-production for 23 years. He is best known for Co-Producing "Battlestar Galactica", a show TV Guide and Time Magazine called "the best show on television." "Battlestar" earned 15 Emmy nominations in the following categories Leonard supervised: editing, sound editing, visual effects, sound mixing with three collective wins. Paul won a Streamy Award as Producer for "Battlestar Galactica: The Face of the Enemy" in 2009 for Best Dramatic Web Series. In 2012 Paul produced "Battlestar Galactica: Blood & Chrome," a two hour pilot shot entirely on green screen that featured over 1800 visual fx shots, which received three Emmy nominations for best visual fx, sound editing and sound mixing. In an entirely different arena, Paul developed a script and set up the feature film "Assassination Games," which was released on DVD in 2010 starring Jean-Claude Van Damme. Paul also taught a class in editing and post-production for the University of Texas' LA satellite program for ten years. Paul earned his MFA from USC's Peter Stark Producer Program. He wrapped up a VP - TV Post-Production at Marvel job earlier this year.
Show Credits:
This episode was edited by Curtis Fritsch, and the show notes were prepared by Debby Germino and published by Glen McNiel.
The original music in the opening and closing of the show is courtesy of Joe Trapanese (who is quite possibly one of the most talented composers on the face of the planet).
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