Chris Donahue

Selected teaching experience

• Professor of film and television, Winter 2021—present, Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA

• Lecturer of screenwriting, 2019–21, Chapman University, Orange, CA
  Analyzed what companies are buying and who the buyers are. Explored the creative and business aspects of being a writer. Advised students on industry opportunities and career preparation. Secured industry guests and case studies

• Lecturer of business of entertainment/producing, 2018–21, UCLA
  Examined the rapidly evolving operational, business, financing, and creative models of global entertainment inside and outside the legacy studio system. Investigated the changing role of agencies, management, unions, and business affairs. Demonstrated methods to develop and navigate content onto a variety of distribution platforms through case studies and industry guests. Explored the impact of gender, race, and politics on entertainment.

• Lecturer of producing, 2011–14, Santa Fe University of Art and Design
  Curated and facilitated master classes with visiting TV professionals. Provided opportunities for students to succeed through supervised paid internships on the series Longmire (A&E, Netflix).

• Faculty, 1998–2000 and 2004–05, American Film Institute, Los Angeles
  Prepared first-year fellows for projects. Facilitated communication among disciplines. Developed, designed, and taught seminars on short films in LA and Silver Springs.

• Adjunct faculty of production, 1997–2006, Loyola Marymount University
  Taught start to finish introduction to filmmaking class. Consulted with the department as they transitioned from film to digital.

Selected media experience

• Owner, 2009—present, West Main Street Productions, Los Angeles
  Acquired, financed, developed and produced strong IP. Partnered with Will Packer Media, ACT iii, Sony, Miramax TV. Identified and worked with writers to develop material. Worked closely with agents, managers, financiers, studios, and production companies.

• President, 2014–18, Paulist Productions, Los Angeles
  Sourced, financed, and produced numerous film and television projects. Cultivated, negotiated, and established a three-picture deal with Mar Vista Ent. Performed due diligence on potential digital media investments. Managed an eight-figure film fund with the investment committee. Produced The Dating Project (theatrical), Little Women (theatrical), and Every Other Holiday (Lifetime).

• Supervising producer, 2011–14, Warner Horizon Television, Los Angeles and Santa Fe, NM
  Built and staffed a turnkey production environment in Santa Fe, NM. Established and maintained vital working relationships with New Mexico Film Commission, local, state, and tribal governments, as well as unions, law enforcement, and media. Managed budgets, hot costs, cost reports, and cash flow on the one-hour series Longmire (A&E, Netflix).

• Executive vice president of production and development, 2006–11, Warner Bros Television, Los Angeles
  Built a robust and diverse development slate. Worked with Greer Shephard to develop and sell over ten drama pilots. (A&E, ABC, CBS, FX, HBO NBC, TBS, TNT). Worked closely with agents, managers, and business affairs to staff shows, The Closer (TNT), State of Mind (Lifetime), and Trust Me (TNT).

• Executive director, 2001–06, Humanitas Prize, Pacific Palisades, CA
  Leveraged a lead grant from the Ford Foundation and Paramount TV to start and endow student fellowships in comedy writing. Created and moderated a three-part series "Television as Social Commentary" in conjunction with the Paley Center for Media. Conducted over 25 Master Writer Workshops, including Steven Bocho, Marcy Carsey, Jennifer Crittendon, Tom Fontana, David Milch, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Paris Qualles, and John Wells.

• Producer and partner, 1996–2006, Cedar Grove Productions, Los Angeles
  Led the creative team responsible for the Oscar-winning short film Visas & Virtue. Managed the legal, financial, and physical aspects of production. Oversaw marketing and distribution, Day of Independence (PBS).

• Co-producer and director of development, 1992–96, Paulist Productions, Pacific Palisades, CA
  Sold six movies-of-the-week. (ABC, CBS, NBC). Co-Produced Entertaining Angels: The Dorothy Day Story.

• Producer, director, and photographer, 1990–91, WLAE-PBS, New Orleans
  Wrote and produced a weekly news show. Wrote and produced New Orleans Press Club winning documentaries Nicaragua a Land Divided and Russia: A Prison of Nations.