Today we’d like to introduce you to David Lewis.
David, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The passion I discovered in college was making documentary films. When I started my career I was lucky to stumble into the documentary unit of ABC News and thus began a 20+ year career in TV News. I worked on docs, magazine programming and investigative work then went to CNN as an on-camera investigative reporter. I spent 11 fantastic years at CNN doing everything from covering major daily news events like the Oklahoma City bombing to investigative work to docs to magazine stories.
When the AOL merger with Time-Warner happened I had a choice to either stay at CNN or get a year’s salary to try and reinvent myself. It was either the safe choice or a gamble and I decided that I’d never get a better chance to try something new. I spent the first few years doing freelance magazine and doc work for the likes of Frontline, 60 Minutes, Fox News and CNN.
I was in New York City on September 11th and that led me to focus my work on terrorism-related projects for several years that took me all over the world. I then worked on shows about everything from gospel music to nuclear waste dumps to serial murderers. Some of the projects were fabulous and some made me cringe. At about the same time my kids’ school asked me to make a fundraising film for them and I found a new form of story-telling that both had an incredible impact and also sparked my creativity in new ways.
And thus began the second phase of my career where I use my story-telling skills and ability to get people to talk from the heart to tell stories for a range of non-profits and companies. I still do the occasional news piece when the subject interests me but mostly my stories are for marketing, branding, motivational or fund-raising purposes. It’s been everything from programming for the largest scoreboard in the world in Mercedes-Benz Stadium to films for Spelman College to the film used by Atlanta to pitch the NFL owners on hosting the 2019 Super Bowl. The variety is stimulating and I never know what’s coming next.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not exactly!
The workflow is unpredictable. Sometimes I’m overwhelmed and sometimes I’m twiddling my thumbs. The workflow of TV News is far more predictable: assignment, deadline, deliver the story. Easy! Getting used to the peaks and valleys is something I’m still not good at, especially when things are slow.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about David Lewis Productions – what should we know?
David Lewis Productions tells stories of real people for all kinds of clients. It might be a 30-second commercial or a ninety-minute documentary.
There are so many projects I’m proud of it’s hard to boil it down. Here are a few: a documentary on the Lebanese terrorist organization, Hezbollah; a 60 Minutes piece on the nuclear waste repository in Yucca Mountain, Nevada; fund-raising films for my kids school and for Spelman College; Atlanta’s Super Bowl bid film; programming for the scoreboard at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, which is the most technically challenging work I’ve ever done.
I think what sets me apart is that I have an ability to stand in others peoples shoes. What that gives me is an ability to get people from all walks of life to speak authentically and with emotion. It doesn’t matter to me whether it’s a billionaire or an ex-con, the mother of a suicide bomber or a corporate exec, I can create an environment that makes it safe for them to talk. It doesn’t matter if it’s a documentary or a radio program, a commercial or branding film.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
My most important mentors really come from my news days. That’s where I learned to tell stories and how to talk to people even if we had nothing in common. And that’s where I learned the reporting and investigative skills that still apply but in new contexts.
I’ve had countless friends give me business advice about David Lewis Productions and help me learn the ins and outs of running a company. Client management is essentially the opposite of what a reporter does so that was a learning curve. Sales is another area that was a challenge since asking people for money is kind of like original sin for a reporter
Contact Info:
- Website: www.davidlewistv.com
- Email:david@davidlewistv.com
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