Terrible Sweetie Productions / Theresa Kereakes

Your Ultimate Consultant

2007-01-19T08:01:00.000-08:00

Everybody needs a helping hand in their business.

I have 30 years experience and a proven track record in the entertainment and media industries and legal/law firm experience. Chances are whatever you're wondering about - I've been there, done it and lived to tell.

Consultations run the gamut from a phone call on an hourly fee basis, to an on-call or retainer basis for longer range projects or extended access to services.

Check my resume by clicking here or on the link on the right, and feel free to Google me.

Services include Consulting on-site or off-site; Editorial Services; Launching / Relaunching initiatives for brands and television networks, Content Programming, Initiatives and Projects in all media, formats and fields; Technical Advisor; Archive & Preservation, including Digital Asset Management advise and implementation; Rights & Clearances, and more.

About Me - Bio and Credits

2006-12-07T15:15:00.000-08:00

This is who is on the other side of the email or the telephone.

I am a California native and grew up in Southern California, studied at UCLA and worked in Hollywood until the mid-80s, when I began working internationally, based in London and Paris. In the late 80s, I moved to New York and lived and worked there until 2005. I divide my time between Nashville, TN, Los Angeles, CA and New York City.

Biography
Theresa Kereakes won her first video production award when she was 14 years old. Her creative writing class project, “Thirteen Bubbles” won top honors at a student film festival organized by Hollywood’s documentary filmmaking legend, David L. Wolper.

In the 30+ years since then, while working in music, television, film, radio and the internet, Theresa has continued to win honors and help shape the landscape of popular culture.

An acclaimed photographer, Theresa has several album cover, record sleeve, editorial, book jacket and electronic media credits. From 2005 through 2009, she mounted a traveling exhibition of her vintage punk rock photos. Punk Turns 30 met with glowing reviews, was featured as an on-going display in the Third Annual Don't Knock the Rock Film Festival and selected works from her archive were included in the Pop Culture Auction held by Christie's Auction House in June 2009.

As a producer, Theresa has created, developed, launched, produced and/or supervised award-winning programs and series for VH1, PBS, Food Network, NYC Metro Channels, and USA Network, including Legends and Storytellers at VH1. At PBS, she worked in a Business Affairs capacity on several long-running series including Great Performances, Nature, American Masters and the then-live Charlie Rose. Most notably, as an executive producer at VH1, her series, VH1 to One, boasted the last ever public performance of Beatle George Harrison in an episode featuring Ravi Shankar, and hosted by John Fugelsang, with whom she continues to work. She also develops and produces projects through her production company, Terrible Sweetie Productions, Inc.

As a director, Theresa has realized music videos, public service announcements, and directed music performances for clients such as Sting, Bonnie Raitt, the Lollapalooza Festival and NIN.

As a cinematographer, Theresa has combined Caravaggio-esque lighting design with gritty available light to bring her signature texture to documentaries such as War Crimes Against Women and VH1's multiple-award-winning World AIDS Day special. She is the shooter of choice for many musical artists for their enhanced CD/DVD projects, including the Dixie Chicks and Sting.

Theresa has also consulted for and advised clients in the fields of radio and the internet. In 1998, she relaunched VH1’s web presence and under her stewardship, its ratings skyrocketed, increasing 1000-fold within a month. From 1999 – 2004, she was an essential part of the team that developed, launched and produced the syndicated terrestrial and Sirius Satellite Radio show Little Steven’s Underground Garage, hosted by E-Street Band co-founder and Sopranos co-star, Steven Van Zandt, plus several respected music industry personalities turned DJ such as record producers Kim Fowley and Andrew Loog Oldham, and musicians such as Dictators front man Handsome Dick Manitoba, garage rock cult stars Ko Melina (Ko & the Knockouts/Detroit) and The Mighty Manfred (The Woggles/Atlanta).

Theresa started her show business career as a teenager at the Whisky A Go Go in jobs of increasing responsibility from ticket taker to talent buyer. From there, she joined Island Records music publishing arm where she placed the music of U2, Tom Waits, John Cale and Richard Thompson into movies and soundtracks. When music videos started to become the standard in promoting records, Theresa combined her skills, background and experience to forge an eclectic and unique career path.

Resume

2006-12-06T15:51:00.000-08:00

Theresa Kereakes is an entertainment industry professional with a legal education and 25+ years experience in the production and creation of content for television/film, music, radio and internet.

TELEVISION

Present - Technical Advisor and Consultant for Television Producers and Independent Filmmakers

1994 – 2005 – Consultant and Completion funds evaluator
“P.O.V.” /The American Documentary (PBS series/New York)

Evaluate submissions by independent filmmakers for suitability for this documentary series.
Review budgets and requests for completion funding to determine accuracy and reality of the submission’s costs and finishing fund needs.
Thorough knowledge of PBS programming, rights and budget guidelines.

Note: P.O.V. films have won every coveted television and film award, including 18 Emmys, 10 George Foster Peabody Awards, 8 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Broadcast Journalism Awards, 3 Academy Awards, and the Prix Italia

1999 – Supervising Producer, “Extreme Cuisine,” Food Network (New York)

Launched series, developed and assigned stories, created template for on-going series and specials, hired, assigned and supervised producers, writers, researchers, post production staff, liaison with network promotion and publicity departments and broadcast operations.

1998-1999 – Supervising Producer, “Metro Live,” Cablevision/Rainbow Media's Metro Channels (New York City)
Launched live prime time talk/topical show strip series hosted by Susie Essman for Cablevision-owned regional cable channels.

Supervised and managed producers, control room, researchers,
Assigned stories
Wrote host wraps and continuity
Booked guests
Liaison with on-air promotions, press and publicity departments and parent network.

1994-1998 – Executive Producer, VH1 (New York)
In positions of increasing responsibility, from Producer through Executive Producer/Executive in Charge of Production:

Produced, supervised, created/developed/wrote non-fiction prime time series and specials through two re-launches of this music channel.
Managed budget of $5MM, staff of 40 in-house and freelance producers, writers and on-air talent.
Maintained and managed interdepartmental relations, vendor relations, network and affiliate relations.
Consistently delivered on time/ahead of schedule, and on or under budget.
Developed sponsor opportunities with Kodak and Aaton for series shot on film.

Series and specials include: Legends, Storytellers, VH1 to One, 100 Greatest Franchise, VH1-Vogue Fashion Awards, World AIDS Day News Specials (Emmy nominee), Divas Live, Monterey Pop Revisited (Emmy nominee)

1986-1987 – Associate Producer, “Cover Story,” USA Networks (Los Angeles)
Weekly celebrity profile series.

Researched, wrote and developed episodes on musical artists.
Performed rights and clearances duties, prepared cue sheets for network
Delivered program to Network Operations Center
Maintained the series archives.

RADIO

1999-2004 – Consulting Producer, Little Steven’s Underground Garage (New York)

Developed, launched and produced syndicated niche radio franchise for celebrity host.
Developed five-year plan for creating a world-wide “Underground Garage” franchise in various media
Raised operating funds through sponsors development
Developed a template for production
Trained incoming staff and producers
Served as artist, talent, affiliate and sponsor relations.
Developed and implemented marketing strategies and brand-building franchises.
Provided technical support to produce a weekly show while the on-air talent traveled world wide on tour with Bruce Springsteen (2001-2003).
Produced promotional films and live off-air events, culminating in a branded, sponsored outdoor music festival in 2004.

INTERNET

1998 – Executive Producer/Creative Director, VH1 Online

Relaunched and re-established an online presence for the channel, creating synergy between on air and online content and cross-brand promotion with other Viacom family channels.
Increased traffic and metrics 1000% during my tenure as the interim head of VH1 Online operations.
Worked in conjunction with NARAS to produce webcast of the 40th Annual Grammy Awards and "behind the scenes" clips (1998), one of the first casts of its kind

FILM

2005 – 2007 - Director of Photography, Executive Producer, Crimson Dirt Machine Movies. Projects: "Pink Cement" and "Dollboy" directed by Kim Fowley. DV features shot in Los Angeles. Projects completed.

2004 – Director, Director of Photography, Producer, “Underground Garage Live”
16mm short film presentation of live music performances to showcase the radio franchise “Little Steven’s Underground Garage.” Three-camera shoot on location.

2004 – Technical Advisor, “Underground Garage International Festival”
Assisted director (Chris Columbus) on preparation for multi-camera 3-D shoot of live music festival.

2003 – Director, Director of Photography, “Love and Bombs,” Jake Brennan/Yep Roc Records
Directed and shot behind-the-scenes material for enhanced CD/DVD of musical artist Jake Brennan. Released on Yep Roc Records, 2004

1991 – 2001 – Freelance cinematographer, videographer for fund-raising films, PSA’s, music videos, behind-the-scenes b-roll services and independent films including: “War Crimes Against Women” (aka “Calling the Ghosts” on Cinemax), “Sugar Fix.” Sample client list: Lollapalooza Music Festival, Dixie Chicks, KSA Public Relations, Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson, Bonnie Raitt, Sting, Rainforest Foundation.

MUSIC

1984 - 1988 - Independent Record Promotion and Tour Publicity

1987 - 1988 - Solters, Roskin & Friedman Public Relations
Served on the team that represented:

Michael Jackson
NARAS and the Grammy Awards telecast
Dolly Parton
Lionel Richie
Eddie Van Halen

1983 - 1984 - Professional Manager, Island Records/Music.
A&R duties included:

Scouting / signing new songwriters
Setting up co-writing sessions between writers
Song-plugging the company's catalog
Song selection for the company's artists
Music supervision/plugging for motion picture soundtracks

Songwriters included: Richard Thompson, Tom Waits, U2, John Cale, Steve Winwood, Robert Palmer.
Song placements included: Rod Stewart, Santana, Bonnie Raitt, Joan Jett

1976 - 1982 - Whisky A Go Go. Positions of increasing responsibility from box office clerk to show promoter at Hollywood, CA’s historic live music venue..

LEGAL

1990–1994 – Manager, Rights & Clearances, WNET-13 (New York)
Rights & Clearances Manager at PBS’s flagship station.

Handled clearances for television programs and series produced in-house as well as footage excerpt and program sales to third parties.
Cleared rights for ancillary distribution and sales of WNET-controlled programs.
Versed in all statutory copyright, union and guild issues.

1989-1990 – Contract Administrator, Frankfurt, Garbus, Klein & Selz (New York)
Contract administrator in full service law firm serving entertainment industry clients.

Thorough knowledge of film/television/radio/music industry union and guild by-laws and guidelines, intellectual property, patent, trademark and copyright, standards and practices for broadcast and rights and clearances across all media.

1988 - 1989 - Supervisor, Legal Department, American Federation of Musicians (New York)
Supervisor of the legal department for the parent organization of the labor union known as The Musician's Union.

Defended by-laws and collective bargaining agreements
Maintained 1-800-Road-Gig program which pursued action against promoters and other buyers who did not pay (ie: "stiffed" union members on contacts)
Supervised various aspects of the Union’s day to day business in relation to the practice of Labor Law.

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