Meet GREG DONIS | EXECUTIVE PRODUCER | SHOWRUNNER | DIRECTOR

We had the good fortune of connecting with GREG DONIS and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi GREG, what role has risk played in your life or career?
For me, risk taking has changed over the years. As I got experience and credits under my belt, I became much more calculating in terms of risk management.

A good example, in 2010 I was living in Vancouver Canada, I had an amazing concept – or so I thought. With my own money I put together a 10 minute ‘mini’ pilot and deck. The deck itself was well thought out with talent, locations and so on. With my DVD and deck in hand, I got a meeting with a well know Executive Producer at the time. Hoping to team up with such a well known producer, I was excited to get the meeting. He loved the concept! As for me? I was beyond excited – or at least for the next 15 seconds. You see, I was using this project to move into Showrunning as I had been directing for the previous 12 years. Everything from Beast Machines: Transformers, Making The Cut, an Anne Murray special and the 2010 Winter Olympics. Minutes later he said I was lacking Showrunner credits and potentially would be brought on as the creator/director. Not only not being given a chance to Showrun and or Produce in general, I would have to share the creator credit. Further to that, he couldn’t guarantee me a spot on the crew at all. I wasn’t about to ‘sell my soul’ nor have my previous track record insulted. After a few drinks with friends in the business and a good pep talk, I decided to take my concept straight to Network. It was one of the best decisions I’ve made and kick started my Showrunner career.

I was able to get a meeting with MTV Canada and they loved the concept. With not having an agent or manager at the time, I didn’t truly know what to expect in terms of a potential deal with a Network and what it would look like. The meeting went great, they were going to allow me the opportunity to take on the role of Showrunner – only one thing, I would be giving up a substantial percentage of the ownership. Keep in mind, I was young and had never pitched my own project to a Network. I was going solely on guts, determination and really – not fully understanding the business side of things. With that, I politely said I would look at my options and get back to them. Which, I did… I called an old friend from College who now had his own marketing firm in California – it was small, but he had an amazing ability to raise money. Be it no TV projects, but digital videos promoting companies. In my mind, together, we could make this dream happen… having our own TV Series!

Together we decided to raise money through private investors and product placement. And thats exactly what we did… We raised the budget for a 6 ep x 30 min TV series. The ballsy part? We had no buyer – at all. What we did know is that this concept, now going to be made into a full on TV series, would 100 percent sell, right? Well… we had guts, and thats saying it lightly. We were naive as well, let face facts. All I knew is that he raised money for videos that have gone viral and for him, the only thing he knew was that I was directing unscripted TV programs. What could go wrong?

Little did we know how much of an uphill battle this ‘little adventure would be’. We had one investor or should I say potential investor have a heart-attack at his desk with our agreement sitting in front of him – he died – but, his brother who found him saw the agreement and was gracious enough to give us some funding. Key word, ‘some’. The Playboy model that sold us her RV for production saw us coming a mile away – and what we thought was a good deal cost us thousands of extra dollars due to multiple mechanical issues. How could this be? Well, her paperwork from the local inspector was all fake. It was a piece of crap, but how would we know? After all, Playboy models were honest people right?

Between those issues and countless others – many extremely comical and one in a million chances of happening – we were still determined to make this a reality. As for the other ‘comical’ hurdles… we can get into those another time… in short, we raised the money through private investors, had multiple product placement deals with companies such as Apple, MLB, Hormel Foods and Fükitt Clothing, signed a distribution deal and then dropping the distributor only to once again make this happen on our own terms. We sold this program to MTV International – airing in such territories as Australia, New Zealand and others. I fondly remember the time I was working in Dubai on a custom car series and getting the news from my producing partner that we sold the show – giving an air pump like I just won the Super Bowl. Further to that, receiving a letter from MTV Australia mentioning we were battling Jersey Shore in the ratings game. Would I do it again? I’m not so sure… we got lucky, but luck wouldn’t ever have shown its head without the multiple high risks moves we were willing to make! The name of the show was called Livin’ Loud. I may have aged 10 years during that time but the amount of knowledge I gained has made me into the Executive Producer, Creator, Showrunner and Director I am today.

I still take risks, but I’m a lot more calculated. Whether I raise funding or backed by a Network, who I team up with and is the payoff worth the amount of energy it will take to get the project greenlit. Along with making quality TV, a person needs to live and have a healthy quality life – something that is not always easy to juggle in our business.

P.S. Remember the investor that died at his desk? He was to pay for 3/4’s of the budget. We now had 1/4 of the budget and 6 days away from shooting episode 1. Screw it my producing partner and I said… lets hit the road and make this a reality.

So while I was putting the episode together my producing partner was working the phones trying to find investors. This was a travel series so it was all done on the road and wasn’t easy to pull off. Thankfully, it all worked out… to put it into perspective, Livin’ Loud travelled 3600 miles, shot in 18 different locations, had 4 main talent with 33 secondary talent, 15 known talent such a the fastest man in the world, Jim Odem who set a land speed record of 336 mph to the pioneers of wakeskate…. we made it happen!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
About my work… this is will be pretty quick! I’m a risk taker and always have one foot crossing the line, looking to take run of the mill TV to the next level of storytelling and visuals. My ‘fire’ sets me apart, no doubt! I’m the kind of person that goes to bed and can’t sleep because I’m thinking of how to push scripts, scenes and or stories. On the business side, I have years of experience developing, selling, producing and directing TV programs. I like having the weight of the TV project on my shoulders and consider myself one of the best when it comes to pulling stories from talent. Being able to work with a variety of talent within the unscripted world is a talent and one I’m proud of. Whether it’s kids, animals, adults and a variety of cultures – I love working with everyone.

Hustling, creating and hard work has kept my career moving forward. Although there have been challenges, like the recent writers’ strike or going back to 2018 when I was applying for my U.S. Green Card. It was important for me to take the plunge and apply for the Green Card as it has made me even more of a valuable asset to those hiring me, whether it’s a project for Peacock, Universal Pictures, Discovery Channel or Netflix. I believe without risks, there’s usually no gain and nothing special created

Recently I’ve ventured into the scripted world that not only revolves around some of the biggest bands in the world but one of the most well-known managers in the music industry. Based on Grammy Award winner Vicky Hamilton autobiography titled ‘Appetite for Destruction’. Vicky discovered and developed Guns N’ Roses, Motley Crue, Poison and June Carter among others – having over 250 million in record sales. I’ve teamed up with Electric Panda on this exciting new series which is currently in the development phase.

Creative, calculated risk taker and hard worker – that’s me in a nutshell. I’m someone who’s not a one trick pony and plays within one sandbox. Unscripted, scripted, animation, video games… I’ve been part of all of them and continue to do so.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
When good friends come to town I always take them to the sunset Strip! The mecca of rock n roll, whether it’s the Rainbow Bar & Grill, Viper Room or the Whisky a Go Go. The biggest bands have all played there such as the Rolling Stones, Motley Crue, The Doors, Tom Petty to name a few – to this day big bands continue to play pop up shows at these venues. Next up, the beach, especially Venice Beach where the people watching is second to none. When I was in college the director for a Huey Lewis and the News music video told me that the best directors are those who people watch. I’ve never forgotten that! I’ve taken some of them to the location where Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were murdered. I can get into some pretty detailed facts as I Executive Produced, Created and Directed a special titled, O.J. Simpson: Blood, Lies & Murder – now airing on Peacock. Their eyes are usually wide open and come away with a whole new thought process of what happened that night – after all, they just got a private tour from someone who lived with the O.J. case for 3 years. And for the late night vibes and drinks – I will usually take them to an event where we can go backstage and have an experience that they would normally never get to have. I always make sure they are getting to experience new moments and can go home with a story to tell…!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The road to achieving ones dreams cannot be done alone. For me, my parents were supportive with the direction I was wanting to go – that was arts & entertainment. I came from a small town in Northern Canada… meaning it was about as far away from the ‘industry’ as anyone could be, having their support was instrumental. I was so naive and in my mind, you go to school, be the best you can be, graduate, apply for a job and get hired if you are good at what you do. One factor I never took into consideration back in college was the saying ‘its not what you know rather who you know’. And to that, I have a few mentors that have helped me with my ever evolving career.

• Phil Mitchell, one the creators of the first all CGI TV series Reboot and founders of Mainframe Entertainment (Barbie, Beast Machines: Transformers, War Planets).

• Derik Murray with Network Entertainment (Brats, Sidney, I Am Chris Farley).

• Scott Moore with UNINTERRUPTED Canada (Former Head of Rogers TV, Former President of Sportsnet and NHL Properties).

I learned a lot about both the production and business side of the entertainment business with them as my mentors. Phil gave me my first shot at directing CGI animated cartoons (Beast Machines: Transformers, Action Man, Heavy Gear). Scott brought me onto Making The Cut which not only allowed me to work with NHL Super Stars but my first field producing job. And Derik, well… he gave me a huge opportunity by giving me two one hour episodes for the biography series Life & Times and the Anne Murray Special for the CBC – all being simultaneously completed. Because of this I learned how to build out multiple projects at the same time and further to that – tell an amazing story. For that, I am thankful…

One note that is important to my story… Before majoring in Motion Pictures and Television at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, USA, I spent three years at Grande Prairie Regional College taking Visual & Communicating Arts. Receiving the one and only scholarship given to the top student. I owe much of my creativeness and risk taking to Ken HouseGo, one of my instructors who taught me that ‘my way’ of breaking creative rules and boundaries is okay! Example, I would take some gas, pour some onto a piece of print paper (lite the gas on fire) with ink and roll it through the printer. Doing this would alter the vibrance and shade of the ink. None of my classmates could figure out how I was doing this as I would complete the process after hours – thanks to Ken, he gave me a set of keys to the studio! And for that I owe my risk taking…

Instagram: @gregdonis

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregdonisproducerdirectordevelopment/

Facebook: Greg Donis

Other: Showreel https://vimeo.com/956108226 IMDB https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2268087/ 40 Year Old Property Virgin Producer, Director (HGTV / Discovery +) https://www.imdb.com/video/vi1832370201/?ref_=tt_vi_i_1 Bisping: The Michael Bisping Story Executive Producer (Theatrical, Universal Pictures) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmQyd8G17gc&t=1s 9K: Under Pressure Showrunner, Director (MotorTrend) https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/345816200 Bisping Co-Creator, Executive Producer, Showrunner, Director (Samsung, VR, Unscripted) https://vimeo.com/manage/videos/658733292/566ad7d931 

Image Credits
NONE OF THE IMAGES I’VE USED NEED IMAGE CREDITS.