Lessons from a Life in Television: Overcoming Roadblocks ????

I got a text* from an old friend the other day. Her daughter, a junior producer fresh in the industry, had a problem. She was supposed to coordinate a weekend shoot, but the camera rental fell through. Now, this wasn’t a high-stakes production—just an internal screening, a location and talent recce, a simple one-day site visit. But she was stuck. She asked if I had a specific prosumer camera.?

I am not a cameraperson. My gear consists of a Canon Rebel SLR, a $75 digital recorder, and an iPhone. Not exactly a rental house. The best I could offer was a reminder that B&H could overnight ship—for the bargain price of $4,800. (Sarcasm very much intended.)

But I had one more piece of advice: find a solution.

Chances are, she or someone in her network had a high-quality smartphone or digital camera. The job needed to get done, so she had to get it done.

?? This is what producing is.

Producing television is an endless cycle of problem-solving. You lay out a plan with every intention of it working, while also drafting five backup plans just in case. (If you’re a wildlife filmmaker, triple that number.)

It’s a high-stress, high-stakes industry, and I’ve seen incredibly talented people burn out over the years. I’m not saying this to be dramatic—it’s just the reality. Even when everything goes perfectly, this business is unpredictable and relentless.

So, how do you overcome roadblocks? Here are a few tried-and-true strategies: ??

?? 1. Research. Then Research Some More.

You cannot over-research. I have never once regretted doing too much. The deeper your knowledge, the more prepared you’ll be for anything that comes your way.?

?? 2. Always Have Multiple Backup Plans.

Scouting a location? Pick three, not one. Conducting an interview? Map out different directions it could go. Camera breaks down? Know how to pivot—smartphones shoot in HD and beyond these days. The goal is to keep your eyes on the prize and be flexible in how you get there.

?? 3. Stay Calm and Keep Moving.

Even the best-laid plans can go off the rails when emotions take over. Now, I’m not saying you should be a heartless robot—to quote Honeybee Shaw, “aw, hell no.” But staying level-headed, focusing on the facts, and making decisions based on logic instead of panic, rage, or fear will always serve you better.

?? 4. Keep It in Perspective.

I know some line producers and network execs are going towill hate me for saying this, but: it’s just television. If every single plan crumbles and you can’t salvage the shoot, what’s the worst that can happen? You might lose your job. And yes, that’s awful. But it’s not the end of the world. Failure happens. I’ve failed more times than I can count in my career. I am almost ’m 99% certain I wasam responsible for one of the worst-performing shows in Nat Geo history.

I’ve had concepts unravel in minutes thanks to an uncooperative interviewee. I’ve even had an A-list celebrity try to get me fired over a very minor “misunderstanding.”

Did I cry in my car? Maybe. Did I throw things? Allegedly. But after a deep breath (or five), I reminded myself: this is just a roadblock, not a dead end.

Roadblocks only stop you if you let them. Do your research. Plan ahead. Stay cool. Keep things in perspective.

Oh, and my friend’s daughter? She worked with the line producer, adjusted the schedule, and secured the right equipment. Crisis averted.

There is always a solution. ??

* Details have been tweaked to protect privacy, but the essence of the story remains. Don’t come at me with a Hasan Minhaj exposé. ??

About the Author

Shannon Malone-deBenedictis (she/her) is a two-time Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, creative consultant, speaker, and facilitator. From writing her first play at age 10 to executive producing documentaries for Disney+, Netflix, and others, she’s always loved telling stories.

?? Learn more about Shannon’s speaking topics and creative services at padlincreative.com.