From the infancy of broadcast television to modern streaming, sports has always been an important part of the media landscape and an ideal arena for Associate Directors, Stage Managers and Production Associates. On September 24, DGA members interested in working in sports got valuable information on where to begin when the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council hosted the online panel discussion, Getting into the Game: How to Break into the World of Sports Production.
In a conversation moderated by Associate Director/Production Associate Amanda Rodriguez (CBS Sports), Directors Linda Malino Coppola (CBS Sports) and Annetta Marion (Master Class), Associate Director Bryan Kosowski (CBS Sports, NFL Slimetime), Stage Managers Dan Frank (FOX Sports) and Jeffrey Pearl (Madison Square Garden Network), Former CBS Sports Broadcast Operations Vice President Arthur Harris and FOX Sports – College Basketball Senior Coordinating Producer Steve Scheer, shared their experiences working on sports coverage both in the studio and in the field from both the staff and freelance perspectives.
Malino took attendees through what prep looks like while she is working on college football coverage. Marion advised members to utilize the DGA as a resource to learn about their fellows who already work in specific fields. Pearl shared how making connections as a stagehand at Showtime at the Apollo led to him getting his first job in sports television. Harris acknowledged that sports is a traveling circus and suggested that someone looking to get their start in in the genre begin with local productions. Kosowski recalled how asking a question at a CBS golf tournament in his hometown of Dearborn, Michigan got him a job at that tournament, which eventually led to working for CBS in New York. Scheer encouraged members to be inquisitive when searching for a position because the worst answer someone could give is “no.” Frank revealed the workings of a typical day on the prep for the MLB playoffs, from meeting with the National Anthem singer to dress rehearsals and emphasized that being a calm and steady presence in the midst of all the tension as a vital skill of the job.
Video from this event coming soon to the gallery below.
ABOUT THE PANELISTS:
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 Director Linda Malino Coppola
Malino Coppola is a Director and Producer with CBS Sports. In her 35-year career she has worked on nine Super Bowls, countless Final Fours, 5 Olympic Winter Games and spent several years as a Feature Producer. A six-time Emmy award-winner, she currently directs CBS' College Football and NCAA Basketball studio programming. Additionally, she shares Directing duties on Nickelodeon's NFL Slimetime. Malino Coppola has been a DGA member since 1990.
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 Director Annetta Marion
Marion’s directorial credits include episodes of Making It, Oprah’s Master Class, Mission Juno and The 47th Floor. She recently produced and second unit directed Davis Guggenheim’s documentary, Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie. A DGA member since 2009, Marion serves on the Eastern Directors Council, as an alternate on the DGA National Board and is formerly a co-chair of the Focus on Women Committee. |
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 Associate Director Bryan Kosowski
A 10-time Emmy award-winning Producer and Director, Kosowski’s projects have included Super Bowls, The Masters, NCAA March Madness and PGA TOUR golf along with producing and directing sports and entertainment events for CBS Sports, Turner, ESPN, Golf Channel and Nickelodeon. He serves as the replay Director for the NFL on CBS. Other projects include directing college football, college basketball, PGA TOUR golf, the Collegiate Women's Sports Awards, and the multi-Emmy-nominated series NFL Slimetime on Nickelodeon. Kosowski has been a DGA member since 2011 and has served on the Network Negotiating Committee. |
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 Stage Manager Dan Frank Frank has worked with Fox since 2009. He has assisted as a runner, statistician, Fox box operator, Field Stage Manager, and Stage Manager. He has worked MLB, NFL, Big East college basketball, NASCAR, USGA, USFL, The Belmont Stakes, soccer and rugby events. He has worked at the 2014, 2015 and 2017-19, 2024 MLB All Star Games, the MLB playoffs on Fox from 2013-19 and 2021-23 including the World Series. He has also worked Super Bowls XLVIII, LI, LIV and LVII. Frank has been a DGA member since 2014 and serves as a member of the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council. |
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 Stage Manager Jeffrey Pearl
Pearl has worked on entertainment projects such as It’s Showtime at the Apollo, Uptown Comedy Club, Apollo Comedy Hour, The Tony Awards, The Grammy Awards, MTV VMA's, Latin Grammy's, Country Music Awards. He has also worked on sports programming for MSG Network covering games for NY Knicks, NY Rangers, NY Islanders, NJ Devils, and Red Bulls Soccer. He also subs in as a Stage Manager at Good Morning America and Today. Pearl has been a DGA member since 1995 and serves as a member of the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council. |
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 FOX Sports – College Basketball Senior Coordinating Producer Steve Scheer
Scheer is as a Senior Coordinating Producer for FOX Sports in Los Angeles, CA. He is the Lead Producer for FOX College Basketball and is responsible for creating college basketball events and tournaments. He was a Producer and Director for CBS Sports in New York City where he worked on the NFL, NCAA Basketball Tournament, NCAA Basketball, Final Four Show, Prelude to a Championship, NCAA Selection Show, Super Bowl Today, NFL Today, College Football, College Football Today, Gator Bowl, Sun Bowl and Winter Olympics. Scheer is a 10-time National Sports Emmy Award Winner, and 20-plus National Sports Emmy Award Nominations. Scheer has been a DGA member since 1986. |
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 Former CBS Sports Broadcast Operations Vice President Arthur Harris
Harris began his career with the CBS Television Network in 1966 and was named Vice President, Broadcast Operations, CBS Sports, in March 2000. He was involved with all sports programming and production including The NFL on CBS, The NFL Today, NCAA Men's Basketball Championship, the 1992, 1994 and 1998 Winter Olympic Games, the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, Major League Baseball, the NBA, NASCAR and the Para-Olympic Games. |
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 Associate Director/Production Associate Amanda Rodriguez (moderator)
Rodriguez is a multi-Emmy Award-winning Associate Director with CBS Sports, NBC Sports and Stage Manager with the Today Show. A DGA member since 2014, she has been elected nine times to the Eastern AD/SM/PA Council and has served as the 2nd Vice Chairperson and Secretary/Treasurer and currently serves as an Alternate on the Council. |
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About the Council:
The Eastern AD/SM/PA Council is the elected body that represents the Guild members who reside in the Eastern region and work in television as Associate Directors, Stage Managers or Production Associates.