Justine Simonson
Director's Assistant
last updated on 03/07/13
Resume Details
Availability
About me
Justine Simonson is a documentary producer and the founder of Co Lab Productions in New York City. Her work has covered a wide range of topics including education, history, transportation, social justice, health care, government waste and national security. Most recently, Ms. Simonson has produced several hours of programming for the hit National Geographic series Doomsday Preppers. On that series, she has worked both in the field as well as in postproduction.
From 2006 to 2010, Ms. Simonson worked as a staff producer in the News and Current Affairs department at WNET, the flagship PBS station. Her work with PBS garnered several awards including two Emmys, a Hugo and several Cine Golden Eagles. In 2011, Ms. Simonson produced several hours of television focusing exclusively on academic strategies in elementary and middle school classrooms for Teaching Channel.
Ms. Simonson’s PBS credits include Frontline, Exposé: America’s Investigative Reports, Bill Moyers Journal, Blueprint America and Need To Know. Ms. Simonson’s work has also appeared on History Channel, The National Geographic Channel and TLC, and she has worked on the production of several independent films. Ms. Simonson is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.
From 2006 to 2010, Ms. Simonson worked as a staff producer in the News and Current Affairs department at WNET, the flagship PBS station. Her work with PBS garnered several awards including two Emmys, a Hugo and several Cine Golden Eagles. In 2011, Ms. Simonson produced several hours of television focusing exclusively on academic strategies in elementary and middle school classrooms for Teaching Channel.
Ms. Simonson’s PBS credits include Frontline, Exposé: America’s Investigative Reports, Bill Moyers Journal, Blueprint America and Need To Know. Ms. Simonson’s work has also appeared on History Channel, The National Geographic Channel and TLC, and she has worked on the production of several independent films. Ms. Simonson is a graduate of Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications.
Credits and Employment History
National Geographic Channel - Field & Story Producer
TLC/Sharp Entertainment - Field Producer
WNET/Teaching Channel - Producer
The Ish - Story Producer
WNET/Need To Know - Producer
Seftel Productions - Coordinating Producer
Seftel Productions - Field Producer
Animo Productions for National University of Ireland, Galway - Director
Bill Moyers Journal - Associate Producer
Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City - Field Producer
Expose: America's Investigative Reports - Producer/Writer
Frontline: The Undertaking - Associate Producer
AIR: America's Investigative Reports - Associate Producer
The Revolution, History Channel - Associate/Casting Producer
Real Simple, PBS - Associate Producer
RDF Media, Casting Department - Casting Producer
Inside the US Secret Service, National Geographic - Associate Producer
Help Wanted, TLC - Associate Producer
Our Secret History, Third Wave Foundation - Associate Producer
Happy Valley, Independent Feature - Production Coordinator
Russia: Land of the Tsars, History Channel - Post-Production Coordinator
Doctors Without Borders, National Geographic - Producer's Assistant/Assistant Editor2012, Supervising Producer
Doomsday Preppers
Sharp Entertainment
Supervised three edits and two assistants in the repackaging of season one of Doomsday Preppers with additional information and new scenes added.
2012 - 2013, Field Producer
Doomsday Preppers
Sharp Entertainment
Directed single camera crews and talent in field to capture the unique stories of survival plans with people who believe the end of the world as we know it is imminent.
2012, Story Producer
Doomsday Preppers
Sharp Entertainment
Constructed story arc from shot material; researched and wrote voice overs; packaged story for broadcast.
2012, Field Producer
My Crazy Obsession
Sharp Entertainment
Directed verite and scripted scenes in the field; conducted interviews to serve as backbone of segment; ensured coverage of pertinent details and scenes; coordinated production on the fly.
2011, Television Producer
Great Lesson Ideas
WNET (PBS)
Produced 10 5-minute documentary programs capturing inspirational lesson ideas to promote literacy in Social Studies and Science classrooms in public schools as they happen. As producer, I cast the teachers, researched the literacy standards and their applications in each lesson, shot second camera, and supervised the edit of each piece.
2011, Television Producer
Aiming for Excellence
PBS
Produced two half-hour doc style shows where a an education expert visits the class of a public school teacher and challenges them to raise their game in one week. Cast teachers and experts, developed story lines, second camera operation and supervised edit through to delivery
2011, Story Editor
Diplo Is Never Going Home
The Ish
Developed story points to explore the unique music and history of the country in question, tracked story progress in the field with an eye toward continuity and flow and coordinated transition of original and acquired materials from production to post-production.
2010, Producer
Need To Know
PBS
Interview segment with Elizabeth Warren and correspondent, Alison Stewart
2009, Field Producer
Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City
PBS
Producing and directing shoots, coordination of domestic and international travel, research and development, and story construction in post.
2008, Producer
Expose: America's Investigative Reports
WNET (PBS)
A half-hour newsmagazine series profiling the work of investigative journalists tracing the work of one team from initial tip to publication, produced in collaboration with Bill Moyers Journal.
2007, Associate Producer
Frontline
Mead Street Films
A one-hour documentary film exploring grief and the American funeral, guided by the writing of Thomas Lynch and examining processes from funeral arrangements to the embalming room.
2006, Associate Producer
Revolution
History Channel
Associate Producer/Casting Producer for 13-part series with cast of 65 principles.
TLC/Sharp Entertainment - Field Producer
WNET/Teaching Channel - Producer
The Ish - Story Producer
WNET/Need To Know - Producer
Seftel Productions - Coordinating Producer
Seftel Productions - Field Producer
Animo Productions for National University of Ireland, Galway - Director
Bill Moyers Journal - Associate Producer
Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City - Field Producer
Expose: America's Investigative Reports - Producer/Writer
Frontline: The Undertaking - Associate Producer
AIR: America's Investigative Reports - Associate Producer
The Revolution, History Channel - Associate/Casting Producer
Real Simple, PBS - Associate Producer
RDF Media, Casting Department - Casting Producer
Inside the US Secret Service, National Geographic - Associate Producer
Help Wanted, TLC - Associate Producer
Our Secret History, Third Wave Foundation - Associate Producer
Happy Valley, Independent Feature - Production Coordinator
Russia: Land of the Tsars, History Channel - Post-Production Coordinator
Doctors Without Borders, National Geographic - Producer's Assistant/Assistant Editor2012, Supervising Producer
Doomsday Preppers
Sharp Entertainment
Supervised three edits and two assistants in the repackaging of season one of Doomsday Preppers with additional information and new scenes added.
2012 - 2013, Field Producer
Doomsday Preppers
Sharp Entertainment
Directed single camera crews and talent in field to capture the unique stories of survival plans with people who believe the end of the world as we know it is imminent.
2012, Story Producer
Doomsday Preppers
Sharp Entertainment
Constructed story arc from shot material; researched and wrote voice overs; packaged story for broadcast.
2012, Field Producer
My Crazy Obsession
Sharp Entertainment
Directed verite and scripted scenes in the field; conducted interviews to serve as backbone of segment; ensured coverage of pertinent details and scenes; coordinated production on the fly.
2011, Television Producer
Great Lesson Ideas
WNET (PBS)
Produced 10 5-minute documentary programs capturing inspirational lesson ideas to promote literacy in Social Studies and Science classrooms in public schools as they happen. As producer, I cast the teachers, researched the literacy standards and their applications in each lesson, shot second camera, and supervised the edit of each piece.
2011, Television Producer
Aiming for Excellence
PBS
Produced two half-hour doc style shows where a an education expert visits the class of a public school teacher and challenges them to raise their game in one week. Cast teachers and experts, developed story lines, second camera operation and supervised edit through to delivery
2011, Story Editor
Diplo Is Never Going Home
The Ish
Developed story points to explore the unique music and history of the country in question, tracked story progress in the field with an eye toward continuity and flow and coordinated transition of original and acquired materials from production to post-production.
2010, Producer
Need To Know
PBS
Interview segment with Elizabeth Warren and correspondent, Alison Stewart
2009, Field Producer
Blueprint America: Beyond the Motor City
PBS
Producing and directing shoots, coordination of domestic and international travel, research and development, and story construction in post.
2008, Producer
Expose: America's Investigative Reports
WNET (PBS)
A half-hour newsmagazine series profiling the work of investigative journalists tracing the work of one team from initial tip to publication, produced in collaboration with Bill Moyers Journal.
2007, Associate Producer
Frontline
Mead Street Films
A one-hour documentary film exploring grief and the American funeral, guided by the writing of Thomas Lynch and examining processes from funeral arrangements to the embalming room.
2006, Associate Producer
Revolution
History Channel
Associate Producer/Casting Producer for 13-part series with cast of 65 principles.
Industry Awards
Frontline: The Undertaking won an Emmy for Outstanding Arts & Culture Programming.
Blame Somebody Else, a report for AIR: America's Investigative Reports received an Emmy for Outstanding Feature in a News Magazine. It also received a Cine Golden Eagle and a Cine Special Jury Award.
Russia: Land of the Tsars received 3 Emmy nominations, one in the area of research. It also received a Cine Golden Eagle Award.
Blame Somebody Else, a report for AIR: America's Investigative Reports received an Emmy for Outstanding Feature in a News Magazine. It also received a Cine Golden Eagle and a Cine Special Jury Award.
Russia: Land of the Tsars received 3 Emmy nominations, one in the area of research. It also received a Cine Golden Eagle Award.
Education
S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University
Bachelor's Degree of Science, Television, Radio and Film Produciton, Magna Cum Laude
Bachelor's Degree of Science, Television, Radio and Film Produciton, Magna Cum Laude
Technical Equipment
Other Skills/Additional Information
Assistant Editing on Avid MediaComposer and Final Cut Pro.
DV and DVC Pro Camera Operation
Some lighting and AC experience with Panasonic DVC Pro cameras and Beta Cameras.
Art Direction and props work
DV and DVC Pro Camera Operation
Some lighting and AC experience with Panasonic DVC Pro cameras and Beta Cameras.
Art Direction and props work
