Christopher Essner Email & Phone Number

- Direct overall media production operations for the Barstool Sports NYC & Chicago offices and field video productions - coordinating cross-department communication for stakeholders in Production, Sales, Finance, and Technology to ensure alignment of responsibilities, expectations, and priorities on all projects.- Direct and communicate creative vision for studio and field productions - working in partnership with content and brand activation teams - to bring projects from ideation to fruition by identifying best use of design, activations, personnel, and equipment. - Build out pre-production schedules; manage live production needs; and maintain overall production calendar for Barstool Sports to enhance creative output and deliver on stakeholder agreements. - Oversee multimillion-dollar budgets by developing detailed financial plans, tracking expenditures, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and negotiating favorable terms to achieve financial targets - Optimize efficiency of studio and production spaces by developing new operating procedures to capitalize on company initiatives. - Manage a team of Production Managers, Coordinators, and PAs in NY and Chicago to grow the overall skill sets of the department and develop team cohesion.

New York City Metropolitan Area

- Provide creative vision and thought leadership for established and newly developed Barstool productions - maximizing revenue goals, establishing best practices, and advancing projects to meet stakeholder and publication deadlines.- Manage Production Operations team, overseeing daily Production and Studio Operations for Barstool Sports to maximize output of the production department and studio use.- Oversee production budgets, set builds, and crew bookings for Barstool tentpoles, video series, and podcasts ensuring healthy profit margins and expanding creative opportunities on all Barstool productions.- Manage pre-production schedule for video projects, coordinating all project stakeholders, identifying potential project hazards, and formulating creative solutions to guarantee project success.- Develop new standard operating procedures by streamlining processes and identifying unnecessary waste to improve efficiency of operations and communication for ongoing Barstool productions.- Developed new relationships with third-party vendors and renegotiated standing relationships by assessing current contracts, conducting market research, deploying cost-control measures, and implementing strategic negotiations, increasing cost-savings by 15% of all contracted productions within 3 months.

New York, New York, United States

- Manage the workflow and operations for NBC News by booking production crews and assigning coverage teams for breaking news, long-form, and NBC Special productions to assure coverage of news stories in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. Projects:- 2020 Presidential Election: Lead production operations strategy for the 2020 Presidential Election by managing the assignments and movements of over 200 crew members across 40 states establishing a coverage presence at major political events for a week of 24 hours of continuous broadcasting on NBC, MSNBC, and streaming platforms. - Derek Chauvin Trial: Coordinated field operations for continuing coverage for the entirety of the Derek Chauvin trial in Minneapolis for NBC News by securing crews and partnering with the coordinating producer to guarantee NBC coverage in a breaking news environment.

New York, New York

- Manage day-of production needs for Today show and NBC Special productions by leading cross-departmental communications, problem solving creative solutions during evolving and unpredictable conditions.- Managed pre-production and live programming logistics of Studio 1A for the 3rd Hour of Today - including in-studio interviews, live music performances, and the production of large events in Rockefeller Plaza - maintaining brand excellency.Projects/Accomplishments:- Democratic Primary Presidential Debates: Managed the overall production operation of the media center for Democratic Presidential Primary Debates in Atlanta and Las Vegas by establishing working relationships with 3rd party new organizations covering the debates, and providing support services throughout the event.- 2020 Presidential Primary: Managed the Production operations for field anchor shows during the 2020 presidential primary by identifying optimal broadcast locations, certifying location capabilities to support productions needs, and building out remote set locations for nationally broadcast news events. - Nominated for 2 Emmy awards - Outstanding Informative Talk Show and Outstanding Breaking News Coverage

Greater New York City Area

- Managed NBC’s National News Desk editorial coverage - overseeing a team of Assignment Editors, reporters, and production crews - to accurately verify breaking news and dispatch resources to cover news events nationwide.- Coordinated daily domestic and international coverage across all NBC platforms by sourcing and confirming new information, communicating breaking news updates across the company, writing editorial copy for on air distribution, and escalating essential needs during major breaking storiesProjects/Accomplishments:- Nominated for 4 Emmy awards - Outstanding Coverage of a Breaking News Story in a Newscast; Outstanding Breaking News Coverage; Outstanding Live Coverage of a Current News Story (x2)

Greater New York City Area

- Assisted Assignment Editors and Senior Managers during breaking news events. Researched and gathered information on continuing or breaking news coverage for all NBC News platforms.- Booked studios for NBC News and MSNBC programs. Coordinated video intake via satellite, LiveU, and B-GAN feeds to NBC Satellite Operations.

Jerusalem

- Member of a select International Reporting Fellowship based in Jerusalem.- Researched, pitched, wrote, shot, and edited stories for the project’s independent website.- Gained first-hand experience in the complexities of Israeli/Palestinian society through interactions with people from all lifestyles. This included the everyday local market, to top-level government and military officials.

Greater New York City Area

- Assisted Nightly News producers and on air talent, by logging interviews, identifying soundbites for air, researching upcoming stories, and assisting field production.- Attend rundown meetings, pitch stories, and produced a digital story on struggles veterans face when entering the civilian workforce.

- Responsible for maintaining relations with NBC affiliate stations in an effort to promote NBC News coverage and grow viewership in various target markets. - Conducted satellite cross talks with NBC talent and Today Show guests for affiliate stations throughout the country. - Worked as a Production Assistant live events such as Democracy Plaza 2012 and Education Nation.

- Responsible for logging games, interviews and press conferences. Helped in the selection of video used in VOSOTs, and script writing for Eyewitness News 11pm broadcast.- Conducted interviews with athletes from professional New York teams.