LIZ BRONSTEIN
LIZ BRONSTEIN
Executive Producer ShowRunner Creative Consultant
Dynamic, well-respected, results-driven Executive Producer, Showrunner, and Network EP of multiple high-profile hit TV shows garnering significant ratings and seven Emmy nominations. More than 20 years of experience managing high-budget, unscripted and documentary television series across a wide spectrum of subjects and styles. Managed challenging and high-risk productions around the world and led teams of over 300 employees. Adept at strategic content planning and managing high-level creatives. Recognized for innovative leadership and ability to drive profitable projects. Proven track record delivering successful shows that garner critical acclaim, produce exceptional ratings and impact the cultural zeitgeist.
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Storytelling Specialties: Environmental, Sports, Historical, Complicated Issues/Topics
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Consulting Clients: Adam McKay’s Hyperbolic Industries, Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine, National Geographic, Critical Content, Kingdom Reign, Sightworthy (Media Tech)
Whale Wars
Executive Producer/ShowRunner
Whale Wars splashes across the increasingly exhausted genre of people-at-work reality series like icy seawater, jolting you awake with a frothy, briny burst of — well, you get the idea. This is one spunky show.
About the Show:Whale Wars is an 8-Season documentary television series on Discovery Channel/Max that follows the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a group of environmental activists dedicated to stopping illegal whaling operations.
The show captures the intense and often dangerous confrontations between Sea Shepherd's crew and whalers in the Antarctic Ocean. Viewers witness the crew's daring tactics, including high-speed chases, ramming vessels, and boarding ships, all in the name of protecting endangered whales. The series offers a gripping look at the ethical and legal battles surrounding conservation efforts on the high seas and spawned two spin-off series, Viking Shores and Operation Blue Fin which follow their anti-whaling efforts in the Faroe Islands and the Mediterranean Sea
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Making the Show: Producing Whale Wars was not for the faint of heart. In addition to the massive creative and logistical challenges of shooting a documentary on the high seas of Antarctica and then putting the story together in Los Angeles, Whale Wars was the first show I produced under my own production company banner, The Lizard Trading Company, so there was the added challenge of personally managing all the risk of this monumentally dangerous and expensive show (production companies like mine indemnify networks).
Post-production was a massive operation, with over 4 thousand hours of footage every season. The Sea Shepherds went down to the Southern Ocean every year hoping to find the whalers. What if they didn’t find them? Would we have a show? And if they did find them, what would they do? How many episodes could the action yield? We never knew how the story was going to unfold and we were cutting while we were still shooting.
Whale Wars was legally complicated for many reasons and we had three separate legal teams on the show. Before locking, our lawyer J.P. Jassy and I went through every frame of each show and combed through every word of voiceover looking for any legal exposure and weighing the risks before sending each episode out to be reviewed by two more sets of lawyers. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed that process. I did not enjoy the reality that a member of our crew could be hurt or killed but luckily over the course of the entire series, our crew and Sea Shepherd’s crew sustained only a few minor injuries.
The challenging storytelling, the unique workflows, the security measures, the pace of production, the eighty topics, nothing about this show was easy. I had a goldfish in my office who I named Easy, so I would have one easy thing. But goldfish..let’s just say, there might have been more than one Easy. Thank you for your sacrifice, Easys
Awards and Recognitions: Six Emmy nominations, three A.C.E nominations, two Genesis Awards, one Webby Award, one Cine Golden Eagle, and an entire episode of *South Park* spoofing the show, titled "Whale Whores."
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OCEAN WARRIORS
Network Executive Producer
It's Startling. It's Troubling. It's Compelling...it will Have You On The Edge Of Your Seat.
About the Show: From Executive Producer Robert Redford, Ocean Warriors is a documentary series that follows environmental activists and conservationists as they battle illegal fishing and other threats to marine life across the world's oceans.
The show highlights the relentless efforts of these brave individuals and organizations as they confront poachers, traffickers, and environmental criminals. With high-stakes missions and real-time action, Ocean Warriors exposes the urgent need to protect marine ecosystems and the creatures that inhabit them. The series offers an eye-opening look at the global fight to preserve the health and diversity of our oceans.
Making the Show:
I was brought in by the Network as an Executive Producer to oversee this show. When making a show about serious and weighty issues, we walk a careful line between preachy and entertaining. After 8 seasons of making Whale Wars, that line and I were old friends. Plus, there was the danger. Every group of activists we followed put themselves in harm's way and our cameras were right there.
Between Robert Redford’s Sundance Productions, Brick City, and Vulcan Films, there were a lot of talented and passionate producers on the series and I worked directly with them to deliver a top-quality show. And I learned that there are some really brave environmental activists out there risking their lives for the oceans. Telling their stories was humbling and inspiring.
Believer with Reza Aslan
ShowRunner
About the Show:
Believer with Reza Aslan is a documentary series where religious scholar Reza Aslan immerses himself in various faiths and spiritual practices around the world. The show explores the beliefs, rituals, and cultures of different religions, offering viewers a deep and personal understanding of what it means to believe. Through his immersive experiences, Reza challenges stereotypes and uncovers the complexities and commonalities of global spiritual traditions. The series provides a thought-provoking look at faith from a fresh, insider perspective.
Making the Show:
Our biggest challenge in making Believer was figuring out how exactly Reza would immerse himself in each religion. What would he physically do on camera since silent prayer and quiet meditation don’t make the best television. And since we only had three days to shoot each episode, we carefully planned out both his emotional and intellectual story arc ahead of time. Of course, our stories changed once we hit record but I am a firm believer in setting out with a clear intention and I’m thrilled with how it all turned out.
We were picked up for a second season but a few days before we were to fly to London to film an episode about the Druids, Reza tweeted that Trump was a ‘POS.’ The network wanted to avoid any conflict with the White House, so we were immediately canceled. But Season 2 lives on in my mind and it is spectacular.
First Ladies
Network EP
About the Show: First Ladies is a documentary series on CNN that profiles the lives and legacies of America's First Ladies, offering an in-depth look at the women who shaped the White House and the nation.
The series delves into their personal histories, challenges, and contributions, revealing the often-overlooked influence they wielded in politics and society. Through archival footage, expert interviews, and personal stories, First Ladies paints a compelling portrait of these powerful women and their roles in some of the most significant moments in American history. The show provides a nuanced perspective on how these women redefined the position and left their mark on the country. The premiere of the show on Oct 4, delivered CNN Original Programming its highest ratings since 2016.
Making the Show:
The series was produced by October Films, who had built a set of the Oval Office for another project and brilliantly developed this series to make further use of it. I was brought on by CNN to oversee the project from start to finish.
After viewing the first cut of the Michelle Obama episode, I asked the episode’s producer why he had decided to leave out the incident when she was eviscerated by the conservative press for wearing a SLEEVELESS dress to the State of the Union. He told me in his fancy British accent, “That was real? I assumed it was one of those Onion articles.” Good thing they had an American around to clarify just how ridiculous we are.
The Giant Beast that is the Global Economy
Consulting Producer
The Giant Beast That is the Global Economy is a documentary series, , that delves into the complexities and oddities of the global economy. Executive produced by Adam McKay, the show takes viewers on an eye-opening journey through various economic phenomena, from money laundering and cryptocurrency to artificial intelligence. With a blend of humor and investigative journalism, host Kal Penn . The series, guided by McKay's sharp wit, explores the strange and surprising ways economic forces impact our daily lives.
Consulting:
On this show, I was brought in to research and write the creative for this high-profile series, executive produced by Oscar and Emmy winner Adam McKay. Knowing nothing about the global economy, it was a mad dash to learn everything I could to break the series into episodes, find experts, and write each story arc.
I’ve consulted on many projects since, another series for Adam McKay as well as one for Reese Witherspoon’s production company Hello Sunshine, National Geographic Channel, OneTraveller Productions, and Critical Content among others. I’ve also done a fair amount of consulting work for Sightworthy, a media tech start-up which sadly is no longer with us. I kid you not, the founder decided to become an actor. Sigh. I love emerging technology and am excited to do more.
Coming 2025
Eleanor & Franklin
ShowRunner
​Eleanor & Franklin is a 6-episode documentary series that tells the revealing story of the most radical, bold, and transformative partnerships in American history and delves into the Roosevelt's open marriage and Eleanor’s female lover.
The series, produced with Oscar and Emmy winner RJ Culter, looks at how FDR was able to control and protect his public image so successfully that many people didn’t even know he was wheelchair-bound and paralyzed from the waist down. In the context of today’s fundamental reexamination of
gender politics, sexual orientation, race, and even “fake news,” the Roosevelts’ marriage offers a unique opportunity to place these up-to-the-minute cultural conversations in an unexpected historical context, shedding light on both the past and the present.
Making the Show:
In the first string-out of 101, which was just sound bites, the editor had cut it so our experts were finishing each other’s sentences and it felt really conversational and compelling, like being at an intimate dinner party with friends of the Roosevelts. So we decided make with show with no narration, which is total folly but we pulled it off without breaking a sweat. Ok, there was a lot of sweat.
Up to this point, no one had made a documentary that addressed Eleanor’s same-sex lover. It was a huge responsibility to do it right. You will let me know if we did her justice. I think we did.
I really wanted to do something cutting-edge with the photographs. I love emerging technology and wanted to figure out a novel technique to bring archival photos to life. We found an incredible visual artist in Hungary and he worked some serious magic.
By reaching out to young university professors all over the country, we found some compelling, diverse voices so the show feels very fresh. And then three amazing actors came in and read the letters of Eleanor, Lorena Hickok and Franklin. And then Craig Richie did the score and it is incredible. And then, perhaps tired of my incessant emails asking for an interview, Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton agreed to an interview just as we were locking episodes. She is as knowledgeable about the Roosevelts as any historian and adds so much joy and enthusiasm to the series.
JOCKEYS
ShowRunner
Jockeys is a documentary television series that provides an inside look at the high-stakes world of horse racing. The show follows the lives of professional jockeys as they navigate the intense competition, rigorous training, and personal challenges of their demanding careers. Viewers witness the emotional highs and lows of racing, from the thrill of victory to the physical risks involved in the sport. Jockeys offers a rare glimpse into the dedication and resilience required to succeed in one of the most dangerous and exhilarating sports in the world. Featuring Mike Smith, Garrett Gomez, Joe Talamo, Chantal Sutherland, Kyla Stra and Corey Nakatani.
One of the Best Shows
You Probably Haven't Ever Watched
Making the Show: I grew up around racetracks. My grandparents were committed to gambling on the ponies and holidays were often spent at Keystone racetrack in Philadelphia. I had wanted to make this show for years and Animal Planet made it a reality. It was no small task winning the trust of the jockeys, who were initially very wary of letting cameras following them into the locker room and home for dinner. These guys are so interesting but like many professional athletes, they have a lot of media training and know how to churn out one cliched sound bite after another. So it took some time for them to let down their guard and really reveal themselves. Honor of a lifetime.
Joe Millionaire (S1)
ShowRunner
This Mike Darnell dating show with a twist garnered consistently high ratings throughout its run, with its season finale, attracting 42 million viewers. It is still the highest-rated reality show in TV history. Liz created the structure, look and feel of the show and established the show’s comedic tone, as well as shaped and shepherded the production on the ground in France and in post-production.
Recognitions: The expression “Joe Millionaire” entered the cultural lexicon during its run and was featured in a New Yorker cartoon and a Saturday Night Live skit.
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For more, check out this recent interview Liz did with Andy Dehart from Reality Blurred
This 12-episode movie-making reality series about a first-time filmmaker received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Reality Series. Executive produced by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Miramax Films, achieved consistently high ratings and extensive press coverage.
Awards and Recognitions: Outstanding Series Emmy nomination, and the honor of a 30-minute Martin Scorsese film spoof starring Dennis Leary.