Her Story
About Alisa
My career in television started pretty unplanned. I studied fashion at Clark Atlanta University and wanted to pursue a career in fashion PR or buying for a luxury brand or department store. An MTV show was filming an episode at my university and needed student participation. It was a competition show, and the producers were very open to our suggestions and explained how everything worked. I stayed in touch with the producers and got an opportunity to be a production assistant, and one of them offered me a job to move to LA. I started in a casting office as an office assistant, gained training from the production manager, and eventually became a casting producer. I wanted to learn more about how shows come together after casting the real people, and I had an opportunity from one of those same producers to work on a production about college students as an associate producer. I was given a lot of responsibility without a ton of training, so it was learn on the job, which really pushes you to do your best. I worked my way up from there, learning both the logistic and creative side of how shows are made. I've been a supervising producer working in the field and post-production, shooting and directing factual projects for streamers, networks, and digital formats. For about 6 years now, I've been an unscripted and documentary series showrunner and executive producer.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Alisa
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Do your research about all the different roles that interest you, and be open to doing more than just one thing, because it's very helpful to anyone's career to have experience in a field that isn't just one department. It's always helpful to be a production assistant or an assistant in an office, because you're privy to a lot of conversations, to documents, to strategy, and you can always learn. Don't be afraid to ask questions - of course, read the room and make sure that it's an appropriate time to be asking questions. Also don't be afraid to tell people what your interests are, because how else are they going to know if you don't advocate for yourself and tell them what you want to do? If you're a PA in an office and you're very interested in the camera department, there might be an opportunity for them to need additional help, or to run media, or go on a run to get them something, or order supplies, and being a part of the conversation and learning what's needed to help a camera department be successful. They wouldn't know that if you don't speak up. And also, be on your phone as little as possible, unless it's part of your job.
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