Meet Trailblazer Jen Sawyer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Sawyer.

Jen, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I used to take my parent’s huge camcorder and walk around the backyard, documenting trees and flowers (with VO (voice-over) I had no idea then, that telling stories was meant to be my passion.

I’ve always been outgoing & a people person. I’m a storyteller. I like to make others laugh and keep life on the optimistic & hopeful side. I love inspiring others through storytelling. I’d say I’m a dreamer, with a realistic view.

I’m pretty funny, dry sense of humor for sure. I often put others at ease immediately, with my calm demeanor and intuitive skills for reading a situation and reading others. Again, I had no idea that these skills would serve me extremely well, as a Video Producer.

I grew up in St. Louis, MO & went to school in Boston. I started as a photo major, at the Art Institute of Boston.
I took video and film classes, while I was there. I couldn’t get enough of telling stories, in a variety of genres.

I graduated & moved back to St. Louis, where I started working as a production assistant (for free)
(sometimes a $100 a day). I worked on a variety of different projects, from commercials to music videos.
I knew this is where I wanted to be, but how did I fit & could I make this my career.

I started working for a local television show as a Production Coordinator, a.k.a. timecode extraordinaire.

The woman who hired me, was also the first person to tell me “never work for free again” I needed to hear that.
I never worked for free again. I also realized where I fit in… I wanted to do exactly what she was doing, I wanted to Produce.

We were on location and I was logging footage. I turned to the audio guy and said: “I want to do what she’s doing, I want to Produce” (knowing very little, of what it actually entailed.

A number of months past, the phone rang…
212 NY # – I didn’t know anyone in NY, I let it go to voicemail.

There was a message…
A very frantic women was talking loud, fast & with a New York accent.

“This is Christy from CBS ‘This Morning’ & we need a Producer asap, call me back!

My first thought was she had the wrong #.

Nervous, I dialed…

“NEWSROOM”

“Hi um, is Christy there.” “This is Jen in St. Louis.”

HOLD (click)

“Is this Jen, in St. Louis?” Christy said:

“Yes.”

“Can you work for us today?”

“Um, yes but I have to tell you, I’ve never done this before.”

“Oh you’ll be fine,” she said.

That was the day I became a Field Producer (Producer that goes out into the field, to get the story, with a crew).

I became the #1 call, as a booker for CBS National News stories. St. Louis and surrounding areas.

Field Producer = my dream job.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Smooth road… that’s funny.

It’s been anything but a smooth road & I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“You’re doing a great job” my mom said.

“Most would have given up by now.”

“I know” I laughed and honestly I can see why.

Pursuing your dream is no joke, especially if you take the road less traveled and are meant to pave your own way.

See, the road less traveled is an exciting road. It’s the road where you get to decided, someone else is not deciding for you. Scary, yes. all the time. Rewarding, yes, every day!

As an entrepreneur and video producer I am always pushing myself to shoot, edit and sell. I want to know how to do all of it so that I can speak the language I love storytelling.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I’m a Field Producer.

What does it mean, exactly?
I often get asked this question

Who hires me and how does it work.

As a Field Producer, I go out into the Field and Produce with a crew.
Simple right?

Let’s say, a show like Rachael Ray or Food Network needs a producer (and crew) in Arizona, for a shoot.

The Segment Producer from the show, either calls me directly, or calls a Crewing Company.

This is where, who you know, comes in handy.

You have to be good at what you do, but you also need to know the people who do the hiring.

I always stay in contact with the Segment Producers from each show, out of LA & NY.

I also have a crewing agent in Phoenix, AZ – The Crew Company (incredible folks).
The crewing agency knows hundreds of freelancers just like me across the nation and around the world.
The crewing agency calls us when a crew is needed in our area and asks if we’re available for a shoot.
We always say Yes! As a freelancer, this is what we live for.

As a Field Producer, I go out into the field with a team.
A DP (Director of Photography) and an audio guy/gal.
We meet on location, the day of the shoot.

We arrive, we introduce ourselves – unless we already know each (you get to know the crew in your area pretty well).

My job as the Producer in the Field, is make sure everything runs smoothly & we get every shot we need for the show.

I make sure we’re on time and on track throughout the day, as I communicate with the show directly.

My other main job is to meet the guest of the show (the interviewee) and put them at ease, about the interview.

We arrive on location (usually the interviewees house) the crew starts the set up for a sit down interview (set-up takes about 1 hr) the DP finds the perfect shot & from there we end up moving the furniture around and setting the lights for a sit down interview.

I do the sit down interview (I’m always off camera). I’m also in charge of making sure we get all the b-roll shots of the interviewee (action shots).

At the end of the shoot, we break-down everything (break-down takes about 1 hr), we move all the furniture back, say our goodbyes & we’re on our way.

From there, I travel with all the footage, to a local FedEx to ship everything overnight so that the editors of the show can cut the footage into their segment.

I wouldn’t trade my job for anything!

What’s the most important piece of advice you could give to a young woman just starting her career?
Stay the course…

Positive thinking… Positive attracts Positive…let go & what is meant to be will be.

Contact Info:

• Phone: 5203697697
• Email: jensawyerfieldproducer@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/jensawyerfieldproducer/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jensawyerfieldproducerus/
• Twitter: twitter.com/JenSawyer1
• Other: www.youtube.com/c/JenSawyerfieldproducer

Image Credit:
Michael Kent, Josh Hartman

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