Development Executive, Writer/Producer, Novelist
Greater Los Angeles Area
- Current
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- Director of Development at Blaze TV
- Past
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- Writer/Producer at TPG Productions
- Head, West Coast Development at Mark Haefeli Productions
- Manager of Development, Original Motion Pictures for Television at VH1
- Writer/Producer, On-Air Promotions at The Disney Channel/Sony/Trimark
- Senior Story Analyst at DreamWorks SKG/HBO Pictures
- Account Executive at Adworks, Inc.
- Executive Director at Messenger Courier Association
- Marketing Director at National Association Information Services
- PR Account Coordinator at The Hannaford Company
- Education
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- University of Southern California
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
- Phillips Exeter Academy
- Connections
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264
connections
- Industry
- Entertainment
- Websites
THOMAS GRASTY’s Summary
Tom Grasty is a 15-year veteran of the advertising, public relations and entertainment industries. As Manager of Development for VH1 Motion Pictures, Grasty oversaw acquisition and creative development of all long-form projects for the network. Before joining VH1, Grasty was a senior story analyst at DreamWorks and HBO Pictures, where he evaluated screenplays, manuscripts, plays, treatments, director’s reels, Internet and animation projects to determine their merit for feature film and television. Since his departure from VH1, Grasty has capitalized on his broad range of contacts in film, television and music. He is a former Head of West Coast Operations for Mark Haefeli Productions, and has worked with artists such as Paul McCartney, Aerosmith and Neil Young. Additionally, Grasty wrote and produced the documentary vignettes honoring the inductees at the 2005 Recording Academy Honors Gala in New York City. Currently, Grasty is head of development at Blaze TV, a Los Angeles-based film and television production company. Grasty is a member of the Academy of Arts & Television Sciences, and teaches at California State University, Fullerton, as well as UCLA Extension. He just published his debut novel, BLOOD ON THE TRACKS, a murder-mystery set in the music world.
THOMAS GRASTY’s Specialties:
A dozen produced films as executive, VH1 Motion Pictures for Television:
• They Shoot Divas, Don’t They? (2002)
• The Way She Moves (2001)
• Too Legit: The MC Hammer Story (2001)
• Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story (2001)
• Out of Sync (2000)
• Daydream Believers: The Monkees Story (2000)
• At Any Cost (2000)
• Two of Us (2000)
• Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back (2000)
• Ricky Nelson: Original Teen Idol (1999)
• Sweetwater: A True Rock Story (1999)
THOMAS GRASTY’s Experience
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Director of Development
Blaze TV
(Entertainment industry)
January 2008 — Present (10 months)
- Developing non-scripted series, concert specials, and annual award shows for traditional cable and network outlets.
- Producing original content for new and merging media platforms (Crackle, Joost, MySpace.com).
- Spearheading company's digital strategy through news business development (digital, mobile, partnership content, syndication deals) to assist in the further monetize our long-form music properties. -
Writer/Producer
TPG Productions
(Entertainment industry)
January 2006 — December 2007 (2 years)
- Independent Writer/Producer based in Los Angeles, CA
- Producing a variety of film and television projects, including Fairy Tale Busters (co-producing in assoc. with Tommy Lynch Prods./Fireworks), Attorney for the Damned (co-producing in assoc. with KLS Prods./Fox Studios), Dangerous Passion (executive producing in assoc. with Robert Greenwald Prods.).
- Creator and executive producer of In The Studio, a half-hour, 6-part documentary series focusing on the relationship between the musician and producer, to air nationally on PBS.
- Wrote/produced documentary vignettes honoring Yoko Ono/John Lennon, Mariah Carey, Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter, Howard Shore at 2005 Recording Academy Honors Gala (December 2005) -
Head, West Coast Development
Mark Haefeli Productions
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Entertainment industry)
October 2003 — December 2005 (2 years 3 months)
- Developed documentaries, longform, series and specials for a variety of media outlets, including: pay-per-view, cable & broadcast television and video-on-demand. Aerosmith: You Gotta Move, (A&E, Spring 2004), Adopt-A-Minefield: 4th Annual Gala featuring Paul McCartney & Neil Young, (AAM, Fall 2004)
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Manager of Development, Original Motion Pictures for Television
VH1
(Public Company; 201-500 employees; Broadcast Media industry)
May 1999 — April 2002 (3 years)
- Oversaw the acquisition, creative development and marketing of all long-form projects for the network, including films based on the lives of Stevie Ray Vaughan, Meatloaf, Def Leppard, MC Hammer, The Beatles and Studio 54 founder, Steve Rubell.
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Writer/Producer, On-Air Promotions
The Disney Channel/Sony/Trimark
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Entertainment industry)
March 1999 — May 1999 (3 months)
- While a story analyst at DreamWorks, wrote/produced :30 on-air promos for Magical World of Disney and full-length theatrical trailers for Sony, Walt Disney and Trimark Pictures.
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Senior Story Analyst
DreamWorks SKG/HBO Pictures
(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Entertainment industry)
July 1995 — March 1999 (3 years 9 months)
- Evaluated screenplays, manuscripts, plays, treatments, director’s reels, short films and animation projects to determine their viability for feature film.
- Worked as a researcher on the Academy Award-winning Roman epic, “Gladiator.” -
Account Executive
Adworks, Inc.
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
September 1992 — February 1995 (2 years 6 months)
- ADWORKS is a leading Washington, DC, advertising firm
- Involved in strategic and media planning, production, copywriting and financial management for a variety of consumer and trade advertising accounts.
- Clients included Fresh Fields Supermarkets, Hair Cuttery, Rowe Furniture, Partnership for a Drug Free America. -
Executive Director
Messenger Courier Association
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Management Consulting industry)
August 1991 — September 1992 (1 year 2 months)
- Managed the 400-member trade association representing companies performing messenger, courier and delivery services. Involved in strategic program development, finance and control, member communications, and event management.
- Editor of The Messenger Courier, the association’s quarterly magazine. -
Marketing Director
National Association Information Services
(Privately Held; 11-50 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
March 1991 — August 1991 (6 months)
- Spearheaded the telecommunication industry’s first business-to-business public relations campaign to educate the local and long distance phone companies about the legitimate benefits of 900 services.
- As a result of our efforts, nearly every Fortune 500 Company we targeted integrated 900 services into their marketing and business plans -
PR Account Coordinator
The Hannaford Company
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Public Relations and Communications industry)
June 1990 — February 1991 (9 months)
- The Hannaford Company is a leading Washington, DC, based Public Relations/Public Affairs firm
-Assisted in all aspects of executing public relations/public affairs client programs. Participated in the concept, copywriting, layout, production, media planning and buying for print and electronic media programs for a variety of clients
- Clients included The Travelers Insurance, Republic of Gabon and Taiwan.
THOMAS GRASTY’s Education
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University of Southern California
MA, Communications Management, Charles Annenberg Weingarten Program on Online Communities, 2007 — 2009 (expected)
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University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
BA, Mass Communications & Journalism, 1986 — 1990
- Activities and Societies:
- Graduated Dean's List.
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Phillips Exeter Academy
English 1983 — 1986
- Activities and Societies:
- Graduated with Honors.
Additional Information
THOMAS GRASTY’s Websites:
THOMAS GRASTY’s Groups:
- Judge, Emmy Awards, Variety, Music, Comedy Special & Non-fiction Series categories, 2005-present
- Part time Instructor, UCLA/CSUF, classes in Documentary Filmmaking, Screenwriting and Business of Programming for Television, Radio & Internet 2004-present
- Guest Lecturer, Visiting Professional Program, (ATAS), 2003-present
- Finalist Judge, National College Television Awards (ATAS), 2003-present
- Member, Television Executives Peer Group, Academy of Arts & Television Sciences (ATAS), 2002-present
- Mentor, New Media Academy, 2002-4
- Advisor, Les Paul Music & Arts Center, 2001-present
- USC Annenberg Program Online Communities, 2008-present
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Community 2.0 -
Entertainment Industry -
Media & Entertainment Professionals -
Annenberg Program Online Communities -
iUniverse Authors
THOMAS GRASTY’s Honors:
- Trade advertising campaign for Rowe Furniture featured in Fortune magazine, 1997
- Recipient of Washington, DC, ADDY for advertising campaigns created for Hair Cuttery and Fresh Fields Supermarkets, 1994
- Consumer advertising campaign for Fresh Fields Supermarkets featured in Communications Arts & Advertising Annual, 1994
THOMAS GRASTY’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- job inquiries
- expertise requests
- business deals
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
