Co-Founder at Stroome
Greater Los Angeles Area
- Current
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- Co-Founder/Business Development at Stroome
- Past
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- Director of Development & Content Acquisition at Blaze TV
- 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
- Recommended
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- Websites
THOMAS GRASTY’s Summary
Tom Grasty is an entrepreneurial digital and media strategist with a diverse professional background across the entertainment, advertising, public relations and Internet industries. His 10-plus years experience includes creative development, production oversight, business development, new product launch, and strategic partnership affiliation.
With a strong background in content strategy, particularly in the convergence of traditional entertainment with online content and distribution platforms, Tom has overseen the development of over 100 hours of film, television, documentary and digital properties.
Specialties
Content Strategy
Business Development
Product Development
Convergence of Traditional & New Media
Innovative & Entrepreneurial Negotiator and Deal Maker
Creative Development & Production
Entertainment Business Affairs
IP Strategy & Management
THOMAS GRASTY’s Specialties:
Head of Development, Blaze TV:
• SXSW Live (DirecTV, 2008)
• Rock & A Hard Place (DirecTV, 2008)
• Hall & Oates at the Troubadour (Rave HD, 2008)
Head of West Coast Operations, Mark Haefeli Prods:
• Aerosmith: You Gotta Move, (A&E, 2004)
• Adopt-A-Minefield: Paul McCartney & Neil Young, (AAM, 2004)
Executive, VH1 Motion Pictures for TV:
• Too Legit: MC Hammer (2001)
• Hysteria: Def Leppard (2001)
• Daydream Believers: Monkees (2000)
• Meat Loaf: To Hell and Back (2000)
THOMAS GRASTY’s Experience
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Co-Founder/Business Development
Stroome
(Internet industry)
December 2008 — Present (8 months)
- Currently in private beta testing, Stroome is the world’s most collaborative online editing community— a place where anyone with a camera and point of view can post, publish and promote their content to a potential audience of millions.
- Broad responsibilities as founder include defining strategy across the full life of Stroome by building financial, business and content partnerships; developing/launching new product feature sets; cultivating relationships with Angel and VC community as well as overseeing pending grant proposals (Knight and MacArthur Foundation); commercializing Stroome’s IP.
- Specific day-to-day responsibilities include: writing PRDs; overseeing development process (iterative/SCRUM and waterfall methodologies); working with back-end developers and front-end designers to build consensus among cross-functional teams; compiling/maintaining market and competitor research; leading execution of complex business and product recommendations. -
Director of Development & Content Acquisition
Blaze TV
(Entertainment industry)
January 2008 — November 2008 (11 months)
- Developed non-scripted series, concert specials, and annual award shows for traditional cable and network outlets.
- Produced original content for new and merging media platforms (Crackle, Joost, MySpace.com).
- Spearheaded company's digital strategy through new business development (digital, mobile, partnership content, syndication deals) to 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
- Activities and Societies:
- Graduated Phi Kappa Phi
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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:
- USC Annenberg Program Online Communities, 2008-present
- 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
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Community 2.0 -
Entertainment Industry -
Media & Entertainment Professionals -
Annenberg Program on Online Communities -
iUniverse Authors
THOMAS GRASTY’s Honors:
- 2nd Place Graduate and Faculty Division, USC New Venture Competition, sponsored by the Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurship Studies, 2009
- Finalist for 2009 Knight News Challenge grant, 2009
- 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
