Life & Work with Antonia Green of Sherman Oaks

Today we’d like to introduce you to Antonia Green.

Hi Antonia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story started on the East Coast, in Philadelphia, PA. I’ve always known that I wanted to work in Entertainment since I was young. After watching the movie “The Goonies” , I remember saying “I wanna do that, whatever that is!” Initially I wanted to be an actress and did a lot of plays/theater work and felt like being in front of the camera was where I would land. In college, I decided to take up Communications/T.V. Production as my major to understand the TV industry as a whole. I realized there was so much power in working behind the scenes and having a voice in creative decisions. After college it took a while before I officially got my first industry job, 2 years to be exact. I always tell incoming creatives the hardest part of this industry is getting in, but once that door opens, it’s a blessing. I started working at a Production company called Glass Entertainment Group, which produces unscripted television. I was fortunate to start out as an Associate Producer and moved my way up over the years to eventually become a Producer. One thing about my background is that it’s unique in the fact that I’ve worked as a Casting Producer, Production Manager, Development Producer. That was the gift of working at a smaller Production Company, there was opportunity to learn other positions. My move to LA came after I met a Director who was going to be Co-EP on the infamous “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” reboot and she asked if I’d be willing to move to LA for the show. She offered to let me stay with her, and although I didn’t have my immediate family here or even enough money to get an apartment, I knew this was a door that God had opened and I needed to step out on faith and GO! So I did, and have been grateful to God for the blessing of trusting the process. In my 5 1/2 years in LA I’ve worked on some great network shows. Anywhere from lifestyle, docu-follow, dating, home makeover, and competition shows, I’ve been a part of.
Reality TV has been a great place to hone my storytelling skills, through writing, interviewing, directing scenes, and working in Post Production. Today, I’m still working in unscripted as a Senior Producer, and would love to become a Showrunner. I’m also in the process of transitioning into scripted/narrative, which will be a process, but similar to my humble beginnings I have to step out on faith and just GO FOR IT!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road, but it has been a road paved with purpose. Everything I’ve experienced, whether good or bad have been learning moments. From being the only woman in the room at times, a person of faith, and dealing with cultural differences I’ve had to really pray and realize that adversity builds character and thick skin. One of the hardest points in my life was my transition to LA. Two months after arriving, my beloved mother passed away from cancer. She was my biggest supporter and I remember the last time I got to hug her before I left. Covid also hit months later . Grieving, while also navigating a new city, developing new relationships and connections was beyond stressful. I’ve been overlooked and passed up on for opportunities that I know I deserved. But rejection is redirection. I’ve completed a lot in the last 15 years, but there’s still so much more I have yet to accomplish.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
As a Producer, I work closely to story in both filming and post production. This includes writing creative outlines, fostering relationships with on-camera talent, interviews, helping prep and prepare talent and crew for scenes of the day, directing scenes, and sometimes securing locations for filming. And then in Post Production which is where the edit happens, I help craft the story with an Editor, which is where a lot of creativity and discovery takes place. Producing in Reality TV can involve wearing multiple hats, and being able to put out constant fires. I am proud of many shows that I’ve worked on including Extreme Makeover Home Edition for ABC, LEGO Masters for FOX, The Vet Life for Animal Planet, Celebrations Season 2 for Hallmark, Surviving Mormonism for Bravo. I can truly say I’m proud of my IMDB page lol.

I’ve also been a Studio Executive, working on the network side, as a Director of Current Programming where I helped in overseeing shows such as The Masked Singer, Joe Millionaire, Next Level Chef, Domino Masters, and Alter Ego.

I prefer to work on shows that don’t exploit or cause me as a Producer to manipulate in order to get certain results. I have found that I work better with true authentic stories or highlighting the beauty of humanity.

I am proud of most of my work, but the most recent that had a wonderful impact is a series called “Celebrations” with Lacey Chabert, where we threw surprise parties for founders of non-profit organizations that serve their local communities, and celebrating them as every day heroes.

I’m also in the process of writing my own feature film and developing a television series.

What sets me apart is that I am someone who genuinely believes that being kind goes a long way, remaining positive, and building relationships is more valuable than any credit you can receive. I’m also a hard worker and believe that while I do have creative authority I’m not too high up on the totem pole where I can’t serve those in lower positions. My goal is to always make someone else’s job less stressful and be aware of how I can take initiative. People don’t always remember what you say, but they do remember how you made them feel.

Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
My advice is to be genuine in your approach. Don’t always start with or ask “what do you do”? You’re already starting in a way of deciding if the person is worth your time or not. Networking is hard, but it’s a necessary and helpful tool. Inquire about someone else’s story and actually take the time to get to know them. Finding a mentor is also not an easy task, but you definitely want to seek out someone who has the capacity to spend time with you, provide honest feedback, and constructive criticism. You have to be willing to also surrender your anxiety, social awkwardness, and introvert-esque behavior to sometimes get the results you want. Build relationships well, and don’t think you can’t find good connections within your current circle of friends. You never know who knows what or who.

Attending industry events and panels is always a plus. Also do your research! What shows and films do you like? Who are the directors, writers, producers on the project? Who’s the Production company? Find a way to reach out or see what they’re up to. YOU are your biggest advocate. Encourage yourself and stop comparing your journey with someone else’s. God gave us all unique assignments that are meant for us as individuals to fulfill. I always pray for divine connections.

Contact Info:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonia-green-5285b912/