TV Writer and Producer/Creative Strategist
maxine@maxinelapiduss.com

A skillful, award winning TV writer and producer, with unique and unparalleled experience as a Creative Strategist, coupled with shrewd salesmanship and managerial skills. A valuable, dedicated, highly motivated addition to any team.

TV PRODUCER/WRITER: (1989-present)

As a TV producer and writer, Maxine has created, developed, written, packaged and produced programming for network and cable television for the past 20 years. Her work includes:

Currently in Development:

* FOOD & LOVE -- A sitcom pilot for Lifetime Television (Co-written with Sally Lapiduss)
* WILL WORK FOR FOOD -- A one-hour dramedy in development (Co-written with Sally Lapiduss)

Past Series and Pilots:

* SITUATION: COMEDY -- BRAVO -- On Air Host and Producer, 13 episodes, 2005
* STEPHEN'S LIFE (PILOT) -- NBC -- Exec. Producer (EP), 2005 (Produced)
* THE MISSING LINK (PILOT) -- NBC -- EP, 2005 (Produced)
* IN THE MIX -- ABC/WBTV -- EP/Writer, 2004
* HOMEGIRL (PILOT) -- OXYGEN -- EP/Writer/Director, 2003 (Produced)
* DHARMA & GREG -- ABC -- Consulting Producer/Writer, 2001-2002
* ELLEN (final season) -- ABC -- Consulting Producer/Writer, 1998-99
* DOIN' LIFE (PILOT) -- CBS -- EP/Writer, 1999 (Presentation)
* BROTHERS & SISTERS (PILOT) -- NBC -- EP/Writer, 1999 (Produced)
* ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS (PILOT) -- NBC -- EP/Co-Writer, 1998
* DOWN TO EARTH (PILOT) -- CBS -- EP, 1999
* FOXWORTHY -- NBC -- EP/Writer, 1996-1997
* HAPPY HOUR (PILOT) -- 20th TV -- EP/Writer, 1996
* THE CREW -- FOX -- Co-EP/Writer, 1993-1994
* HOME IMPROVEMENT -- ABC -- Co-EP/Writer, 1992-1993
* ROSEANNE -- ABC -- Producer/Writer, 1990-1992
* BABY TALK -- CBS -- Producer/Writer, 1990
* DEAR JOHN -- NBC -- Story Editor/Writer, 1988-1989

Overall Producing and Writing deals:

* Warner Brothers
* SONY
* 20th Century Fox TV
* Viacom/Big Ticket Television

CREATIVE STRATEGIST: (2005-present)

Gathering experience and knowledge from her 20-year, multi-pronged career, Maxine assists companies and individuals in growing and marketing their assets. Clients include:

Light Projects -- a NYC based award-winning and internationally recognized architectural lighting design firm
* Consulted and advised on all aspects of streamlining the business.
* Brought in funding.
* Created a separate product sales co to market their designs

GreenLight Technologies -- a NYC based lighting product sales company that creates beautiful energy-saving lighting fixtures for the commercial and industrial market
* Co-Founder.
* Created the business entity, conceiving of company's structure.
* Wrote the business plan.
* Forging new relationships with investors.
* Overseeing contracts and relationships with strategic partners.
* Acting as CFO through the first round of funding in 2009.

HorseRacing TV -- TV Network
* Advised Horse Racing TV on repurposing and selling the thousands of hours of racing and human interest footage they own.
* Acted as an outside production arm of HRTV, conceiving and packaging series based on the world of horse racing, for sale to networks, cable, and the web.
* Created a half hour comedy on how to bet on horse racing for distribution at Santa Anita Race Track, other race tracks owned by Magna Corp., and in the pay-per-view market in hotels around the country.

Hats Off -- A documentary feature on the life of actress Mimi Weddell released theatrically in March, 2008
* Created a phased PR and movie release campaign including the tag line and press releases.
* Created an online presence and awareness for the film with online street teams.
* Created marketing campaigns in NYC and Palm Springs, including hiring physical street teams to publicize.
* Threw opening night parties and benefits marrying the film with organizations such as Broadway Cares Equity Fights Aids, the New York Jewish Community Center, and other senior organizations to increase audiences and awareness.
* Booked radio and TV interviews.
* Created messaging for actors to use in interviews.
* Consulted on key art, including poster and website design.

A Finished Life: The Goodbye and No Regrets Tour -- Festival award-winning documentary released June, 2008
* Worked with the filmmakers on the story, narrative and edit of the film.
* Advised on release materials and promotion.

What On Earth?: Inside the Crop Circle Mystery -- A documentary. Planned release Spring, 2009
* Script Doctor, consulting on the story and narrative.
* Editing the film to better clarify the focus.

The Soreheads -- an alternative fashion, accessories and entertainment company based in LA
* Consulted on product branding.
* Created the company's tag line.
* Created sales pitch and target customer base.
* Oversaw rollout of their first clothing line in 2009.
* Brought in consultants who are assisting the company in their organization, financing and accounting.

Supershmuttle -- A unique doggie day care concept and private dog park in LA
* Created a 3 month phased business plan; Set up the LLC.
* Oversaw creation of logo, wrote tagline, all PR, all branding and marketing materials.
* Instituted client packets, employee contracts, and client legal documentation.
* Oversaw trademarking, and employee hires.
* Created alliances with strategic partners.
* Hired web designer and oversaw content.
* Oversaw all collaterol materials including brochures, business cards, and advertising.

Prudence Fenton -- Emmy award-winning Animation Producer, Creative Executive
* Aided with clarify her goals for the expansion of her consulting business.

Hillary Carlip -- Award-winning Author and Business Owner
* Created Electronic Press Kit for her memoir Queen of the Oddballs: And Other True Stories from a Life Unaccording to Plan.
* Created PR materials around release of her book A la Cart: The Secret Lives of Grocery Shoppers.
Wrote and produced an online viral marketing piece for the release of A la Cart: The Secret Lives of Grocery Shoppers.
* Advises Hillary on growing her web design company, Fly HC Multimedia.
* Advises Hillary on growing her literary website for writers www.freshyarn.com.

Tania Katan -- Playwright and author of award-winning book My One Night Stand With Cancer
* Created Electronic Press Kit for her book My One Night Stand with Cancer.
* Advised on the promotion of her play based on her book for Seattle opening and subsequent run at Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
* Aiding in translating the book into a TV show.

Personal Consulting:
* Allee Willis -- Award-wining Composer/Lyricist and New Media Entrepreneur
* Jessica Bendinger -- Author, Director and Screenwriter; Bring it On and Stick It
* Wendy Bennett -- Art Conservator

ENTREPRENEUR: (1999-present)

GREENLIGHT TECHNOLOGIES (2008-present)
Currently, Maxine is co-founder and partner in GREENLIGHT TECHNOLOGIES LLC, a company started with esteemed lighting designer and thought-leader, Leni Schwendinger.

* The company creates energy-efficient lighting products geared to the civic, industrial and commercial marketplace.
* GLT's LED products save 79% energy over current antiquated civic fixtures.
* GLT hopes to close its first round of financing by Summer '09.

STEELTOWN ENTERTAINMENT (2003-present)
In 2003 Maxine co-founded Steeltown Entertainment, a production company whose mission is to reinvigorate and aid in bringing film and TV production back to Pittsburgh, her hometown.

* Steeltown's efforts have resulted in: securing the production of The Mysteries of Pittsburgh; introducing producer Bernie Goldman to the director George Romero which resulted in their collaboration on the mega-hit remake Dawn of the Dead (2006); and most recently, a Producer credit for finding funding and the crew for the recently released R. L. Stine's The Haunting Hour (2007).
* Steeltown continues to galvanize ex-patriot film and TV professionals from Pittsburgh, like Oscar-winning director Rob Marshall (Chicago) and Mega-Producer John Wells (ER) to mentor local students through screenwriting workshops and internships.
* Maxine co-produced a live Entertainment Summit in Pittsburgh in 2004, and wrote, executive produced, and hosted Steeltown Presents, a one-hour TV special for public television station WQED, featuring Q and A with Steeltown's board of film and TV luminaries. The show was nominated for an Emmy.

VOXXY.com (1999-2002)
In 1999 Maxine Co-founded and was Co-CEO of Voxxy, a highly acclaimed, award winning content/interactive broadband network for teen girls.

* Maxine raised the 1st and 2nd rounds of financing (2M) from individuals in entertainment and media.
* Pursued and contracted Jennifer Aniston to be the spokesperson for the company. Estimated at $20M worth of publicity, including magazine and TV exposure, for no cash payment.
* Recruited an impressive list of celebrities to star in shows, do live chats, and sit on the Board of Directors and Advisory Board including: Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, Kathy Najimy, Shirley Manson, Caroline Rhea.
* Recruited A-list show runners
* Oversaw content creation including:
-- JenXX -- Jennifer Aniston's broadband series.
-- That's What Friends Are For -- an interactive game show.
-- Home Ecch! -- An interactive renovation and design show for teens.
* Original music videos, streaming media, contests, interactive games, e-commerce and live chats.
* Created and supervised content + advertising "advertainment" for entertainment companies, record labels, and advertisers, including the launch of a site for a co-branded cell phone from Motorola and Hard Candy.
* Created new deal formats and oversaw negotiations for talent and business development deals.

SPEAKER and MOTIVATIONAL LECTURER:

* Pennsylvania Governor's Conference on Women
* Women in the Arts
* Writers Guild of America -- Gay Caucus
* TV Sitcom Writing Class -- USC and UCLA
* Department of Fine Arts -- University of Pittsburgh

SKILLS:

* Writing all formats of TV, movie, and web content from 2 minute mobisodes to feature films.
* Translating an artistic vision into sales and dollars.
* 20 + years of hands-on producing hugely successful half hour sitcoms, reality TV, and theatre with A-list companies and studios in Hollywood.
* Assisting companies in repurposing existing content and products and selling them in new and previously untapped revenue streams.
* Writing complex business plans for all size companies including projections of revenue streams, and working closely with CFOs on financial projections.
* The ability to manage people, personalities, expectations, and bottom lines, thereby completing projects successfully, on time, and on budget.
* Inventive marketing and branding skill, and an acute awareness of the vital role of presentation, showmanship and salesmanship in business.
* Long term relationships and impressive rolodex of entrepreneurs and gamechangers in many varied businesses which can translate into any number of creative and financial successes.
* A highly motivated entrepreneurial spirit whose purpose is to add harmony and bring success to the team.
* Assess others talents and skill sets, clarifying and bringing goals into focus.
* Create an overall step-by-step plan, timeline, and budget necessary to get the job done.
* Planning large scale events, openings benefits and screenings.
* Designing unique advertising and marketing strategy.
* Focusing an identity for a company or product, overseeing logo, branding, packaging and sales.
* Advising clients in artistic and dynamic website creation with multi-level functionality, that creates a strong online presence for your company or product.
* Forming alliances with meaningful strategic partners, websites, mailing lists, social networking sites, and advertisers, helping clients reach their core audiences efficiently and effectively.
* Strategizing and creating unique hybrid distribution approaches for films, books, TV shows, etc.

AWARDS:

* Golden Globe winner -- Roseanne
* Emmy Nominations -- Roseanne, (best comedy series) Home Improvement, (best comedy series), Ellen (3 Emmy nominations), Steeltown Presents (best local special)
* People's Choice Award -- Home Improvement
* Ace Award Winner -- FREE TO LAUGH special -- SHOWTIME (EP/Head Writer)
* Bandie Broadband Award for VOXXY in the category "Newest New Thing"
* Multiple Ovation Award nominations (Los Angeles version of the Obie for theatre)
* 14 Dramalogue Awards (Los Angeles Theatre Award for excellence)