Finding Original Voices

Peter Heller, Heller Highwater

– The Sharkpreneur Podcast with Seth Greene Episode 887 Peter Heller

Through his company, Heller Highwater, Peter Heller manages writers and directors and produces projects for film and television. Current clients include, Jim LeBrecht (CRIP CAMP), Randall Jahnson (Oliver Stone’s THE DOORS), Danny Rubin (GROUNDHOG DAY), Carroll Cartwright (MRS. HARRIS GOES TO PARIS), and Jon Crawford (THE INVISIBLE PILOT.) 

Projects in development as a producer include THE HOT FLASH by Beth Dement with Amy Baer’s Landline/MRC and LIVE FROM THE VATICAN with producer Matt Jackson at Paramount. 

Peter produced DREAMLAND, which premiered at Sundance and was distributed by Sony. The film stars John Corbett, Kelli Garner, Justin Long and Agnes Bruckner. He also produced LIKE MIKE, starring Little Bow Wow, Morris Chestnut and a number of NBA superstars; BROWN SUGAR, starring Taye Diggs, Sanaa Lathan and Queen Latifah; BONES, starring Snoop Dogg and Pam Grier; as well as FULL RIDE, CAUGHT UP, BARB WIRE and HOTEL DE LOVE.

Before creating Heller Highwater, Peter was the Assistant Dean of Development and Industry Relations at the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television, had a similar position at LMU’s film school, ran the film division at Propaganda; was the Executive Vice President of Production for Spring Creek; the President of John Hughes’ production company, Hughes Entertainment and was the Executive Assistant to the Chairman of Universal Pictures, Tom Pollock. More recently, he has also been a visiting professor of screenwriting and producing at Academy of Art University in San Francisco and at University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem. 

After receiving his BA in English from Wesleyan University, Peter worked in the theater in New York City first in production and then as a creative executive for Warner Theater Productions. He then attended Columbia University for his MBA before moving to Los Angeles. 

Peter is a member of the Producers Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Listen to this informative Sharkpreneur episode with Peter Heller about finding original voices.

Here are some of the beneficial topics covered on this week’s show:

- How many layers are involved while writing and producing a movie.

- Why writing and making movies is all about who your connections are in the industry.

- How streaming services have made it difficult for original pilots to work at all.

- Why the big pay days come from your producing fees, not your commissions.

- How writers must know a little bit about the marketplace to develop and sell a script.

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