In this episode of Ask For An Answer, host Jim Fielding sits down with 20-year unscripted television veteran and creative entrepreneur Liza Keckler. Liza has navigated the complex world of alternative TV, from producing home improvement shows to leading development for major networks and production companies.

Jim and Liza dive deep into their time working together at Archer Gray, where they focused on building "highly repeatable formats" and prestige non-narrative content during a time of extreme industry contraction. Liza shares the inspiration behind her newest venture, Hedyverse, a creative IP studio she co-founded to build content that lives across platforms—including mobile games, tabletop games, and television.

In this conversation, they explore:

• The Shift to Ownership: Why owning your intellectual property is the ultimate goal for creators today.
• Market Trends: What’s working in unscripted media right now, from The Masked Singer to Squid Game: The Challenge.
• Creative Resilience: How to advocate for your creative vision and navigate industry obstacles like mergers and strikes.
• Collaboration: The power of looking at those in your orbit to see what you can build together.

• 03:57 – Meet Liza Keckler: A look into Liza’s 20+ year background in unscripted and alternative TV.
• 06:01 – Franchisable Content: Jim and Liza discuss their partnership at Archer Gray and the goal of creating repeatable, premium content.
• 09:20 – The State of Entertainment: An honest look at the "hard years" of the industry, including COVID impacts and the writer's strikes.
• 12:17 – Adapting Strategy: Why creative pivots are necessary when meeting a changing marketplace.
• 14:15 – Lessons in Leadership: Liza shares her biggest takeaway: the importance of clarity and advocating for the right choices.
• 17:40 – Launching Heady Verse: How a family trip and a conversation with a friend led to the creation of a cross-media studio.
• 19:27 – Owning the IP: Moving from "work for hire" to building equity in your own creations.
• 20:01 – Mood Box Games: Liza shares details on a new partnership with gaming giant ASMODEE.
• 22:40 – The Next Big Hit: A discussion on why fresh ideas like The Masked Singer take time to cut through the noise of legacy shows.
• 25:13 – Current Watchlist: Jim and Liza breakdown the brilliance of Squid Game: The Challenge and the rise of biography documentaries.

• 💼 Follow Jim Fielding on Instagram: @jimfielding
• 🌐 Learn more about Hedyverse: [Hedyverse.com]
• ✨ Guest: Liza Keckler