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Zack Stern - Video Producer Zack Stern

Hello. My name is Zack Stern. I'm a video producer in Oakland, CA. I'm here to create videos and solve problems, and I'm all out of bubblegum.

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At the 2013 and 2014 Consumer Electronics Shows, I led a team of a dozen people, producing videos for PCWorld and TechHive. We knocked out about 15 quick-hit videos each day; shooting, editing, and publishing segments in just a few hours. At the end of the 2013 show, we produced this sizzle reel of our week. In addition to executive producing all coverage, I directly post-produced most videos and field-produced many. One of the challenges in client-driven content is to keep it interesting and not get mired in marketing points. Instead of scripting rigidly, I like to interview executives to keep them extemporaneous, while still listening closely to what will work in the edit. I produced and directed all stages of this series of videos, including a week of on-location shooting. I produced and directed all aspects of this IDG video, introducing the company's many editorial brands. We used an interview style to keep it conversational. B-roll was shot directly for this segment and also pulled from IDG publications around the world. To launch TechHive, I produced and directed this piece written by our marketing team. They needed a quick introduction and used this as a pre-roll ad. Note that I also produced and directed the opening and closing bumper, one of the animations used in ongoing TechHive videos. TechHive sometimes runs big features which warrant three or so days editing, giving time to draw out the personality of subjects. In this case, our two crews shot at ATT Park for two days, gathering footage for five TechHive productions. All had tech angles, such as this example profiling the grounds crew and its gear. I directed one of our shooting teams and co-produced this segment. Sometimes a project needs a big-budget look on a tight timeframe. Only four weeks ahead of its launch, we took on this project to introduce IDG.tv. I led pre-production and post, since I was on-location with another video when this had to shoot. I created the concept, script, and storyboard; and I post-produced to bring it all together. TechHive creates regular car-tech features, bringing their own challenges of tight spaces and mobile, outdoor shooting. In this example, we highlighted a new car's ability to stay in its lane even if you take your hands off the wheel, testing it on San Francisco highways. I produced and directed at all stages. Some TechHive features warrant a little more time than the usual half-day edits, but still need to be finished in about two days. In this example, we extended our shooting to about four hours to get ample B-roll and spent the remaining time in edit. I produced and directed all stages of this piece. PCWorld develops big features for its annual mobile-phone-network-coverage story. We traveled to Boston to meet our main investigator as he wrapped up weeks of carrier testing across U.S. cities. I produced and directed all stages of this video. I also creative-directed the PCWorld intro and outro bumpers. PCWorld regularly needs on-location coverage with a minimal crew, even for an interview. So we developed an off-the-cuff style that works well with just one camera. The camera floats between a single and two-shot. In post, the edit covers the move or just embraces the roughness in this format. I produced and directed all stages of this segment. Custom clients often need original animation. I produce fun segments in a range of styles, using a network of illustrators. In this example for Qualcomm,  I produced and directed all stages of work. TechHive, Macworld, and PCWorld produce dozens of reviews each month, many of which warrant video coverage. We took on a voiceover-and-B-roll style to speed through production, shooting and editing a review in less than a day. I co-produced this Sphero 2.0 segment and also served as our stunt driver. Vroom! In this casual profile, one of TechHive's 3D printing experts introduces us to this new technology. I worked to see this space through our passionate subject, balancing his personal experience with broader information. I produced and directed over the full production. I also shot the timelapse footage. Just a few weeks ahead of its launch, a new IDG custom group asked us to create an introductory video to tout its value. I interviewed the group's leader from off-camera, drawing out his key points in concise phrases. I also produced and directed through all stages of production. Finally, I produced all of the original videos and location shoots from which we pulled b-roll. Intel wanted a series of videos that introduced new laptop features, aligned with different kinds of buyers. In this segment, we show how several Ultrabooks have features suited towards content creators. We shot on-location over a week for the full series. I produced and directed in all stages of production. GFI wanted to educate its audience about how most PC attacks happen through out-of-date software. We created this original animation that highlighted research facts to show that PC users aren't as protected as they think. I produced and directed over the full production. As a producer for Sony's monthly PS3 show, Qore, I created regular content about videogames. In this gameplay-and-VO production, I wrote the script, captured footage, and otherwise produced and directed the complete segment. We dove into the technology behind Uncharted 3 with Qore, Sony's monthly game show. For this segment, our team visited the developers at Naughty Dog just ahead of the game's launch. I co-produced this segment in post, shaping the final video from our interview and gameplay footage. At an E3 tradeshow, we banked about a dozen interviews over a few days for Qore, Sony's gaming series. We set up in a studio near the convention center and created a handful of different looks for interviews. I was the lead producer of our interview shoots, asking interview subjects questions and otherwise producing the shooting. I also shared story production on this Batman feature. As part of Qore, Sony's monthly videogame show, we often shot on location at game companies' offices, too. I produced and directed this remote shoot, and story-produced through post.