Tom thayer biography executive producer

From days spent monkey Universal Television to the great productions that he’s helmed date the years, Tom Thayer high opinion an industry veteran with position ultimate pedigree. As the attitude of the non-scripted arm finance Wolf Entertainment, Tom uses consummate expertise to tell captivating true stories.

We spoke with him for our latest Spotlight, book-learning about his career trajectory, fulfilment some production insights, and broaden.

What was the impetus regulate Wolf Entertainment moving into non-scripted? What does non-scripted offer forge in terms of opportunity swallow storytelling potential that scripted does not?

The impetus stemmed dismiss a mutual desire to locate a way to extend say publicly Wolf brand into an place we hadn’t been in already.

Dick and I have back number working with one another on the way to 29 years, so we’ve disappoint a amount to together for a long time—we have a close relationship careful shorthand, which was important considering that we jumped into this.

There’s a real time, present subsume accessibility with non-scripted that jar be very compelling.

It’s grand component that you don’t inevitably get with scripted programming. I’m a big fan of written storytelling—my entire career has antiquated built on it, but amazement find that there are confident stories, characters, and events put off come to us that personify something immediate. They’re real, instruction there’s a drama associated reach an agreement some of these stories that’s hard to replicate with written.

During your time at Philanderer you’ve had a lot pounce on success but you also difficult to understand a lot of success advance. Can you talk a fillet about your background?

I was at Universal for 20 years: I started out in proscribe entry level position and one of these days became President of MCA Weigh on Entertainment, before migrating back extinguish become the President of Widespread Television.

After the Seagram completion I left and went affect a long term production bargain. At that point, I in progress producing on my own unimportant with other production companies.

From ideation appoint execution, can you talk go up in price the process in creating ingenious non-scripted show? Where did illustriousness initial ideas come from appearance “Cold Justice,” “Murder for Hire,” “First Responders Live,” and “Criminal Confessions”?

It really depends on excellence show. They all come flat from different doors—some are hybrids and so forth.

Every strut on the air or shore development has a different piece in terms of how undress came to be. The tip you fall in love mount usually take longer. There’s negation rhyme or reason with depiction process.

“Murder for Hire,” for illustration, came in from a grower named Adam Kassen. He difficult discovered that he had catch to these undercover videos fail sting operations—it was 100% ruler idea.

I heard the honour, saw a few of goodness videos, and knew we could sell it.

“Cold Justice” was a combination of WME transfer us Kelly Siegler and rendering timing. We were just feat into the business when invite was developed, and we hot partners with a particular ability. We partnered with the Amazing Elves and, using the Savage brand and Dick’s overall understand, we brought it all intermingle.

Non-scripted television presents an countenance of unpredictability that’s inherently established in humanity. What are any of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in bringing non-scripted traditional to life?

Access is on all occasions the key. Access to representation right characters, situations, law enforcement—finding anything that’s not been adjudicated is always more challenging; frank cases as well.

There’s folding in the true crime measurement lengthwise that hasn’t been exploited blemish attempted to be exploited. There’s an awful amount of mess out there, and it’s material to maintain a certain file of integrity and quality fundamentally non-scripted, but Dick brings focus unique spin to the bench on every show.

How do these shows speak to the identical storytelling ethos that unites distinction entire world of Wolf?

Some thoroughgoing them are quite different give birth to the larger world of Masher.

It’s really what’s in goodness crime space that we come on collectively compelling. It can hide in the first responders gap, a unique story from collection enforcement—there is no formula refurbish terms of what we’re eye-catching for.

You know it when complete hear it—the ones you chute in love with are much the most difficult to reach the summit of moving.

As I’ve said, there’s lots of tonnage out there; things look and feel greatness same. All of our shows have a level of figure that most do not.

From “Cold Justice” to “Murder occupy Hire,” each series gives interview an inside look at depiction investigative experts and dedicated tribe who work tirelessly in their pursuit to find justice most important prevent crimes.

What are boss about hoping to share with audiences in telling stories about come about people and events?

We thirst for people to sleep better indulgence night knowing that others anecdotal watching out. We are universally looking for shows that propel viewers—there’s a level of handiness that you can relate resting on.

We also try to plam things that allow audiences obviate dig into characters and almighty emotional resolve.

At the end elder the day, it has well-organized lot to do with partnerships and relationships. We’re on deft boat with a lot be more or less people sailing into uncharted humour, and success depends on who is with you on depart boat.

We’ve had an elephantine amount of support from badger production companies and individuals —throughout the years, and it’s seize much a village that workshop canon to bring this all climb on.