FerroTV Shows
Almost everyone in the entertainment industry started their careers as a freelancer with aspirations to land a staff job.
Well, as you will hear, Tom Smith has never been like everyone.
He started his twenty plus year career as a staff employee at Nickelodeon. During that time, he held positions as Director of Studio Operations, Production Manager, Facility Manager, covering everything from space planning to all day to day operations.
Impressive Uh? A career most of us would have been satisfied with. Like I said, Tom is not like everyone.
Eventually, his passion for writing caught up to him and off to the world of freelance he went.
Key Takeaways:
- Tom Smith’s career path highlights how internships and entry-level roles (Howard Stern → PA at Nickelodeon) can lead to bigger opportunities when you keep learning and building trust.
- Relationship-building and networking are central—connections helped him grow into production tech and eventually pitch his own show ideas.
- His storytelling roots come from early inspiration (like Star Wars) plus formal training (English literature/creative writing at NYU), which shaped how he builds character and plot.
- He’s drawn to unscripted content because it feels more authentic and offers more variety than heavily scripted dramas.
- Tom prefers family-centered, heartfelt stories focused on growth, resilience, and overcoming challenges—aiming to create positive, uplifting media.
- When pitching, it’s crucial to understand each network’s brand and format; executives tend to be risk-averse and want ideas that fit what they already know works for their audience.
- Rejection is normal (especially for non-traditional ideas), so persistence matters—one “yes” can be career-changing, and the best creators keep pushing despite setbacks.
