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Odessa Pictures, Inc.
New York
Producer/Director
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Supplementary Information
Title/Occupation:  Cinematographer  Producer 
Services Provided:  Broadcast Network 
Gender: Male
Citizenship: USA

Brief Message to Members: Freelance Field-Producer for Broadcast television and documentary work. I also work a camera operator/DP.
Biography: Personal Biography A native of Buffalo, New York, Stephen Russell Powell has earned screen credits as a director, story editor, producer, field producer, director of photography, camera operator, and editor on a wide variety of projects including programs for A&E, National Geographic, CBS, The History Channel, PBS, Bravo!, Fox News, CourtTV, Animal Planet, ABC, and Discovery Channel–Canada along with numerous independent documentary and commercial productions. Powell got his start in the business in 1996 after the publication of his book Rushing the Growler, a history of the brewing industry in Buffalo that was originally intended as the screenplay for a feature documentary. The popularity of the book led to a series of appearances on national television, which ultimately opened the door to production work on an increasingly diverse range of projects. In the spring of 2003, while participating in the production of a prime-time program for the History Channel, Powell established Odessa Pictures, Inc. as a media development company. Combining his early training in marketing and economics with his proficiency at shooting and editing film and video, the organization has both generated original content and facilitated the projects of clients around the world. In 2006, Powell worked as editor and story editor on the award winning, 82-minute feature documentary entitled The Forgotten City. The film takes a hard-hitting, unblinking look at life in the inner city. The film has been featured in the HBO/Film Life Black American Film Festival, the Starz Denver Film Festival, and the 2006 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, where it won Best Urban Documentary. The film recently picked up two more awards at the 2007 Buffalo Niagara Film Festival. A lifelong resident of Western New York, Powell has a long history of activism and community organizing, and many of the projects he has generated himself reflect his commitment to social justice, while others bring light to aspects of life in his hometown that might otherwise go unnoticed. No matter what he’s involved in, however—from national television shows and documentary series to promotional shorts for non-profits to his more personal projects—Powell brings to all of his work a combination of outstanding storytelling, technical expertise, business acumen, and total reliability. In addition to producing documentaries and programming, Steve has served as a judge for the 2009 Emmy Awards (Northeast Region). He is also active in the community. His is a member of the International Documentary Association and the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) as well as several local producers groups. Currently, Steve lives and works in Western New York State Currently, Powell is directing a feature documentary that takes a personal look at god and spirituality. It is scheduled for release in Fall 2009. Selected Production Credits/Clients: A&E Network Television (Crime 360) -Field Producer/HD Cam Operator CBC Television Sports (Hockey Night in Canada) Cam Op Live Feeds Rachael Ray Show -Field Producer National Geographic/Firewire -D.P./HD Camera Op -Science Program ”Sudden Death” Associated Press -Press Pool/Camera Operator/MOS Interviews TruTV (Most Shocking) -Field Producer/Camera Operator Animal Planet -Animal Witness (HD Cam/Op) Reebok International -D.P./HD Camera Op - Redsox Commercial Ani DiFranco/Studio Metronome (PBS) -HD Camera Operator Concert (live to tape/truck) ION Television Network (Worlds Greatest) -Camera Operator Lucy Lawless/Creation Entertainment -DP/Field Producer Xena Warrior, Concert ABC News -Good Morning America -Camera Operator Discovery Channel/NDA (Biofuels) -Camera Operator PBS/WNED-TV Emergency Preparedness -HD Camera Operator Channel Nine Australia -Field Producer/Cam Operator -ENG Double Ender America’s Most Wanted/STF -America’s Top Cop -Camera Operator Television Serial ABC TV/RDF -Wife Swap-Camera Operator TV Reality Serial RAI Uno/Global Vision Newsnet -Camera Op. Italian Nat. TV Segment News -Easy Driver The Weintsein Company/MGM: Line-Producer/Crew Manager (EFP) -Feature Prod for Movie CBS Network/NDA: Camera Operator, Prime-time Reality Show Fox News Channel: ENG Camera Operator (R&G/News Press Pool) -Live Feeds Discovery Networks/UHY: (EFP) Camera Operator -Eye of the Storm Manzella Marketing/NY Wine Foundation -Director 30-Second Wine Region Commercial Knuckle City Films: Editor/Story Editor: Urban Reality Documentary, “The Forgotten City” 83-min Castellani Art Museum/Lewiston Arts Council: Producer/Director Documentary, “Josiah’s Crossing” CourtTV/Langley Productions: “Video Justice” -Field Producer, Camera Op. Discovery Channel/CTV -Canada: Field Producer/DOP -Science News Series, “Daily Planet” Bravo! Channel/CEG: Field Producer -News Documentary Serials, “Doctor to Doctor” PBS (WETA-TV Washington): Researcher/guest 2-hr prime-time, Frank Sesno Reports. Bravo! Channel/World of Wonder: Field Producer: “Sports Kids, Moms & Dads” Righteous Babe Records: Videographer: Documentary, Church Reconstruction/Restoration Planned Parenthood: Producer/Director/Editor: promotional (2003 & 2006) 7-min History Channel/Pinball Prod: Researcher 2-hr prime-time “Rumrunners, Bootleggers” ABC Special Events: Producer/Director/Editor 30-second commercial spot. History Channel/Jaffee Productions: Researcher/Guest 2-hr special “Secret Passages” Gilda’s Club: Producer/Director/Editor: promotional, 2006 7-min Paragon Advertising: Videographer: Commercial, Buffalo Bison’s Baseball Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Inst. Producer/Director/Editor (PR Video) 12-min Buffalo Museum of Science: Producer/Director/Editor (fund raising video) 7-min Transportation Development Group: Producer/Dir/Editor Hazmat Safety for Aircraft (LAX) Buffalo Historical Society: (fund raising video) 7-min Odessa Pictures, Inc.: Producer/Director/Editor “A Round for the House” Documentary Odessa Pictures, Inc. "Buffalo Police Underwater Recovery -Producer(Documentary) Sandra White Productions: Editor, 30-second commercial broadcast spot