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Sheila Nevins

Executive

"Everything that I do is related in some way to work. I'm sure that if I didn't work, I'd find work. I just love telling people's stories and I love to hear people telling their stories."

About This Interview

Sheila Nevins was interviewed for two hours in New York, NY.  Nevins describes her early experience in documentary filmmaking for PBS's The Great American Dream Machine and CBS's Who's Who, and details her hiring at HBO in the late 1970s. She talks of the state of the network during its early years and defines her role as Director of Documentaries. She discusses her short-lived production company, Spinning Wheels, and recounts several of the programs she produced for HBO, including the popular series Eros America (later called Real Sex). She outlines her return to HBO in 1986, now as a Vice President, and speaks of several notable documentary and family series that she oversaw, including Taxicab Confessions, The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter, Half-Past Autumn: The Life & Works of Gordon Parks, and Elaine Stritch: At Liberty. She also comments on the programming she's overseen at Cinemax. Karen Herman conducted the interview on May 2, 2006.

Related To This Video

  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
  • Professions

Shows

  • 20/20
  • 60 Minutes
  • America Undercover
  • American Family, An
  • Cinemax Reel Life
  • Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
  • Eros America
  • Great American Dream Machine, The
  • Taxicab Confessions
  • Who's Who

People

  • Michael Fuchs
  • Don Hewitt
  • Don Mischer
  • Dan Rather
  • George Schlatter
  • Mike Wallace

Topics

  • 9/11
  • Iraq
  • Sex & Violence
  • Women

Professions

  • Executives
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  • Interview
  • Shows
  • People
  • Topics
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Highlights

  • Sheila Nevins on being a woman in the entertainment businessSheila Nevins on being a woman in the entertainment business
    Clip begins at: 15:42, Duration: 03m 11s
  • Sheila Nevins on producing <i>Eros America</i> for HBO (later <i>Real Sex</i>)Sheila Nevins on producing Eros America for HBO (later Real Sex)
    Clip begins at: 24:05, Duration: 04m 13s
  • Sheila Nevins on the HBO series <i>Taxicab Confessions</i>Sheila Nevins on the HBO series Taxicab Confessions
    Clip begins at: 04:59, Duration: 01m 56s
  • Sheila Nevins on the documentary <i>Elaine Stritch: At Liberty</i> <br/>Sheila Nevins on the documentary Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
    Clip begins at: 18:08, Duration: 01m 55s
  • Sheila Nevins on the documentary <i>Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks<i>Sheila Nevins on the documentary Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks
    Clip begins at: 16:31, Duration: 01m 31s

Interview

  • Part 1
  • On her childhood and early influences; on keeping her maiden name; on not having hobbies as a child; on not being allowed to watch television as a kid; on attending Barnard for college and Yale for her M.A. in directing
    Clip begins at: 0:0
  • On her start in television - as an actress in Adventures in English; on her first marriage; on jobs she held in New York; on working on CBS' Who's Who as a segment producer and hearing of an opening at HBO; on working on PBS' The Great American Dream Machine
    Clip begins at: 13:47
  • On getting fired from 20/20; on working at CBS; on liking to have control
    Clip begins at: 23:20
  • Part 2
  • On starting at HBO; on being asked to produce 60 Minutes; on not wanting to be on camera; on being hired by Michael Fuchs at HBO; on the state of HBO when she was hired; on documentaries of the day; on ideas for and developing her first documentaries; on having autonomy at HBO
    Clip begins at: 0:39
  • On how she is as a boss; on personalities she works well with; on being a woman in the entertainment business; on her role model, Gloria Steinem; on the executive staff at HBO during her early years; on parlaying her 13 week deal into 25 years at HBO
    Clip begins at: 13:26
  • On being a producer for 4 years at her company, Spinning Reels; on producing Eros America for HBO (later renamed Real Sex)
    Clip begins at: 22:36
  • Part 3
  • On how she handled criticism of sexual content on HBO; on the audience of HBO's sex programming; on leaving Spinning Reels and returning to HBO in 1986 as a Vice-President
    Clip begins at: 0:32
  • On the state of HBO in 1986; on the documentary series America Undercover
    Clip begins at: 14:17
  • On the process of making a documentary: generating ideas, staying within budgets, and selecting producers
    Clip begins at: 22:44
  • Part 4
  • On the HBO documentary In Memoriam 9/11; on the HBO series Taxicab Confessions; on family programming at HBO
    Clip begins at: 0:32
  • On Cinemax Reel Time; on her favorite documentary projects; on Cathouse; on challenges with documentaries; on the documentaries The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter, Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks, and Elaine Stritch: At Liberty; on what makes a perfect documentary; on her imprint on the industry; on advice to aspiring television executives and to aspiring female television executives; on how important it is for her to keep working; on awards
    Clip begins at: 08:40

Shows

  • 20/20
    • Sheila Nevins on getting fired from 20/20
      Clip begins at: 23:33, Duration: 00m 53s
  • 60 Minutes
    • Sheila Nevins on being asked to produce 60 Minutes  
      Clip begins at: 00:39, Duration: 01m 33s
  • America Undercover
    • Sheila Nevins on the documentary series America Undercover
      Clip begins at: 15:15, Duration: 07m 29s
  • American Family, An
    • Sheila Nevins on PBS' An American Family
      Clip begins at: 07:06, Duration: 00m 19s
  • Cinemax Reel Life
    • Sheila Nevins on Cinemax Reel Time
      Clip begins at: 08:40, Duration: 01m 02s
  • Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
    • Sheila Nevins on the documentary Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
      Clip begins at: 18:08, Duration: 01m 55s
  • Eros America
    • Sheila Nevins on producing Eros America for HBO (later Real Sex)
      Clip begins at: 24:05, Duration: 04m 13s
  • Great American Dream Machine, The
    • Sheila Nevins on working on PBS' The Great American Dream Machine and cutting it into The History of America
      Clip begins at: 20:22, Duration: 02m 58s
  • Taxicab Confessions
    • Sheila Nevins on the HBO series Taxicab Confessions
      Clip begins at: 04:59, Duration: 01m 56s
  • Who's Who
    • Sheila Nevins on working on CBS' Who's Who as a segment producer and hearing of an opening at HBO
      Clip begins at: 19:22, Duration: 01m 00s
    • Sheila Nevins on wanting to be able to ask her own questions during interviews, but not wanting to be on camera
      Clip begins at: 01:22, Duration: 00m 50s

People

  • Michael Fuchs
    • Sheila Nevins on the executive staff at HBO during her early years
      Clip begins at: 18:53, Duration: 01m 11s
    • Sheila Nevins on telling Michael Fuchs she wanted to return to HBO as a Vice-President
      Clip begins at: 08:18, Duration: 03m 46s
    • Sheila Nevins on being hired by Michael Fuchs at HBO
      Clip begins at: 03:57, Duration: 01m 10s
  • Don Hewitt
    • Sheila Nevins on being offered a job by Don Hewitt
      Clip begins at: 18:05, Duration: 00m 26s
    • Sheila Nevins on being asked to produce 60 Minutes
      Clip begins at: 00:39, Duration: 01m 33s
  • Don Mischer
    • Sheila Nevins on working with Don Mischer, and George Schlatter early in her career
      Clip begins at: 17:41, Duration: 00m 24s
  • Dan Rather
    • Sheila Nevins on meeting Mike Wallace and Dan Rather at CBS
      Clip begins at: 24:35, Duration: 00m 17s
  • George Schlatter
    • Sheila Nevins on working with Don Mischer, and George Schlatter early in her career
      Clip begins at: 17:41, Duration: 00m 24s
  • Bob Shanks
    • Sheila Nevins on getting fired from 20/20
      Clip begins at: 23:33, Duration: 00m 53s
  • Gloria Steinem
    • Sheila Nevins on her role model, Gloria Steinem
      Clip begins at: 16:56, Duration: 00m 59s
  • Elaine Stritch
    • Sheila Nevins on the documentary Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
      Clip begins at: 18:08, Duration: 01m 55s
  • Mike Wallace
    • Sheila Nevins on meeting Mike Wallace and Dan Rather at CBS
      Clip begins at: 24:35, Duration: 00m 17s

Topics

  • Historic Events and Social Change > 9/11
    • Sheila Nevins on the HBO documentary In Memoriam 9/11
      Clip begins at: 00:51, Duration: 04m 08s
  • Historic Events and Social Change > Diversity in Television > Women
    • Sheila Nevins on being a woman in the entertainment business
      Clip begins at: 15:42, Duration: 03m 11s
  • Historic Events and Social Change > War > Iraq
    • Sheila Nevins on the HBO documentary Baghdad ER
      Clip begins at: 10:24, Duration: 00m 06s
  • Television Industry > Criticism of TV > Sex & Violence
    • Sheila Nevins on producing Eros America for HBO (later Real Sex)
      Clip begins at: 24:05, Duration: 04m 13s
    • Sheila Nevins on how she handled criticism of sexual content on HBO
      Clip begins at: 00:52, Duration: 04m 07s

Genres

  • News and Documentary
    • Sheila Nevins on getting fired from 20/20
      Clip begins at: 23:33, Duration: 00m 53s
    • Sheila Nevins on producing Eros America for HBO (later Real Sex)
      Clip begins at: 24:05, Duration: 04m 13s
    • Sheila Nevins on the documentary series America Undercover
      Clip begins at: 15:15, Duration: 07m 29s
    • Sheila Nevins on the process of making a documentary for HBO
      Clip begins at: 22:44, Duration: 06m 40s
    • Sheila Nevins on Cinemax Reel Time
      Clip begins at: 08:40, Duration: 01m 02s
    • Sheila Nevins on what makes a perfect documentary
      Clip begins at: 20:03, Duration: 00m 43s
    • Sheila Nevins on the documentary Half Past Autumn: The Life and Works of Gordon Parks
      Clip begins at: 16:31, Duration: 01m 31s
    • Sheila Nevins on the documentary The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter
      Clip begins at: 14:27, Duration: 02m 04s
    • Sheila Nevins on the HBO series Taxicab Confessions
      Clip begins at: 04:59, Duration: 01m 56s
    • Sheila Nevins on the HBO documentary In Memoriam 9/11
      Clip begins at: 00:51, Duration: 04m 08s
    • Sheila Nevins on the documentary Elaine Stritch: At Liberty
      Clip begins at: 18:08, Duration: 01m 55s

Professions

  • Executives > Cable Executive
    • Sheila Nevins on the process of making a documentary for HBO
      Clip begins at: 22:44, Duration: 06m 40s
    • Sheila Nevins on telling Michael Fuchs she wanted to return to HBO as a Vice-President
      Clip begins at: 08:18, Duration: 03m 46s
    • Sheila Nevins on what makes a perfect documentary
      Clip begins at: 20:03, Duration: 00m 43s
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Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 2012-11-19 13:25.

Terrific interview. Thanks for making it available - she's an unsung hero.

Submitted by JessicaJ2 on Thu, 2012-07-26 21:52.

Too obviously very smart women talking here. Please do more like this.

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2012-05-02 21:50.

She's someone who has always added to the national discussion on so many topics. She's fearless. Thanks to your site for sharing her thoughts.

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