While her initial childhood dream was to become a star in front of the camera, one Valencia High School graduate quickly found success behind the scenes.
Meet Shanna Pinsker.
Shanna is currently the Post Production Coordinator for the hit ABC television series and Emmy award winning series, Shark Tank, which is now in its sixth season.
Shark Tank quickly rose to the top in popularity as the series provides budding entrepreneurs a chance to make their dreams come true as the Sharks search for the best products America has to offer.
It wasn’t too long ago that Shanna was in the high school drama club with hopes of being an actress. “I was placed into the video production class and had no idea what to expect,” states Shanna. “Jennifer Overdevest, the video production teacher, had advised that it was intense course, and only for the serious.” Shanna remained in video production as well as in drama club. “I started asking questions about how to get involved with the live news program that they do at the high schools,” states Shanna. “That same year, Kim Forbes took over Valencia TV, and together, we built the start to the current program, and by my junior year I was the producer for Valencia TV.”
While in high school, Shanna worked with Dave Caldwell, interning for SCV TV and shadowing the crew that filmed sporting events and band competitions in the valley. She was later hired by Dave to do the kids sports show and worked for him while finishing out her senior year at Valencia.
After high school, Shanna majored in Cinema and Television Arts and graduated from Cal State University of Northridge in December of 2011. She worked as a substitute teacher for the Hart District and loved the days she was able to sub for Valencia TV. Six months after graduating she landed the job with Shark Tank in 2012 as a transcriber thanks to childhood friend and SCV resident Kelsey Dolan. “It’s tedious, tedious work,” states Shanna. “I was responsible for typing what was said on camera so the producers had a script to work with.” When the position ended for Shark Tank, Shanna moved to NBC’s hit television show, The Voice. Shanna started as a transcriber for The Voice. She transcribed for two seasons and was promoted to a Post Production Assistant before returning to Shark Tank, where she is currently in charge of coordinating post production. “I am responsible for putting out the first sets of drafts for episodes and handing them over to corporate and the networks, as well as dealing with the budget and managing the whole post production team.” Shanna continues, “While we are in charge of post production, we are always involved with the entire process, including transferring media from production, and coordinating with the network and backlot. Eventually, though, I want to be involved in everything.”
As Shanna reflects, she states, “Networking is the biggest tool that got me here. Projects and reels are important but knowing the people actually working in the industry is the biggest tool.” She continues “I am so thankful for Kelsey, Dave, Jennifer, Kim and my theatre teacher, Steven Whelan. They all helped me figure out that this is what I love doing and that I could become successful doing it.”
