Friends Program: Behind the Scenes at NOVA: Stories from America’s Longest Running Science Documentary Series

Join the Friends of the Needham Public Library for a behind-the-scenes conversation with NOVA Co-Executive Producer Chris Schmidt as he reveals secrets from the award-winning public television show produced by GBH. Chris will share little-known insights into the secret sauce behind the decades-long success of this Emmy Award® nominated series.

You’ll learn about NOVA’s approach to science storytelling and how the series approaches challenging and even divisive topics. He’ll share his own experiences as a filmmaker and what it’s like to take on the job of an executive producer of one of PBS’s most-watched and longest-running series. You’ll also get a sneak peek at this season’s surprises – before they’ve aired!

Chris’s film and television career spans nearly 40 years. He got his start making a theatrical comedy in the Soviet Union in 1989.  In the 1990s he began his television career producing films and executive producing non-fiction series for commercial networks including Discovery Channel, History Channel, National Geographic and others. In 1999 he worked on his first NOVA film, eventually producing a range of NOVA films culminating in the Making Stuff series and the evergreen Hunting the Elements, hosted by David Pogue. In 2012 he joined NOVA as senior producer and in 2019 was named Co-Executive Producer along with Co-EP Julia Cort.

This Program is sponsored by the Friends of the Needham Public Library. Registration is required.

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