Bio+Résumé

countless hours on the air.

"I wish someone had told me 20 years ago to keep track of all the shows I've been a part of since that first day I walked into a studio. The fact is I have no idea how many hours of my life I've put into this art form we call television.

"What I do know is that I've spent a lot of time learning from some of the very best talent, crew, and producers in the business. I've kept coming back to it over the years because I love directing television programs. And I really hope it shows.

"Pacing. Attention to detail. Precision cuts. Great camera moves and well-timed reaction shots. It's how we draw the viewer in and keep them entertained. It's how we include them in the conversation. It's how we tell our story.

"This is the part where I share a little bit of my own story, in my own words. Thanks for your interest. I hope we can make great TV together someday."

-Robin Beal
August 2019

an inauspicious start.

"I was born and raised in rural Northeast Texas, far away from the hot lights and dark control rooms of big city television. There was a lot of good cattle and really nice people, but not much opportunity for a quiet, artsy kid.

"At 14 years old, I persuaded my mom to drive me clear across the county line - 35 minutes each way - to my first job working as an AM radio disc jockey, every Saturday and Sunday afternoon. I'd turn off the transmitter at 6pm and wait for my ride home.

"And so, I learned to cue vinyl records and write radio commercials before I learned to drive. Later I got to move over to the FM dial. 'The All-Request Saturday Night with Robin Beal' was born.

a major-market education.

"My first television job came in college - stocking the green room fridge, picking up deli trays from the supermarket, cleaning up the kitchen set. TV was completely new to me (I had no clue what the Director meant by '2-shot'!). It was an afternoon variety show at the CBS station in Dallas, and it was so much damn fun. 


"As the years went by, the jobs got more sophisticated and thankfully so did I. By age 23, I was directing TV in Houston. Local news. Sports talk shows for the new NFL team in town. A field shoot with an ex-President. I even got to work with Peter Jennings (my idol) more than once. I never finished college. These experiences were better than any education I could afford to buy.

adventures in television.

"When I was 28 I decided it was time for a sabbatical. I sold everything I had and bought a plane ticket. After backpacking around the world for 18 months, I wasn't ready for the adventure to end. So, I came home and somehow ended up in front of the camera in market #161 (Sherman/Denison, Texas).


"It was probably the hardest job I'll ever have. Digging up stories, running all over the place trying to get interviews, writing scripts, usually shooting and editing my own stuff - even serving as my own live truck engineer.

( CLICK HERE to see the clips)

a Director who knows talent.

"As a former TV news reporter, I know what it's like to put yourself out there. Sometimes you're just at the mercy of whoever's in the booth calling the shots.


"That's why it's so important to have a connection with the talent. It's my job to make them look great, sure. But it's more than that - you lead them when they need it, but giving your star the reins is what it's all about. Earn their trust. When they're confident in the Director, they can focus completely on their performance. That's what pros do.

no retakes. no do-overs.

"Live, long-form televised conversations are a special thing. My goal every Sunday morning is to cut the newsmaker interview like nobody else, to make it look like it was edited in a booth. They can go from conversational to adversarial in an instant. Precision scripting with lots of elements - until it's off the rails. Then you roll with it. That's when you earn your money.


"It's live TV. And I absolutely love doing it."

respect is earned. take their words for it.

“Robin is EXACTLY who I want to have at my side when things start to get a little unpredictable. I know he'll calmly and confidently lead his team in the direction I set... and the on-air product will end up looking as if we'd perfectly planned a show or a segment that was anything BUT planned.”
Scott McCrary,
award-winning
Executive Producer
"Always exacting and focused, Robin is constantly striving to put on the best program he can. Some of the work I'm most proud of in my career was when Robin was at the helm.”
Tom Gandy,
Co-Founder,
The Storyhive
“Robin is one of those directors who can anticipate what you're going to want to do next. It's fantastic to have him in the chair next to you during a breaking news or complex live event; it's almost like having a co-producer at times. His attention to detail is also to second to none. Robin's professionalism is also extraordinary -- he is there to do his job and raise up everyone around him in doing theirs, but always with a smile.” 
Jessica Glasser,
Washington, DC-based Television Producer
"What I really like about Robin is that he is passionate and demanding about his profession... He innately understands pacing, rhythm, flow, the 'feel' of a television production, and he makes it go. He gets it."
Victor Murphy,
Head of Technology and Operations,
WXIA-TV Atlanta

PROFESSIONAL RÉSUMÉ

(for full credits listing, click here )

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY


Director, MSNBC; New York, NY — August 2022-present

Staff Director for MSNBC. Direct various shows on both MSNBC and the Peacock streaming platform as assigned. 


Director, Fox News; Washington, DC — April 2015-June 2022

Director of "Fox News Sunday w/Chris Wallace," broadcast nationally on more than 190 affiliate stations of the Fox Television Network. Lead production in the control room as well as supervise and coordinate studio personnel. Establish and maintain network-level standards and best practices, while also inspiring individual creative contributions among stage and technical crew members. Communicate directly with on-air host to provide cues and support during the live program. Collaborate closely with executive producer to implement the desired editorial vision. Interpret scripts to conceptualize appropriate shot composition and camera movement. Ensure accuracy of on-screen graphics and effective shot selection in recorded insert materials. Lead critique of final product and appraise staff performance. Foster team growth through regular one-on-one mentoring sessions and active positive reinforcement.


notable accomplishments:

  • Directed worldwide network pool telecast of the funeral of President George H.W. Bush, including tributes by country music superstars Reba McEntire and the Oak Ridge Boys in a 10-camera remote shoot from St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Houston, TX
  • Directed “Fox News Sunday” on location from the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA, overseeing shot blocking and informing lighting design of a 5-camera remote shoot prominently featuring Air Force One and exterior scenery
  • Served as Associate Director for network pool coverage of the 2020 State of the Union Address 
  • Successfully devised all-new camera blocking and methods of shooting FNS ‘in the round’ after lengthy and extensive collaboration with multiple stakeholders on new studio build

Director, ESPN; Washington, DC — 2015 (freelance/part-time)

Directed the sports entertainment program "Pardon the Interruption.” Supervised and coordinated studio production crew, interpreted scripts, created rundowns, and ensured network-level standards and best practices were maintained. Collaborated with on-air hosts and executive producer to implement desired editorial vision.


Technical Director, CCTV America; Washington, DC — 2013-2015

Shift supervisor for technical operations team. Ensured functionality and readiness of broadcast equipment and personnel. Lead pre-production sessions and prepared control rooms and studios for broadcasts. Operated the Grass Valley Kayak video switcher and associated devices. Directed on a fill-in basis.


Director, WUSA-TV; Washington, DC — 2013

Directed weekday 6pm & 11pm local CBS affiliate newscasts. Occasionally acted as crew chief and technical director for “The McLaughlin Group” syndicated talk show seen on PBS. Operated the Sony MVS-8000 video switcher and associated production equipment.

Technical Director, WESH-TV/WKCF-TV; Orlando, FL — 2010-2013

Switched fast-paced, graphics intensive, live evening news programs and specials for Orlando's NBC and CW affiliate stations. Operated the Sony MVS-8000 video switcher and associated production equipment. Trained junior personnel on video switcher operation, best practices, and standard operating procedures.


Technical Director, Golf Channel; Orlando, FL — 2012 (freelance/part-time)

Worked on a variety of live network programs including The European Tour series tournament broadcasts, "Morning Drive," "School of Golf," and the Japanese-language version of "Live From," airing in Japan. Supervised technical operations personnel and operated the Sony MVS-8000 video switcher and associated devices. Prepared control room in advance of the director’s arrival.


Public Information Officer, Ardmore Police Department; Ardmore, OK — 2009

Managed all external communications and public information functions of a 73-person municipal law enforcement agency. Served as primary contact for print and broadcast media inquiries. Acted as police spokesperson and coordinated news conferences at active scenes. Wrote news releases and prepared electronic press kits. Ensured accuracy of talking points and briefed agency principals in advance of their media appearances/interviews. Member of the executive management team.


notable accomplishments:

  • Received a commendation for exemplary leadership and interagency assistance with crisis communications when a deadly tornado struck the neighboring municipality of Lone Grove, OK
  • Implemented daily electronic distribution of press reports and discontinued a previous and longstanding policy requiring in-person inspection of police reports for interested journalists

Bureau Chief, KXII-TV; Ardmore, OK — 2008

Appeared live on-air and managed Oklahoma news bureau for the Sherman, Texas CBS affiliate (market #161). Supervised news team of 3 people and functioned as lead breaking news and general assignment reporter. Wrote stories for broadcast, interviewed sources, made daily beat calls and participated in editorial meetings. Shot/edited video and operated microwave ENG van under extremely tight deadlines. Responsible for a 9-county coverage area in Southern Oklahoma.

Director, KTRK-TV; Houston, TX — 2001-2006

Directed various “Eyewitness News” broadcasts and the Emmy-nominated sports talk show “Houston Texans: Inside the Game.” Sketched out and personally designed and constructed multiple TV sets for weekend sports programs. Successfully completed a number of high-profile assignments including field production for the Houston-based national broadcasts of ABC's "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings," in addition to serving as Technical Director for Jennings' town-hall special.


Technical Director, KHWB-TV; Houston, TX — 2000-2001

Operated the Sony DVS-7350 video switcher. Launched the station's 9pm startup newscast as the primary audio technician (A1) and earned a promotion to Technical Director within six months.


Audio Technician, Texas Cable News; Dallas, TX — 1998-2000

A1 for prime time news shows. Developed technical audio infrastructure for TXCN, a startup 24-hour cable news channel. Performed initial operational setup of the facility's digital audio console, intercom/IFB, and other key audio components.


Studio Production Assistant, KTVT-TV; Dallas, TX — 1998

Part-time Studio PA on "Positively Texas, Live!”, a daily talk/variety show with celebrity and musical guests. Duties included green room prep, supermarket missions/catering procurement, guest wrangling, and kitchen set cleanup.


SKILLS

  • proven ability to comfortably collaborate and interact with celebrities and other high-profile individuals, including C-suite executive leadership 
  • impactful written/verbal communications, professional demeanor, active listening, social finesse
  • multitasking and superior time management abilities; very much a self-starter
  • accustomed to making split-second decisions and adapting to changing situations with little or no advance warning
  • expert ability to “draw the viewer in” and keep the screen moving while navigating dynamic, live news situations
  • capable of expeditious and creative problem solving under extremely high stress conditions
  • team player and positive thinker who espouses diversity and inclusion in the workplace
  • Microsoft Office Suite, Avid iNews, AP ENPS, Adobe Creative Suite, Final Cut Pro, DSLR photography, Workday, video production, broadcast television, multimedia production, lighting design

EDUCATION


DeKalb High School, DeKalb, TX, 1997, National Honor Society

Texarkana Community College, Texarkana, TX, 1997

University of Texas at Arlington, 1997-1999 (degree not completed)


REFERENCES


available upon request
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