About
I’m Steve. I Help All Kinds of People Build Their Dreams.
I’d like to get to know about you and what your hopes and dreams are- and how I can help to get you there.
And if you want the long version about me to be sure I know what I’m talking about then scroll down and enjoy the novel my agents, managers and PR people have written up over the years. It’s not everything but I think you’ll get a good glimpse.
Is your life what you want? Do you have a plan to get there? Has that plan been checked out by a pro that's been there, done that? I hope so.
Where did i get my experience and knowledge from?
How can I help you?
01.
Project Concepts
Have an idea for a film, series or online project and don’t know where to start? Is your idea any good? Want to know the roadblocks you’ll need to conquer? Are you trying to figure out what is the correct industry accepted format to present your idea? A movie pitch deck, trailer, a show bible, a series for Netflix, concept art for animation, synopsis, ripomatic, elevator pitch? Book a consult today, I’ll help you get it done the right way.
02.
Acting
Do you want to be an actor? Do you want to know what’s it’s like to be the star of a movie? I’ve done that and as a director I’ve helped many actors deliver the best performance they can find within them. The real Hollywood is far different than anywhere else. I’ve worked with the biggest agencies like CAA and WME casting talent for many projects. Learn about honing your craft, breaking in, agents, managers, red carpets and press lines- I’ve done it and you can too. Let’s talk. Private coaching available.
03.
Writing
Are you a writer and want studio quality feedback on your material? Or do you have a notebook of ideas and want to make them into real sellable projects to be a professional writer? I’ve written features and pitched series to studios like HBO & Showtime and as a director, producer and investor I’ve worked with many professionals and beginners to make their scripts so much better.
We can work together to get yours just right.
04.
Producing
Think producing is for you? Struggling to produce a project already? I’ve produced studio, indie, big budget, micro budget, domestic and international projects. There’s many kinds of producers and some of them do no producing at all- so how do they get paid and their name on the screen? Need some clarity on what producing can be like as a career for you? Let’s do lunch- over the phone. Book a meeting with me today.
05.
Directing
This is a big one, and what I’ve done for a long time from small to large projects, commercials, music videos, tv and movies. Do you know what it really takes to be the captain of this ship? Do you know how to handle the endless details, problems, personality conflicts, schedules, equipment items, location scouts, camera tests, storyboards, castings, rehearsals, blocking and so much more…? One call can help but I’d recommend a series of one on one consults to cover it all. Book your first call and we can go from there.
06.
Production/Pre/Post
Interested in being part of the crew? Hair, make-up, efx, grip, gaffer, camera, stunts, costumes, anything.
Or do you need a roadmap of how to actually make your project? Need to know what you must do in pre-production and how to make sure you get what you need during production? And how to assemble it all together in the edit, color, foley, ADR, sound mix, cine packages, etc? We should talk asap, I’ll guide you through it all, no worries.
07.
Distribution
Want to know how to get your film in theaters, Netflix, Amazon, even rack jobbers like Walmart? It’s a wild world of getting eyes on your project and so many new ways you can do it. But what is best for your project? What do you need to know about distribution before you even start shooting? Don’t make the big mistakes, learn from my years of doing it and working for studios like Universal delivering big films to Itunes and AMC. Book a call now.
08.
Finance
How to get money for your next project? What really happens when you find an investor and how do you set up the waterfall for recoupment for all contracted parties? I’ve done it at the major film markets for years at Cannes, AFM, Toronto, Hong Kong and more. It’s not just mega yachts and red carpet premiere parties- you gotta know how to crunch the numbers and play the game. Book a meeting with me to get started.
“It used to be that the big ate the small, now the well-informed eat them all.” S.D.
Steven Dunning is a media professional, managing, creating and producing domestic and international film, television, music and online product. Finance and investment management, overseeing large creative teams, budgets, diverse projects with specific goals and solutions from concept to public acceptance through all current media and distribution channels is his forte’.
A-list employment and collaboration, strong personal and professional relationships across entertainment sectors.
Working in the professional film/tv/music industry for the past twenty plus years, Mr. Dunning delivers investment strategies, feature films, television shows, commercials, performing artist albums, creative marketing and press campaigns to the major Hollywood studios, networks, and bi-coastal advertising agencies.
Having previously worked for Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment inside of Universal Studios, his weekly delivery to NBC of prime time shows strengthened his production and post-production expertise. He has worked in varying capacities over the years with the following: Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Wayfarer Studios NYC, Amblin Entertainment, HBO, NBC, PBS, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Nike, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, General Motors, Levi-Strauss, American Red Cross, BMW, McDonald’s, AT&T…& many more, Tom Hanks, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Mike Nichols, Sally Field, Frank Darabont, Frank Marshall, Peter Bogdonavich, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Metallica, George Burns, Boyz to Men, Mariah Carey, Silk…& more.
Along with continuing feature projects and international co-productions his past work was at Playtone for Tom Hanks on domestic projects like the the Emmy Award winning HBO series “From the Earth to the Moon,” and for Twentieth Century Fox with “X-Files” creator Chris Carter at 1013 Productions. Also working at HBO overseeing the syndication projects for “Sex and the City”, “Sopranos” and “Arliss.” Also combining music and film work and producing creative show elements for major tours, Coldplay, Lionel Richie, etc.
At Darque Pictures he wrote, produced and directed feature film, theatrically released and handled distribution deals at Blockbuster, Netflix, Barnes and Noble and all other major retailers. A debut project was voted Top Ten dvd of the year by E! Insiders.com with Lord of the Rings, Monsters Inc., Beauty and the Beast, Amelie, Reservoir Dogs and E.T.. With excellent reviews from The Los Angeles Times and four-star reviews from Golden Globe members, one project recently received its highest honor, requested by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to be added to their permanent archive film collection next to their Oscar® winners and nominees.
Former National Co-lead of the NBCUniversal Veterans Network he has worked with and continues to support myriad charitable organizations, and the White House. As an original core member of the high profile Got Your Six campaign, supported by luminaries Tom Hanks, Michael Douglas, Jay Leno, Jessica Chastain, etc., in and outside of work he aims to help all Veterans and family members by bringing awareness and solutions to these issues nationwide.
As a record label owner he released artists such as “The Next Santana”- Cesar. Cesar has performed throughout Europe as a solo artist and performed with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, Al Dimeola, recorded with producer Bebu Silvetti (Luis Miguel, Placido Domingo), and currently meeting with Andrea Bocelli and The Gipsy Kings for performing services. Dunning’s relationship with the USO and Armed Forces Entertainment netted tours for his artist Cesar, including the Iraq and Back Tour through five countries in Middle East where Mr. Dunning spent the tour filming reality television programming in the active theater of war operations.
Mr. Dunning has also previously established joint ventures in China for a professional learning college with Zhu Ming Ying and Beijing University, USC, and Cal State Universities. He is frequently invited as a special guest lecturer at American and International universities such as The Beijing Film Academy, Florida Pacific University, California State University, Cal Poly, etc. He also serves on the California State Polytechnic University Advisory Council for their entertainment business, law and marketing degree program.
He holds the honor of being a proctor at Harvard University as well.
As he strives to help others and encourage all entrepreneurs reach their dreams he is the founder of “The Greater Good Award” to recognize those who sacrifice themselves in order to benefit many more around them. This effort continues with guiding hopeful creatives at Charities Love Talent .com which he founded to help those who help others.
In his personal life, Steven was raised in a small farming community of rural Pennsylvania. His strong work ethic and individual dreams pushed him to tell stories for the masses that could inspire the individual in us all. Going door to door in Hollywood and working for no pay, he proved his desire. This led to paid work, but still at the very bottom of the ladder. Determination and a clear goal kept him climbing over the bumps along the way. Production Assistant, Production Coordinator, Production Manager, Post-Production Supervisor, Associate Producer, Director of Photography, Writer, Producer, Director, Creator, Executive Producer, Financier and Entrepreneur.
Honors & Awards
Outstanding Citizen Award
38th Chief of Staff of the United States Army, Four-Star General Raymond T. Odierno
The Outstanding Civilian Service Award is presented to civilians not employed by the Army, and cannot be presented to federal government officials at the policy-development level, or technical personnel who assist the Army as a consultant or advisor. It is the third-highest honor within the Department of the Army that may be presented to a private citizen.
Additional Honors & Awards
Harvard University Proctor
Founder of The Greater Good Award
CEO & Executive Producer, Charities Love Talent
Chairman – GI Film Festival Los Angeles at Disney Studios
Steering Committee, Cal Poly Entertainment Business and Marketing Program
Steering Committee for the Los Angeles Mayor, Veteran Initiative Campaign
University of Hartford CLT Internships Head
Junior Achievement International- Mentor
Score.org Mentor/Mentee
Active Partnerships:
Volunteers of America
Operation Gratitude
Save the Tatas
LA Foodbank
Got Your Six
USO
Charities Love Talent .com
Goodwill Employer Training Programs
Languages:
English – native
Spanish – conversational
Mandarin – elementary proficiency, continuing
