Sia Savvy is a visionary television producer reshaping modern entertainment. In this interview, she discusses her personal journey and the importance of integrity and representation in storytelling.
You had a successful corporate career before transitioning into television production. What motivated the change and how did your corporate experience shape your work in TV?
Great question. So, actually, my bachelor’s degree is in media management, arts, entertainment, and media management to be specific. I always had a love for entertainment, and I always had a love for television in all honesty. But like a lot of young people, I was so nervous and scared to really give it my all. And so, I’ve decided, you know what, I’m going to get a master’s degree in business finance, and I’m going to get a job that can make some real money. I did a workshop recently, and I got a similar question. I didn’t believe in myself. I didn’t believe that I could really do it. I went into corporate, and I did really well. I worked as a senior accountant. I also worked as a project manager for very large companies. One of the great things that happened during that portion of my career is that I learned how to manage projects from beginning to end. I became very good at it. I learned how to streamline costs. I understood budgeting. I understood the bottom line. At some point, I realized that I was a little tired and that I really wasn’t fulfilled. I wanted to do what I loved, what I was passionate about. So, while I was in corporate, I started moonlighting at the local radio station. I started working as a PA. I started doing anything that I could fit into my schedule. Eventually, I was offered an opportunity to field produce for a true crime show… I just took a leap of faith.
Now, you worked across different genres, from true crime to reality TV, and also documentaries. What excites you about working in such a variety of formats, and how do you approach each one differently?
I love working in a variety of genres because it allows me to really stretch the boundaries of my own creativity. True crime is very different from reality TV, which is different from docuseries. Being a showrunner is different than being a producer, which is different from being a director. The opportunity to learn all these different skill sets and how they all work together is so exciting. And it’s never a dull moment. You’re always learning something new. Every time you get the opportunity to try a new genre, even if you’re in the same position, you’re still learning a new way to think differently and a new way of producing the content. I love the challenge. It’s never a dull moment.
Your work on ESPN’s docuseries “Why Not Us” and Tubi’s “Gone Before His Time: The Kobe Bryant Story” has been well-received. What are the challenges of creating compelling content based on real-life events?
Oh, goodness. That’s such a loaded question. I’ll say my biggest challenge in creating content that is based on real-life events is knowing how to tell the story. We have to tell stories that are real, true, and authentic, but we also want to be respectful of the culture. We want to use cultural context and make sure that we’re being respectful. We want to make sure that we’re telling the parts of the story that are the most interesting and the most compelling, but without being exploitative. You’re making sure that you’re dancing that fine line, and that you’re being mindful. You’re telling a compelling story, but also in a way that’s respectful, and that celebrates the individuals that you’re talking about.
You know, for a second there, I thought you were going to say demure (laughing).
Oh, because I said mindful. I’m a producer, very mindful, very demure, very not exploitive (laughing). So that is the thing. It’s so easy, especially when you start talking about reality television. Most people want to go for the most salacious content. And for me, it’s what is the most compelling, but also respectful.
Absolutely. Now, as a showrunner, you oversee both the creative and the operational aspects of a show.
How do you manage these demands and what qualities do you think make a showrunner effective?
Coffee, coffee, and lots of it. I mean, that’s the magic. No, I’m kidding. Honestly, I think the greatest strength of a good showrunner is the ability to build an effective, strong team. No one person can do it all. So, when you have a good team of people, knowledgeable people, I don’t ever want to be the smartest person in the room. I want to make sure that I surround myself with intelligent people, with creative people, with talented people, and with people who are ethical and have integrity.
That’s beautifully said. Now Savvy Media Group focuses on promoting diverse stories and voices. How do you ensure that these stories are represented authentically in your production?
The key part of that is representation. You know, that is the argument that we are all in. It is the fight that we are all in throughout the entertainment industry. Whether the people of color, women, or people of the LGBTQIA plus community, we are all fighting for representation and the right to tell our own stories. My favorite quote right now is “Nothing else about us without us.” And it’s such a powerful saying because the reality is so much Black and so much content about the Black community is not even produced by Black people. It’s not produced by Black production companies. We have such a low representation when it comes to the creative side, we are so underrepresented in the actual production of this content.
I’d like to know more about the documentary “Sneaker Hustle” and the series “Why Not Us?”
“Sneaker Hustle” is an amazing documentary where we actually have the opportunity to discuss just the sneaker culture. It was such a fun, exciting piece. We discuss the hustle of it all, and how sneaker culture has gone from sports to hip-hop to mainstream. You actually have young people who have taken it from just wearing sneakers to creative side hustles and made a lot of money from it. The project really documents the history of this craze… You have shoes that can start at $35, and you have shoes that are sold for millions of dollars, depending on who wore them. So, it’s a very fun, exciting documentary. It’s a TV original now. It’s officially released. I am really proud of the work that went into that particular documentary.
“Why Not Us?” It’s such an amazing docuseries. It’s on ESPN and I believe it’s on Hulu as well. It was a great opportunity for us to really unpack the beautiful HBCU dance culture and band culture. And if you have ever attended an HBCU football or basketball game, or if you just attended an HBCU period, you know how deep this culture goes and how fun, exciting, and thrilling it is. The thing that I thought was so interesting is there are so many dance crazes and techniques that we see in modern popular culture. We see rappers and dancers and different people doing it, not knowing where those things came from. Opening the door to tell these stories allowed us to see many of the dances and moves from our favorite artists and entertainers are coming straight from the HBCU dance teams. It was such a fun and emotional project to produce because you’re getting to really peer into the personal lives of these young women.
Be’n Original
