The Featured Articles and Videos on FerroProductions.com, historically, have given you an in-depth look at the careers of the industry’s most seasoned veterans.  We decided to mix things up a bit and give you, our fans, an inside scoop on the up-and-coming members of the production world.  These new articles and videos will serve as both learning tools and building blocks for aspiring youth, as well as inspiring stories of dedication and triumph for all to enjoy!

            “Passion.  It just takes a little bit of talent and a whole lot of passion.” -LML

Lisa Marie Latino is the President and Executive Producer of Long Shot Productions.  Long Shot, founded in 2009, is based out of Northern New Jersey and is considered a full-service production company. Everything from corporate videos to documentaries, 30-second commercials to show development… They truly run the gamut.

It all started at an early age for Ms. Latino; her interest in production, that is.  She recalls watching Super Bowl XXV as a young first grader and telling her parents, “That’s what I want to be when I grow up!” No, she wasn’t aspiring to play Quarterback for the New York Giants.  Rather, she was talking about the woman on-camera, reporting from the sidelines.

After High School graduation in 2002, Lisa was enrolled at Seton Hall University in West Orange, NJ.  Seton Hall is well known for their very competitive radio-production program and sure enough Ms. Latino found herself as an on-air talk show host for WSOU, the school’s radio station. The Pro-Sports show that Lisa hosted was so successful that the Star Ledger (New Jersey’s Leading Newspaper) published a full-write up in the Sunday paper detailing Lisa and her show.  It seemed as though Ms. Latino was well on her way to a fulfilling career in radio…

Lisa poses for a picture with famous radio personality,Mad Dog, while working her first event for wFAN.

That summer, however, there was a sudden change in heart for Lisa.  She was visiting the campus of Montclair State University and caught a glimpse of the immaculate TV Studio at the school’s broadcasting department.  “I immediately called my parents and told them I was transferring to Montclair.  It was the best decision I ever made in my life.” She shares.  Despite all the success at the coveted Radio Program at Seton Hall, an awfully prestigious University may I add, she could not deny the feeling in her gut that was telling her to move on to the more respected television program at Montclair.  And so she did…

While still enrolled in college, Lisa got involved in an internship program with wFAN.  She was doing Promotions and Marketing, which wasn’t what she had dreamed of, but it was a foot in the door.  “I took a lot of positions over the years that weren’t necasarilly the most fun or most glorified but they got my foot in the door.  I was learning all aspects of the industry and I was making a name for myself.”

In 2006 Ms. Latino had earned her Bachelors from Montclair and was now working directly for Steve Adubato and the Caucus Education Foundation.  Once again, she was not on-air talking about sports or producing her own segments, but she was in the door.  At Caucus Education Foundation Lisa learned all about the business side of production, which she credits a lot of her current success to.  Over the next three years Lisa continued working with Steve Adubato, as well as with wFAN, and even with the New York Giants Broadcasting Department.  It was in 2009, at the ripe age of 25, that the jaded Lisa decided she was going to make a change… and that was the start of Long Shot Productions.

Just like that- With a Mac Computer, a camera, a microphone, and a tripod- Long Shot was born. In a class of Ms. Latino’s at Montclair she had to create a production company and maintain it throughout the semester with a small group of peers.  It was those same two peers that Lisa asked to join on her new endeavor… this time in the real world.  So, what next?  How does a production company in its infancy grow into its adolescence?

Ms. Latino interviews former Yankee great, Bernie Williams.

“I created ‘In the Zone w/ Lisa Marie Latino.’  I just started showing up at Red Carpet events with my camera and interviewed celebrities.  You would be surprised how easy it is to get onto the red carpet, by the way.  Then I put together a few weekly shows, and the rest is history.  Word of mouth spread, people begin to ask me to do a small project here and there and I began finding myself up at 3 AM editing segments in the guest room of my home.  Me! Editing?!”

Ms. Latino learned, at a rapid pace, that in order to succeed she needed to perform at all levels of production.  Business, Producing, Post-Production… EVERYTHING.  All of her experiences from college, interning, working; they had all come full circle.

More recently- Lisa celebrates the grand opening of Long Shot’s brand new office and studio!

Throughout our interview with Lisa the young Producer kept delivering a reoccurring message.  She could not stress enough to the fact that this business is not a walk in the park.  It’s not your typical 9-5 job, and it is CERTAINLY not for the faint of heart. Long Shot is currently in the midst of a full schedule, and as Lisa says, “It’s only the beginning.”

——–

If you are interested in learning more about Long Shot Productions, click here to visit their website!

Follow @FerroProduction