We recently connected with Melinda Cea and have shared our conversation below.

Melinda, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To be successful I think it starts with getting clear on what our personal definition of success is. What success looks like for everyone is very different. Whenever I start a new project, I always ask myself, “What does success look like for this?” Do I have the bandwidth to achieve that.

In order to achieve your desired level of success I think it starts with learning to master what you can control and learning to let go of the things you can’t. What you can control is your effort, your relentlessness to try, to get up early and put in the extra hours if need be, do the research, nurture the relationships, cultivate the mindset etc.. those are all things you can control.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Melinda Cea, I’m an eighteen year TV producer and an award winning Film Producer, and really just a lover of storytelling.

I’m small town girl at heart. I grew up in the high dessert of Antelope Valley, so the excitement of lights-camera-action in the entertainment industry was the total opposite of my tumbleweed, two-lane home town, and a hell-yeah for my thrill chasing self.

It all started when I graduated from Cal State Northridge with a degree in Cinema Television Arts, and interned at every news station that would take me. I had an insatiable appetite for understanding every role on set; and I love being there. Soon I realized news wasn’t for me, so I transitioned into the wild world of reality television; thinking that would be better and way more fun!

When E! Entertainment wanted to send me around the world, for the first time EVER, with Ms. American Pie herself, Tara Reid, producing a series called Taradise, I couldn’t pack my bags fast enough. My passion for production was sealed and my thirst for travel ignited.

After my first world tour, I ran from show to show, working my butt off, and quickly expanding on my responsibilities. I was developing shows, casting the perfect talent, scouting and planning shoots all over the world, negotiating millions in branded integrations, writing scripts, directing, interviewing, running post production— all with the aim of creating world-class content.

Now as an executive producer and content creator, I have over 60 television credits, 300+ episodes produced, I’ve conducted thousands of interviews, and have a love of storytelling that has allowed me to lead teams in twenty-seven countries, including Thailand, Spain, Palestine, India, Tanzania, Greece, and Papua New Guinea.

I’ve produced everything from the Emmy-nominated series Dancing With the Stars to Secret Millionaire, Undercover Billionaire, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette, Better Late Than Never, Operation Change, Flirty Dancing, I Can See Your Voice, Cooks vs. Cons, American Hustler with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and so many more. From ABC to FOX, A&E to Comedy Central, MTV, VH1, Quibi, Food Network, and TVLand — it’s been a ride.

I’ve had the honor of telling stories for some of today’s most influential producers like Mark Burnett and thought leaders like His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama and President Bill Clinton. From Donna Karan to Kevin Costner, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw, Harry Connick Jr., Sir Elton John, Ken Jeong, Glenn Stearns, and Jenna Dewan, I’ve been able to work alongside and learn from some of the world’s top talent.

I’ve garnered partnerships with Lionsgate, Discovery Communications and production companies in Los Angeles and NYC for my own TV show concepts. I even had the privilege of partnering with the National Association of Television Programming Executives (NATPE) as an executive producer of their inaugural Omni Cultural TV Fest and was honored by Los Angeles’ Mayor Eric Garcetti for my work as a television producer.

Most recently I produced the documentary feature, Case for Kindness, with director Steven Sawalich. The doc features Ben Affleck, Lady Gaga, Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, The Dalai Lama, and world-renowned scientists and experts to better understand the effects kindness can have on our bodies — physically, mentally, and emotionally. We’re in talks with several distributers for the film now. I’ll announce on my socials @melindacea where you can see it very soon.

My goal now, though, is to tell stories of love and hope. With that in mind I am authoring my first book, that will come out next year. It’s a wild ride of sexy and soulful. I’ll be announcing on my socials and newsletter the title in the next few months. Writing my first book is the thing I am most proud of today. It’s taken an insane amount of self motivation and vulnerability.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

I have lead teams in many countries and stateside in tv production and I know without a doubt, you (as the leader) have to take responsibility for the energy you bring into the room or on set. The old saying “It’s starts at the stop,” couldn’t be more true.

For me, the best teams thrive when the creative lead is transparent on the vision, goal and be able to keep prespective. Things will go wrong, and managing the team in such a way that everyone feels motivated to keep going when they do, is key.

On set, in the office or an edit bay, I create an environment that is respectful, loving, calm, fair, where information flows, our goal is clear, focused, and the vibe—FUN!

I believe we can have fun, and call it “work.” I believe “work” can be a place you feel supported, encouraged and inspired.

Producing is all about creative teamwork, meeting cool people, doing cool things, and having a blast doing so. Isn’t that what life is about? (No, really!)

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

To me there is nothing better than creating… anything! What a gift it is to tell a story, create a piece of art, build something etc.. and be able to have that thing not only make others smile but live on way longer than you. To me, when you create you are leaving a legacy behind.

Contact Info:

• Website: melindacea.com
• Instagram: @melindacea
• Facebook: melindacea
• Linkedin: melindacea
• Twitter: melindacea

Image Credits
Lori Dorman Photography for all the professional images