We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tom Kramer. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tom below.
Tom, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Let’s start big picture – what are some of biggest trends you are seeing in your industry?
The biggest change in television began with the rise of basic cable and internet. When I started in the industry 45 years ago, there were just a few networks. Today, there are thousands of networks or cable channels. This has been good for people to break into TV. But it also meant that the audience for any one show or network has gone done, reducing revenue, which reduces the show budgets. This means longer hours, less pay, shorter schedules and longer days. Shows used to employ a showrunner, several producers, directors, a team of writers, technicians, art department, costumer, production associates (runners) and many other positions. My salary on shows for the last ten years has been less than when I first started decades ago, doing the same job. Soon, there will only be two positions on a cable TV show: Showrunner and Runner. The good news, is that anyone can make their own show on places like YouTube or TikTok and be their own boss. I did my own Youtube channel, called “Pismo Ukulele” which was a satire on music tutorials. It never made me a dime but I enjoyed doing it for 5 years and got fan letters from all over the world. It was a fun hobby. At the same time, I was Co-Executive Producer of a 3 time Emmy nominated series for YouTube that got 20 million views an episode.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I wanted to write and direct film or TV since grade school in St. Louis. In high school, I narrowed down my dream to making short comedy films on a show like Saturday Night Live. I made a mockumentary called “Nauseating Spasms” my first year at college and it got me hired at age 20 to be filmmaker, writer, & director on a late night TV series called Fridays. It was a “right place” and “right time” lucky break. Since then, I’ve won several awards and 3 Emmy nominations working on iconic shows such as HBO’s “Not Necessarily the News,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Candid Camera,” “Penn & Teller: Bullshit,” and “Mind Field” on YouTube Originals. I’m considered an old guy in the industry and on my last dozen shows, the next oldest guy on staff would be 20 years younger. I’m proud of lasting as long as I did. My most 3 most important suggestions for those wanting to enter the industry would be: stay calm, kind, and humble.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I was writing and directing network television before I was old enough to legally drink. But despite the incredible opportunity, I wasn’t mature enough to handle the stress. I became an addict, depressed, homeless, and attempted suicide. Television changed by the time I got my personal problems behind me. Reality and non-fiction were the big thing. My old bosses, John Moffitt and Pat Lee helped me get a job on a hidden camera show called Totally Hidden Video. I had never done hidden camera before but put everything I had into it because I was grateful for the chance. I became the most prolific hidden camera writer, director, producer in television. It didn’t pay as well as scripted TV but it kept me working and it also led to 3 Emmy nominations.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I’ve wanted to make TV since I was a kid, so being able to write and direct has been a privilege and an honor. I love making comedy shows because of the good feeling they give people. I love educational shows because
of they share wisdom with the audience. And personally, I love making non-fiction television and documentaries because of the unique people I got to meet and the great places I was able to visit. The best year of my career was living in Turkey while making their first prime time hidden camera show. I didn’t speak a foreign language and had never lived abroad much less traveled internationally before that job. That experience changed my life and my view of the world.
Contact Info:
- Website: TomKramerTV.com
- Instagram: tomkramertv
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TomKramerTV/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-kramer-88a6055/
- Youtube: Pismo Ukulele