Daniel H. Birman has begun producing a major documentary for Discovery's TLC, "Brace for Impact: The Chesley B. Sullenberger Story." Concurrently, he is completing "She’s Screaming: No one is Listening" (working title), a documentary about a 16-year-old girl who committed murder and whose personal downward spiral from birth lends insight into complex social issues.
Most recently, he produced a one-hour special for National Geographic Channel. "Death of the Universe" explores new theories about the energy that is driving the universe to its demise. Earlier Birman completed "Europa: Mystery of the Ice Moon," a one-hour special for The Science Channel; and "Medical Maverick," two one-hour shows for Discovery Health Channel. Previously Birman produced "The Team," a four-part and first-ever nonfiction series for Nickelodeon, and "Chopper Rescue" a one-hour trauma pilot for Discovery Health. Before that, he produced "Alternatives: Uncovered," a series of one-hour programs also for Discovery Health.
Birman worked with some of the nation’s leading research physicians during a six-year association with Lifetime Medical Television. He produced for "Physicians' Journal Update" and "Specialty Update," two highly acclaimed series. He then produced several one-hour internal medicine specials for Lifetime.
He was production coordinator and second unit camera on documentary and network productions with Brookfield Productions in Los Angeles. Among these were such award-winning programs as "It's A New Day..." and "Just the Way You Are." He also worked on the NBC special "The Day My Kid Went Punk" and the ABC Afterschool Special "The Donna Cheek Story."
He directed and shot a documentary about famed radio personality Norman Corwin, and shot "The Children of Skid Row." Both were aired on public television and were done while earning a master’s degree in Journalism at USC. Mr. Birman began his career with a PBS member station in Southern California. He worked for six years on a weekly series focusing on California politics.
In 2001, Mr. Birman joined the USC Annenberg faculty, where he teaches courses in nonfiction television writing and production. He is executive producer for student documentaries and "Impact," a student-produced newsmagazine series. He has led his students to victory earning several College Television Awards from the Television Academy.
Birman represents nonfiction television on the Board of Governors for The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, where he also served two terms as secretary. He directed a national search for the Academy’s executive director, and he currently chairs the By-Laws Committee. He has been an active member on the National Emmy Awards Committee and the Educational Programs and Services Committee, established for students entering the television industry.
Speaking Engagements: Birman is producing a panel with network heads to address “What is Nonfiction?” at the Television Academy. He presented his Europa documentary to an international space research organization, and for NASA scientists at The Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He has presented at a national writer’s conference. Birman led a panel on journalistic malpractice in reporting healthcare; he has led panels for RealScreen Summit in Washington, D.C., Television Academy nonfiction panels for educators and students entering television, and was a juror at the Shanghai Television Festival as one of five judges of international documentaries at China’s premiere television awards competition.
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