A native of Buffalo, New York, Stephen Russell Powell has earned screen credits as a director, story editor, producer, field producer, director of photography, camera operator, and editor on a wide variety of projects including programs for A&E, National Geographic, CBS, The History Channel, PBS, Bravo!, Fox News, CourtTV, Animal Planet, ABC, and Discovery Channel–Canada along with numerous independent documentary and commercial productions.

Powell got his start in the business in 1996 after the publication of his book Rushing the Growler, a history of the brewing industry in Buffalo that was originally intended as the screenplay for a feature documentary. The popularity of the book led to a series of appearances on national television, which ultimately opened the door to production work on an increasingly diverse range of projects. In the spring of 2003, while participating in the production of a prime-time program for the History Channel, Powell established Odessa Pictures, Inc. as a media development company. Combining his early training in marketing and economics with his proficiency at shooting and editing film and video, the organization has both generated original content and facilitated the projects of clients around the world.

In 2006, Powell worked as editor and story editor on the award winning, 82-minute feature documentary entitled The Forgotten City. The film takes a hard-hitting, unblinking look at life in the inner city. The film has been featured in the HBO/Film Life Black American Film Festival, the Starz Denver Film Festival, and the 2006 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival, where it won Best Urban Documentary. The film recently picked up two more awards at the 2007 Buffalo Niagara Film Festival.

A lifelong resident of Western New York, Powell has a long history of activism and community organizing, and many of the projects he has generated himself reflect his commitment to social justice, while others bring light to aspects of life in his hometown that might otherwise go unnoticed. No matter what he’s involved in, however—from national television shows and documentary series to promotional shorts for non-profits to his more personal projects—Powell brings to all of his work a combination of outstanding storytelling, technical expertise, business acumen, and total reliability.

In addition to producing documentaries and programming, Steve has served as a judge for the 2009and 2010 Emmy Awards (Northeast Region). He is also active in the community.

In 2010, Steve was selected to work as a producer for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Whistler, B.C. Canada for the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).

His is a member of the International Documentary Association and the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) as well as several local producers groups. Currently, Steve lives and works in Western New York State

Currently, Powell is directing a feature documentary that takes a personal look at god and spirituality.

Selected Production Credits/Clients:

The Criterion Collection (Newly Discovered Chaplin Film) -Director of Photography
A&E Network Television (Crime 360) -Field Producer/HD Cam Operator
CBC Television Sports (Hockey Night in Canada) Cam Op Live Feeds
Rachael Ray Show -Field Producer
National Geographic/Firewire -D.P./HD Camera Op -Science Program ”Sudden Death”
Associated Press -Press Pool/Camera Operator/MOS Interviews
TruTV (Most Shocking) -Field Producer/Camera Operator
Animal Planet -Animal Witness (HD Cam/Op)
Reebok International -D.P./HD Camera Op - Redsox Commercial
Ani DiFranco/Studio Metronome (PBS) -HD Camera Operator Concert (live to tape/truck)
ION Television Network (Worlds Greatest) -Camera Operator
Lucy Lawless/Creation Entertainment -DP/Field Producer Xena Warrior, Concert
ABC News -Good Morning America -Camera Operator
Discovery Channel/NDA (Biofuels) -Camera Operator
PBS/WNED-TV Emergency Preparedness -HD Camera Operator
Channel Nine Australia -Field Producer/Cam Operator -ENG Double Ender
America’s Most Wanted/STF -America’s Top Cop -Camera Operator Television Serial
ABC TV/RDF -Wife Swap-Camera Operator TV Reality Serial
RAI Uno/Global Vision Newsnet -Camera Op. Italian Nat. TV Segment News -Easy Driver
The Weinstein Company/MGM: Line-Producer/Crew Manager (EFP) -Feature Prod for Movie
CBS Network/NDA: Camera Operator, Prime-time Reality Show
Fox News Channel: ENG Camera Operator (R&G/News Press Pool) -Live Feeds
Discovery Networks/UHY: (EFP) Camera Operator -Eye of the Storm
Manzella Marketing/NY Wine Foundation -Director 30-Second Wine Region Commercial
Knuckle City Films: Editor/Story Editor: Urban Reality Documentary, “The Forgotten City” 83-min
Castellani Art Museum/Lewiston Arts Council: Producer/Director Documentary, “Josiah’s Crossing”
CourtTV/Langley Productions: “Video Justice” -Field Producer, Camera Op.
Discovery Channel/CTV -Canada: Field Producer/DOP -Science News Series, “Daily Planet”
Bravo! Channel/CEG: Field Producer -News Documentary Serials, “Doctor to Doctor”
PBS (WETA-TV Washington): Researcher/guest 2-hr prime-time, Frank Sesno Reports.
Bravo! Channel/World of Wonder: Field Producer: “Sports Kids, Moms & Dads”
Righteous Babe Records: Videographer: Documentary, Church Reconstruction/Restoration
Planned Parenthood: Producer/Director/Editor: promotional (2003 & 2006) 7-min
History Channel/Pinball Prod: Researcher 2-hr prime-time “Rumrunners, Bootleggers”
ABC Special Events: Producer/Director/Editor 30-second commercial spot.
History Channel/Jaffee Productions: Researcher/Guest 2-hr special “Secret Passages”
Gilda’s Club: Producer/Director/Editor: promotional, 2006 7-min
Paragon Advertising: Videographer: Commercial, Buffalo Bison’s Baseball
Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Inst. Producer/Director/Editor (PR Video) 12-min
Buffalo Museum of Science: Producer/Director/Editor (fund raising video) 7-min
Transportation Development Group: Producer/Dir/Editor Hazmat Safety for Aircraft (LAX)
Buffalo Historical Society: (fund raising video) 7-min
Odessa Pictures, Inc.: Producer/Director/Editor “A Round for the House” Documentary
Odessa Pictures, Inc. "Buffalo Police Underwater Recovery -Producer(Documentary)
Sandra White Productions: Editor, 30-second commercial broadcast spot

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