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 National Geographic, CBS, The History Channel, PBS, Bravo!, Fox News, CourtTV, 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 is active in the community. 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. It is scheduled for release in Fall 2008.

Selected Production Credits/Clients:

CBC Television Sports (Hockey Night in Canada) Live Feeds
Rachael Ray Show -Field Producer
National Geographic/Firewire -D.P./Camera Op -Science Program ”Sudden Death”
Ani DiFranco/Studio Metronome -Camera Operator Concert Performance (live to tape/truck)
Lucy Lawless/Creation Entertainment -DP/Field Producer Xena Warrior Convention, Concert
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 National TV Segment News Prog -Easy Driver
The Weintsein Company/MGM: Line-Producer/Crew Manager (EFP) -Feature Production 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/Editor: Documentary, “Josiah’s Crossing” 20-min
CourtTV/Langley Productions: Field Producer, Camera Op. News Show Series, “Video Justice”
Discovery Channel/CTV -Canada: EFP 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 special, Frank Sesno Reports.
Bravo! Channel/World of Wonder: Field Producer: Reality Show, “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 show “Rumrunners, Bootleggers”
ABC Special Events: Producer/Director/Editor 30-second commercial spot.
History Channel/Jaffee Productions: Segment 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) 30-min
Buffalo Historical Society: (fund raising video) 7-min
Odessa Pictures, Inc.: Producer/Director/Editor “A round for the House” Documentary 28-min
Sandra White Productions: Editor, 30-second commercial broadcast spot

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