The District of Columbia Office of Motion Picture and Television Development (MPTD) is pleased to honor Nancy Swenton, experienced producer, as the April 2014 Filmmaker of the Month. Nancy Swenton is an award-winning producer and production manager with more than 25 years of experience in the production of short films, commercials, documentaries, episodic television series, feature films, public service announcements and museum films.
As a DC native, Nancy Swenton brings her deep knowledge and understanding of the National Capital Region to productions that come from around the world to film in the nation’s capital. As a production manager for numerous studios, networks, production companies and political campaigns, she works on a wide range of projects, diverse in their size, nature and complexity. She has worked on feature films with such notable directors as Robert Redford, Wolfgang Peterson, Gavin Hood and John Waters; music videos with Spike Jonze and Sony Pictures; and documentaries with Errol Morris and Davis Guggenheim. Her work also includes many national spots with clients that include Industrial Light and Magic, HBO and Disney.
Her work as the production manager and location manager on period docudramas with the BBC, History Channel and National Geographic, allowed her to tap into her deep knowledge of the District to find such obscure locations as a Lincoln era White House, Harriet Tubman’s childhood home, stables for the Underground Railroad and even a local castle with a moat. She is an expert at navigating the needs and requirements of filming in DC, revealing its hidden treasures, and ensuring that the cast and crew are the best fit for commercials and feature projects of all sizes.
As the field producer for the Emeril Green series on Planet Green, Nancy created more than 60 TV segments, profiling conservationists, farmers, chefs, vintners, beekeepers, watermen and artisanal food producers. She interviewed pioneers in the sustainable food industry across the country, to create short film portraits that capture their essence and their passion. Her work has led her around the globe, interviewing and documenting genetic scientists in Iceland, Tibetan Monks in India, indigenous musicians in Kenya, writers at the oldest library in Paris, the community gardeners of New Orleans and decorative painters at the Library of Congress, among many others.
Nancy is currently producing a Memorial Day feature with Paul Molin and DC Collective, honoring the sentinels who guard the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which will air during the Indianapolis 500. She is also working with Drescher Films, Inc. to produce a series of videos for a new website for parents of children with learning differences. Additionally her production company, District Pictures, is in development on a project in Rome.
Nancy currently resides in Ward 3 of the District of Columbia.
MPTD launched the Filmmaker of the Month initiative to feature a District-based filmmaker who exemplifies the vast amount of talent and creativity based here in the nation’s capital.
The Filmmaker of the Month initiative is part of MPTD’s mission to elevate the national and international profile of the city’s most talented filmmakers. Previous filmmakers honored include award-winning documentary filmmaker and director of photography Neil Barrett; emerging filmmaker and founder of Yi Chen Studio Yi Chen; award-winning actor, comedian and filmmaker Tommy Taylor, Jr.; and founder of Long Story Short Media Jessica Stuart.
You can visit the Filmmaker of the Month section to learn more about Nancy and previous Filmmaker of the Month recipients.