About Eric Karson
Award-winning director, writer, producer, and cinematographer with a solid record of success in the entertainment industry. He creates exciting projects in all formats: features, television, documentaries, novels, short subjects, and advertising for motion pictures and major corporations. His experience includes executive positions supervising production and distribution.
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
2002 TO THE PRESENTAMERICAN CINEMA GROUP, INC.
PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
1995 TO 2002
AMERICAN MEDIA GROUP, INC.
AMG is a Development and Packaging Company for films, television pilots and series. Founded in 1995 this company maintains a large portfolio of projects for placement with studios, sales or production.
VICE PRESIDENT PRODUCTION
1988 TO 1995
IMPERIAL ENTERTAINMENT CORPORATION and SCREENLAND PRODUCTIONS
Imperial Entertainment functioned as a producer and distributor of theatrical motion pictures in the United States and through its parent company, Scanbox, a full service international distribution organization. Mr. Karson’s responsibilities included work as a producer and director of such films as “Lionheart,” “Nemesis,” “Black Eagle,” and “Angel Town” and overseeing the aesthetic and technical quality of films distributed by the company, which averages 15 releases per year on home video and 2 to 3 per year theatrically in the U.S. and all international contractual deliveries. Concurrent with his theatrical duties at Imperial Entertainment, Mr. Karson supervised Screenland Productions, a subsidiary company of Imperial, which provided production support to distribution including feature film post production, all trailers, television commercials, key art and promotional materials (film, tape, and print) on a concept through completion basis for worldwide distribution.
PRESIDENT, CEO, CREATIVE DIRECTOR
1982 TO 1988
KARSON-HIGGINS-SHAW COMMUNICATIONS
KHS was a full-service production company and advertising agency. The company produced television shows and commercials for the leading Fortune 500 companies and provided script analysis, production budgets, production boards and schedules, and packaging for motion picture companies. The company also produced advertising materials such as trailers and complete media packages, key art print materials, and media buying for clients such as 20th Century Fox, Orion Pictures, and many leading independent film producers and distributors.</P
OWNER / PARTNER, BOARD MEMBER
1985 – 1987
AMERICAN DISTRIBUTION GROUP
This was an independent distribution company, which released motion pictures theatrically in the United States. Mr. Karson was a major shareholder and partner in this company until leaving to continue his directing career. The company was later purchased by Spectrafilms and developed into a production and distribution company.
BOARD MEMBER
1982 – 2002
LOS ANGELES REPERTOIRE COMPANY
The L.A. Rep is a leading producer of theatrical stage productions in Southern California. It has been in operation since 1964 and from 1982 until 2002 Mr. Karson was advisor, board member and occasionally a director for this much noted and awarded company. In addition to production the company provides a program of classes, workshops, and development of new talent.
VICE PRESIDENT PRODUCTION
1973 TO 1979
THE PETERSEN COMPANY
During his seven years of association with the Petersen 
Company as a director, cinematographer, and V.P. of Production, this firm grew to be the largest individually owned independent production company in the U.S., producing sponsored films and television commercials for the world’s leading corporations and advertising agencies. Mr. Karson made 27 films, scores of commercials and music videos, many of which received prestigious awards for excellence at major international festivals and competitions.
PRESIDENT
1980 TO 2002
KARSONFIMS
This company served as a personal loan-out corporation for the services of Eric Karson as a producer, director, and writer of motion pictures and television shows.
ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR
1996 TO PRESENT KARSONMEDIA
This company is headed by Gil Karson who serves as producer, writer and editor for media presentations in all formats. Advertising and promotional materials for feature motion pictures are produced on a concept through completion basis. Clients include Majors and leading Independent Distributors and Sales Companies. In 2003 the company expanded into production of documentary films and materials for DVD and special releases. All materials are designed for the specific marketing plans of the clients to accomplish acceptance by the target market and maximize the “bottom line” at each pay window through the various media delivery systems of theatrical, pay-per-view, pay cable, home entertainment, television, syndication, special releases and the new evolving media delivery platforms.
ERIC KARSON – HONORS AND AWARDS
FILM, TELEVISION, AND GRAPHIC ARTS
NEW YORK INTERMATIONAL FILM AND TELEVISION FESTIVAL
5 Gold Medals – First Place Awards
1 Silver Medal – Second Place Award
Television Award – Best Syndicated Show of the Year
INTERNATIONAL FESTIVALS
First Place – Berlin International
First Place – London Television Festival
Second Place – Brussels Film and TV
First place – Venice Film Festival
Special Certificate – Cinemateque – Par
CINE INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, WASHINGTOM D.C.
5 Golden Eagle Awards – First Place Awards
FREEDOM FOUNDATION AWARD
Outstanding Achievement in Film Excellence
PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTORS OF AMERICA
Best Film of the Year
TELLY AWARDS
Best Theatrical Trailer – “Wired to Kill”
KEY ART GRAPHICS AWARDS
First Place Award – Key Art Awards 86
First Place Award – Los Angeles Art Directors
First Place Award – New York Art Directors
First place Award – Key Art Awards 87
First Place Award – Los Angeles Art Directors
First Place Award – New York Art Directors
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ENTERTAINMENT PROJECTS & FILMOGRAPHY
2016 Attitude
Theatrical Play
Director
2015 Bushveld
Television [6 part series]
Series Writer/Producer
2014 The Peoples’ Designer
Television [4 part documentary]
riter/Director/Producer
2013 NVS The Story of Dess
A Novel [in a series of novels]
Author
2012 Masters of Flying Sidekick
Feature Picture
Director/Producer
2011 Eric and Kristen
Television Series [Dev]
Writer/Producer
2010 NCS The Story of Jewel
Novel [in a series of novels]
Author
2009 Katie’s Story
Television Series [Dev True Story]
ProducerWriter
2009 Seniors Have It Tough
Feature Picture [Dev]
Writer/Director
2008 The Story of Darlene
Novel [in a series of novels]
Author
2007 Superstition Gold
Feature Picture [Dev]
Producer/Director
2007 The Story of M
A Novel [in a series of novels]
Author
2006 Waiting for Fat Lip
Feature Picture [Dev]
Producer/Director
2006 The Games of ’42
Feature Picture [Dev]
Producer/Director
2005 Target Teen
Television
Director
2005 History of American Cinema
Documentary
Producer/Director
2004 The Octagon
Documentary
Producer/Director
2004 James and Jamie
A Novel [in a series of novels]
Author
2004 A Force of One
Documentary
Producer/Director
2004 Acapulco Gold
Documentary
Producer/Director
2004 The Great Game
Feature Picture [Dev]
Writer/Director
2003 A Different Story
Documentary
Producer/Director
2003 Kryptos
Feature Picture [Dev]
Writer/Producer
2003 Dirt
Documentary
Producer/Director
2003 Great Smokey Roadblock
Documentary
Producer/Director
2003 Late Great Planet Earth
Documentary
Producer/Director
2003 Dogs
Documentary
Producer/Director
2003 C. Chan & Dragon Queen
Documentary
Producer/Director
2002 The Rune Sagas
Feature Picture / Pilot
Writer/Producer [Dev]
2001 Deadwood Life
TV Treatment [Dev]
Producer/Director
1998 Degrees of Control
Feature Picture
Producer/Director
1994 Nemesis
Feature Picture
Producer
1992 Lionheart
Feature Picture
Producer/Actor
1988 Angel Town
Feature Picture
Producer/Director/Actor
1987 Black Eagle
Feature Picture
Director
1985 Opposing Force
Feature Picture
Director
1984 Happy Birthday, Ray
Television
Director
1983 V.I.P.
Television
Director
1983 Know When to Say When
Television
Director
1983 New Directions
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1982 The Information Age
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1981 The Lakens
Television
Director
1981 Lantana
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1981 Food for Thought
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1980 Operation Tiger
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1980 The Octagon
Feature Picture
Director
1980 Anheuser Busch
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1979 Dirt
Feature Picture
Director/Cinematographer
1979 Railroad
Television
Writer/Director/Cameraman
1979 Night Train to Memphis
Television
Writer
1978 Energy
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1978 Borealis
Television
Writer/ Director/Cameraman
1977 This Far by Faith
Television
Director/Cinematographer
1977 People and Performance
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1976 The Gathering
Television
Director/Cinematographer
1976 Tab Dance
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1976 Young at Heart
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1976 Promise for the Future
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1975 The Jury Trial
Television
Director
1975 Europe and America
Television
Director/Cinematographer
1974 Imagination
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1974 Law of the Sea
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1974 Telezonia
Children’s 30 min. Musical
Director
1973 A Sense of History
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
1973 Discovery
Documentary
Director/Cinematographer
Eric Karson
Award winning director, writer, producer, cinematographer.
Contact E-mail: karsonweb@sbcglobal.net – (805) 791-3677