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Bud Theisen

Bud Theisen - Editor

Santiago, Chile

Content development editor, story whisperer, head of research, producer for book art, web sites, and trailers. Narrative non-fiction.

Overview

Content development editor, story whisperer, head of research, producer for book art, web sites, and trailers. Narrative non-fiction.
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Writers are brave souls. They set off on a journey to turn inspiration, experience, and understanding into words on a page; and then must seduce other people to put aside their own lives in order to read it. Best to have a reliable traveling companion along the way, an adaptable helper.

My background as a producer for advertising, television, and feature film will bring production skills and story development methods that will catalyse your book project.

Recent work:

438 Days – An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea, by Jonathan Franklin
Published in the USA by Atria/Simon & Schuster, and by Pan Macmillan, 2015. Hardback published in 9 languages, movie rights acquired by a film development company owned by an A-list star. An excerpt from 438 Days was The Guardian’s most read story of 2015, with over 2.2 million visitors, 144,000 social media shares.

As developmental editor, focussed on developing the dramatic structure for the story. Provided detailed feedback on early drafts of the story.

As head of research my job was to identify subject matter experts, establish contact, prepare and conduct interviews; interviewees included scientists, diplomats, military personnel, explorers, psychologists, and eye-witnesses. Prepared transcripts for author's use. Image research and rights clearance. Created graphics brief and developed maps for publisher's art department. Wordpress website development for book promotion. Organization of archives.

Jonathan Franklin: “Bud was always one step ahead. His role in crafting this story was fundamental.”



Love me like the Sun (Quiéreme como al Sol ) by Carla Garlaschi
Carla is a contemporary artist based in Sweden. She's writing an experimental novel about the world of contemporary art in Europe and South America. Funds provided by Swedish Royal Academy, to be published in 2018. I'm helping Carla with character development and creating story structure. Designed a brief for a video trailer to promote the book, including a production budget based on the Latin American “Telenovela” style.

Services
Languages
English (UK) English (US)
Non-Fiction
Architecture Art Biographies & Memoirs Design Earth & Space & Environmental Sciences Economics Education & Reference Life Sciences Mathematics & Statistics Photography Sports & outdoor recreation Travel

Work experience

Development Editor/Head of Reseach

Self-employed
January, 2015 – Present (about 3 years)

Worked with bestselling author Jonathan Franklin on his thrilling book about
Jose Salvador Alvarenga, the fisherman who drifted across the Pacific ocean,
lost for 14 months at sea. Book to be published by Simon & Shuster (USA) and
Macmillan (UK) Outlined story structure and conflict/resolution elements in
the story. Interviewed participants in the story, and subject matter experts in
topics on ocean survival, psychology, wildlife and climate. Prepared
transcripts. Production of art elements for the book, maps, and image rights clearance. Copy editing of
completed manuscript. Production supervisor of video trailer.

Producer

Straightforward Films
September, 2008 – December, 2014 (about 6 years)

Launched a boutique production services company. Established brand in Los Angeles and London production markets. Created marketing materials, web presence. Location manager on Warner Brothers feature film Wrath of the Titans, Patagonia aerial unit. Produced commercials, and documentary style television programs.

Executive Producer

Stillking Films
June, 2005 – August, 2008 (about 3 years)

Created a joint venture with a European production services
company. Responsible for company set up, administration, and operation.
Grew sales from $1.5 to $4 million annually. Main bidder, production
supervisor. Serviced TV commercials for: BMW, the British Army, HP,
Goodyear, Audi, Budweiser, and Orange.

Service producer for Eon, Sony Pictures feature film “Quantum of Solace” shot in Antofagasta. Responsible for a team of 270 Chilean technicians involved in the film, coordination with the European Southern Observatory, plus logistics, planning and immigrations paperwork for 300 British crew.

Portfolio (1 selected work)

438 Days: An Extraordinary True Story of Survival at Sea

Jonathan Franklin

“The best survival book in a decade” (Outside magazine), 438 Days is the true story of the fisherman who survived fourteen months in a small boat drifting seven thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean.On November 17, 2012, a pair of fishermen left the coast of Mexico for a weekend fishing trip in the open Pacific. That night, a violent storm ambushed them as they were fishing eighty miles offs... read more

“The best survival book in a decade” (Outside magazine), 438 Days is the true story of the fisherman who survived fourteen months in a small boat drifting seven thousand miles across the Pacific Ocean.On November 17, 2012, a pair of fishermen left the coast of Mexico for a weekend fishing trip in the open Pacific. That night, a violent storm ambushed them as they were fishing eighty miles offs... read more

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