https://www.jokeandbiagio.com Posts from Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina on unscripted TV, documentary filmmaking, and producing in Hollywood. en-us Mon, 20 Nov 2023 23:17:19 GMT https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/operation-undercover-with-lou-valoze-from-joke-productions https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/operation-undercover-with-lou-valoze-from-joke-productions Mon, 20 Nov 2023 23:17:19 GMT New from Joke and Biagio for Joke Productions: Operation Undercover w/ Lou Valoze. Action-packed undercover ops. Premieres on MAX & ID Nov 28 https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/joke-productions-realscreen-magazine https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/joke-productions-realscreen-magazine Sun, 09 Sep 2018 00:52:50 GMT Joke Productions owners Joke Fincioen (wife) and Biagio Messina (husband). We're stoked to let you know that Realscreen Magazine ran a big feature on Joke Productions. First of all, it covers our very beginning in the industry. Additionally, it discusses wh... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/unmasking-a-killer-podcast https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/unmasking-a-killer-podcast Wed, 14 Mar 2018 04:08:43 GMT Joke and Biagio host the Unmasking a Killer companion podcast for CNN and HLN, with new episodes released after each television episode. https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/unmasking-a-killer https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/unmasking-a-killer Wed, 14 Mar 2018 00:20:24 GMT Unmasking a Killer is a true-crime documentary series from award-winning filmmakers Joke Fincioen and Biagio Messina for CNN and HLN, tracing the hunt for the Golden State Killer. https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/three-days-to-live https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/three-days-to-live Thu, 02 Mar 2017 23:42:03 GMT Three Days to Live is the new true crime series from Joke and Biagio. It premieres Sunday, March 5, 9pm/8pm central on Oxygen. Twitter: @JokeAndBiagio https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/joke-biagio-2017 https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/joke-biagio-2017 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 14:30:09 GMT Joke and Biagio have two brand-new series coming in 2017. One we can tell you a little bit about. The other is totally secret! Hope you love them! https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/she-made-me-do-it-season-2-oxygen https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/she-made-me-do-it-season-2-oxygen Thu, 05 May 2016 17:07:38 GMT We're so proud to announce the return of our true crime series She Made Me Do It on Oxygen. Made under our Joke Productions banner, we're thrilled to be back for a second season. She Made Me Do It Again Big thanks to the whole team for working so hard on se... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/now-hiring-lead-assistant-editor-fluent-with-adobe-premiere-in-los-angeles https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/now-hiring-lead-assistant-editor-fluent-with-adobe-premiere-in-los-angeles Mon, 05 Oct 2015 18:08:56 GMT Now Hiring: Lead Assistant Editor Fluent with Adobe Premiere Let's work together! Do you consider yourself a technically minded problem solver? Are you fluent with Adobe CC? Are you Los Angeles based? Do you have a pleasant personality? Are you interested i... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/she-made-me-do-it-our-new-crime-series-on-oxygen https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/she-made-me-do-it-our-new-crime-series-on-oxygen Mon, 27 Jul 2015 20:14:58 GMT While we can't say much, we can enthusiastically share the trailer and press release for our brand new show, Snapped: She Made Me Do It, premiering on Oxygen Sunday, September 6, at 10pm, before moving to its regular timeslot on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10 p.m... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/now-hiring-entry-level-editor-for-television-development https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/now-hiring-entry-level-editor-for-television-development Mon, 04 May 2015 23:53:46 GMT Hiring creative, aspiring editors to cut pitch tapes for documentary series and reality TV shows. https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/now-hiring-creative-cinematographers-for-tv-series https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/now-hiring-creative-cinematographers-for-tv-series Thu, 26 Feb 2015 15:41:12 GMT Do you consider yourself a story teller first and a cinematographer second? Then we'd love to hear from you. Unique D.P./Director Position Our production company Joke Productions is hiring for an upcoming television series. Show will include cinematic recre... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/pitching-reality-shows-ultimate-guide https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/pitching-reality-shows-ultimate-guide Wed, 25 Feb 2015 19:41:13 GMT We created the ultimate, free guide on How to Pitch a Reality Show. Here's why we wrote it, and where you can get it. Based on over 100 hours of produced TV https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/rene https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/rene Mon, 23 Feb 2015 17:57:01 GMT Rene, the new film from Mattson Tomlin, could be a great film. It needs your help on Kickstarter. https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/season-2-of-ghost-inside-my-child-tonight-on-lmn https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/season-2-of-ghost-inside-my-child-tonight-on-lmn Sat, 16 Aug 2014 20:41:13 GMT We're back with an all new season of Ghost Inside My Child tonight at 9pm, 8 Central on LMN. Not sure where to find LMN on your dial? Here you go: TV Guide Listing for Ghost Inside My Child with where to find it on your cable provider. From One of You As we... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/now-hiring-for-reality-tv-joke-and-biagio https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/now-hiring-for-reality-tv-joke-and-biagio Mon, 07 Jul 2014 19:17:38 GMT Update: Yes, as of November 3, 2015, we're hiring again! Can't believe it's been a year since we first posted this position, and hired our current assistant Coralie. She's done amazing, and as her year comes to a close, she's decided she'd like to move into... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/sister-witches-oxygen-announces-new-tv-project-development https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/sister-witches-oxygen-announces-new-tv-project-development Mon, 12 May 2014 17:46:57 GMT Believe in Magic? Oxygen has announced SISTER WITCHES, a new show we have in development with the network. While we can't say more than what's in the press release, we CAN tell you we're super excited about the show. ALSO, the show came from two of YOU. Int... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/idea-get-stolen-focus-instead https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/idea-get-stolen-focus-instead Fri, 21 Feb 2014 22:12:54 GMT There's a great guest post on John August's blog called When You Think Someone Stole Your Idea. Written by aspiring screenwriter Randall Girdner, it explores those sickening thoughts most of us have had at some point: Did someone steal my idea? Will someone... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/dont-trust-andrew-mayne-official-press-release https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/dont-trust-andrew-mayne-official-press-release Fri, 13 Dec 2013 19:29:01 GMT It's been an exciting week! We've finally been able to tell the world that our new show Don't Trust Andrew Mayne will be premiering on A&E on Monday, January 13, at 10pm. The press coverage has been kind of awesome, from the official Variety press coverage:... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/new-show-dont-trust-andrew-mayne-announced-variety https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/new-show-dont-trust-andrew-mayne-announced-variety Mon, 09 Dec 2013 21:43:39 GMT For those who've been following, our new show Don't Trust Andrew Mayne will premiere on Monday, January 13 at 10pm on A&E. Here's the official announcement in Variety. Of course, we're thrilled with this paragraph from the release: "Show is produced by Joke... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/dont-trust-andrew-mayne https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/dont-trust-andrew-mayne Wed, 23 Oct 2013 02:16:58 GMT Don't Trust Andrew Mayne is our new A&E television series starring master magician and ultimate prankster Andrew Mayne. Here's what we can tell you... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/the-secret-lives-of-dorks https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/the-secret-lives-of-dorks Tue, 20 Aug 2013 19:34:12 GMT Twitter has been good to us. We've funded the release of a film, built an audience for our new podcast, and, most importantly, met many, many amazing people. One of them is Nicholas Brandt, or Super Nick, as we're fond of calling him. A screenwriter, film l... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/the-ghost-inside-my-child-our-series-returns-on-bio https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/the-ghost-inside-my-child-our-series-returns-on-bio Fri, 02 Aug 2013 22:34:37 GMT This Monday, August 5th, our series The Ghost Inside My Child returns to Biography Channel. This Show Came From One Of You Originally pitched to us by Suzanne Stratford from Cleveland, this show is another example of people just like you who've brought your... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/featured-kickstarter-project-from-david-p-baker https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/featured-kickstarter-project-from-david-p-baker Wed, 12 Jun 2013 19:55:03 GMT We have a special place in our heart for wild, ambitious indies. People like David P. Baker, a fiery filmmaker from Scotland who lives his indie lifestyle with a reckless abandon that leaves us slack jawed. More than that, David is fiercely loyal to the ind... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/joke-and-biagios-new-podcast-its-all-about-you https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/joke-and-biagios-new-podcast-its-all-about-you Tue, 11 Jun 2013 17:18:52 GMT A Grand Experiment As you know, awhile back we started an experiment. Despite warnings from our agents and lawyers, we started accepting show pitches from people willing to sign a submission agreement. That experiment has paid off. We credit our unorthodox... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/new-mac-pro-announced-what-do-you-think https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/new-mac-pro-announced-what-do-you-think Mon, 10 Jun 2013 18:09:47 GMT As a company that owns about 30 macs, we hope this will be the big thing we've been waiting for. Read the full story over on Tech Crunch We've been waiting for this for awhile. Our macs feel slow and sluggish, and in our business, that is a bad thing. We'll... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/radio-free-albemuth https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/radio-free-albemuth Thu, 23 May 2013 21:55:25 GMT Some Movies Belong on the Big Screen And sometimes those movies are independent gems, made with a passion, love, and attention to detail that can only be truly appreciated when projected in a movie theater. Thirty feet tall. At least. That's they way we'd l... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/our-new-documentary-on-mtv-secrets-lies-and-sex https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/our-new-documentary-on-mtv-secrets-lies-and-sex Sun, 19 May 2013 18:12:33 GMT Some amazingly brave and courageous young, African American men in Northeast Ohio reached out to us about documenting their double lives. As you can see from this sneak peek, we were given unprecedented access to their world and emotional lives. Our cameras... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/pitching-in-hollywood-are-you-good-in-a-room https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/pitching-in-hollywood-are-you-good-in-a-room Tue, 14 May 2013 13:47:56 GMT As owners of our production company, Joke Productions, Inc., we've been on both sides of a Hollywood pitch meeting. 1. The selling side, when we're out convincing networks to buy our shows, and... 2. The receiving side, when taking unscripted TV pitches fro... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/now-casting-a-new-bridal-party-show-from-joke-and-biagio https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/now-casting-a-new-bridal-party-show-from-joke-and-biagio Wed, 08 May 2013 20:57:07 GMT We're casting a new show let us know if you or anyone you know might be right for it! Here's the official casting notice: Let Us Capture the Planning of Your Wedding! MTV is searching for Bridal Parties to star in a fun new docu series that will document al... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/doc-style-shooting-with-shallow-depth-of-field-now-a-snap https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/doc-style-shooting-with-shallow-depth-of-field-now-a-snap Tue, 07 May 2013 16:14:20 GMT Several months ago we told you about a Kickstarter project we were backing called SnapFocus from Midas Mount. It's an ingenious piece of indie film making gear made from spare bicycle parts that allows you to control your camera's focus using bicycle brake... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/zach-braff-can-use-kickstarter-all-he-wants https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/zach-braff-can-use-kickstarter-all-he-wants Wed, 01 May 2013 21:25:38 GMT There was a little "controversy" over at Huffington Post about whether or not a star like Zach Braff should be able to use Kickstarter to raise money for his films (he just raised $2,300,000.) Especially since he has so many "Hollywood" connections. Should... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/how-to-sell-two-tv-pilots-in-8-months https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/how-to-sell-two-tv-pilots-in-8-months Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:59:32 GMT Who wouldn't want to sell two TV pilots in the course of 8 months? Well, that's what Wendy C Squirewell did. How? We're very proud to share this message we received from Wendy yesterday: "Since joining the list and taking your advice I have two pilots order... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/were-hiring-needed-los-angeles-based-in-house-vfx-artist https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/were-hiring-needed-los-angeles-based-in-house-vfx-artist Fri, 01 Mar 2013 21:37:25 GMT Do you consider yourself a story teller first and a VFX artist second? Then we're looking for you. Unique VFX Position with Tons of Variety We have an upcoming television series that will include stylized, cinematic recreations. Biagio personally did all th... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/dying-to-do-letterman-makes-itunes-front-page https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/dying-to-do-letterman-makes-itunes-front-page Fri, 07 Dec 2012 18:21:18 GMT THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR MAKING THIS POSSIBLE. Thrilled to be in "New and Noteworthy" right between BRAVE and BEASTS OF THE SOUTHERN WILD. If you haven't already seen the movie, you now know where you can catch it : ) See it on iTunes Catch it on Amazon. Ho... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/featured-kickstarter-project-the-girl-who-knew-too-much https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/featured-kickstarter-project-the-girl-who-knew-too-much Thu, 06 Dec 2012 02:17:34 GMT We've been crazy busy preparing for Oscilloscope's release of our film Dying to do Letterman, and haven't blogged in a bit, but wanted to point your attention to a Kickstarter project we think is very worthy. It's for a thought provoking documentary called... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/our-new-tv-special-the-ghost-inside-my-child https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/our-new-tv-special-the-ghost-inside-my-child Wed, 21 Nov 2012 18:26:20 GMT Set your DVRs! Out latest TV special is THE GHOST INSIDE MY CHILD, premiering Friday, November 23, at 10pm 9 central on BIO (The Biography Channel.) It's about children who have unexplainable memories of dying in a past life. As new parents ourselves, we we... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/tugg-some-heartstrings-with-dying-to-do-letterman https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/tugg-some-heartstrings-with-dying-to-do-letterman Wed, 07 Nov 2012 19:44:02 GMT Nearly a decade in the making, our award winning documentary Dying to do Letterman is ready for the world, and we couldn't be more excited. Soon, you'll be able to see Steve Mazan's amazing, literarily death defying journey to chase his dream of performing... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/heres-why-you-should-make-your-movie-or-chase-your-dream-today https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/heres-why-you-should-make-your-movie-or-chase-your-dream-today Wed, 31 Oct 2012 22:08:05 GMT A quick dose of creative motivation from Joke and Biagio for anyone ready to make a movie, chase a dream, and start today. https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/official-dying-to-do-letterman-trailer https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/official-dying-to-do-letterman-trailer Tue, 23 Oct 2012 19:50:12 GMT We proudly present the official Dying to do Letterman trailer. Please help us spread the word by giving it a like and/or a comment on Youtube. Would mean the world to us and Steve. Thanks, Joke and Biagio https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/oscilloscope-releases-dying-to-do-letterman https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/oscilloscope-releases-dying-to-do-letterman Mon, 22 Oct 2012 20:28:50 GMT Oscilloscope is releasing Dying to do Letterman. We're thrilled. More details coming soon. In the mean time, here's the official Dying to do Letterman trailer: Thank you for all your support! https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/camera-mapping-gorgeous-motion-pictures-from-still-photographs https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/camera-mapping-gorgeous-motion-pictures-from-still-photographs Mon, 22 Oct 2012 00:42:23 GMT Awhile back we wrote a post about a technique called camera mapping, which is essentially taking a still photograph and "projecting" it onto 3d geometry to essentially fake motion picture footage. If that sounds a bit complicated, Nick over at Grey Scale Go... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/rian-johnson-looper-clip-o-matic-jumpstart-filmmaking-career https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/rian-johnson-looper-clip-o-matic-jumpstart-filmmaking-career Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:00:09 GMT Rian Johnson sold LOOPER the same way we've sold all of our TV shows and pilots…using great tape to generate excitement. Clip O Mania If you haven't seen it already, Rian released the "clip o matic" tape he put together to help generate interest in his late... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/watching-tv-through-a-mothers-eyes https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/watching-tv-through-a-mothers-eyes Tue, 16 Oct 2012 14:00:34 GMT We had a Baby The many faces of our daughter, Halle Jo. From the moment we announced our pregnancy, I was told by friends, business associates and the media how motherhood would change me. I was frightened some magic hormone potion would get released in my... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/journey-through-indiegogo-fire https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/journey-through-indiegogo-fire Tue, 04 Sep 2012 18:52:35 GMT Vijay Rajan, director and producer of Journey Through Fire. Just a quick update about a daring documentary project we're supporting, Journey Through Fire. They are now a lot easier to support, having launched a much more convenient to contribute to Indiegog... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/journey-through-fire-documentary https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/journey-through-fire-documentary Fri, 03 Aug 2012 17:43:44 GMT Vijay Rajan, director and producer of Journey Through Fire. True documentarians tackle tough subject matter. Vijay Rajan is doing just that in an intimate, cinematic, and heart wrenching portrayal of a young woman named Elisabeth in his feature documentary... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/j-j-abrams-loves-new-indie-film-gear-snapfocus https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/j-j-abrams-loves-new-indie-film-gear-snapfocus Tue, 19 Jun 2012 19:54:48 GMT Couple weeks back we featured the new SnapFocus Follow Focus System, one of the coolest Kickstarter projects we've seen. You can now even see me in the latest video, testing it out, and it's awesome. (And yes, I've bought one. I'm not trading quotes for gea... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/the-wire-the-musical https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/the-wire-the-musical Tue, 05 Jun 2012 18:03:43 GMT As huge fans of HBO's The Wire, this may be the funniest video we've seen in years. Thank you to the cast for reprising their roles in a way sure to leave a huge smile on your face: (Streaming from Funny or Die) The Wire: The Musical with Michael Kenneth Wi... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/snapfocus-follow-focus-system-midas-mount https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/snapfocus-follow-focus-system-midas-mount Thu, 31 May 2012 15:07:22 GMT What magic is this wizard cooking up? A young man teams up with his aging neighborhood machinist to create an almost magical piece of filmmaking gear inspired by bicycle parts. The sequel to Hugo? No, the true story of Brandon David Cole (indie filmmaker, e... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/mtv-caged-epilogue https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/mtv-caged-epilogue Tue, 13 Mar 2012 04:05:50 GMT The online epilogue to one of the best TV shows we'll ever make, Caged on MTV. Caged: 3 months later: (loading from MTV please give it a moment.) MTV Shows It's been a journey. Read more here: Our MTV Caged Blog And if you like, follow us on our main twitte... https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/robin-williams-discusses-dying-to-do-letterman https://www.jokeandbiagio.com/robin-williams-discusses-dying-to-do-letterman Fri, 24 Feb 2012 02:09:58 GMT It's always a bit scary when an Academy Award winner shows up to see your movie. Make that double scary when he's one of the most famous comedians in the world and your movie is set in the world of comedy. Here's what Robin Williams had to say about our fil...