Lee Berger became interested in television production in high school just
as affordable portable ½-inch open reel black and white VTR/camera units
were being introduced. To his delight you could take one of those things out
in the field and shoot a program. To his dismay, editing capability was almost
nonexistent.
In college Lee majored in Mass Communication with a minor in Film
Study. ¾-inch color portables were being introduced as the
small format of choice, and Lee was delighted to not only shoot
but also to edit with reasonable accuracy and creativity. While
at Florida State University Lee worked in production at Public Radio
and Public Television. He also received training and hands on experience
in 16mm film. He graduated in 1980 with a Bachelor of Science in
Mass Communications.
After college Lee went to work in the health care industry, producing informational
and promotional videos for staff and physicians at a 400-bed regional referral
hospital in Alabama. In 1984 the hospital administrator formed his own hospital
management company, National Healthcare, Inc. Lee was asked to join the new
concern to develop and run a corporate video production center. Again ¾-inch
was the most affordable small format and Lee assembled a corporate production
center featuring three-camera studio production, three portable field units,
and timecoded A/B roll editing with Character Generator. He also hired two
full-time producers to help produce informational and promotional programs
for staff, physicians, and investors.
In 1987 demand within the company for video production declined as National's
publicly traded stock began to loose value. Sensing a corporate meltdown Lee
looked for opportunity elsewhere and joined the production team as a producer/director
at the Florida State University Center for Instructional Development. At the
Center Lee was afforded the opportunity to be involved in interactive laser
videodisc development from design to completion. Lee served as producer/director
on four interactive science programs for middle school students under a National
Science Foundation grant. The Houghton Mifflin Publishing Company marketed
the programs.
In 1991 the economy took a dive and so did the opportunities at
the contracts and grants dependent Center for Instructional Development.
Lee was offered a position at the Florida Department of Corrections
as a Staff Development and Training Manager with 40% duties in video
production. In 1992 he produced Life Inside, a documentary style
program on the prison experience for middle and high school students.
Life Inside won first place at the American Correctional Association's
1993 film festival, and was a finalist in the International Television
Association's Golden Reel competition that same year. The success
of Life Inside earned Lee 100% duties in video production and the
new title of Public Information Director. Along the way Lee was
able to upgrade the department's production facility to add a three-camera
studio for live satellite teleconferencing, DVCPro acquisition and
linear A/B roll editing. Not too much later an AVID nonlinear editing
system was added as well. During his tenure at the department Lee
produced over 20 teleconferences, one of which was a remote at the
1996 American Correctional Association Meeting in Orlando. He also
produced over 15 instructional programs, and initiated a series
of video news releases to promote positive programs within the Department
of Corrections.
In 1999 Lee was offered an opportunity to work with long time friend
and associate Robert Seidler at
Seidler Productions on a four part series
as associate producer and editor. Lee recognized this as an opportunity
to take a risk and go back to the private sector. To date the series
is complete and airing on PBS stations as well as the Sunshine Network.
Lee has also produced several other programs for Seidler Productions
including a bicycle/motorist safety program for Broward County Florida,
and an inmate orientation videotape for the Florida Department of
Corrections. Most recenlty he associate produced a 30-minute documentary
on Bike Florida 2003 for Sunshine Network.
In October of 2004 Lee formed his own company Lee
Berger Media Productions, Inc. to provide postproduction services.
He acquired a Final Cut Pro HD editing system, but continues his
close association with Seidler
Productions.
Lee has a positive outlook on life and he brings not only technical
and creative skills to his clients, but also genuine desire to help
them solve their problems through media. He also enjoys the technical
side of the business and serves as the de facto engineer at Seidler
Productions. Lee lives in Tallahassee with his wife and teenage
son. His two grown daughters are working and going to school
|
