THE PRODUCER
Paula Mitchell Manning cut her teeth in radio, launching her producing career at Los Angeles radio station KOST-FM.
Manning executive produced a radio documentary “The Names Project” that won a “Golden Mike” Award from the Radio & Television News Directors Association.
Manning went on to win an NAACP Theatre Award as “Best Producer” for the production “Butterflies of Uganda: Memories of a Child Soldier.” Manning has also produced numerous award-nominated plays at Company of Angels, The Theatre @ Boston Court, and Greenway Arts Alliance.
Manning created, co-wrote, and produced the short film, “Bringing Up BayBay,” starring Debra Wilson. The film debuted at the Mill Valley Film Festival and was shown at many other film festivals and screenings.
She’s still creating, producing, and writing: witness the New Media Mini Pilot of her television comedy “CPR (Child Performers Resurrection) Talent Agency,” starring Alison Arngrim (“Little House on the Prairie”) and Sean McNabb (S.O.A.)
Film Festival Official Selections
THE WRITER
Paula Mitchell Manning discovered her writing talents at KFI-AM/KOST-FM Radio in Los Angeles by writing and producing commercial parodies for KFI’s morning show. These received such a positive response that she then wrote segments for “Love Stories on the KOST” vignettes for KOST’s evening show.
The on-air talent at KOST and KFI radio enjoyed Manning’s work so much they agreed to work on original comic soap opera Manning wrote and produced, titled “Empire.” Paula eventually landed a position as a staff writer for an ABC Television sitcom. She co-wrote an independent short film, “LALA: Uncut,” which screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
Expanding to the stage, Manning wrote and produced a full-stage production of “Flirting with Morty.” The production earned rave reviews from Mr. Blackwell, Backstage West, and was an LA Weekly “Pick of the Week.” The play received Honorable Mention in three categories for Backstage West‘s Garland Awards, and Manning received an Ovation Award nomination for “World Premiere Musical.” Her second production of “Flirting with Morty” was featured in a Fox 11 News piece that aired both locally and nationally.
Manning served as a contributing playwright for a “Colored Museum”-style stage production called “Colored CONTRADICTIONS,” Her mini-musical “Fade to Black: A Tale of Black Hollywood Told in One Act” pulled glowing reviews from the Los Angeles Times and LA Weekly.
Manning created, co-wrote, and executive-produced the short film, “Bringing Up BayBay,” starring Debra Wilson. The film debuted at the Mill Valley Film Festival and was shown at numerous film festivals and screenings.
Manning’s latest project is writing and producing the New Media Mini Pilot of her television comedy, “CPR (Child Performers Resurrection) Talent Agency,” starring Alison Arngrim (“Little House on the Prairie”) and Sean McNabb (“S.O.A.”)