Danny Skarka
31 Monte Vista, Novato, CA 94947 | Mobile: 415 328-3192 | danny@skarka.com


Technical Operations Manager


Extensive experience as technical operations manager in major studios, including Current TV, the global network founded by Al Gore, KRON-TV, San Francisco, and CNN, Atlanta.

Built and managed international production teams with diverse backgrounds and experiences, integrating skills with new technologies and best practices to meet aggressive creative goals and tight budgetary deadlines.

Managed the development and growth of the production facilities for Current TV from a single control room, single studio facility to a 4 control room, 3 studio, 3 country operation in 3 years; the resulting global broadcast network served over 60 million homes.

WORK HISTORY


CURRENT TV: 2005 - 2009
A Satellite, Cable, and Web Platform founded by Al Gore.
Head Technical Director

  • Managed the development and deployment of production facilities in San Francisco, Los Angeles, London, and Milan; built production teams and designed best practices.
  • Coordinated requirements of Current's programming, development staff, and business partners to ensure support for productions; served as production lead on new projects and initiatives.
  • Directed live global broadcasts, coordinating new ideas, technologies, and requirements of three international channels; the results were acclaimed, groundbreaking broadcasts.
  • Brought Current TV Italy and UK-Ireland online for daily live production by developing non-traditional software, equipment and techniques to match production and budget goals.
  • Managed the day-to-day operations of the San Francisco and Los Angeles technical facilities allowing for flexible schedules and short-reaction-time routines.

FREELANCE PROJECTS: 2000 - present
Technical Operations Management
  • Served as industry expert and lead beta tester for Ross Vision - QMDX multi-format production switcher, as well as BUG.TV media playout software.
  • Technical Director for Apple, Inc global product introductions, and for regularly-scheduled marketing initiatives that were broadcast to Apple facilities worldwide.
  • Technical Director for additional, global product introductions for Microsoft, Cisco, Sun Microsystems, HP, Symantec and others.
  • Technical Director for a wide variety of sporting events, including Major League Baseball, the NFL, College Basketball, and the NBA.
  • Technical Director for "New Years Live," the only 100% live New Years Eve show, based in Las Vegas with locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle.


KRON-TV, San Francisco, CA: 1984 - 2005
Lead Technical Director and Crew Chief
  • Managed the day-to-day operations and scheduling of the production crew; coordinated the use of facilities among various departments.
  • Served as Lead Operator in the layout of technical facilities with an emphasis on efficiency, flexibility, and ergonomics.
  • Developed and maintained best practices to ensure that production facilities we ready to handle varied and time-critical demands of the news operation.
  • Created branding EFX for news and specials that visually identified KRON, yet allowed for easy integration into a variety of productions.
  • Technical director for primary broadcasts and specials including news, sports, and special events both in-studio and remote locations.

KPIX-TV, San Francisco, CA: 1984
Technical Director
  • Performed as fill-in Technical Director for evening newscasts; camera and audio operator for news and local programming.

SATELLITE NEWS CHANNEL, Stamford, CT: 1982 - 1983
Channel was an ABC/Westinghouse cable news joint venture.
Technical Director
  • Part of the construction team for initial build-out of the startup facility.
  • Initial tester and integrator of production equipment as the facility was built.
  • Technical Director for the longest, continuously-live 24/7 broadcast in history at that time.

CNN, Atlanta, GA: 1981 - 1982
Senior Technical Director, (1981 - 1982)
  • Acted as lead operator in the fast-tracked development of CNN Headline News.
  • Designed and built video branding effects; designed control room layout.
  • Served as Technical Director for inaugural broadcast on New Years, 1982.
Technical Director (1981)
  • Worked as Technical Director for live national news, sports, and specials.
  • Field and studio camera operator, audio operator, editor for a variety of news based programs.

EDUCATION and ASSOCIATIONS


Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Member, Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers.

PROFICIENCIES


New Media (user-generated media, social networking), New Technologies (server-based media management, streaming media), Software and hardware usability, Macintosh platform, HTML, Apple Final Cut Studio, broadcast formats and media codecs.