LOS ANGELES - Automat Pictures (www.automatpictures.com) has named Sonja Nelson to the newly created position of head of production.
Nelson is a production and operations executive with over 20 years of experience managing companies and producing television programming. She has held prominent positions with Lions Gate Studios, Lorimar, and Van Ness Films. Her expertise includes production and financial management, business development, cost containment, corporate and operational organization, and personnel management. In her new role, she will be responsible for the supervision of all Automat Pictures DVD and EPK productions.
Prior to joining Automat Pictures, Nelson was a consulting producer with Seesaw Studios in Los Angeles. There, she was responsible for operational design and implementation of systems for a newly formed production company. From l997-2002, she was a coordinating producer for Fox Star Productions/Van Ness Films. During this time, she was responsible for delivering over 100 episodes of "Biography" to the A&E Network, including "Jackie Gleason: The Great One," winner of the 2002 Emmy Award in the Documentary Category. Nelson also managed all projects in development and production.
Other posts held by Nelson include production manager with Kresser/Craig; VP, production, Lorimar Home Video; VP, Operations, Lions Gate Studios, and associate producer with KQED, San Francisco.