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About Them.

digital collage Raina comedy writer-directorself-portrait

Raina Pratto (she/they, used interchangably) is a writer-director, digital collage artist and all-around creative meets techie with 10+ years of experience in the entertainment, media and news industry. Most recently, Raina worked in streaming at Paramount+ and stood in for the manager of Streaming and Video Operations as needed to lead the team for NFL and NCAA basketball, among others. They've also helped with digital media and marketing for clients whose purpose speaks to Raina in news, entertainment and media.

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Prior to that, they helped launch and directed 261 episodes of the comedy news talk show OFF THE CLOCK for KTLA where they refined their passion for journalism. They also helped launch, troubleshoot and manage content for the KTLA+ app. Previously, they worked their way up from an intern to a PA on hit CBS talk shows, eventually landing a multi-camera directing job for college sports. This led to six years of live TV work at Fox Sports/Disney as an Associate Director, working in English and Spanish on a variety of sports, sports news and sports magazine shows.

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Raina's working on the Journalism certificate at UCLA Extension Journalism and has also taken Sitcom Writing courses there. They live with their dog and love anything to do with swimming, rainbows and comedy. They are passionate about social justice and representation. They can’t wait to see a non-binary lead character on TV one day. 

Image by Guns

Experience

Oct 2022 - March 2024

Streaming & Video Operations Coordinator

Paramount+ via Cypress HCM

  • I’m responsible for monitoring and replacing streams for 250+ CBS News and other affiliated stations and channels as well as making stream adjustments for live events. I stand in for the Manager to lead our team for NFL, NCAA basketball and other live events as needed, ensuring smooth performance for live events with viewerships in the millions.

  • Highlights:

    • Led part of and otherwise supported Super Bowl Sunday 2024

    • Recruited into position to be able to stand-in to lead NFL events as required

    • Leading team for NFL games on Thanksgiving & Christmas

    • Leading March Madness NCAA games

    • Working NFL games leading up to Super Bowl including games with 2 million+ streaming viewers

    • Working the Grammy’s 2023 & 2024

May 2022 - October 2022

Digital Marketing Consultant

Freelance

  • I helped freelance clients whose purpose speaks to me in entertainment, news and media with their various digital marketing, production and related needs.

  • Current/Past projects include:​

    • Social Media and Digital Marketing advisement for writers, non-profit workers, artists and companies (Non-Profit Social Media Editors, Musicians, Artist Venues, Comedy Writers and beyond)

    • Podcast Production, Sponsorship & Marketing services (NDAs signed)

    • Script supervising/pitching lines/editing social media ads for brands you know from your feeds (NDAs signed)

    • Write freelance music event articles for Music Connection magazine

    • Write/edit Sizzle Reels for clients, non-profits to assist with gaining news media coverage (Winning Margins via Newsworthy, LLC)

Mar 2021 - Aug 2022

KTLA+ Director

KTLA

  • Directed and helped launch the streaming-turned-broadcast show "Off the Clock" starring Chris Schauble, Megan Henderson and Henry DiCarlo.

  • I also helped launch, troubleshoot and manage content for the KTLA+ app, including onboarding new shows, converting shows from broadcast to streaming and training staff in best upload methods for videos, copy and metadata for streaming for the KTLA website.

  • Uploaded our show and clips daily on a tight deadline to KTLA+ app, KTLA website and YouTube, following proper FCC captioning requirements

  • Highlights:

    • Helped greatly increase revenue for KTLA through KTLA+ app

    • Beat out celebrity talk shows in same time slot in local market when show got added to broadcast

    • Increased editing, technical and editorial capabilities

    • Took over some duties of Associate News Director, Digital including liaising with sales for paid content and setting KTLA website program banners

Jun 2011 - Jul 2022

Co-Founder, Director, Writer, Producer

Freelance

  • My sit-com "Nun of This" has had pages featured twice at the Breakthrough Reading Series.

  • I also help produce, develop and otherwise create trailers for comedy pilots and other longer works, including sketch comedy, features, and theatre productions.

  • In the past I focused on producing/directing theatre, from Long Beach Playhouse to the Hollywood Fringe. I'll do occasional on-screen host/talent work as needed.

  • References available upon request.

  • Highlights:

    • Production team for South of Sunset, a winner of Amazon Prime Diverse Voices Short Film Fest

    • Producing/Directing sold-out comedic play at Long Beach Playhouse

    • Producing/Assist. Directing devised play at Hollywood Fringe Festival

    • Managing cast/crew of 25+

    • Producing/Co-Directing pilot trailer for a sit-com

    • Working with SAG as a Producer for New Media

    • AD/UPM for trailer for the novel "Silent Partners"

Mar 2015 - Mar 2021

Associate Director

Fox Sports/Disney

  • I worked in the fast-paced broadcasting end of live TV for Fox Sports 1, Fox Sports 2, Fox Deportes, Fox Soccer Plus, and our digital platforms including Fox Sports GO, serving as liaison between production and broadcasting teams

  • Highlights include working:

    • Live content directly after SuperBowl on Fox Deportes

    • Soccer games leading up to World Cup Final

    • NFL, MLB, UFC & Big 3 Basketball on Fox Deportes

    • Rugby League World Cup games

    • Central Fox & La Ultima Palabra on Fox Deportes

    • Women’s Australian Rules Football in 1st season available on Fox Soccer Plus

    • Telefundraisers for Earthquake and Hurricane relief efforts which aired on Fox Sports and Fox Deportes

    • Australian Rules Football Pride game on Fox Soccer Plus

Sept 2015 - Jun 2020

Social Media/Marketing Specialist and Writer

Freelance

  • I served as co-editor for a non-profit organization’s social media content and distribution materials.

  • I did research for writers for several popular national publications, as well as for published books.

  • I proofread articles by writers for the same major publications—topics lived at the intersections of tech, finance, biometrics, politics, and culture.

  • I also wrote blog entries for several companies spanning from co-working spaces to beard oils.

  • Set up social media accounts for artists and art collectives.

  • Highlights:

    • Co-edited a national voter guide

    • Research/proofreading for Forbes writer

    • Introducing musician to self-branding on social media

    • Writing blog entries from a comedy and/or branded perspective

Oct 2014 - May 2017

Multi-Camera Director | Technical Director

CSULB Athletics

  • I worked freelance as a multi-camera Media Production Specialist for 3 seasons on a rotating crew with positions for college basketball and volleyball seasons, specializing in simultaneous multi-camera directing and technical directing.

  • Highlights:

    • Directed/technical directed games alongside Fox Sports

    • Directed/technical directed games whose highlights air on ESPN

    • Directing for Jumbotron involved interaction with crowd & special cams like Kiss Cam, etc.

    • Content directed/created for Big West, MPSF (paid subscription), and online streaming

    • Won statewide marketing award in our first years

Mar 2013 - Aug 2014

Intern turned PA

CBS

  • Promoted from intern to Production Assistant on the CBS-run talk shows "Dr. Phil" and "The Doctors" on the Paramount lot.

  • Highlights:

    • Writing animations for the graphics team to create to describe complicated medical ideas

    • Liaison between production team and all other departments including talent, wardrobe, audience, props and beyond

    • Communicated with corporations to line up audience giveaways

Paper Fold

Education/Training

 

UCLA Extension

2023-Present












2018-2020

  • Broadcast and Journalism courses

    • Broadcast Writing and Reporting: Wrote 40+ broadcast news stories to build on news writing interest sparked while at KTLA

    • Fundamentals of Journalism: Pitched/wrote freelance event coverage for Music Connection magazine

    • The Art of the Interview: Interviewed Hollywood showrunner/writer/producer Phil Kellard for profile.

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  • Half-Hour TV Writing Certificate courses

    • Wrote four half-hour comedic narrative scripts and pitched to executives

 

The Pack Theatre

 

Upright Citizen's Brigade

 

The Second City, Hollywood

 

 

 

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Major: Theatre; Directing Specialization

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Minor: Sociology

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Add'l courses in TV Production, Multi-Cam Directing & Comedy Writing

Cal State Long Beach

  • Sketch Comedy Writing 101

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  • Sketch Comedy Writing Program Graduate

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  • Sketch Comedy Directing course

  • First to take Directing Specialization Thesis Project off-campus, selling out all shows at Long Beach Playhouse.

  • Pitched and directed four showcase projects total, both existing and new plays ranging from comedy to drama, from devised movement pieces to collaborative written works. 

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  • Fascinated by people and diversity of identities, I started taking so many sociology classes I decided to minor in it. I was a Teacher's Assistant for a Sociology professor for Sociology 101, Medical Sociology and Social Sex Behavior courses.

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