Shannon Malone-deBenedictis

Public Speaker | Emmy-Award Winning Documentary Filmmaker | Workshop Faciliator at Padlin Creative

Women Empowerment

Education: Savannah College of Art & Design; Savannah, GA - The School of the Art Institute; Chicago, IL
Alexandria, VA, USA

Biography

Shannon Malone-deBenedictis (she/her) is a public speaker, Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, creative consultant, and facilitator. She has given numerous talks on leadership, problem-solving, self-promotion, and women's empowerment.

She has produced over 200 hours of programming for various outlets, including National Geographic, Discovery, Netflix, Sesame Studios, and others. Shannon has collaborated with the BBC, James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, Sela Ward, James Spader, Dennis Quaid, the University of Idaho, Rice University, Fairfax County Academy for Communications & The Arts, and the Jackson Fork Ranch.

She won two Emmy Awards at Red Rock Films: Outstanding Documentary Series for Disney+’s Secrets of the Whales and Outstanding Nature & Adventure Series for Netflix’s Penguin Town. She has always loved telling stories, starting with writing her first play at the age of 10.

Passion

"Who was to think a 25+ year career in television production would benefit the storyteller inside me with two Emmy wins! No joke, I hold a pseudo-PhD in human behavior. I share how my experiences in the boardroom, and my observations of wildlife and nature, have guided me through a successful career within the unforgiving media industry. Now, Fully-Unapologetic, I encourage and inspire women to gain confidence . . . which sells every time! . . .and attain the tools to be driven, yet comfortable, with our achievements."

Best Story

I've swum with sharks, nearly runover by a water buffalo, kept an A-list celebrity from having a meltdown, and all the craziness in between. Yet, one of my proudest moments in life was choosing to NOT wear all black when winning a primetime Emmy. I was going to shine!

Origin Story

I started my firm to do things on my own. I want to interact with people and inspire them not through pretty wildlife pictures but by sharing provocative and engaging stories. Padlin Creative was created to bring a more personal approach towards my work. Through consulting, public speaking, and workshop facilitation, I will build deep relationships beyond a TV or streaming devices.

Example talks

FULLY UNAPOLOGETIC: Being Fat in Media & the Corporate World

Do you feel uncomfortable in your own skin?

Do you feel like a duckling trapped in a swan’s profession?

You're not alone. Size and other superficial discrimination is prevalent and, even more shocking, not against the law. A Harvard University study analyzed data from over 4 million tests of attitudes between 2007 and 2016. The analysis found that while biases towards sexual orientation, race and skin tone decreased in that period, weight bias (pro-thin/anti-fat) increased by 40%, particularly in the early years of the study.

Join SHANNON MALONE-deBENEDICTIS as she discusses her 20+ years in television & how being the lone “fat woman” in the room taught her how to embrace her inner swan.

https://youtu.be/Z_ZdULdPuG0

HOW TO SELL YOURSELF LIKE A TV PITCH

The television industry is struggling. More and more creative and technical people are out of work.

We’ve got the skills for other careers. We just need to sell ourselves.

In this online workshop, you'll identify the key elements of a successful tv pitch and how the same methodology can help you create your own logline, sales pitch, and key selling points.

By the end, you'll learn how to shape your resume, what to highlight and NOT highlight, and offered suggested resources to help you through this journey.

https://youtu.be/kcMJQKDXxhM

ANIMAL DOCUMENTARIES 101: How to Create the Magic

Wildlife films are awe-inspiring spectacles. And filmmakers make it look easy!

But it is anything but. Ever wonder what it takes to make Secrets of the Whales, a Shark Week show, or Inside the Mind of a Cat? Join executive producer and developer Shannon Malone-deBenedictis for this webinar as she gives insights on what it takes to make a stunning and memorable documentary.

https://youtu.be/0CPyBxJcE1o

FROM IDEA TO PITCH: Finding that Documentary Hook

A webinar for those who have an idea but don't know how to make it into a documentary? Watch as we explore the process of taking your initial idea and turning it into a compelling pitch. Learn valuable tips on how to uncover that documentary hook that will captivate your audience. Whether you're a seasoned filmmaker or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their storytelling skills. Don't miss out on this opportunity to refine your documentary ideas and take them to the next level!

https://youtu.be/AuxA0eKaRH8

Featured Video

I am willing to travel

More than 100 miles

When it comes to payments

Everything is negotiable

Topics

television production television documentaries empowering women health at every size plus size executive coaching storytelling wildlife conservation creative problem solving problem solving team leadership women inspiration selfdevelopment mentorship employee mentorship message development womens leadership ideas brainstorming creative arts creative thinking creative culture entrepreneurship for creatives film production film and media breaking into television television industry film television music and visual media documentary entertainment media self development

Best Story

I've swum with sharks, nearly runover by a water buffalo, kept an A-list celebrity from having a meltdown, and all the craziness in between. Yet, one of my proudest moments in life was choosing to NOT wear all black when winning a primetime Emmy. I was going to shine!

Origin Story

I started my firm to do things on my own. I want to interact with people and inspire them not through pretty wildlife pictures but by sharing provocative and engaging stories. Padlin Creative was created to bring a more personal approach towards my work. Through consulting, public speaking, and workshop facilitation, I will build deep relationships beyond a TV or streaming devices.

Example talks

FULLY UNAPOLOGETIC: Being Fat in Media & the Corporate World

Do you feel uncomfortable in your own skin?

Do you feel like a duckling trapped in a swan’s profession?

You're not alone. Size and other superficial discrimination is prevalent and, even more shocking, not against the law. A Harvard University study analyzed data from over 4 million tests of attitudes between 2007 and 2016. The analysis found that while biases towards sexual orientation, race and skin tone decreased in that period, weight bias (pro-thin/anti-fat) increased by 40%, particularly in the early years of the study.

Join SHANNON MALONE-deBENEDICTIS as she discusses her 20+ years in television & how being the lone “fat woman” in the room taught her how to embrace her inner swan.

https://youtu.be/Z_ZdULdPuG0

HOW TO SELL YOURSELF LIKE A TV PITCH

The television industry is struggling. More and more creative and technical people are out of work.

We’ve got the skills for other careers. We just need to sell ourselves.

In this online workshop, you'll identify the key elements of a successful tv pitch and how the same methodology can help you create your own logline, sales pitch, and key selling points.

By the end, you'll learn how to shape your resume, what to highlight and NOT highlight, and offered suggested resources to help you through this journey.

https://youtu.be/kcMJQKDXxhM

ANIMAL DOCUMENTARIES 101: How to Create the Magic

Wildlife films are awe-inspiring spectacles. And filmmakers make it look easy!

But it is anything but. Ever wonder what it takes to make Secrets of the Whales, a Shark Week show, or Inside the Mind of a Cat? Join executive producer and developer Shannon Malone-deBenedictis for this webinar as she gives insights on what it takes to make a stunning and memorable documentary.

https://youtu.be/0CPyBxJcE1o

FROM IDEA TO PITCH: Finding that Documentary Hook

A webinar for those who have an idea but don't know how to make it into a documentary? Watch as we explore the process of taking your initial idea and turning it into a compelling pitch. Learn valuable tips on how to uncover that documentary hook that will captivate your audience. Whether you're a seasoned filmmaker or just starting out, this event is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their storytelling skills. Don't miss out on this opportunity to refine your documentary ideas and take them to the next level!

https://youtu.be/AuxA0eKaRH8