Shepherd Sands Media

THE INCREDIBLY FASCINATING BIO OF SHEPHERD SANDS

Shepherd Sands began her career while in college as an on-air interviewer for PeopleWatch, an award-winning magazine show on KOCE-TV. She wrote, produced and directed her own segments. “I once asked Captain Kangeroo if there was a correlation between his 50’s kid show with his baggy pants, de-genderized hair cut, flowered lapel, nature loving friend Mr. Green Jeans and the flower child hippy movement of the 60’s. He said, ‘No.’ So there is a reason not to ask yes or no questions.” Best college moment: Having dinner with Angela Davis.

After graduation, Shepherd stepped into the big leagues by working in production for several of Norman Lear’s classic television comedies. She was hired to write a unique series called The Baxters, a situation comedy based on current events with a live audience debating an inconclusive ending. “It was perfect for me -- true stories are my métier.” (Winner of the Outstanding Contribution Award of the Governor's Committee for Employment of the Handicapped, "Mainstreaming" episode.)

Shepherd pursued her passion for history by finding a sponsor for a series of 100 celebrity hosted vignettes on women in history. History… in the Company of Women aired for two years during Turner’s morning movies and featured some of the biggest names in entertainment – from Bea Arthur to Gladys Knight, and Eva Marie Saint to Lynn Redgrave. (Winner of the Vanguard Award from Women in Communications for the Positive Portrayal of the Image of Women in the Media.) WATCH DEMO REEL

Using the same format she created a series of vignettes on young people called History… in the Company of Children, hosted by John Ritter for the USA Network. WATCH DEMO REEL

Shepherd agreed to develop a half hour show for a commercial client based on the Nightline format. Robert Vaughn was hired and the rest is history. The Helsinki Formula Hair Care product became one of the first and longest running infomercials of its time.

From an inkling of an idea to the final rendering of vision, an entire industry was created. Shepherd has personally written, directed, produced and edited Direct Response spots and long form infomercials for marketing campaigns that have earned over $1 billion for her clients. She’s put people in business and retired their grandchildren. Shepherd has a 300% higher degree of success than the industry as a whole.

From the Helsinki Formula Hair Growth products to Nad’s All Natural Hair Removal gel 20 years later, Shepherd has gone from growing hair to ripping it out. “Just say, ‘Hair today, gone to Maui.’” Nad’s Hair Removal Gel was the #1 Show of the 2000 Season (Greensheet) and Winner of the Best Beauty Show of 2001.

Shepherd owns Baubo Productions, Inc. which provides start to finish media services with signature quality. From concept to completion they can brand your product and maximize your brand through infomarketing: Short Form Commercial Spots, ½ Hour Infomercials (National & International), Radio Spots, and Leading-edge Internet content. SEE DEMO REEL & CLIENT LIST

Shepherd works magic with people who are on camera for the first time, the key to a successful testimonial. And she’s just as comfortable working with celebrity talent, including the divas. “Bea Arthur was my mentor, so it’s hard to intimidate me.”

Her first independent pilot was The Book Club, hosted by Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey (A Woman of Independent Means) and her daughter, Kendall Hailey. The two 1-hour pilots feature four women guests who discuss a book designed to springboard them into a discussion about their diverse personal lives. TAKE A PEEK

Shepherd designed and managed Artist Gardens, an outdoor performance space in West Hollywood. An urban oasis, she produced various types of entertainment including performance artists, dance troupes, and fundraisers. Every Sunday afternoon she presented Shepherd’s Freedom Writer Readings as a labor of love. People could gather in a beautiful garden setting, sip a glass of wine and be read to by an author or celebrity. Pairing local poets and writers with well-known authors like Carolyn See, Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey, Lillian Faderman, Eloise Klein Healy, and many others. Celebrity readers included Sharon Gless, Susan Ruttan, Rue McClanahan, Polly Bergen and MacKenzie Phillips.

Shepherd joined a fledgling theater company and as Managing Director, helped build the Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company into a nationally know theatrical troupe. Presenting all female versions of Shakespeare’s plays, women were given a chance to play the great roles and experience swordplay and fight choreography. “We profoundly changed women’s lives. The text works for one sex because that’s how it was written. There’s a reason Juliet was way up on that balcony.” Shepherd’s additional theater credits earned five Drama-Logue Awards including Best Production.

Shepherd’s documentaries include several about the LA Women’s Shakespeare Company as well as other diverse topics including Coming of Age, the documenting of 8 women’s lives over a 10-year period from age 50 to 60. See the side bar for Vincent, the Junkie Chronicles.

History… in the Company of Women* *Up From the Footnotes is an impressive project on women in history that can spin into dozens of fascinating show options and provide exciting roles for many woman actors for years to come. See side bar. LEARN MORE

A spin-off of children in history is also in treatment form. Before their Time features young people of achievement who managed their accomplishment before the age of 21. LEARN MORE

Shepherd’s second book is also in development, “Dear Oprah, It’s a Raw Deal – Don’t get on that Wagon & You Won’t Fall Off!” She explains why portion control doesn’t work. Included are lots of original recipes and insights from someone who’s taken the journey. Reveals the 80/20 secret! LEARN MORE

Devoted to developing original product, Shepherd has created a variety of pilots including The Book Club, starring Elizabeth Forsythe Hailey and Kendall Hailey, Cooking with Kids, The Nude Food Café, and The Aware Show with Lisa Garr. LEARN MORE

Shows currently in development include Good Buds, a show about wine & friends and The Garden of Eatin’ or how to eat from your own back yard.. LEARN MORE

Soon to premier is Shepherd’s radio talk show – Eat, Drink and be Merry… because we’re all a little Mary. Hosted by Marcus “Mary” Vaughter and Shepherd “Merry” Sands, it’s a free wheeling radio talk show about – anything. No topic is too big… or too small. Their discussions flow from highbrow to lowbrow in a way only long-time friends can manage. You’ll want to fix yourself a cocktail and enjoy the show. LISTEN

The E-Café will begin webcasting by the end of 2010. From a small performance space, musicians can go “on tour” and be seen by fans around the world.

Within 10 years, Shepherd plans to open a Settlement House in an underserved neighborhood, following in the footsteps of Jane Addams.

In her spare time, Shepherd is a mosaic artist and hosts wine tastings. For a great wine, click here and receive a discount from the winery. HAVE A GLASS!

To Hire Us, Buy our Shows, or Offer Representation... CONTACT US.

“For years I was on the stage or in the note sessions with the actors, writers, director and Norman. I had the greatest education. They taught me that the best way to let someone know that a line is supposed to be funny is to put an exclamation point after it. That’s comedy.” SS

“If there were any infomercials on the air before this, I didn’t know about them. In fact, they weren’t even called infomercials yet. It was completely new. We actually got Neilson ratings. I had to write, ‘This is a complete commercial!’ on the slate because the stations were trying to add their own spots.” SS

“When other companies come in to edit their infomercials, there’s always an entire staff. With Shepherd, it’s just her and the client. She knows what she wants.” Scott Parker, Editor

“I learned my life lessons from Bea Arthur. She taught me to drink vodka only with ice and to spell c*** with a capital K. What else is there, really?” SS

“Collaborative and decisive, Shepherd knows her subject matter. She’s creative and she’s fun!” Ken Stipe, DP

Vincent, the Junkie Chronicles A documentary following the life of one man over a decade of heroin addiction. "You use the euphoria up... but you keep chasing it." SEE A CLIP

History…in the Company of Women:

The Package

*1-minute celebrity hosted Vignettes

*1-hour Documentary

*1-hour Contemporary Talk Show with a host and 3 guests, plus a never before seen approach.

*Mini-Series based on the Sisters Blackwell – 3 women from one
family forever improve the world for women.

*Historical Novel with video chips

*Two Treatments for full-length Feature or Teleplay

“She’s a genius.” Albert Einstein