1. Mr. Dennig, you recently delivered an award-winning keynote in Malibu. At what point you started speaking on the topic of AUTHENTICITY. What inspired you to educate masses on making AUTHENTICITY MADE SIMPLE?
I’ve been speaking to audiences outside of the entertainment business on the topic of “Authenticity” for a little more than a year. I think some people are confused by the admonition to be authentic in their businesses and their daily interactions. Authenticity as a term, somehow, has come to encompass honesty, integrity, reliability, over-sharing, eccentricity and individuality. It is a new buzzword therefore has lost meaning for a lot of people. I don’t like it when people are confused, particularly when I have experience that can help clear up that confusion. The drive to help folks thrive in a media centric and consumer driven society lead me to this task.
2. Mr. Dennig, being authentic is important in all areas of life. As a Hollywood Executive Producer, you envision, plan, and execute projects including TV Shows such Judge Joe Brown where you produced over 3000 episodes. How do you anticipate to meet the expectations of multi-ethnic audience and still remain authentic?
Television content is a collaborative effort. It takes a lot of creative people to manufacture a TV show. I believe the best way to serve a multi-ethnic audience is to make sure that the staff producing the content is diverse and reflects the audience. There should be someone on the staff who can relate to any person in this country. At the same time, any viewer should be able to watch the program and see someone who looks like them. If a viewer turns on a show and doesn’t see a face that reflects who they are, they don’t feel invited into that experience. I believe the purpose of mass media is to reflect our common social bonds and that can only happen if everyone has a seat at the table. When the staff is diverse, the product that staff generates will reflect the full range and richness of the American experience.
3. Mr. Dennig, how many hours do you sleep in a day? and why?
I sleep 8 hours a night because I’m old and tired – if I don’t get that much sleep, I’m cranky and unproductive and nobody needs to be around that!
BIO
Lou Dennig is a four time Emmy nominated Executive Producer and Studio Executive with experience managing current programs, development for syndication and cable, local broadcasting schedules, advertising, promotion, research, and business affairs. This position translates into influencing daytime television in some of the most significant programming content of the last two decades.
Dennig is the man behind the gavel of some of the most successful Court Shows in unscripted television including Judge Judy, Judge Joe Brown, Swift Justice with Nancy Grace, Court TV and as the Co-Executive Producer of Judge Joe Brown, where Lou produced over 3000 episodes of the series. He also is the host of the audible podcast: Games, Gab & Gossip: TV Before Social Media Sucked the Life out of Broadcast
