About
"Even though The Amazing Race was our creation and it was my original concept, I did not come on the show as an executive producer. I actually started off as a field producer, making very little money. Then little by little I [became] a supervising producer, co-EP and I've done pretty much every job on the production. Until you've really stepped in all the shoes and lived through every aspect of the production, you really can't be an executive producer on a show. I can look at budgets. I can look at creative. You need to be well rounded to run a show."
In the half-hour solo portion of her interview, Elise Doganieri discusses her parents and childhood, and wanting to work in advertising. She chronicles her first jobs in advertising and explains how that helped her later in her career as a producer. She speaks of meeting Bertram when he was doing National Geographic films, and recalls their first jobs together on Wild Things and Cops.
In the three-hour joint portion of their interview, Bertram van Munster and Elise Doganieri talk about their work together on The Amazing Race. Doganieri reveals how the idea for The Amazing Race came about, and the pair detail the production of the show. They speak of shooting, casting, the challenges of overseas travel, working with non-actors, and the minutia of how the contestants are informed about "Pit Stops." They discuss memorable moments from the program and the importance of the show's host, Phil Keoghan. Doganieri and van Munster talk about the style and editing of the show, describe how they set up "clues," and comment on their favorite locations. They discuss the legacy of The Amazing Race and the show's propensity for winning awards, and offer why they think it remains so popular. Nancy Harrington conducted the interview on December 20, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
Elise Doganieri on coming up with the idea for The Amazing Race and how it changed longform storytelling
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on the importance of casting on The Amazing Race' s and why people want to be on it
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on The Amazing Race premiere one week before 9/11; how 9/11 impacted the show
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on what it is like filming The Amazing Race: "you're in a cuiseinart with the button on mix"
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on coming up with The Amazing Race show title
Full Interview
Chapter 1
Solo Interview with Elise Doganieri (the rest is a joint interview with Bertram van Munster); On her parents; her childhood; on wanting to work in advertising
On what she learned working in the advertising and design industry that helped her career in television; on meeting Bertram van Munster
On her first jobs in television working with Bertram on Wild Things and later on Cops
Chapter 2
Start of joint interview with Bertram Van Munster; on coming up with the idea for The Amazing Race; on how it changed the genre of longform storytelling; on why they think the show is compelling to viewers
On the format of The Amazing Race and how it is produced and shot; on the show's contestants and its title; on working with Les Moonves; on the show's biggest challenges
On how 9/11 impacted The Amazing Race; on the show's budget; on how they pick locations; on where they would still like to shoot
On The Amazing Race's host Phil Keoghan; on how his role is different from other reality show hosts; on how casting is key to the show's success
Chapter 3
On casting The Amazing Race; on working with non-actors
On the "Pit Stops"; on rules for crew members and staff on the show; on the style and look of the show; on editing and the role of writers
On setting up clues for The Amazing Race; on what contestants can and cannot use on the show
On their favorite locations they have shot The Amazing Race at; on how they keep the results secret; on why the show wins Emmy Awards
On the impact of the Internet on the show and the future of The Amazing Race; on the show's legacy
Chapter 4
On establishing Profiles Television Productions, LLC in 2003; on the show Profiles from the Front Line they produced
On creating/producing The Big Give with Oprah Winfrey, Take the Money and Run, and The Great Escape; on current projects
On advice to aspiring producers and the role of an executive producer
Shows
Amazing Race, The
Elise Doganieri on coming up with the idea for The Amazing Race and how it changed longform storytelling
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on what they each contribute to The Amazing Race and on why the show is compelling to viewers
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on why they believe The Amazing Race is compelling to viewers
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on how The Amazing Race has changed the perception of America to the world; and altered American's views of other countries
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on the format of The Amazing Race: on why the participants must know each other before the show; on what it is like filming the show
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on coming up with The Amazing Race show title
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on the biggest challenges in filming and producing The Amazing Race; on unexpected complications with flights and other complications; on the crew and contestants not sleeping
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on The Amazing Race premiere one week before 9/11; how 9/11 impacted the show
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on choosing locations for The Amazing Race and scouting in foreign countries
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on The Amazing Race' s host Phil Keoghan; on how his role is different from other reality show hosts
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on the importance of casting on The Amazing Race' s and why people want to be on it
Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster on the "Pit Stop" on The Amazing Race; on rules for crew and staff
Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster on the post-production on The Amazing Race and the role of writers
Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster on how clues are given on The Amazing Race; on what contestants are given and what they can/cannot use on the show
Big Give, The
Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster on executive producing The Big Give along with Oprah Winfrey and Ellen Rakieten with host Nate Berkus
Great Escape, The
Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster on executive producing The Great Escape with Ron Howard and Brian Grazer
Profiles from the Front Line
Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster on their show Profiles from the Front Line, chronicling the war in Afghanistan
Take the Money & Run
Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster on executive producing the reality series Take the Money & Run along with Jerry Bruckheimer
Topics
9/11
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on The Amazing Race premiere one week before 9/11; how 9/11 impacted the show
Professions
Producers
Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster on advice to aspiring producers and the role of an executive producer
Genres
Reality TV
Elise Doganieri and Bertram van Munster on why The Amazing Race wins Emmy Awards; on the legacy of the show
People
Jerry Bruckheimer
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on working with producer Jerry Bruckheimer
Phil Keoghan
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on The Amazing Race' s host Phil Keoghan; on how his role is different from other reality show hosts
Leslie Moonves
Elise Doganieri and Bertram Van Munster on working with Les Moonves
Bertram van Munster
Elise Doganieri on meeting Bertram van Munster at her gallery space and later falling in love with him