Shannon Malone - Supervising Producer

When put with the challenge of creating a day-long special highlighting the beauty of America, I was first a bit scared. How on earth would we be able to truly capture the variety, the grandeur and the majesty of our nation? (For those playing along at home, start humming "America The Beautiful") Fortunately, we worked with two amazing creative talents in this endeavor: Douglas Paynter, an enormously talented producer with over 20 years of experience in the non-fiction world, and Black Light Films, one of the world's foremost resources for High Definition footage. This wasn't an easy task: the National Geographic Channel has highlighted so many different areas of the American landscape.

Fortunately, we succeeded. We travel all over from Alaska to Texas, Florida to California. We see the deserts of the Southwest and we see the snow capped hills of Wyoming. Not only in presenting a beautiful view of our land but also unique perspectives. For example, one start with a gorgeous evening shot of the Chicago skyline (my old hometown). It soars over the coastline, Lake Michigan gently lapping at the shores. The narrator talks about the Great Lakes and the way that they define that area of the country. This great lake fed by one truly spectacular wonder: Niagara Falls. We then present a show about the Falls and its history; a unique and clever perspective on a program. In doing this project, I learned so much--which is saying something considering I've traveled all over.