Joel Bienenfeld, VP, Director of Broadcast Production

Joel is a born producer who’s backed up his natural talent with experience: he has a degree from the Manhattan School of Music at Columbia University and has worked as a musician at the New England Conservatory, Harvard Music, MIT, Lincoln Center, Elias Music, Sue Marx Films and numerous Broadway and off-Broadway theaters. He has directed, produced and edited hundreds of radio and TV commercials for local, regional and national advertisers.

What’s unique about you as a producer?
For me, it’s a lot more than just knowing people who can perform certain functions. I’m an editor, motion designer and overall visual thinker, and I’m pretty good at it. So if I hire somebody to work on a client project, it’s gotta be someone who’s better than I am.

Name something you’re proud of personally.
I arranged a Cole Porter tune and performed on eight songs archived in the Library of Congress.

Is there something about SMZ that’s different from other places you’ve worked?
I have the freedom to creatively figure things out rather than have to follow someone’s specific directions. It means better work – for the client, me and the agency.