Jean Higgins made a huge leap of faith when she decided to change her professional path—from oceanographic engineering to theater acting. But the move proved to be the right thing for Jean who eventually entered the world of film and TV production—away from the glitz and glamour of being a star, but just as important to keep the show running. Since her transition, Jean became responsible for overseeing the production of more than $500 million in motion picture and television projects.
Jean currently produces the show “Lost” which will run on its third season this year. She says the hit TV program is a perfect show for this day and age due to its delectable escapist quality fit to subvert today’s problems.
In this Greater Good Radio interview, Jean Higgins talks about how her career in the film and TV industry started and the slow process she undertook to be where she is right now. She also shares with us how the production of “Lost” in the State is able to help the community with more than $70 million put into the local economy per annum. Jean tells us how the studio enables her to contribute to the community despite the busy schedule attached to her profession.
The after show may be the best yet, as Jean imparts messages of hope, faith and trust in one’s self. Here she humbly mentions that the greatest accomplishment in her life is her son, despite all the successes she have gone through in her career.
Listen now and find out more about Jean Higgins, film and TV producer.
BIO:
JEAN HIGGINS, PRODUCER
Jean Higgins has been responsible for overseeing the production of more than $500,000,000 of motion picture and television productions. She has been involved in the marketing and distribution of over 40 feature motion pictures, has been responsible for overseeing the development and production of over 80 feature length motion pictures, and has produced and/or production managed over 30 feature films and television films. She has produced numerous television commercials and music videos. She produced for major studios and worked with independent companies. She is currently producing the top rated television show in the world, “LOST”.
She began her career as a staff commercial producer for The Petersen Company in Holly wood. The company was one of the premiere commercial production houses in the nation. Clients included Coca-Cola, Anheuser-Bush, Goodyear, and Rockwell International. Her work with Coca-Cola lead to producing corporately sponsored documentaries and PBS Specials.
For Coca-Cola, Jean produced the film that Coke presented to show its history to The People’s Republic of China as the first American Company to do business in China. She traveled the world filming for The United States Navy (and was the first woman in history to be allowed on board an aircraft carrier at sea). She traveled the world for Exxon, General Motors, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization shooting in such diverse locations as Japan, South Africa, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Australia, Norway, Germany, England, Italy, Canada, Greece and more.
Moving into the theatrical entertainment world while still working at Petersen, Jean produced the award winning PBS show “This Far By Faith”, sponsored by AT&T. She then worked for American Cinema Productions, an independent feature production company, quickly moving up to Vice President in Charge of Production. While at American Cinema Productions, Jean was responsible for aspects of developing, producing, distributing and marketing Chuck Norris’ first three feature films, “Good Guys Wear Black”, “A Force of One”, and the cult classic “The Octagon”. Other pictures during this time included work on “Dirt”, “The Entity”, “Silent Scream”, “A Different Story”, “Go Tell the Spartans”, “Charlie Chan and the Dragon Queen”, and “Cheaper to Keep Her”.
Jean then formed a company with two partners, Karson-Higgins-Shaw. The company produced ad campaigns for feature films, (trailers, TV spots, radio spots, movie posters and specialty campaigns) for such clients as 20th Century Fox, Warner Bros., Orion Pictures, and many independent producers. During this time Jean also continued to work on feature films. She was Associate Producer and Production Manager on “Split Decisions” starring Gene Hackman, and on “Movers and Shakers”, starring Walter Matthau, Steve Martin, Gilda Radner, Charles Grodin, Penny Marshall and Tyne Daly. She produced the action adventure feature film “Getting Even” with Eddie Albert, Jr.
Choosing to stay on the entertainment side of the business rather than advertising, Jean and her partners at KHS each left to pursue their own interests. Jean then worked as Co-Producer on “A Class Act” staring Kid & Play for Warner Bros., Co-Producer on “Repossessed” a parody of “The Exorcist” starring Linda Blair and Leslie Nielsen for Carolco, Co-Producer on “My Fellow Americans” starring Jack Lemmon, James Garner and Dan Ackroyd for Warner Bros., and Co-Producer on “Arlington Road” starring Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack for Sony.
Filling the time between features with television assignment, Jean produced ”Perfect Harmony”, “The Ernest Green Story”, winning a Peabody Award, and “The four Diamonds” for the Disney Channel. She worked as Unit Production Manager on the Disney/ABC MOW’s “Tower of Terror”, “Balloon Farm” and “Safety Patrol”. She also worked as the Unit Production Manager on the television pilots for both “The West Wing” and “The Fugitive” television series.
Jean also spent a year with Buena Vista (Disney) and Miramax as Production Executive for Miramax produced films. Pictures she was responsible for overseeing at this time included “Scream”, the first in the series of $100,000,000 grossing pictures, and “Copland”, starring Sylvester Stallone.
Jean then tried her hand at network television, beginning as the Producer of the first season of CSI: Miami for CBS, ending the year as the 3rd rated television show. She then moved to a half season of the critically acclaimed “Line of Fire” for ABC, and is currently producing “Lost” for ABC.
Jean has worked in 27 foreign countries and most major cities and states of the US. She is a member of both the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America. Her awards for both filmmaking and advertising are as follows:
“LOST”
Emmy, Best Television Drama
6 Emmy’s for the show
Producers Guild of America, Best Drama
Golden Globe Award, Best Television Series, Drama
Directors Guild of America, Best Drama – Pilot
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and
Horror Films (USA) Saturn Award,
Best Network Television Show
Television Critics Assoc.,
Outstanding Achievement in Drama &
Outstanding new Program of the Year (2005)
Image Awards, Nomination, Outstanding Drama Series
Plus multiple awards for cast and crew
“THE ERNEST GREEN STORY”
Peabody Award
Emmy Nomination
Cable ACE Nomination
Image Award Nomination, Best TV Film of the Year
“A GATHERING OF MEN & SHIPS”
Golden Eagle, CINE International
Gold Medal, New York Film & TV Festival
1st Place, Syndicated TV Show of the Year
“THE WEST WING” – TV PILOT
9 Emmy’s for the Pilot Show
“PERFECT HARMONY”
Cable ACE Nomination
“THIS FAR BY FAITH”
Gold Medal, New York Film & TV Festival
“EUROPE & AMERICA”
Freedom Foundation Award for Film Excellence
Golden Eagle, CINE International
Gold Medal, New York Film & TV Festival
Silver Bear (1st Place), Berlin Film Festival
1st Place: Venice Film Festival
1st Place: Cinematique Francais
1st Place: Brussels Film Festival
“PROMISE FOR THE FUTURE”
Golden Eagle, CINE International
Silver Medal, New York Film & TV Festival
PRINT AND ADVERTISING:
AMERICAN FILM MARKET
1st Place, Poster Competition, 1989
1st Place, Poster Competition, 1990
(Note: Posters are then used as the Festival poster of that year)
LOS ANGELES ART DIRECTORS AWARDS
(2) for AFM posters
“WIRED TO KILL” THEATRICAL TRAILER
1st Place, Telly Awards, Theatrical Film Advertising
HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
Honorable Mention for Theatrical Poster, “Wired to Kill”
Plus multiple awards for television commercials
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