KAREN BUNTING
PRODUCTION & OPERATIONS
I’m a senior television Production Executive with over 20 years’ experience bringing complex productions to life. I’m driven by creative problem-solving, calm leadership and a genuine curiosity about people.
I’m a senior television Production Executive with over 20 years’ experience bringing complex productions to life. I’m driven by creative problem-solving, calm leadership and a genuine curiosity about people.
I’ve worked in television production since 2002, across a wide range of genres and production environments. My experience spans budgeting, scheduling, resourcing, commercial operations and crew management. As my roles have become more senior, my focus has increasingly been on leadership, people and creating effective working environments.
Here are the credits and adventures that got me here.
Production Executive - Endemol Shine Australia
MasterChef Australia S18 & S19
Executive oversight of one of Australia's largest television productions, with responsibility for budgets, brand partnerships, scheduling and resourcing. Working closely with production teams and Heads of Department to manage the practical and resourcing challenges that come with a large, fast-moving production.
Production Supervisor - Endemol Shine Australia
MasterChef Australia S16 & S17, Dessert Masters S2, The Hundred with Andy Lee Series 6-9, MasterChef USA S15, Tipping Point S1.
Across a busy slate of major formats, end to end production supervision covering resource management, budgeting, business affairs, international filming oversight, contracting and HOD liaison.
Line Producer - ITV USA
Love Island S5 & Love Island Games S1
On the ground in Fiji for one of the world's biggest reality formats. Australian crew engagement, day to day production management, OH&S and wages.
Production Supervisor - Endemol Shine Australia
Food Stars S1 Australia
Full production supervision across studio and location for Gordon Ramsay's Australian debut, covering resourcing, budgeting, compliance and department oversight.
Line Producer, Black Fox Productions
Wild Food S1
Location based food documentary series shot across Australia.
Head of Production - 7PM Company
The Project
Led production across 12 departments with responsibility for resourcing, recruitment, team development, budgeting and network liaison. Managed the production through COVID, balancing rapidly changing operational requirements with the needs of the team.
Supervising Production Manager - Endemol Shine Australia
MasterChef Australia S9 - S13 & Junior MasterChef S1
Managed a crew of 120 across 10 departments over six series of MasterChef and Junior MasterChef. Responsible for budgeting, scheduling, resourcing and production operations across shoots throughout Australia and internationally, including Japan. Developed and implemented COVID-safe production practices in 2020.
Executive Production Manager - 7PM Project
The Project
Managed business affairs, budgeting and production operations for a daily live television program. Responsible for budget development and management, contracts, crew procurement and resourcing across production and post production.
Production Manager - Matchbox Productions
The Real Housewives of Melbourne S1
Australia's debut Housewives franchise brought to life. Procurement, cost reporting, legal compliance and production systems built from scratch for a brand new format.
Line Producer - 360 Degree Films
Devil Island
Documentary development, funding procurement and production of natural history content for international and domestic broadcast partners. Multi-funded long form documentary series.
Senior Production Manager - Active TV
Prank Patrol
Fast turnaround children's reality series shot across Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne. OB production oversight, local and interstate crew procurement and working with children compliance.
Line Producer / Head of Production - Buto Productions
Ever Wondered S3
Led the team day to day at one of Auckland's most dynamic boutique production companies. Developed and wrote series concepts and pitches, and managed milestone reporting and cost management across four projects for filming bodies and networks.
Production Manager / Film Victoria Producer Internship - Circe Films
Australians Exposed
Film Victoria Producer Internship. Shoot setup, permits, crew and equipment booking across a documentary series.
Production Manager - Horizon Films
TVCs & Branded Content
Budgeting, crew management and post production oversight across TVC and external client projects shot on film in and around Melbourne.
Production Manager - ABH Productions
DownsizeMe
Day to day management of one of New Zealand's most successful reality formats of its time. Scheduling, location management, creative development and production systems.
Production Manager / Research - Two Heads Ltd
Making Tracks
Location based travel and music series shot across Brazil, Jamaica, China, Israel, India and South Africa. International cash management, talent procurement and musical clearance.
Production Manager - Butobase Ltd
Rodeo Kaupoai 1 & 2, Rockin’ Rowles & Ngāti Porou Hauora
Maori cultural documentary and music programming for New Zealand broadcast. Development, budgeting, in-house post production facility management and funding body reporting.
Production Assistant-Production Coordinator & AP
Ask Your Auntie, Baby Charlotte, Courtroom 8, Children Who Kill, Going Going Gone & Serious Crash Unit
Three years at one of New Zealand's leading factual television companies. Across six series, learned the craft from the ground up. Running tapes, art directing re-enactments and everything in between.
ACAP University College (Australia)
Australian Human Resources School (Australia)
South Seas Film & Television School (New Zealand)
Otago University (New Zealand)
Footscray
Melbourne, Vic, 3012