SURFSIDE PRODUCTIONS NON-FICTION FILM AND TELEVISION

EXPERIENCE

Daniel Snyder's career has been built around a single skill: translating real-life events into clear, compelling narratives that audiences can follow, trust, and remember.

I am a journalist and documentary writer, producer and show runner who has created hundreds of hours of factual programming for Discovery, National Geographic, HBO Max, History Channel, CNN, and Disney+. I first learned to tell a story as a teenager, working at the famed Video Archives video store in Manhattan Beach, California, at the same time as Quentin Tarantino and several other future filmmakers.

After five years at Archives, where I worked while getting a degree in Communications from UCLA, I moved into journalism, starting my career at public radio's international business program, Marketplace. I moved from researcher to Los Angeles Correspondent, covering breaking news, immigration, business, and the entertainment industry. During that time, I was a member of reporting and producing teams that earned both the duPont-Columbia Silver Baton and the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business Journalism.

Daniel Snyder in Berlin Daniel in the newsroom

From Marketplace, I joined CNN, producing news magazine stories and documentaries for CNN NewsStand while field producing political coverage for the network's Washington Bureau and news stories for the nightly newscast. As the primary producer for NewsStand's senior anchor, I traveled throughout the United States and around the world producing stories. The program received a National Headliner Award for excellence in news magazine journalism.

For the past two decades, I've created documentary programming for Discovery, National Geographic, History, HBO Max, and many other global brands. I have served as producer and supervising producer for the Emmy-winning series Deadliest Catch for ten seasons. I have written more than 25 hours of true crime programs for Investigation Discovery and I have worked on other award-winning series such as Life Below Zero, The Universe, and Tabloid. Four episodes of Deadliest Catch that I helped write, produce, and supervise were nominated for Emmy Awards.

Daniel conducting an interior interview shoot Professional editing suite Deadliest Catch filming

Daniel Snyder

Founder

Daniel Snyder headshot
LinkedIn Vimeo Resume
View My Work → Film crew shooting in foggy field

KEY COLLABORATORS

Every project deserves the right creative team. We draw from a network of award-winning filmmakers whose work spans Discovery, National Geographic, CNN, HBO Max, and other global brands—bringing exceptional craft, experience, and storytelling to your film.

Jamieson Tabb, Creative Director

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

JAMIESON TABB

Jamieson Tabb is a Los Angeles–based film and television editor with over 20 years of experience in post-production across features, docuseries, commercials, and branded content. Known for his instinctive rhythm, emotional precision, and collaborative approach, Jamieson shapes stories with clarity and intent. Comfortable working across a wide range of genres, audiences, and storytelling styles, he approaches each project with a strong sensitivity to tone, pacing, and perspective. For more about Jamieson, check out: https://jamiesontabb.com.

Hugh Elliott, ACE, Editor

EDITOR

HUGH ELLIOTT, ACE

A four-time Emmy nominee for editing, Hugh Elliott has served as editor or supervising editor on some of the most prestigious programs in non-fiction television, including DEADLIEST CATCH (Discovery), ALASKA: THE LAST FRONTIER (Discovery), and GLORY HOUNDS (Animal Planet). He began his career in journalism, editing news stories for Nightline, PrimeTime Live, 20/20, and World News Tonight. For more about Hugh, check out: https://www.hughelliott.com.

Jim Hense, Producer

PRODUCER

JIM HENSE

Jim Hense is a savvy and thoughtful producer with more than 25 years of experience writing, producing, directing and supervising documentaries for Discovery, History, TLC, National Geographic, Netflix, and Disney+. He has produced and shot high-profile documentaries across the country and around the world, including FIRE CHASERS on Netflix, DEADLIEST CATCH on Discovery, IT’S A DOG’S LIFE on Disney+, and the influential LIFE AFTER PEOPLE for History Channel.