Production Team

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     EMMY winner John M. Best received his early start when he was chosen from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst to participate in the Walt Disney World College Program. This opportunity gave him valuable experience coordinating various presentations, special events, and public relations projects for Disney's College Relations Department.  Moving to Magic Kingdom Entertainment, John served as a coordinator and performer in the Main Street Electrical Light Parade, ABC's "Walt Disney World's Very Merry Christmas Parade," various holiday and special event shows, and the SuperBowl XVIII Half-time show.

            While attending Adelphi University in New York, John further distinguished himself by producing and directing a magazine show that won him the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Frank O'Connor Memorial Award for the Northeast region. Pursuing an interest in variety television, he produced and directed regional talent shows for both American Express and Crystal Light.

            Joining NBC in New York upon graduation, John assisted the producers of variety specials on such shows as the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" and the "Tournament of Roses Parade."  For NBC News, he worked on the "News 4 New York Weekend Report" and the "Decision '84 Election Coverage."  He then went to ABC to help coordinate the "Liberty Weekend Opening and Closing Ceremonies."

            Moving to California, John assisted the Executive Producer at NBC Productions on a number of television movies of the week including "CONVICTED: A Mother's Story," "The Abduction of Kari Swenson," and "The Little Match Girl." While at NBC Productions he also developed Olympic and children's programming.  For four years in a row, John was selected as one of the producers for NBC's Movies, Mini-Series, and Specials Presentation in which the network announces its new Fall programming schedule.

            John freelances in various capacities from Producer to Production Supervisor on various specials and award shows including: the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, the Emmy, Daytime Emmy, Grammy, Screen Actor's Guild, National CableACE, Clio, MTV Video Music, World Music from Monte Carlo, Jim Thorpe Pro Sports Awards, Stellar Gospel Music, Victory, and The Peoples Choice Award Shows, "Funny Women of Television: A Museum of Television and Radio Tribute," "The 1992 Republican National Convention," "Unsolved Mysteries LIVE," "The Judds Farewell Concert," "SuperBowl XXVII Half-time Show with Michael Jackson," "The SuperBowl XXXI Half-time Show - Blues Bash," "The Grand Ole Opry's 65th
Anniversary Celebration," various Disney TV specials such as "Walt Disney World's 4th of July Spectacular," "Walt Disney World's 25th Anniversary Special," "The Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas Parade & Happy Easter Parades," "For Our Children," "The American Film Institute Salute to Sidney Poitier," "The Kennedy Center Honors," "HBO Comedy Hour - A New York Night LIVE!," "Rosie O'Donnell's Comedy Special for HBO," "The Miss USA, Universe, Collegiate, and Miss Teen USA Pageants," "The Wizard of Oz: In Concert," "Supermodel of the World," "The Pillsbury Bake-Off," "Grammy Living Legends," various MTV Specials, and "Season's Greetings with the John Williams and the Boston Pops Orchestra."

His recent television producing and/or directing credits include the National Independence Day 4th of July Parade in Washington D.C., the Miss Florida USA Pageant, ìThe 2002 Olympic Winter Games Opening and Closing Ceremoniesî in Salt Lake City,î ìThe 74th Annual Academy Awards,î ì several ìWalt Disney World Christmas Day Paradesî for ABC, ìTíwas the Night Before Christmasî for Disney and ABC, a segment for ìDick Clarkís Rockiní New Yearís Eveî for ABC, Philadelphia's 4th of July and Thanksgiving Day Parades, "Summer Jam Concert Special" for ABC, "The Show for the NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco,"  "The 2000 Grammy Awards Preview Show hosted by Gloria Estefan," "Philadelphia's Millennium 24 Hour Party Celebration for 6ABC and the City, "Merle Haggard: For the Record," "The CMA Awards Backstage Pass," "1999 Walt Disney World Very Merry Christmas and Happy Easter Parades" for ABC, two 1-hour NASCAR Rocks music specials for TNN, the video segments for CeCe Winans' World Tour, the Closing Ceremony of the "Goodwill Games" in New York City and "Alabama: For The Record - 41 Number One Hits" which aired as a pay-per-view special, a 3 Hour TNN Special and is currently on the market as a video and DVD.

John has also produced and directed various industrial, corporate, live event and live stage productions including a product launch for Samsung Electronics at the new Jazz at Lincoln Center Rose Theatre in New York City, a show called ìElementsî for Hardrive Productions which was produced in Shenzhen, China, the Major League Soccer Gala Awards, Liz Claiborne, Town and Country Magazine, Cyndi Lauper, the ìDíArcy Uprising International Conference in Puerto Rico,î ìMercedes Benz ìAî Class Launch at the Geneva Auto Show in Switzerland, "The Earth, Wind and Fire Water Spectacular for Mercedes Benz in Las Vegas," "24 Hour Millennium Party" for the City of Philadelphia, "1999 ShoWest Awards" for the National Association of Theatre Owners, 4 "Headdress Balls" benefiting the Hope & Help Center of Central Florida, "Philadelphia's Marian Anderson Award Honoring Harry Belafonte and Gregory Peck," The Porsche Boxter launch, "The Harris Corporation's Rock 'n Jock Jam," "The Show at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden for the NBA and TNT," 6 National Sales Meetings for Karastan Carpets, "The Friday Night Celebration Show for the National CableACE Awards," "The Walt Disney World College Program 10 and 15 Year Reunion Celebrations," "Partners for the Long Run," "Celebrate LA," the "EFFIE Awards" for the American Marketing Association, "The Icon Awards" for Adweek Magazine and Disney College Program Alumni regional events which are held all over the country.  He recently received the Spot Light Award for Event Professional of the Year by Event Solutions.

            John produced and directed all of the materials for the Video Screens for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City.  He has had the honor and the opportunity of working on both Opening and Closing Ceremonies for a Summer and Winter Olympic Games.  Other notable credits include being an Associate Director on the ì74th Annual Academy Awardsî from Hollywood on ABC of which he received a Directorís Guild of America Award nomination.  Recently, John Produced and Directed Sprint/Nextelís ìSalute to Americaî at the Daytona 500 for the Daytona International Speedway and FOX Television.  The show featured Kelly Clarkson and a cast of over 2,500 performers.  Past shows he produced at the 500 included the talents of Bon Jovi, LeAnn Rimes, Lee Greenwood, Clint Black, Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, Five for Fighting and Vanessa Williams plus casts of more than 3,000 performers.  He has produced 2 Miss Americaís Outstanding Teen Competitions and is preparing his third pageant which will be held this summer.
           
Projects for 2007 include The Parade of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the National Memorial Day Parade, the National Independence Day 4th of July Parade all in Washington D.C., Miss Americaís Outstanding Competition, Philadelphiaís Thanksgiving Day Parade which will make this the 9th year he has produced and written the show for ABC TV in Philadelphia and syndication and Walt Disney Worldís Christmas Day Parade which marks his 13th year producing the show for ABC of which he recently received a Daytime Emmy Award for Best Special Class Special.  He has been nominated two times in this category.