NICOLE SELLARS, CPC

Actor/Host/Producer

Founder of TV Hosting Academy & Nicole Sellars Studios

SAG/AFTRA

Native New Yorker and Atlanta transplant Nicole Sellars is a veteran Actress, TV Host, Journalist, Producer and Media Trainer with over 15 years experience in the TV/Film industry.

Sellars is currently a working actress, member of the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Radio and Television Artists. She is also a Certified Professional Media Coach specializing in broadcast media and branding. Some of the core skills she teaches her clients are how to perform as a TV host, news writing, reporting, interviewing, how to use a teleprompter, and how to create compelling content across all multimedia platforms.

In addition to her on screen and coaching projects, Backstage.com, which garners millions of readers, also named her a Backstage Expert in the TV Hosting and Broadcast industry. Sellars remains a Backstage.com Contributing Editor and has written close to a dozen expert advice articles for the publication.

Sellars worked as an Anchor/Reporter for big names in the broadcast news industry including NBC Cleveland (WKYC-TV), News 12 Long Island (NY), FiOS1 News (NY), AOL News (NY), WLNY TV 10/55 News (NY), Voom HD News (NY) and NYC-TV. Sellars was also a creative mind behind the scenes at MTV Networks as a PA & Producer in the on-air promos department. 

Sellars has covered a myriad of national breaking news stories over the years live from the anchor desk, including the capture and death of Osama bin Laden, out in the field during President Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign as well as the Gilgo Beach serial killer, and reported live from the red carpet for prestigious celebrity award ceremonies including the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction.

Sellars conceptualized NBC Cleveland’s first Digital Trend segment where she took on the role as Digital Trend Reporter and was one of the main Hosts for AOL’s first live news programming venture AOL LIVE! 

Sellars love for TV didn’t stop there. She landed supporting roles on hit TV shows Swamp Thing, Deputy, Devious Maids, The Following, The Americans and was a VO for HBO’s VEEP. Sellars even worked alongside Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood in The Ballad of Richard Jewell.

In 2012, Sellars merged her love for entrepreneurship and the media and launched TV Hosting Academy, LLC - A boutique talent development company specializing in media training for celebrities, corporate professionals, broadcasters, TV hosts and on air experts.

TV Hosting Academy trains on air professionals how to perform their best on TV and guides clients through the creative process; including news writing, content creation as well as video production. Sellars collaborates with schools and other organizations in an effort to bring hands on training and personal attention to smaller venues. The company also offers high quality talent demo reels to assist clients with the job application process.

Special Skills Include:

  • TV Hosting

  • News Writing

  • Final Cut Pro

  • Content Creation

  • Reporting & Anchoring

  • Interviewing

  • Producing

  • Media Training

  • Communications Management

  • Development

  • Strategic Partnerships

contact

nicolesellars@tvhostingacademy.com

 

Location

Atlanta, GA

*Virtual Sessions Available

 

REPRESENTATION

News & Hosting: Mark Turner

A3 Artists Agency

Atlanta TV, Film, Hosting & Commercial: Thom Milam (Southeast Only)

People Store



 

Nicole Sellars Theatrical Reel

nicole sellars anchoring top news, entertainment news, working the red carpet & more!

TV Host/Anchor Nicole Sellars News Reel. Includes clips from AOL News, WKYC-TV, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction red carpet interviews.

NOVEMBER 19, 2019

Life and Work with Nicole Sellars

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From the article posted on VoyageATL.com
http://voyageatl.com/interview/life-work-nicole-sellars/


Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Sellars.

Nicole Sellars is a former New York News Anchor/TV Host, and current SAG Actor and Certified Professional Media Coach. With a combined 20 years of experience in broadcast news, tv hosting and acting she has acquired an invaluable skill set for one of the most difficult and sought-after careers in the world. 

Sellars has worked for big names in the TV and film industry including MTV, NBC and AOL, and has also appeared in several primetime TV shows and films including The Resident, Swamp Thing, American Soul, Deputy, The Following, Tyler Perry’s Nobody’s Fool and Clint Eastwood’s latest film Richard Jewell. Sellars is also a freelance instructor at The Connecticut School of Broadcasting in ATL and has coached many successful students there for the past 4 years.

As a child actor, Nicole appeared in several national commercials. She left the business in the 90’s to focus on her studies, friends and sports. She was an avid women’s lacrosse player in high school and college and was named team captain in both her junior and senior year.

Her first job out of college was a Production Assistant at MTV Networks in New York City. She was given the opportunity to write and produce on-air promos, some of which led to interviews with music legends. This experience drove her to pursue her broadcast journalism career.

Sellars rose up the ranks quickly from a General Assignment Reporter to a full-time Anchor/Reporter for top 20 news markets and spent most of her time in the #1 news market in the country, New York. After a decade of journalism Sellars decided to pursue more light-hearted jobs and found her niche in personality-driven hosting. She landed the coveted co-host spot on AOL LIVE! AOL’s first live news programming venture.

While working on-air she launched TV Hosting Academy in 2012 in New York. She conducted workshops and virtual sessions to build clientele and garnered the title The Camera Ready Coach by her students. She has also been named a Backstage.com Industry Expert for Hosting and continues to write for the publication which garners millions of readers.

In 2015, Sellars relocated to Atlanta. She has booked recurring roles on Atlanta based TV shows and continues to practice her craft in the city she now calls home. Sellars is represented by Jason Lockhart of Atlanta Models and Talent.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wish I could say it was a smooth road! Anyone starting a business has to deal with some type of struggle, right? I didn’t crowd source or receive any type of funding to launch my business. I used the money from my previous client or job to pay my next expense. Trying to keep costs low when starting out was a challenge. I learned how to utilize social media (still learning) and accepted that it’s okay to talk about yourself and your business when out in a social setting. You never know who you’re going to meet.

I remember telling minimal information about what “I do” when people asked. What a waste of time that was! I later found out that some of those people were quite impressed by what I do and almost always asked me for advice. 

Please tell us about TV Hosting Academy.
Sellars launched TV Hosting Academy in 2012 in New York when she realized the lack of support for broadcast media talent. Being in the news business herself, she longed for mentors, guidance, additional training and tools to boost her TV career. 

“In the beginning of my news and hosting career it was a sink or swim environment”., says Sellars. “It was very hard to grow as an on camera professional when the world was watching my every move. I wish I had someone to help guide me through those tough times who understood what I was going through.”

When the digital revolution happened a larger pool of talent was needed to create compelling content for various media platforms. Individuals also wanted to make a name for themselves as Influencers, Vloggers and Hosts. With the lack of on camera training and career guidance offered in the industry, Sellars felt compelled to fill that void for her fellow artists. She knew their skills needed to be stellar all wrapped in a marketable package.

TV Hosting Academy helps guide TV Hosts, Vloggers, Influencers, Broadcasters and On-Camera Experts (think Dr. Oz) through their professional journey. Clients have landed talent agents, managers and on camera jobs at HGTV, QVC, Fox Business Network and more! Career guidance, on-camera training and branding are all part of TV Hosting Academy’s boutique services. Private virtual sessions can be booked and weekend intensives are typically held in ATL.

What advice would you give to someone at the start of her career?

  • Utilize local networking groups that align with your business goals.

  • In the beginning, offer some services for free or at a low cost just to get your name out there and receive some online reviews.

  • Nail down your niche, audience and always have a goal in mind so you’re not working aimlessly.

Too many days (and nights) were wasted in front of the computer trying to reach people who could care less about the services I offered, and worse wouldn’t ever pay for!

  • Explain why you’re valuable and why they need you. What can you do for THEM? What problem are you going to solve?

  • Write out your goals and a timeline.

  • Stick to a schedule and pencil in networking events, social media marketing and applicable webinars.

  • Just keep learning! Building a business and brand is a process that takes time and thought.

  • Know your value and what you can bring to others.

  • Practice your pitch and be personable. Remember, it’s about the client, not you. Offer helpful hints so they can grow, and in turn, you will too!

Contact Info:


Image Credit:
Sarah Vitel Photography, Tracy Page Photography
Original post - http://voyageatl.com/interview/life-work-nicole-sellars/

Audio interview of the above video. I shares the details of the journey from production assistant at MTV to entrepreneur and actress.


Book an Appointment

Nicole is a Media Consultant, Producer and Talent Coach. Looking to boost your brand and business through the power of media or transition your talents to TV as an expert host? Let’s talk.

 
 
 

Nicole Sellars Studios is a boutique creative agency for ambitious on-camera talent and brands. Our specialties include creative direction on personal and company branding, generating engaging content using the latest trends in high-end production including remote video and podcast productions.

Our creative team will help you articulate your mission and value in engaging ways for a variety of platforms. With decades of TV and film experience as a journalist, host, and producer for networks including MTV, AOL, NBC, and more, Nicole Sellars and her team will take your vision and develop it from concept to creation.

We can produce weekly/monthly content from a one-day shoot and advise all professionals tight on time to take advantage of this convenient content creation package.

We also offer highly selective casting services for high-end projects that only suit our elite roster of talent ranging from live events, home shopping, SMT hosts, entertainment hosts, experts in a variety of niches and industries, and more. 

*We do not work with anyone looking to cast unpaid talent or hold mass open casting calls. 

We have close relationships with talent agents and managers in NY, LA, ATL, and cities across the US and only work with top-tier talent with years of experience or who hold a professional degree in their area of expertise.

We look forward to learning more about your project and working with you!

 

LOOK and FEEL

Nicole Sellars Studios has partnerships with several content studios in and around metro Atlanta to ensure the style and vibe fit your brand and messaging. Our small creative team will also travel on location to select areas within metro Atlanta.

Our remote production services make is easy for you to shoot ongoing engaging content within one hour and never leaving the comfort of your home or office.

Want your own podcast or YouTube show? We take care of it all! We will help take your video and/or audio podcast from concept to creation.

*All services are by appointment only.