Biography
Emmy® Award-winning writer and producer Steven Jon Whritner has served in senior executive level positions at several of the leading cable and broadcast networks. Whritner has also created and produced more than 100 hours of successful television programming netting many of the industry's top honors.
Whritner served as senior producer at A&E Networks; Creative Director and Executive in Charge of On-air Promotion at United Paramount Network's flagship station in New York, UPN 9; and Vice President of Creative Services for Food Network where he spearheaded the network's complete corporate re-design, while packaging hit shows such as "Emeril Live".
Whritner also served as Executive Vice President, Production and Development at Big Chief Entertainment, Inc. where he created and produced several long-running television series, including TLC's award-winning "Repo Men: Stealing for a Living" and the dating game show "Get The HookUp" for TV One, among others.
Prior to Big Chief, Whritner was one of television's leading marketing and promotion executives and was instrumental in the launching and branding of several leading cable networks, while also overseeing high-end marketing campaigns for major network and studio clients, such as ABC, CBS, NBC, HBO, MTV Networks, Showtime Networks, Discovery Communications, History Channel, HGTV, Paramount Television, Buena Vista Television, Fox Television, Warner Brothers Television, and Proctor and Gamble Productions.
In addition to his extensive producing career, Whritner's writing for film and television has been recognized for excellence by today's leading screenwriting competitions, including the Page International Screenwriting Awards, Creative World Awards, Austin Film Festival, Tracking Board's Launchpad Competitions, and the prestigious Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting. Recent writing commissions include the major motion picture screenplays for the sci-fi odyssey "Tartarus", the family drama "A Father's War", and the psychological thriller "The Huntsman".
In 2006 Whritner launched Plymouth Rock Entertainment, Inc., a creative agency specializing in the development, production and marketing of a vast range of entertainment content, including the nationally syndicated daytime court show "Jury Duty" for which Whritner served as an executive producer. Current Plymouth Rock projects in active development include the scripted dramas "License to Steal", "Ravenous", and "Son of the Dragon".
Whritner attended Rhode Island School of Design and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Film and Television from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Since then and throughout his career Whritner's work has been recognized with numerous industry accolades, including an Emmy®, multiple Telly's, and the prestigious World Class Award, PromaxBDA's highest honor.
Whritner recently served on the Board of Directors for Stowe Story Labs, New England's premiere institute for emerging screenwriters and creative producers, and is a senior advisor to the Board of Directors of the Sam Houston Southwest Film Investment Fund, LLC, while also serving as the Fund's Executive Vice President, Production and Development.
