Mike Mathis
President

The New York Times says that a recent series “The Chef Jeff Project” feels “like reality TV giving back and compensating for a hundred prior sins.” Yet, “all of the mediated altruism doesn’t mean things get dull.” Mike Mathis Productions, Inc. is the Los Angeles based production company of Emmy-nominated television producer-director Mike Mathis. Since its creation in 2001, the company has quickly grown into one of the leading suppliers of non-fiction entertainment to the television industry.


Mike began his television career directing the long-running NBC series “Unsolved Mysteries,” traveling the country directing some of the show’s most elaborate and complex reenactments (including every imaginable form of UFO and criminal enterprise). Mike directed on the series for ten years and was nominated for a primetime Emmy for his work. In his early years, Mike directed the “When Animals Attack” franchise for FOX (inspiring a pop culture phrase for the ages) and the NBC primetime series “Final Appeal” and “The Story Behind the Story.”
He directed the London re-enactments for the FOX TV primetime special “Secret Identity of Jack the Ripper with Peter Ustinov” and wrote, produced and directed multiple television specials for FOX and myriad cable networks.

Mike started Mike Mathis Productions, Inc in 2001 with the special “Rocket’s Red Glare” for TLC. Since then, the company has grown
exponentially.

Mike is a graduate of Occidental College in Los Angeles. He is a life-long lover of magic, collector of vintage magic posters and a magician
member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood.

Brian Puterman
Senior Vice President New Show Development and Creative Affairs

Brian is a graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston. He began his career as an advertising copywriter for print, radio and television. He worked for such well-known agencies as Saatchi and Saatchi and Film Syndicate creating promos for series and specials.
Brian also worked on such blue chips accounts as Bank of America, Canon, MTV, Miramax and Fox Films, and promotional campaigns for movies including Ice Age and American Beauty. During this time Brian also served as a contributing editor for several film magazines including European Cinema Quarterly.

Brian began creating television programming in 1997 for the company My Potential. His work included projects with Kelsey Grammar and French Stewart as well as developing shows with Madonna’s Maverick Films.

Brian went on to produce and develop series for the production company World Of Wonder, including “House Of Clues,” “The History of Modern Architecture” and “Wired for Sex.”

Brian came to Mike Mathis Productions, Inc. in 2003 where he is the Creative Director in charge of new show formatting, development, and talent. He directs show pilots, manages creative affairs, and heads up the never-ending search for new and unique television talent.

Jud Cremata
Executive in Charge of Production

After graduating from the USC School of Cinema-Television, Jud worked his way up through independent feature films as an accountant, first assistant director, production manager, and producer. His record for being on budget led to an association with low-budget king Roger Corman and to producing Japanese novelist/director Ryu Murakami's “Because of You.” In 1999, Jud produced Emmy Award- winning actor/director Bryan Cranston's "Last Chance” for Showtime.

In 2001, Jud founded Budgetcheetah.com, a network of working producers specializing in television and feature production budget estimations touted by MovieMaker Magazine as providing “all the tools you need to start pre-production”.

As writer, director and later supervising producer for Animal Planet’'s “The Jeff Corwin Experience", Jud filmed host Jeff Corwin in dozens of the most remote places on earth and helmed the show during its highest ratings period.

Jud joined Mike Mathis Productions in 2007 and oversees all show budgets and schedules and company operations.

Lee Toft
Vice President Post Production

Lee is a graduate of Yale University where he studied English and Music and has a degree in Liberal Arts.
He began his television career in 1991 in post production and served as post production supervisor for numerous series and specials, including the widely syndicated “American Gladiators,” “The World’s Funniest,” on FOX, “Harry Connick, Jr.’s Harry for the Holidays” on NBC and “The Planet’s Funniest Animals” for Animal Planet. During this time Lee also received an Emmy for his work as assistant director on NBC’s 1996 Olympic Games.

Lee and Mike Mathis first worked together over 15 years ago. Since joining the company in 2004 it has enjoyed incredible growth and success, which Lee continues to help manage. He runs the company’s complex post operations, juggling myriad shows and production schedules. He makes sure the trains leave the station on time and that all of the passengers are pampered and well fed.

Lee is a lifelong lover of music who once played trumpet for the Broadway musical “Beatlemania.”

Michelle Kim
Controller.and Director.of HR

Michelle Kim graduated from Mount Saint Mary's college with a Bachelors degree in Liberal Arts and Business.   She started her career working for MMC, Inc., an independent Professional Employer Organization, providing Human Resource Consulting, Payroll Services, Benefits Management and Preventive Training in all types of industries. 

Her background gave her the opportunity to work in the Entertainment Industry concentrating in Production Office management, HR services and Accounting for Entertainment Companies.  She became Controller and Head of Finance for Mobscene, a Creative Advertisement Production Company, working with clients such as Fox Entertainment, Universal Studios, MGM, Warner Brothers, Disney and HBO.  Michelle currently serves as Mike Mathis Productions, Inc’s Controller and Director of HR.