luke o’sullivan
producer, director & founder of
lucid productions
SHE’S ON THE MONEY
Executive producer & head of content role
Click here for my PDF Cover Letter.
See below for examples of my favourite projects, answers to your questions, and more info about my work.
my top projects
women in television: the debate
I was extremely proud to produce Net-A-Porter’s annual Women In Television issue featuring TV stars Ellen Pompeo, Gina Rodriguez, Gabrielle Union & Emma Roberts. After producing the previous year’s Women in Television Debate, my regular client Net-a-Porter trusted me once again to produce this debate-style interview that bravely dived into topics rarely covered in editorial content.
Ellen Pompeo’s comments on race and gender equity gained millions of views and enormous media attention. While some media articles described Ellen as “calling out the magazine”, I was standing behind the camera during her comments and was involved in the magazine’s decision to publish them anyway. Ask me and I’ll tell you the true behind the scenes story!
This production involved multiple sound stages and studios all working on a very tight, interlocking schedule to allow for the client’s still photography and video content needs. Each actress had a solo photoshoot and individual interview before the big group debate, requiring multiple cameras and sets running at the same time. The complexity of the schedule required immense planning and precision, while the A-list talent meant the day needed to have a luxe, easy-going vibe.
As the lead producer, I was responsible for production strategy, planning operations and overseeing the production from start to finish. With the Net-a-Porter team flying in from London, they relied on me to handle every element of physical production. I was also responsible for coordinating with each actress’ PR teams, ensuring a smooth production for all talent.
KHLOE KARDASHIAN & NET-A-PORTER COLLAB
Net-a-Porter commissioned me to produce their collaboration with Khloe Kardashian and her brand Good American. One of Net-a-Porter’s biggest video shoots to date, this production was executive produced by me on behalf of their team in London.
Net-a-Porter, Good American and the Kardashians all have their own unique aesthetic and creative voices, so working as the go-between for these 3 iconic institutions required my best problem solving and production leadership skills.
I was responsible for all pre-production, from hiring and briefing the video crew to handling set design and coordinating with the Kardashian team. With Net-a-Porter’s video director in London, I directed Khloe and the video team and was in charge of running the day, ensuring a smooth shoot for Khloe, client and crew.
Short film: blindspot
In 2024, a short film that I wrote, directed and produced premiered at the LA Shorts International Film Festival and was a semi-finalist at the Australian Independent Film Festival.
BLINDSPOT takes place over the course of one night, as a traumatized woman deals with the aftermath of a fatal car accident.
The film is about what happens when the justice system fails women, and what needs to happen for powerful men to be held accountable for their crimes.
While this project is a very different genre to SOTM, it shows that my production experience is backed up by creative vision and an instinct for powerful storytelling. It also shows my dedication to themes of equality and bringing attention to women’s issues.
if i joined sotm…
“What is one conversation, content idea or new format you think we should explore?
Tell us why our audience would care about it and how you could see the idea coming to life across more than one platform”
australia’s big bet
a deep dive exposing the hidden structure behind Australia’s gambling system - and why nothing changes
SOTM has already made some great content about Australia’s gambling crisis and what to do if you or someone you know is struggling. My proposal is to do a separate deep dive that looks at the structural reasons why nothing changes, despite overwhelming public support for reform.
Australians already understand that something is wrong. What they do not understand is why nothing changes. This deep dive will explore the structural, systemic and economic reasons why, despite broad public support, the system remains the same.
because It’s not just everyday Australians who are addicted to gambling
An interconnected web of gambling companies, sporting leagues, media organisations and political parties have become reliant on the $32+ billion Australians lose to gambling every year. This podcast episode and accompanying social media clips will help explain why - for the 80% of Australians who want to see meaningful change - the odds are stacked against us.
Instead of focusing on gambling at the individual level, this episode would explore the structural, political and economic reasons why nothing changes. The majority of the SOTM audience would already support gambling reform due to the harms it causes in our families and communities, but they are probably not aware of the vast web of adjacent industries that bolster and protect the gambling industry from any meaningful change.
For example:
Unlike the rest of the world, major Australian sporting bodies are major financial stakeholders in the gambling industry. In a uniquely Australian model, major sporting bodies receive direct revenue from betting on their competitions through “product fees”, payments tied directly to the volume of gambling activity. This means that any meaningful change will be aggressively opposed by all major media outlets.
The episode would also explore what it means when our state governments’ tax revenues are financially dependent on gambling revenues, meaning that our own government benefits from maintaining the highest gambling losses in the world.
This episode would explain to the SOTM audience how economic incentives often drive policy and decision-making more than public opinion. Gambling reform has been getting a huge amount of traction on social media, and with guests or collabs with advocates like @PuntersPolitics, this fresh take from SOTM would move the conversation forward in a new way.
thank you for reading my application so far!
Below is an existing presentation I’ve shared with clients that gives you more information about me and my work.
Feel free to keep reading or to explore the rest of my website to see my full body of work.
Thanks again for your time.
-luke
world-class visual campaigns
In 2019 I founded Lucid Productions, a Los Angeles-based production company specializing in creating high-end visual campaigns for international brands shooting in the U.S.
global teams, united vision
I’ve led teams of 50+ across multiple time zones, managing the needs & expectations of a large group of stakeholders. My passion is ensuring that a diverse range of talented people all have what they need to excel in their unique roles.
a birds-eye view
With years of experience overseeing a range of creative disciplines, I have in-depth knowledge of how to strategise, coordinate, innovate and spearhead the production of ambitious projects from initial concept to final rollout.
Combining this practical experience with mindfulness & reflection, my strength lies in being able to zoom out & view complex production operations from a broader perspective.
process & innovation
I thrive on creating & refining production processes, elevating the craft while ensuring we work smarter, not just harder. With major clients traveling to the U.S to shoot their campaigns with Lucid Productions, I’ve been responsible for strategising, developing & executing entire production processes from start to finish in LA, New York and around the U.S.
from lax to final delivery
I’ve delivered exceptional production experiences for major international brands including Google, H&M, Virgin Atlantic, Speedo & many more. Please explore my website to view more of the productions I’ve guided to success.
investing wisely
Responsible for executing productions with massive budgets as well as those with limited resources, I have extensive experience balancing big ideas with smart spending to always achieve exceptional results.
Producing is not just about how much money you spend or save - it’s about knowing how to invest that money wisely and in the right areas.
leading with humility
One of my big motivators is learning how to be the best boss I can possibly be. I’m passionate about incorporating mindfulness, honesty & vulnerability in my approach to collaboration & leadership.
I’d love to talk with you more about my approach to managing teams, fostering collaboration and uniting people of various disciplines and working styles under one cohesive vision.
As a producer, leader and human being, my goal is to empower everyone on the team to do their best work while being their best self.
“Luke has been a coach, advisor, and mentor to me in ways that I would be lost without. On my way to LA for that first trip, I was unsure if I wanted to do this for a living, and when I left, I had an overwhelming realization that I want to be a producer.
His way of working with me was different to any other producer I have worked with, either before or since. He goes out of his way to give his time, respect and kindness to the people who work for him in the same way as he does for his major clients and A-list celebrities.”
“Working for Luke, I feel both empowered individually and connected to the team and its shared goals. He has a way of pushing the group toward a goal without waving around a badge of power — I always feel respected and part of something bigger than myself. He communicates clearly and effectively yet always with compassion and care... This is a rare trait in the cut-throat world of commercial production in LA.”
THANK YOU!
contact: 0481 229 014
info@lucidproductions.us