SVG All-Stars: Pete Toma, Freelance Director

In an era when sports production is evolving faster than ever, a new generation of leaders is beginning to make its mark on the industry.

Our SVG All-Stars series explores the journey of the industrys rising executives, showcasing their experiences and career highlights in the business, overarching philosophy and leadership strategy, technological and creative innovation, and where they see the industry headed.

Join us as we uncover the story behind their ascent and the impact they are having in an ever-evolving industry.Think of a meaningful sports moment you watched on live TV.

That image in your head? Its there because a director picked a camera, called a number out, and put that image there.A tremendous responsibility comes with being a sports-television director: youre truly a memory-maker.

One man who has been filling that role for decades is Pete Toma.The Temple grad got his start in live sports TV in Philly in the 90s as a camera operator, graphics coordinator, and associate producer on Flyers and Phillies games.

In 1998, he made a big move to Chicago to take over as producer of Cubs Baseball on WGN in the heart of the historic home-run chase.[caption id="attachment_278332" align="aligncenter" width="715"] Pete Toma is a veteran sports-television director, having called shots for more than three decades.[/caption]From there, his career took off.

He has won multiple Emmy Awards as a director of MLB broadcasts, including Pittsburgh Pirates telecasts for nearly two decades.

Along the way, he has done it all: NBA, NHL, college basketball, MLB International, World Baseball Classic broadcasts.

In the past year or so, his career has taken an abrupt shift: when his time in Pittsburgh came to an end, he quickly signed on as a director for golf on PGA TOUR Live.In this weeks edition of SVG All-Stars, Toma shares his career journey, noting that, in an industry full of technology, its still all about people and why, in this industry, you need to make your own breaks.What are the key responsibilities of your current role?After 30+ years working in MLB broadcasting as a producer and director, my career took a turn to the fairways.

In March of last year, I began directing PGA TOUR golf events for PGA TOUR Entertainment and PGA TOUR Live and even got to work the U.S.

Open from Pinehurst, directing Feature Group coverage on NBC/Peacock.

It has been a full-circle move, after having started in golf TV.I learned so much from some of the legends in the industry, some of whom re-opened doors for me this past year with the PGA TOUR and beyond.

Im so grateful and re-energized to learn something completely new.I always thought producing/directing baseball was the most difficult, but my eyes have been opened.

Even having run camera for golf events in my 20s didnt prepare me for how difficult the front bench of a golf telecast is.What is one key industry trend that you believe is having a major impact on the industry right now?Ive always felt that sports broadcasting and production is about people first.

You can have the best technology, the most tools and support from your network, the best preparation going into a show or game, but, without the talented men and women working together and giving everything they have to their respective roles, great broadcasts and special, unforgettable moments are impossible.[caption id="attachment_278333" align="aligncenter" width="715"] Toma and Los Angeles Dodgers radio announcer Charley Steiner, with whom he worked when directing games at the 2013 World Baseball Classic[/caption]I grew up in the business at a time when the success of the production was all that mattered, not necessarily how you got there.

Thankfully, that philosophy (and mine) has changed.

Yelling and reacting poorly to mistakes is no longer tolerated by many companies production executives.

Nothing makes the shows or game broadcasts better than a positive, inclusive, and collaborative environment.

In fact, PGA TOUR Entertainment, which produces and distributes PGA TOUR Live is upfront about their no a__holes policy.

Its the best place Ive ever worked, for the best people Ive ever had the pleasure of working with.I bring up the people and relationships facet because so much has changed with the evolution of REMI and crewing.

In the post-COVID days, many of us only hear or know someones name or voice, and, with the crewing shortage and so many having left the business, very often we are working with crews for the first time.

I believe communication, trust, respect, and our tone and behavior are more important than ever.

Its our job to motivate and get the best out of everyone by being professional and a good human.What one core philosophy do you try to live by when managing your team/operation?If I can bring [what Ive said] down to one core philosophy, it would be to let everyone know to not be afraid to make a mistake.

While its important to have structure and assignments, some of the most amazing moments in sports broadcasting have happened because a technician in the field or studio has gone with their instincts and taken a chance on creating that long-lasting memorable moment.

That doesnt happen by accident; they need to know that they are trusted to use their talent and experience to go for it.

This is something it took me longer to learn as a producer and director than Im proud of but something I hope the men and women on my crews know they can count on.

Live only happens once.[caption id="attachment_278334" align="alignright" width="389"] Toma now directs golf for PGA Tour Studios.

Here he calls shots on the WM Phoenix Open in February.[/caption]What is your favorite event(s) youve ever worked?This one is hard, because Ive been so lucky to have experienced so many great events, with so many amazing crew teammates and legendary broadcasters.

Im trying to avoid recency bias, but Id say some of my fondest memories go back to my first year at WGN-TV in Chicago.

Getting a taste of The Last Dance year of Michael Jordans Bulls and then later, in 1998, producing Kerry Woods 20-strikeout game and the amazing Sammy SosaMark McGwire historic record HR chase will always be shows I take pride in.

Obviously, there have been a lot of special moments since: producing the MLB All-Star games and MLB Postseason for MLB International for many years, directing the emergence of future Cy Youngwinner Gerrit Cole, and the MVP season of Andrew McCutchen in Pittsburgh all the way till a couple of weeks ago when I directed Emilio Grillos hole-in-one at 16 at the WM Phoenix Open on PGA TOUR Live.

Im still a fan in the truck, and I try to direct like one.

I hope I always will.How did you get started in sports production? What was your first real job in the business?Even though I grew up a huge sports fan and watched everything, I never realized a job in sports production was a reality.

I was going to go to culinary school.

Then I walked into a TV truck as a senior in high school with a Temple grad and observed the great Ray Tipton producing and directing a Philadelphia Phillies broadcast.

Wow! Who knew a groundout to the shortstop would be so exciting from that vantage point? I was hooked.I graduated from Temple with a broadcasting degree and did a lot of freelancing on ESPN golf, baseball, and football crews as a PA/utility/camera op before that same man, Ray Tipton, hired me at a station in Philadelphia to be his associate producer on Phillies broadcasts in 1993.

(I still havent forgiven Joe Carter, who I later worked with in Chicago) I owe Ray, Fred Gaudelli [veteran sports producer, currently executive producer, Sunday Night Football], Tim Scanlan [long-time ESPN exec, currently VP, sports broadcast and media, Octagon], and so many others for everything Ive been able to achieve.[caption id="attachment_278335" align="aligncenter" width="715"] Toma directed Pittsburgh Pirates games from 2009 to 23.

Here hes in the booth with Pirates announcers Greg Brown (left) and Bob Walk.[/caption]Whats one piece of advice you have for someone just starting their career in this industry?First and foremost, you must want it badly, to believe and be willing to do everything to make it happen.

I always tell those just starting out, including my students (Ive taught a college broadcasting class in Pittsburgh), that the old myth you have to know someone to get a break is just that.

You make your own breaks.Networking, taking every (and any) opportunity to learn and get experience, no matter the cost (not just financial cost), and realizing that every time you meet someone or work with someone new, its an audition.

You never know when that person whom you made a good impression on will come back looking for you.

Never give up or let someone else determine your fate, which is tough in the beginning especially.

Many people just starting out ask who should I call or whos hiring for that.

Figure it out! Its a lot easier than when I was starting out.Most important, make yourself so valuable by working hard, by being a sponge, by being impressive with the intangibles like personality, accountability, etc.

that they cant live without you.

Oh, and pray a lot.

It helps to be lucky and in the right place at the right time, but that, too, is up to the individual sometimes.To read more of the SVG All-Stars series, CLICK HERE..

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