Origins with James Andrew Miller: HBO Present, Past, and Future – Episode 4: “Table for One”

In Episode 4 of Origins with James Andrew Miller, titled “Table for One,” host Jim Miller delves deep into the illustrious yet tumultuous career of Sheila Nevins, HBO’s formidable documentary executive. This episode provides an unfiltered look into Nevins’s 35-year tenure at HBO, her innovative approach to documentary programming, and the personal and professional challenges she faced, culminating in her unexpected departure from the network.

1. Early Career and Education

Sheila Nevins’s journey into the world of television and documentaries began with her passion for theater. Graduating from Barnard College in 1960, Nevins initially aspired to be a theater director. However, societal expectations of women during that era limited her opportunities. As Nevins recounts:

“I thought that I could then carry all that information into doing in a job and make a living because... women were ushers and actresses. They were not directors.”
[00:26]

Her ambitions were further stifled by her marriage, which demanded she prioritize home life over her theatrical dreams. This led her to pivot towards teaching English for the USIA and eventually discovering her calling in television.

2. Transition to Television and Joining HBO

Nevins’s entry into television was serendipitous. After working on the show Adventures in English, she landed a position at Public Television’s Great American Dream Machine as a researcher. Recognizing the potential of television as her new stage, she immersed herself in the medium, eventually attracting the attention of HBO.

Reflecting on her initial interaction with HBO:

“I went across the street to the, I remember the 42nd Street Library. And I looked up cable television. I thought, holy mackerel, this is the future... Whoa, I want this job.”
[05:21]

Nevins secured a role at HBO in the early 1980s, a time when the network was still in its nascency. She describes HBO as a “dream environment” where she could combine her theatrical insights with the burgeoning cable landscape.

3. Shaping HBO’s Documentary Landscape

Under the leadership of Michael Fuchs, Nevins was tasked with producing documentaries at a time when the broadcast networks had largely abandoned the genre. Fuchs emphasized HBO's commitment to owning the documentary category, providing Nevins with the creative freedom to innovate.

Nevins explains her initial challenges:

“I was told deliver 30 shows in six months. And I said documentary. Well, I hadn't seen it and I didn't know exactly what it was.”
[08:00]

Determined to break the mold, Nevins infused narrative storytelling techniques into documentaries, drawing inspiration from film and theater to make factual stories engaging and accessible.

4. Pioneering Bold Content

Nevins was not content with traditional, highbrow documentaries. She sought to explore diverse and often controversial subjects, believing that all aspects of life deserved representation. She shares her mindset:

“Why can't I do sex shows? ... Why can't I do murder? ... Why can't I be like fiction? Why can't I be like theater?”
[08:56]

One of her early successes was the series Eros, which, after rebranding to Real Sex due to audience feedback, became a long-running hit for HBO. Nevins highlights the importance of captivating audiences from the outset:

“The first 10 minutes are the most important. It would start down and then it would kind of climb up.”
[10:07]

Her eclectic programming roster included influential works like Four Little Girls, Cellulite Closet, and Paradise Lost, each reflecting her belief in the power of diverse storytelling.

5. The Editing Room: Nevins’s Sanctuary

Nevins places significant emphasis on the editing process, viewing it as akin to writing. She describes her editing philosophy:

“The editing room is like writing. It's no different than writing... if you move this part and put it there, then it works, but if you don't move it, it doesn't work.”
[16:23]

This meticulous approach sometimes led to tension with filmmakers, especially regarding the placement of critical information within the narrative structure. Despite this, filmmakers like Spike Lee and Alex Gibney continued to collaborate with her, attracted by the resources and creative freedom HBO provided.

6. Departure from HBO

In 2018, Nevins left HBO under circumstances she initially misunderstood. Reflecting on her departure, she reveals the stark reality behind her exit:

“Oh, I was fired. ... I realized I was too old. So ultimately, I was fired. They took away everything.”
[21:26]

Nevins expresses the profound impact of her departure, feeling abandoned and isolated without the support network HBO once provided. She candidly discusses the emotional aftermath:

“You don't have the job, you don't have the power, you don't have the muscle. You're zero.”
[24:11]

Despite winning numerous awards post-HBO, Nevins grapples with the personal toll of her departure, highlighting the challenges women face in maintaining longevity and respect in the industry.

7. Reflections on Success and Challenges

Nevins reflects on her legacy and the complexities of her success. She attributes much of her achievement to the resources and autonomy HBO entrusted her with, yet acknowledges the personal struggles that accompanied her professional triumphs:

“I was born with the power to say what I really think. ... But they went where the money was. ... I had the freedom and the resources.”
[18:07]

She also touches on internal conflicts and the relentless pursuit of excellence, often at the expense of personal well-being:

“I had to get the money for the pure shows. ... they were all forms of entertainment. They were all very important to me.”
[12:46]

Her candid narratives offer a nuanced perspective on the intersection of creativity, power, and personal sacrifice within the television industry.

8. Conclusion

“Table for One” serves as a compelling exploration of Sheila Nevins’s pivotal role in shaping HBO’s documentary landscape. Through her candid revelations, listeners gain insight into the complexities of wielding creative authority, the challenges of navigating an industry as a pioneering woman, and the personal cost of professional dedication. Nevins’s story is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling and the enduring impact of visionary leadership in media.

Notable Quotes:

• Sheila Nevins on Sleep:
  “I think sleep is overrated. I think that it's a waste of time.”
  [00:03]

• Sheila Nevins on TV as Theater:
  “I used television as if it was a stage... I approached television as if it was a stage.”
  [05:18]

• Sheila Nevins on Editing Philosophy:
  “The editing room is like writing. It's no different than writing.”
  [16:23]

• Sheila Nevins on Departure from HBO:
  “I realized I was too old. So ultimately, I was fired.”
  [21:26]

This episode of Origins with James Andrew Miller offers a raw and unfiltered look into the life of one of television’s most influential documentary producers. Sheila Nevins’s narrative is both inspiring and cautionary, providing invaluable lessons on creativity, resilience, and the human side of media production.