Mentorship Mic with Bill Elliott | 23 Years at NBC Universal to Faith-Based Filmmaking — Must-See TV, Storytelling Craft & Letting Your Values Lead | Faith & Media Emerging Leaders EPISODE OVERVIEW Veteran producer, director, and media executive Bill Elliott joins host John Dye for a rich conversation spanning three decades in Hollywood and faith-driven media. From a BYU photography class where he learned to "fill the frame" to a CNN internship that landed him in the Oval Office with President Reagan, Bill's early career was a crash course in storytelling under pressure. He went on to spend 23 years at NBC Universal, working behind the scenes on iconic must-see TV shows — Seinfeld, Friends, The Office, ER, Frasier, The West Wing, and more — interviewing stars like Jerry Seinfeld, Steve Carell, George Clooney, and Ron Howard. When NBC's creative direction shifted toward edgier content, Bill made a bold pivot: he left Hollywood to become director of media for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he oversaw globally viewed projects including Mormon Messages, the Life of Jesus Christ Bible videos, and the viral anti-bullying hit "Stop It." Topics include the truth behind "reality" TV, why authentic faith-based storytelling resonates, the power of collaboration and gratitude, and why there has never been a better time for young filmmakers to create and distribute meaningful content. ABOUT BILL ELLIOTT Bill Elliott is a BYU-trained producer, director, and media executive who spent 23 years at NBC Universal, rising to senior director. At NBC he produced behind-the-scenes and promotional content for landmark series including Seinfeld, Friends, The Office, ER, The West Wing, and The Apprentice. He later served as director of media for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, overseeing the globally viewed Mormon Messages, Life of Jesus Christ Bible videos, and children's Bible stories series. Bill is passionate about mentoring the next generation of faith-driven filmmakers. ABOUT FAITH & MEDIA INITIATIVE The Faith & Media Initiative (FAMI) is a nonprofit program of the Radiant Foundation connecting media members, content creators, faith leaders, and communities to ensure accurate, balanced representation of all faiths in news and entertainment. CONNECT & LEARN MORE https://www.faithandmedia.com https://famiemergingleaders.org/ © 2026 Faith & Media Initiative. All rights reserved.