Kara can manage any project, anywhere in the world, the more moving parts the better – and all in service of advancing the arts and human connection. Read her full bio by following the link below.
Kara Bartek
Project Manager & Award-Winning Producer of Independent Films
SELECT ACHIEVEMENTS
Close select commercial deals for three executive agents, and manage their communications, calendars, and contracts between brands, 40+ production companies, and 250+ global clients, including Academy Award and Association of Independent Commercial Producers winning directors of photography, production designers, costume designers, editors, 1st ADs, and post supervisors. (2024-present)
Designed rubric to measure and score product placement impact for clients of EightPM, a global agency that integrates brands into content in streamable TV and films on Amazon, Apple, HBO Max, Netflix, and others. Score incorporates measures such as product visibility, cast interaction with the product, and dialogue-driven verbal mentions. (2023)
Served as producer or production coordinator on global productions, including Bill Russell: Legend, Throuple, and Brynn Cartelli's Boy From Home music video. Both roles are responsible for logistically supervising the project from concept to distribution, IE: executing budgets, securing filming locations, and managing project personnel. (2015-present)
Nominee for Best Indie LGBTQ+ Film at Film Threat’s Award This! for Throuple (2025), Best Narrative Short at Buffalo International Film Festival for Gone Before Your Eyes (2023), Best Live Action Narrative Short at Durango Independent Film Festival for Operation: Cavity (2022), Best in Fest at Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival for In Passing (2021), Semifinalist at 47th Student Academy Awards for Oh Yeah (2020), and Best Web Series at Top Shorts for Reunion (2017).
Co-hosted (im)perfect podcast, a conversation about the artistic process featuring up-and-coming artists from around the world. 32 episodes. Select guests: makeup artist Stephanie Zhang, band Cherin, filmmaker and content creator Abo Booi, fine artist Brianna Blue, composer Luis Álvarez, poet and activist Donna Dante Marie Gary. (2021-2022)
BRAND, CONTENT, AND RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
Murtha Skouras Agency (MSA) - Commercial Coordinator for three MSA agents
Santa Monica, CA (January 2024 - Present)
Serve as client representative on behalf of executive agents to confirm deal terms and secure commercial projects’ contracts.
Pitch clients to brands and production companies. Design pitch materials for 250+ clients, including update client resume, curate client MSA webpage and external platforms, and create bespoke reel to showcase compatible branding, transitions, lighting, genre, and other creative approaches.
Established relationships with key Vault contacts at 40+ production companies to secure digital copies of client commercial/music video work for future pitches.
Draft and execute deal memos, on average 10 per week, outlining production location, dates, guarantees, travel and accommodations, and pay.
Conduct commercial industry research daily, have deep knowledge of the talent and production companies behind commercials and campaigns.
Design content assets with Canva to create a cohesive brand identity for MSA events, website, and Instagram.
To date, have grown MSA commercial database by 20%. Manage all outreach, create new hire announcements and latest releases with examples of the client’s work.
Select brands: Apple, Audi, Celsius, Chanel, DoorDash, Ford, Gap, Google, Grubhub, L’Oreal, McDonald’s, NFL, NBA, Nike, Perrier, Pfizer, Porsche, Puma, Subaru, Target, Toyota.
Select production companies: Biscuit Filmworks, O Positive, Smuggler, Chelsea Pictures, Epoch Films, ProdCo, Iconoclast, Prettybird, Florence, Imposter, FreeNJoy, Object & Animal.
Select clients: Trent Opaloch, Robert Yeoman, Jenny Burton, Christine Wada, Nicholas Bupp, Sean Conaty, Jenna Huskission, Justin McWilliams, Danyal Khan Niazi, Kendra Bradanini.
EightPM - Production Relationship Manager
LA, Austin, London, Singapore (March 2023 - October 2023)
Managed relationships between TV/film productions and 30+ CPG, retail, and entertainment brands as a member of the most successful U.S. EightPM teams, regularly doubling placement goals during the historic WGA and SAG-AFTRA 148-day strike.
Negotiated product placements that resulted in an average of 1M impressions. Worked with creators, including studios, entertainment designers, and prop masters, to authentically weave brands into digital storytelling spaces.
Served as EightPM lead at Property Masters Guild events, building existing production relationships and generating 15+ qualified leads.
Responsible for end-to-end logistics of daily product shipments to productions worldwide.
Created product placement content for EightPM website, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Select brands: Olipop (CPG), Vita Coco (CPG), 1st Phorm (nutrition/apparel), Savage x Fenty (apparel), Sprayground (backpacks), Copper Cane (CPG).
Select TV/Film productions: Beef, Sex Education, American Horror Stories, Death of A Unicorn, Summer House, Bel-Air.
EDUCATION
Tisch School of the Arts, New York University - BFA Film & TV Production, Minor in Business, Entertainment, Media & Technologies
New York, NY (2019)
Academic Achievement NYU Founder’s Award, GPA 3.72
Student Engagement Student Board member of the Fusion Film Festival, NYU’s Premier Student-run Festival dedicated to Celebrating Women and Non-binary Artists in Film, TV, and New Media. 20+ student productions, including In Passing, Oh Yeah, and Reunion
SKILLS
Enterprise Productivity Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, HubSpot, InEntertainment, Notion, Asana, Airtable, Monday.com, Slack, Mailchimp
Creative Proficiency Adobe Suite (Premier Pro, Photoshop, LightRoom, Illustrator, Audition), Avid Media Composer, Canva
Languages English (native), German (native), French (fluent)
FREE-TIME HOBBIES
Creative Baking, Crafting, Cooking, Drawing, Journaling, Photography, Anamating
Active Running (trail & long distance), Traveling, Yoga-ing
Reading The Shipping News by Annie Proulx