Spotlight: I’m an Independent Producer

by Richard Christopher Scuderi, 52 & Blue Productions

My name is Richard Christopher Scuderi. I fell in love with television at age 5 and always knew that’s what I wanted to do with my life. When it was time for college, I looked for a school that had a strong television program and its own station. Television production was much harder than I thought. Timing was crucial and there was a lot of pressure to be perfect

I graduated in 1987 from Montclair University in Broadcasting and Communications. It was great training and I have been asked back many times to speak about my work on television. My first job in television was a small role in a local soap opera on Suburban Cable. I then made training films for the EPA. I was an extra in a great deal of shows including the original Equalizer television show with Edward Woodward.

Fast forward to more recent years. In 2014, WHCR-DB in Flemington, New Jersey, was starting a live podcast channel and I was chosen to start a weekly series on interior design called Modern Design. It was way ahead of its time and I am now in my tenth year. It’s a live one hour show every Wednesday 3-4 pm with great guests and tips on interior design.

One day when I was in the studio one of the hosts said I should create a show for Princeton Community Television. She said I would be a natural. I came up with a concept and a great opening that really worked. I often was in the top 10 in the early years. As the show progressed, I decided to begin mentoring and bring in students from Hunterdon Central High School and Kean College. I taught teach them about creating, booking, directing, producing, and editing a half-hour weekly talk show.

At this point, I realized I needed to form a small production company. I called it 52 & Blue (it was my birthday). I had just written my first book on overcoming anxiety and depression called The Lonely Boy (its sequel is called The Enlightened Man). Barnes and Noble backed me and sent me on live book talks throughout New Jersey. My interns and I started producing live events and taping them for Comcast. We were really thriving and then Covid hit. Everything stopped and when we finally got back, Princeton Television lost their funding and shut down. It was a big disappointment.

It was at this time; I was diagnosed with blood cancer and began having treatments. I started to examine my life and made a list of the things I wanted to do most. At the top of the list was taking my two books and making them into a movie. The stories are told as a memoir and teach on how to overcome mental health issues in your life. They also speak to a return to kindness and inclusion in the world. Without a television program or podcast to focus on, I began sending my books to anyone in the film and television arenas. I first had some conversations with WABC in New York. I was then on Fox Five in New York who made a piece on my story. Most recently I was contacted by Paramount where we had several meetings. I realized I needed to get legal representation though so progress has stalled and I don’t know if anything will come of it.

I have joined JAG and Piscataway Community Television and am very excited about continuing Designed for the Times at a new station. George and his staff are very professional and accommodating. We are currently shooting in studio right now, but plan to shoot on location around the tri-state area. I am also doing book events and signings all over the NJ/NY area. I believe in education and mentoring and will be adding new interns back to 52& Blue now that we are ramping up again. If you know of anyone looking to learn the television/media business please have them call me @ 908-884-0770. We are currently working on a treatment for the movie and have a great deal of new projects going on.