Hi, I’m Ron Davis, a documentary content producer, director, and editor with over fourteen years of experience running my own independent production company, Docutainment Films. I specialize in bringing human stories of hope, survival, and triumph to life, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups. I’ve produced and directed a variety of feature-length documentaries that have secured distribution on major platforms like Netflix and HBO. Before entering filmmaking, I had a rewarding career as an executive in the nonfiction publishing industry, managing sales and subsidiary rights at major companies like Sterling Publishing and Simon & Schuster. This background gives me a unique edge in understanding the market and the creative development process end-to-end. I’m passionate about storytelling and dedicated to delivering impactful non-fiction projects that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Ron Davis

Hi, I’m Ron Davis, a documentary content producer, director, and editor with over fourteen years of experience running my own independent production company, Docutainment Films. I specialize in bringing human stories of hope, survival, and triumph to life, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups. I’ve produced and directed a variety of feature-length documentaries that have secured distribution on major platforms like Netflix and HBO. Before entering filmmaking, I had a rewarding career as an executive in the nonfiction publishing industry, managing sales and subsidiary rights at major companies like Sterling Publishing and Simon & Schuster. This background gives me a unique edge in understanding the market and the creative development process end-to-end. I’m passionate about storytelling and dedicated to delivering impactful non-fiction projects that resonate with audiences worldwide.

Available to hire

Hi, I’m Ron Davis, a documentary content producer, director, and editor with over fourteen years of experience running my own independent production company, Docutainment Films. I specialize in bringing human stories of hope, survival, and triumph to life, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups. I’ve produced and directed a variety of feature-length documentaries that have secured distribution on major platforms like Netflix and HBO.

Before entering filmmaking, I had a rewarding career as an executive in the nonfiction publishing industry, managing sales and subsidiary rights at major companies like Sterling Publishing and Simon & Schuster. This background gives me a unique edge in understanding the market and the creative development process end-to-end. I’m passionate about storytelling and dedicated to delivering impactful non-fiction projects that resonate with audiences worldwide.

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Work Experience

Founder / Filmmaker at Docutainment Films
January 1, 2010 - Present
Develop and produce feature-length and short-form independent documentary films centered on human stories of hope, survival, and triumph, with an emphasis on subjects from underrepresented groups. Spearhead creative elements including research, talent relationships, interviews, scriptwriting, directing shoots, and supervising editors. Oversee production logistics and fundraising; manage budgets from $600K to $3.7M and 20-person crews over year-long shoots. Negotiate worldwide distribution deals and create marketing strategies encompassing social media and festival rollouts. Notable credits include titles distributed on Netflix, HBO, and Sundance Channel.
Vice President, Special Markets, Digital, Export Sales, & Subsidiary Rights at Sterling Publishing Co. (a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble)
December 31, 2010 - July 28, 2025
Led special markets sales strategies for nonfiction publishing; directed a 135-person sales team to secure distribution of 5,000 titles across big box stores, online platforms, catalogs, and other non-traditional outlets. Increased international sales revenue by 50% by building distribution partnerships globally. Managed a 20-person global licensing department, licensing subsidiary rights to gaming companies, app developers, foreign publishers, audiobook distributors, and others.
Director, Specialty Sales at Simon & Schuster
December 31, 2004 - July 28, 2025
Cultivated a broad account base of over 4,000 non-bookstore distributors for adult, children's, and audiobook titles. Supervised a 120+ person sales team and achieved a 60% revenue increase over four years. Developed custom publishing programs creating new products from existing IP and Viacom children's properties for national retail distribution.

Education

B.A. at Syracuse University
January 1, 1996 - December 31, 2000

Qualifications

Producers Guild of America member
January 11, 2030 - July 28, 2025

Industry Experience

Media & Entertainment, Consumer Goods, Professional Services, Non-Profit Organization