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I'm an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker with a strong creative intuition and a passion for documentary film and animation. My experience in feature animation has allowed me to collaborate closely with directors, addressing story concerns across the Edit, Story, and Script departments, and I began my career at NFL Films directing and editing sports documentaries for networks such as HBO, ESPN, and BBC. My diverse background has sharpened my storytelling skills and given me the experience to work at the highest levels of production. I hold dual US and UK citizenship and am eager to embrace my next challenge.…I'm an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker with a strong creative intuition and a passion for documentary film and animation. My experience in feature animation has allowed me to collaborate closely with directors, addressing story concerns across the Edit, Story, and Script departments, and I began my career at NFL Films directing and editing sports documentaries for networks such as HBO, ESPN, and BBC. My diverse background has sharpened my storytelling skills and given me the experience to work at the highest levels of production. I hold dual US and UK citizenship and am eager to embrace my next challenge.

William “Joe” Saunders

Documentary Filmmaker, Film Producer, Film Director, +2

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I'm an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker with a strong creative intuition and a passion for documentary film and animation. My experience in feature animation has allowed me to collaborate closely with directors, addressing story concerns across the Edit, Story, and Script departments, and I began my career at NFL Films directing and editing sports documentaries for networks such as HBO, ESPN, and BBC. My diverse background has sharpened my storytelling skills and given me the experience to work at the highest levels of production. I hold dual US and UK citizenship and am eager to embrace my next challenge.…I'm an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker with a strong creative intuition and a passion for documentary film and animation. My experience in feature animation has allowed me to collaborate closely with directors, addressing story concerns across the Edit, Story, and Script departments, and I began my career at NFL Films directing and editing sports documentaries for networks such as HBO, ESPN, and BBC. My diverse background has sharpened my storytelling skills and given me the experience to work at the highest levels of production. I hold dual US and UK citizenship and am eager to embrace my next challenge.

Available to hire

I’m an Emmy Award-winning filmmaker with a strong creative intuition and a passion for documentary film and animation. My experience in feature animation has allowed me to collaborate closely with directors, addressing story concerns across the Edit, Story, and Script departments, and I began my career at NFL Films directing and editing sports documentaries for networks such as HBO, ESPN, and BBC. My diverse background has sharpened my storytelling skills and given me the experience to work at the highest levels of production. I hold dual US and UK citizenship and am eager to embrace my next challenge.

Skills

Experience Level

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Expert

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Director / Editor at Freethink Media

September 1, 2023 - October 1, 2025

Helped take over 10,000 hours of an undistributed series and turn it into an engaging and provocative 90 min film.

Director / Editor at Before We Get Started

September 10, 2025 - August 31, 2023

Helped take over 90 interviews about Warm Up Comedy and shape it into a hilarious and moving portrait of warm up comedian Ryan Reiss.

Story Supervisor at Netflix

January 1, 2019 - June 13, 2023

In this role, I connected the script, story and edit departments, and worked with film director and department heads to creatively shape and resolve story concerns.

Director / Editor at Aol.com / Netflix

June 1, 2017 - November 1, 2018

I produced and shot season one of the acclaimed documentary series, Coach Snoop. I also directed and edited half the season, often traveling with Snoop Dogg and planning and scheduling shooting days. I also captured remarkable footage of Snoop imparting experience and wisdom to these young men - hoping to inspire them to be their best on and off the field.

Director / Editor / Writer at FREETHINK MEDIA | THE PHOENIX (Feature Documentary)

January 1, 2023 - Present

Directing, editing and writing a feature documentary about a group of enlightened former addicts creating an innovative substance abuse recovery program.

Director / Editor at BEFORE WE GET STARTED (Feature Documentary / Animation)

December 31, 2023 - September 10, 2025

Directed and edited a doc/animated hybrid offering a look into the life of a warm-up comedian; feature subjects include opinions and perspectives from notable figures as part of the warm-up comedy landscape.

Story & Edit Supervisor at NETFLIX ANIMATION (Kids and Family Feature Animation)

December 31, 2022 - September 10, 2025

Acted as proxy to director to communicate vision to script, story and edit departments to ensure continuity amidst evolving story changes; provided notes/feedback on creative pitch materials, storyboards, edit sequences, and script development.

Producer / Director / Editor at THE PENNY BLACK, 1091 Pictures

December 31, 2021 - September 10, 2025

Named BEST INDEPENDENT DOC of 2020 by Go Indie Now; documentary about conmen and a mysterious million-dollar stamp collection.

Producer / Director / Editor at COACH SNOOP, (Kids and Family Docu-Series) AOL.com / NETFLIX

December 31, 2017 - September 10, 2025

Developed, produced, shot, directed and edited a docu-series following Snoop Dogg as he coached a youth football team; aligned show style and oversaw multi-camera shoots to deliver cohesive vision.

Producer / Director / Editor at BILLY MIZE AND THE BAKERSFIELD SOUND (Feature Documentary), Hulu

December 31, 2015 - September 10, 2025

Produced and directed a critically acclaimed feature documentary that premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival; secured partnerships, financing, and distribution.

Production Supervisor (LA) at THE LITTLE PRINCE (Kids and Family Feature Animation) NETFLIX

December 31, 2014 - September 10, 2025

Contributed to BAFTA-winning script development and early art decisions; oversaw budget and scheduling for art, script, and pitch materials; relocated production from Los Angeles to Paris.

Producer / Director / Editor / Writer at SWEET LITTLE LIES (Kids and Family Feature Narrative / Animation Hybrid) Filmworks Entertainment

December 31, 2010 - September 10, 2025

Produced, wrote, directed and edited an award-winning independent family feature; managed a crew of 30 across five states with a tight shooting schedule.

Producer / Director / Editor at NFL FILMS (Kids and Family Documentary Content) ESPN, HBO, ABC, FOX

December 31, 2009 - September 10, 2025

Developed, produced, directed, and edited short-form documentary content for distribution across major networks; Emmy Award for Big Charlies on ESPN (2003).

Producer / Director / Shooter / Editor / Cinematographer at Freelance Experiences

December 31, 2020 - September 10, 2025

Operation Conservation (Wildlife Docu-Series) - 2018; AT&T You Will Campaign and Web-Series (2008-2012); The Compact Particle Accelerator (Short Documentary) - 2015.