Tony Rosenthal, senior vice president of documentaries at The Kennedy/Marshall Company and recent Marquis Who’s Who inductee, has built a career around telling stories that do more than connect audiences with brands. Rosenthal wants to connect audiences with one another and with the world around them. Through years of experience and painstaking growth, he carefully built his skills, but his passion and talent were always his own.
Starting with the Fundamentals and Finding a Passion
Rosenthal learned the fundamentals of camera work by helping his father with video projects for his church. These basic skills — camera work, simple editing, and the realities of on-the-ground production — were honed to a professional edge during a free internship in Los Angeles. The balance of office management with onset duties was, to Rosenthal, valuable firsthand experience in the many dynamics of managing crews and supporting productions. It was the beginning of a long climb from the ground up, but every step came with greater skills and wisdom to fuel more responsibilities.
Early in his career, Rosenthal worked on commercials for major brands and was fortunate enough to put his love of music to work in music videos by artists like P!nk, Jay-Z, and Finneas. Over time, he began to see the potential in the complex, real-life narratives that his work touched on, and his interests shifted toward documentaries. In the medium of true stories, Rosenthal can pair his storytelling skills with his passion for audience connection. He can teach and inspire while he entertains and creates connections.
Sharing Inspiration with the Audience
Music still provides a major inspiration. Rosenthal’s first project was “The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years.” A later musical project became what he cites as one of his greatest achievements: “The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart.” This Emmy-nominated documentary film blends cultural history with more personal narratives, channeling Rosenthal’s own love of ‘80s and ‘90s hip-hop and R&B to connect with an audience who shares this passion. The film’s uniquely effective nonlinear narrative and emotional resonance flow from Rosenthal’s own creativity and love of the subject. Like other great documentaries, the film does work that goes beyond history and storytelling, drawing the audience into an experience.
Through his work as senior vice president of documentaries, Rosenthal oversees a diverse slate of productions at The Kennedy/Marshall Company. It takes skill to balance creative ambitions with practical constraints, and it takes a storyteller’s passion to advocate for artistic vision when budgets and schedules close in. Rosenthal works closely with directors, writers, and distributors to help great works become reality.
Rosenthal attributes much of his success to continuous learning and building strong relationships. “Stay curious and ask questions,” he says. “Just be kind to people.” He gives credit to the support he had early in his career and the people with whom he works. Rosenthal plans to build on these relationships, skills, and projects so he can continue to make new connections between diverse perspectives and draw audiences into stories built on the richness of life.
