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Nick Nanton
Nanton with his family at an event in 2019
Born
Barbados
Education
Alma materUniversity of Florida
Occupations
Years active2005–present
Organizations
  • Dicks Nanton Agency
  • DNA Films
Websitenicknanton.com

Nick Nanton is an American director and producer of film and television projects, as well as an author and branding agency executive. He is the co-founder and CEO of DNA Films, through which he has produced and directed a number of documentary films, including Dickie V, Operation Toussaint, Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On, Visioneer, and A New Leash on Life: The K9s for Warriors Story. He is also the CEO of the Dicks + Nanton Agency, a celebrity branding agency that he co-founded with his business partner J.W. Dicks in Winter Park, Florida.

Nanton is the creator and host of the Amazon Prime Video interview series, In Case You Didn't Know with Nick Nanton. He has won over 20 Emmy Awards for his work on film and television projects and has also written a number of books including Celebrity Branding You and Story Selling. Nanton started his career as an entertainment lawyer.

Early life and education

[edit]

Nanton was born in Barbados and immigrated to the United States with his family when he was one year old. His father opened a furniture store[1] in the Orlando area in central Florida, where Nanton largely grew up.[2][3] His first job was as a tennis instructor when he was 12 years old.[1] He attended Lake Mary High School in Lake Mary, Florida, where he played on the school's tennis team. He graduated from high school in 1998.[4] In his late teens, Nanton became interested in songwriting and music production. By the time he was a college student at the University of Florida, he had his own recording studio (inside a friend's studio) in Gainesville where he was able to work with acts such as Stan Lynch[1] and Sister Hazel.[5] He also made music of his own.[1] Nanton was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity while at college. He graduated from the University of Florida in 2001[6] with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (BSBA) in finance.[7] He went on to earn his J.D. from the University of Florida's Fredric G. Levin College of Law in December 2004.[8]

Career

[edit]

Early in his career, Nanton was CEO of the Cinemark Music Group.[8] He also formed his own law firm, Dicks & Nanton, with his legal and business partner J.W. Dicks. The firm primarily focused on liability, trademark, and entertainment law.[9] In July 2007, Nanton was elected to serve on the executive council of The Florida Bar Entertainment, Arts and Sports Law Committee.[10] That year, he was also voted "Best of the Bar 2007" by his peers as published by the Orlando Business Journal, and he became a member of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences with a vote in the Grammy Awards.[11]

Also in 2007, Nanton opted to focus on celebrity marketing, consulting, and public relations. With J.W. Dicks, he formed the Dicks and Nanton Celebrity Branding Agency[1] in Winter Park, Florida[12] in July 2007.[13] Nanton also began serving as the agency's CEO at that time. In 2008, he co-wrote (with Dicks) his first book, Celebrity Branding You. The following year, he began contributing content to compilation books starting with Big Ideas for Your Business.[14]

In 2010, the Dicks Nanton Agency branched into documentary film production. Nanton produced and co-directed the documentary short, Jacob's Turn. Nanton was honored with the award in the Director (Post-Production) category at the 47th Ohio Valley Emmy Awards that year.[15] In the following years, Nanton continued producing and directing films. Films were produced as part of the CelebrityFilms production company started by Dicks and Nanton.[16] That company would later start a new division known as DNA Films.[17][12][18]

Nick Nanton and family in 2022 receiving a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars.

Nanton continued authoring and contributing to books. In 2013, he published Story Selling which appeared on The Wall Street Journal Best Seller list.[12] With J.W. Dicks, he founded a publishing company called CelebrityPress, which primarily publishes books on the topics of business and entrepreneurship.[19] 2013 also saw Nanton receive further accolades for his film work. He won multiple Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards that year for producing and directing the documentary shorts, Esperanza and Mi Casa Hogar.[20] In 2014, it was announced that Nanton would direct a biographical documentary about the founder of the X Prize Foundation, Peter Diamandis.[21] The resultant film, Visioneer, garnered Nanton another Suncoast Regional Emmy Award in the Director (Post-Production) category in 2015.[22]

In the following years, Nanton produced and directed a number of other biographical documentaries, including Maximum Achievement: The Brian Tracy Story (2017),[23] The Soul of Success: The Jack Canfield Story (2017),[24] Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On (2018),[25] and Game Changer: The Dan Sullivan Story (2018), among others.[26] In 2018, he won six Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards for producing and directing Rudy Ruettiger, Game Changer, and A New Leash on Life: The K9s for Warriors Story.[17][27] The Ruettiger film was adapted into a one-man show called Dream Big: Rudy Ruettiger Live on Broadway that was produced and directed by Nanton and staged at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway in 2019.[28]

Also in 2018, Nanton's Prime Video interview series, In Case You Didn't Know with Nick Nanton, premiered and has since featured guests such as Larry King, Dean Kamen, and Anthony Scaramucci.[12] That year, Nanton also directed the documentary, Operation Toussaint, which chronicled the efforts of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) to retrieve child trafficking victims in Haiti.[29] A 2019 follow-up to that film, Triple Take, followed the eponymous Operation Triple Take undertaken by O.U.R. in Colombia.[30] Triple Take was the basis for the feature film Sound of Freedom.[31] He also won for From Shelter to Service: A K9s for Warriors Story.[32]

In 2020, two episodes ("Nido Qubein: Extraordinary is a Choice" and "Lisa Nichols: Born to Win") from his Prime Video series won Emmy Awards as individual documentaries.[33] He also directed the documentary, Folds of Honor, that year which details the charitable efforts of the non-profit organization of the same name.[34] Also in 2020, he directed and produced It's Happening Right Here, a documentary about survivors of sex trafficking.[35] The following year he directed Hero, a documentary film featuring Dominick Cruz, Laura Penhaul, and actor and producer Remi Adeleke.[36]

Nanton was honored with a star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars in 2022.[37] He also directed the film Dickie V, covering the life and career of Dick Vitale, which premiered on ESPN+ the same year.[38] In 2022, he directed and produced Tactical Empathy, a documentary about Chris Voss.[39] In 2024, he began filming a documentary about artist and conservationist Guy Harvey.[40]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title
[41] 		Role Notes
2010 Jacob's Turn Executive producer, co-director Documentary short
2012 Tackling Taxes Executive producer, creative director Documentary short
Practicing Perfection Executive producer, creative director Documentary short
Car Men Executive producer, executive creative director Documentary short
The Flower Girl Executive producer, director Short film
Cracking the Celebrity Code Executive producer, executive creative director Documentary short
Filling the Financial Gap Executive producer, director Documentary short
2013 Life & The Party Executive producer, executive creative director Documentary short
Esperanza Executive producer, producer, director Documentary short
Faith Family and Taxes Executive producer, director Documentary short
Life in Balance Executive producer, director Documentary short
Back to Health Executive producer, director Documentary short
Coach Pete's Financial Safari Producer, director Documentary short
Real People, Real Systems, Real Profits Executive producer, director Documentary short
Making the Difference Executive producer, director Documentary short
Mi Casa Hogar Executive producer, director Documentary short
The I.T. Guy Executive producer, executive creative director Documentary short
A Life of Success and Significance Executive producer, director Documentary short
2014 Stand and Serve Executive producer, director Documentary short
Get Your Life Back Executive producer, director Documentary short
Heritage Executive producer, director Documentary short
If It Is to Be It's Up to Me Executive producer, director Documentary short
2015 Visioneer: The Peter Diamandis Story Executive producer, director Documentary film
2016 The Rebound Executive producer Documentary film
Return to Esperanza Executive producer, director Documentary short
Armonia Executive producer, director Documentary short
2017 Maximum Achievement: The Brian Tracy Story Executive producer, director Documentary film
Live Your Quest Executive producer, director Documentary film
The Soul of Success: The Jack Canfield Story Executive producer, director Documentary film
2018 Game Changer: The Dan Sullivan Story Executive producer, director Documentary film
Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On Executive producer, director Documentary film
Operation Toussaint: Operation Underground Railroad and the Fight to End Modern Day Slavery Executive producer, director Documentary film
Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got: The Jay Abraham Story Executive producer, director Documentary film
A New Leash on Life: The K9s for Warriors Story Executive producer, director Documentary film
2018–present In Case You Didn't Know with Nick Nanton Creator, executive producer, director, host Amazon Prime Video docuseries
2019 From Shelter to Service: A K9s for Warriors Story Executive producer, director Documentary film
Triple Take Executive producer, director Documentary film
2020 Folds of Honor: A Fighter Pilot's Mission to Deliver Healing and Hope to America Executive producer, director Documentary film
Choose Yourself: The James Altucher Story Executive producer, director Prime Video docuseries
Dreamer Executive producer, director Documentary film
2022 It's Happening Right Here Director, Executive Producer Documentary[35]
Dickie V Director Documentary film[42]
2023 Hero Director, Executive Producer Documentary[36]
2024 Tactical Empathy Director, Executive Producer Documentary[39]

Bibliography

[edit]
Year Title
[43] 		Original publisher ISBN Notes
2008 Celebrity Branding You CelebrityPress ISBN 978-0983947073 Co-written with JW Dicks
Second edition released in 2013
2013 Story Selling CelebrityPress ISBN 978-0988641877 Co-written with JW Dicks
The Wall Street Journal best-seller list
2015 Mission Driven Business Impact Publishing ISBN 978-0996197885 Co-written with JW Dicks
2018 Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On Morgan James Publishing ISBN 978-1642790931 Co-written with Rudy Ruettiger
2019 Leo Learns About Life CelebrityPress ISBN 978-1732284364 Children's book
2024 Empathy and Understanding In Business Successbooks ISBN 979-8986209791 Co-written with Chris Voss[44]

Nominations and awards

[edit]
Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2011 47th Ohio Valley Emmy Awards Director – Post-Production Nick Nanton for Jacob's Turn Won [15]
2013 27th Midsouth Emmy Awards Documentary - Topical Car Men
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Nominated [45]
37th Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards Documentary – Topical Esperanza
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [20]
Mi Casa Hogar
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Nominated [20]
Director – Post-Production Nick Nanton for Mi Casa Hogar Won [20]
Nick Nanton for Esperanza Nominated [20]
2015 39th Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards Director – Post-Production Nick Nanton for Visioneer: The Peter Diamandis Story Won [22]
Nick Nanton for Armonia Nominated [22]
2016 40th Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards Documentary – Topical Return to Esperanza
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [46]
2018 42nd Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards Documentary – Topical Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [27]
A New Leash on Life: The K9s for Warriors Story
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [27]
Director – Non-Live (Post-Production) Nick Nanton for Rudy Ruettiger: The Walk On Won [27]
Nick Nanton for A New Leash on Life: The K9s for Warriors Story Won [27]
Nick Nanton for Game Changer: The Dan Sullivan Story Won [27]
Human Interest – Program Feature/Segment Downrange
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [27]
2019 43rd Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards Documentary – Topical Triple Take
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [32]
From Shelter to Service: A K9s for Warriors Story
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Nominated [47]
Director – Non-Live (Post-Produced) Nick Nanton for Triple Take Won [32]
Nick Nanton for From Shelter to Service: A K9s for Warriors Story Won [32]
Nick Nanton for Longevity Nominated [47]
Promotion – Program – Single Spot Triple Take
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [32]
Longevity
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Nominated [47]
Special Event Coverage – Edited Dream Big: Rudy Ruettiger Live on Broadway
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Nominated [47]
2020 44th Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards Documentary – Cultural Nido Qubein: Extraordinary is a Choice
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [33]
Lisa Nichols: Born to Win
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [33]
Documentary – Topical Dreamer
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [33]
Director – Non-Live (Post-Produced) Nick Nanton for Nido Qubein: Extraordinary is a Choice Won [33]
Nick Nanton for Lisa Nichols: Born to Win Won [33]
Nick Nanton for Dreamer Nominated [48]
Promotion – Program – Single Spot Dreamer
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [33]
34th Heartland Emmy Awards Documentary Folds of Honor
(Produced and directed by Nick Nanton) 		Won [49]
2024 Rocky Mountain Emmy Awards Director – Production - Cinematography Conquer 100 Nominated [50]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e Elrod, Hal (March 2016). "Achieve Your Goals Podcast #116 - Exclusive Interview with Four-time Emmy Award Winning Director, Nick Nanton" (PDF). Achieve Your Goals with Hal Elrod. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  2. ^ Meyer, Valerie (April 6, 1986). "Jaycess help others deal with handicaps, diseases". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  3. ^ Storm, Stephanie (February 12, 1995). "Brown returns to lead Lake Mary". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  4. ^ Cousins, Jill (February 22, 1998). "Sipka: Tiny bundle of TNT". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  5. ^ Fisher, Brenna (February 17, 2004). "Hanna's triumph". The Gainesville Sun. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  6. ^ Smith, Matt (June 10, 2014). "Emmy-winning brother is Fast Company's leading expert on personal branding". Sigma Phi Epsilon. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  7. ^ Kiss, Esther (June 7, 2014). "Nick Nanton on Branding Yourself Like a True Celebrity Expert". Born to Influence. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Created on Friday, 29 July 2005 09:29". Sigma Phi Epsilon. July 29, 2005. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  9. ^ Fields, Anne (July 16, 2007). "Small firms capitalize on techniques that help create bigger presence". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "Progressions". The Orlando Sentinel. July 16, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "Top vote recipients of 2007 win peer approval". Orlando Business Journal. November 19, 2007. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  12. ^ a b c d Fluker, Anjali (December 30, 2019). "Be a blessing: How this media pro is using his skills to make a difference in the world". Orlando Business Journal. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  13. ^ "Dicks & Nanton Are Opening the Doors of Dicks + Nanton Agency". PRWeb. July 16, 2007. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  14. ^ Lee, Richard (September 1, 2009). "Nanton turns experts into celebs". The Stamford Advocate. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Guzman, Daniela (August 3, 2011). "UF alum wins Emmy for seven-minute short film". The Independent Florida Alligator. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  16. ^ "Personal Branding Expert J.W. Dicks Earns Emmy Nomination For "Car Men"". Pitch Engine. January 23, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  17. ^ a b Boedeker, Hal (December 24, 2018). "Emmys showcase Central Florida filmmakers". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  18. ^ Caviness, Tod (May 16, 2017). "Cigar Culture Comes of Age". The Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  19. ^ "Sumter native contributes expertise to business book". The Item. January 9, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  20. ^ a b c d e "2013 Emmy Awards". Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards. December 5, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  21. ^ "Winter Park firm tackles Diamandis documentary". The Orlando Sentinel. June 23, 2014. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  22. ^ a b c "2015 Emmy Awards". Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards. December 5, 2015. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  23. ^ Nanton, Nick (May 23, 2017). "The Secret to Being Happy". The Hour. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  24. ^ Myers, Kimber (December 14, 2017). "Review: 'The Soul of Success: The Jack Canfield Story' plays like a promo for 'Chicken Soup' author's brand". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  25. ^ Epler, Eric F. (January 30, 2019). "Famed Notre Dame walk-on Rudy Ruettiger to speak at Bishop McDevitt". The Patriot-News. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  26. ^ Hardy, Benjamin (August 16, 2018). "The 'Game Changer' Documentary: A Goldmine of Entrepreneurial Ideas And Strategies". Inc. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g "2018 Program Winners" (PDF). Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards. 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  28. ^ Clement, Olivia (December 11, 2018). "Daniel 'Rudy' Ruettiger to Bring Autobiographical Solo Show to Broadway for One Night". Playbill. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  29. ^ Terry, Josh (July 26, 2018). "Movie review: Gripping 'Operation Toussaint' shows Tim Ballard's real-life battle against sex trafficking". The Deseret News. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  30. ^ Briccetti, Peter (July 30, 2020). "Operation Triple Take Fails to Address Systemic Issues with Child Sex-Trafficking". Whistleblower Network News. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  31. ^ Lombardo, Janet. "Operation Triple Take - Private Screening of the Story behind "Sound of Freedom"". Patch.
  32. ^ a b c d e "2019 Program Winners" (PDF). Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards. 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  33. ^ a b c d e f g "2020 Program Winners" (PDF). Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards. 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  34. ^ Haddaway, Art (July 15, 2020). "Owasso-based Folds of Honor releases new documentary on Amazon Prime Video". Tulsa World. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  35. ^ a b Ginos, Becky. "Documentary shows parents how vulnerable their children are to sex trafficking". The City Journal.
  36. ^ a b Whittock, Jesse. "'Special Forces: World's Toughest Test' Instructor Remi Adeleke & Director Nick Nanton Team For Doc About Heroes". Deadline.
  37. ^ Katsilometes, John (July 31, 2022). "Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds to be awarded Las Vegas stars". Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
  38. ^ "ESPN Announces New Documentary About Dick Vitale Will Debut This Month | Sports Illustrated". www.si.com. July 6, 2022. Retrieved August 11, 2022.
  39. ^ a b ""Tactical Empathy" Wins Gold at the 45th Telly Awards". PA Homepage.
  40. ^ Beck, Lauren. "Dr. Guy Harvey to be Featured in New Documentary". Triton.
  41. ^ "Nick Nanton". IMDb. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  42. ^ Koons, Zach (July 6, 2022). "ESPN Announces New Documentary About Dick Vitale Will Debut This Month". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 31, 2022.
  43. ^ "Nick Nanton". Amazon. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  44. ^ "Empathy and Understanding In Business (Hardcover)". Harvard Book Store.
  45. ^ "Nashville Chapter!". Midsouth Emmy Awards. January 26, 2013. Archived from the original on May 17, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  46. ^ "2016 Program Winners" (PDF). Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards. 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  47. ^ a b c d "2019 Program Nominees" (PDF). Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards. 2019. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  48. ^ "2020 Program Nominees" (PDF). Suncoast Regional Emmy Awards. 2020. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  49. ^ "Central Florida Local Garners 16th Emmy Win". Success Network. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  50. ^ "2024 Nominees". Rocky Mountain Emmys.
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