Research & Story Consulting
I help writers, executives, and producers in both narrative and non-fiction translate complex ideas and data into compelling stories — through research, reporting, concept development, and expert sourcing.
Twenty years at the intersection of journalism, publishing, and Hollywood — bringing the rigor of reporting to the craft of storytelling.
Books — Worked with a range of bestselling authors such as Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant, Susan Cain, Jay Shetty, Angela Duckworth, Elizabeth Koch, Maya Shankar, and former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy.
Film — Creative Executive at Sony Pictures and exclusive in-house consultant at Warner Bros.
TV — Research consultant on numerous TV projects and participated in writers' rooms for Apple TV+ original shows.
Podcast — Produced and researched former U.S. Surgeon General's podcast House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy and the upcoming Staying Human.
About
I work with
After completing a Master's in Journalism at NYU, I worked on various Frontline documentary projects (PBS) before pivoting to the publishing world and becoming Malcolm Gladwell's researcher. I aided in reporting, interviewing, and researching across many of his New Yorker pieces and his third bestseller, Outliers, while continuing to write my own articles and reviews in publications such as The New Yorker, Sydney Morning Herald, Psychology Today, Time Out, and Huffington Post.
I transitioned to film when the then Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures hired me as a creative executive within the Columbia Pictures feature film group. There, I worked on numerous studio movies and became familiar with the inner workings of the entertainment industry. It became clear to me there was an urgent need for rigorous and expert research support to help screenwriters expedite and improve the creative process. With that in mind, I launched my consulting business — a nexus of journalism research and film development — to help translate ideas and data into accessible and accurate storytelling. I soon began working on film and television projects for all of the major studios: Paramount, Sony, HBO, and Universal Pictures, before going in-house as an exclusive consultant at Warner Bros. for almost a decade.
Alongside film and TV development, I've also participated in writers' rooms on a few Apple TV+ series, produced and consulted on podcasts, and continuously worked closely with best-selling authors on major nonfiction books. Throughout each of these projects, my role has included ideating, sourcing stories, interviewing subjects, and providing editorial and research support at every stage of the process. Recently, I've been focusing on "concept packets" — building out nascent ideas for producers and execs to provide a creative catalyst and pave the runway for writers.
What I bring to every project is a journalist's instinct for what's real and what resonates, combined with deep familiarity with the creative development process to produce substantive and evocative storytelling.
Services
Shaping promising ideas into fully realized concepts — finding the angle, the argument, and the story that makes a project worth pursuing.
Deep investigative research for film, television, documentary, books, and podcasts — synthesizing primary sources, academic literature, and original reporting into clear, usable material.
Identifying and interviewing the right subjects, experts, and sources — people who bring authority, texture, and credibility to a story.
Research support within writers' rooms and on individual projects — ensuring dramatic accuracy, enriching the material, and helping creative teams stay grounded in what's real.
Editorial and research partnership for authors — identifying and sourcing stories, interviewing subjects, and supporting the full arc of a major nonfiction project from conception through publication.
Research, editorial strategy, and production support for podcast series and broadcast projects — from format development to individual episode research.
Selected Work
Film & Television
Sherlock Holmes
Warner Bros. — Feature Film
American Sniper
Warner Bros. — Feature Film
Django Unchained
The Weinstein Company — Feature Film
Elvis
Warner Bros. — Feature Film
Too Big to Fail
HBO — Television Film
The Newsroom
HBO — Television Series
Extrapolations & Shining Girls
Apple TV+ — Writers' Room
Books & Podcasts
Outliers
Malcolm Gladwell — Research & Reporting
Option B & Hidden Potential
Adam Grant — Research & Story Development
Bittersweet
Susan Cain — Research Support · Oprah's Book Club
Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection
Dr. Vivek Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General
House Calls with Dr. Vivek Murthy
Podcast — Research & Production
Staying Human with Dr. Vivek Murthy
Podcast — Current Project
Studios & Networks
Contact
I work with writers, executives, producers, and authors across narrative and non-fiction. Whether you're deep in development or just beginning to shape an idea, I'd love to hear about your project.
hello@staceykalish.com