Meet Anni Bacchus | Television Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anni Bacchus and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anni, what is the most important factor behind your success?
I have a natural curiosity for people and their stories. As an extrovert, I love meeting new people and figuring out what makes them tick. I am endlessly fascinated by unique experiences others have had in their lives, which is why I love working in the documentary side of the television world. But there are other factors that have also helped me get to where I am today. I was born and raised in Germany, where traits like being punctual, detail oriented, reliable, honest and hard working are key. It sounds so boring, but I truly believe those habits are so crucial if you want to be successful in any profession, especially as a producer. And if you are consistent with that, people will notice and hopefully want to work with you.
Being a Type A overthinker also helps in this industry. If you always worry that something will go wrong, you will have a plan B and C and D when something actually does fail. So a healthy level of anxiety actually comes in quite handy and works in my favor.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
As a producer, I have the privilege to surround myself with the most talented and passionate people in the industry. The Atlanta TV and film industry is so impressive and there is nothing more satisfying than being on set with people that share your vision and bring their unique talents every day. Our production days can be very long, so it’s also important to work with people that you actually like and can have fun with.

I love the versatility and variety of working in television. It never gets boring! I constantly get to meet new people, work in different locations, wear many different hats and constantly evolve my skills.

I have always known I wanted to tell stories in one way or another, which is why I studied Journalism. I moved to Atlanta from Germany when I was 20, and never planned on staying here. But after I graduated, I interned and eventually worked at Turner Broadcasting, where I was able to hone my creative skills and interviewing techniques, as well as create long-lasting professional and personal relationships that really laid the groundwork for the next decade of my career.

After that, I produced a local restaurant show for many years, which was incredibly satisfying, because it combined my two passions of storytelling and food. Today, I am super happy on the production team for the Magnolia Network show “Homegrown”. It is a whole new adventure for me and allows me to create the type of content I can be really proud of and that makes people feel good, both the viewer and the crew that produces it. Because at the end of the day, that is what matters most. I truly believe that emotional energy is contagious, so filling my life with meaningful projects and kindhearted people is on top of my priority list.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well,I should probably take them to the Aquarium, some museums, a Braves game and other local attractions. But I am one of those people that lives to eat, so it would be a food tour for sure. Last year I went on a quest to find the most authentic, perfectly buttery and flaky croissant in Atlanta, which was incredibly fun. So I can confidently say that we will start the day with a box full of the absolute best Butter and Almond Croissants this city has to offer, and those can be found at Little Tart.
After a nice walk on the Beltline, let’s stop for lunch at Antico, obviously the most delicious Neapolitan style pizza around.
The afternoon will be spent hitting up some of the amazing craft breweries to sample local beer flights and, if we are lucky, enjoy some live music.
Early dinner will be at Casi Cielo, the ultimate trifecta of vibes, food and drinks, where we’ll order the Suckling Pig Tacos, Duck Carnitas and plenty of fried plantains.
Finally, for dessert, we are headed to beautiful Tiny Lou’s to indulge in a slice or two of their Mort au Chocolate and a shot of espresso.
And while I’d love to go dancing or roller skating after that, we will most likely be in a food coma by 10pm. So let’s hope my friend can come back soon to experience more of Atlanta then.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many amazing and talented people that I got to work with and learn from throughout my career. But the most influential and constant person has been Creative Mastermind Scott Chalk. We met back in the day at Turner, then we collaborated as production dream team for 7 years at Atlanta Eats, and today he is still a dear friend and partner in crime when it comes to anyting related to content creation. Scott always challenged me to think outside the box, be flexible and just go for it. His creativity and ability to come up with engaging concepts never ceases to amaze me. He totally gets it, this ever-evolving TV world, and how to reach the viewers. He is also an amazing friend and mentor and one of the most positive, kind and selfless people I know.

Instagram: anne.kuestenkind

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/annibacchus/