NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AMERICAN DOERS, a new 12-part video series on Time Inc.’s People.com sponsored by Advil, premieres Tuesday, November 1 at 10 am ET featuring original thinkers, innovators, craftspeople, risk-takers and artisans across the United States. AMERICAN DOERS sets out to prove that despite all the negative news, America is still the land of opportunity for anyone with an idea and a dream. These gutsy, resourceful, and tenacious individuals are today’s true pioneers who risk everything in their pursuit of success and the American dream. Their stories unfold as the host, James Marshall of Happy Marshall Productions, spends days completely immersed in their lives. Marshall lives their American Dream – working in their businesses, walking in their shoes, following their journeys – along the unpredictable path to success or setback.
Episode 1 features 30-year-old Shareena Casterline of Harlem, NY, who overcame a traumatic childhood, quit her day job bartending, attended the Art Institute of Colorado’s culinary school, and in 2015 launched her own boutique e-commerce cookie-selling business, MadisonStreetBakeHouse.com. Shareena was told early on in life to “dial down” her dreams and to “lower your expectations.” She explains that these early hardships “made me a better entrepreneur. I can take a few knocks.”
Given up by her parents at age 3 and later abandoned by her grandmother and aunt, the Colorado native was shuffled to different group homes and foster care placements for seven years. "As a toddler I saw myself owning a bakery in Paris or New York," says Shareena. "Never in my wildest fantasy did I think it would happen.” Adopted by Denver parents Larry and Nancy Casterline, Shareena discovered a passion for her craft early on when her loving adoptive father Larry encouraged her to cook. "Baking became an escape from my past and I was able to accept my adoptive family," she says. "The first time I realized I loved myself was when I baked a chocolate chip cookie; I knew this was my calling."
AMERICAN DOERS was created by Executive Producers James Marshall and Melanie Reardon as a positive and uplifting antidote to the current negativity and divisiveness in the United States. The series strives to shine a light on everyday Americans, like Shareena, who are turning obstacles into opportunities; striving to do whatever it takes to fulfill their dreams. "James is the ultimate people-person. He's curious about everyone,” says Reardon. “I'll order a coffee and maybe catch the barista's name. James will order a coffee and ten minutes later he knows their life story and gets invited over for family dinner."
Marshall travels with Shareena on her quest to get her confectionary creation, “the Maddy” – a delicate, Florentine-inspired wafer – into coffee shops and bakeries around New York City. Viewers can watch Episode 1 at 10 am ET on Tuesday, November 1 by visiting AmericanDoers.People.com.
Other AMERICAN DOERS episodes slated to run on People.com in 2016 include:
- Jimmy Funkhouser – Uninspired by his boring desk job, this Denver, CO outdoorsman made the decision on New Year’s Eve 2015 to quit his job to become an entrepreneur. He cashed in his 401k, and 43 days later launched Feral Mountain Co., a curated outdoor gear and experience shop. He believes that everyone is just one adventure away from falling in love with the wild.
- Amar Ramasar – Amar is a principal dancer in the New York City Ballet, which is quite a feat for a Puerto Rican kid from the Bronx. He began dancing at the age of 10, riding the subway by himself to musical theater rehearsals. It was then that he fell in love with ballet and declared, “One day I will dance in the New York City Ballet.” Amar landed at the prestigious School of American Ballet, rose through five levels of dance in five years and broke records along the way – all the while overcoming obstacles to fulfill his dream of joining the NYC Ballet.
- Tim & Debbie Bishop – The owners and managers of a gorgeous ranch in rural Wyoming called Medicine Bow Lodge, the Bishops are two of the happiest people you will ever meet. Debbie was born in Oklahoma City and went to grade school in San Antonio, Texas and high school in Colorado Springs, CO. Tim was born and raised near Baton Rouge, LA, dreaming all the time about moving to Wyoming. After many hardships and tragedies – a big fire destroyed their home, they nearly went bankrupt, their son died – they sold everything to fulfill their dream of running a lodge.
Eight more episodes of AMERICAN DOERS will run on People.com in 2017.
About People
Time Inc.’s People revolutionized personality journalism when it launched as a weekly in 1974 with a mission to celebrate extraordinary people doing ordinary things and ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Ubiquitous and still at the center of pop culture more than 40 years later, the People brand is accessible across all media and platforms (print, digital, video, OTT, mobile, social) bringing more than 80 million consumers a unique mix of breaking entertainment news, exclusive photos, video, unparalleled access to the red carpet, celebrities, and in-depth reporting on the most compelling newsmakers of our time. An essential component of People’s editorial vision remains human interest stories, which touch and often mirror the lives of our passionate audience. ComScore ranks the People and Entertainment Weekly Digital Network No. 1 in the entertainment news category. And now, the People/Entertainment Weekly Network app offers a free, advertiser-supported OTT streaming video service. People is an award-winning 24/7 news organization headquartered in NYC with reporters worldwide. For more information visit People.com and Timeinc.com, and follow @people on Twitter and Instagram, @peoplemag on Facebook, and the People channel on YouTube and on Snapchat’s Discover.
About Happy Marshall Productions
Happy Marshall Productions is a one-stop shop for evocative, mindful content, with an edge. Since 2012, we have combined our love for telling passionate, raw, engaging stories with a production model that disrupts the industry norm. With a unique emphasis on creating uplifting and positive programming, our mission is to effect the change we’d like to see in the world. At Happy Marshall Productions, our strength originates from the sum of our parts. From our ground-breaking development and production teams to our back-breaking crews, the Happy Marshall team consists of hand-selected collaborators who exude creativity and quick-wit. In addition to our creative partners, we are proud to team up with like-minded brands, networks and distribution partners. Our clients value our ability to combine our business acumen with our art, as we deliver beautiful, high-quality cinematic content that keep costs low, but simultaneously sets the bar very high.
About Advil®
Advil® is the number-one selling over-the-counter pain reliever in the United States. Advil® provides relief from multiple aches and pains – including headaches, backaches, muscle aches and minor arthritis pains. The Advil® line of products also includes fast, acting Advil® Film Coated, Children’s Advil®, Advil® PM, Advil® Cold & Sinus, Advil® Allergy Sinus, and Advil® Congestion Relief. Use as directed. Advil® – built to be as fast as it is strong.
