About - Back Roads Entertainment, Austin based, TV and content production studio

From the heart of

the Back Roads

Life. Lived. Remarkably.
Back Roads Entertainment was founded by Emmy-nominated Executive Producer Colby Gaines in 2011.

Not your average content production studio

As founder, Colby Gaines knows the back roads of life are littered with funny moments and compelling experiences. Moments that make engaging stories; stories waiting to be told. We find them and tell them.

BRE recently relocated from NYC to Austin, Texas to utilize prevailing local tax incentives, its experienced talent pool, lower production costs, and more family-oriented Texas lifestyle. Our studios offer the full complement of video and edit equipment to execute everything in-house. We develop, sell and produce across all genres for broadcast and cable networks, both domestically and internationally, as well as digital platforms.

Scripted Entertainment to Branded Content

From scripted entertainment such as 50 Central and Joking Off, to reality formats Big Bad BBQ Brawl and Lake Life, we make stuff you want to watch®.

BRE focuses on compelling stories that are family-friendly, evergreen, and unifying. Media covered includes television, film, digital, and podcasting. Genres include food, home, comedy, games, and sports. BRE’s talent is a mix of A-list celebrities and home-grown stars.

ABOUT US

Meet the team

The back roads team has years of experience producing ratings-topping TV shows, entertaining branded content, music videos, and digital series. We’ve built a team that includes strategic partners from all walks of life, who share a love of comedy, a passion for original storytelling and are driven to produce highest quality content.

Colby Gaines

Founder

Colby Gaines is an Emmy-nominated executive producer and founder of Back Roads Entertainment responsible for the company’s programming, development and day-to-day operations.

Since establishing the company in 2011, Colby Gaines has created, sold and produced over 30 series, specials and pilots for networks such as such as A&E, Lifetime, Discovery, Food, Travel Channel, TLC and E! among others. Previously, he was the co-founder and owner of Leftfield Pictures, co-creating the juggernaut hit Pawn Stars (History).

Martha Parker

EVP of Finance

Martha Parker is a CPA and MBA with extensive experience in cable television. She was VP of Program Acquisitions Finance for Warner Media, where she led financial valuations for licensed programming investments and sales, including the acquisition of television series and films totaling up to $1 billion annually. Previously, she was Assistant Controller for Liberty Global, Inc., focused on international accounting and reporting. Parker’s career also includes 15 years at The Coca-Cola Company where she provided FP&A and accounting leadership. Her career began in the audit practice at Arthur Andersen & Co.

Bret Calvert

VP of Development

Bret is a WGA-award winning and Emmy-nominated writer and producer, recently taking home the 2020 WGA Award for his outstanding work on Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader. He spent 15 years as a freelancer in unscripted television, working on projects such as Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader (FOX, Nickelodeon), World’s Best (CBS), TKO (CBS),To Tell The Truth (ABC), Funderdome (ABC), Biggest Loser (USA), Minute To Win It (GSN), Winsanity (GSN) and The Chase (GSN) among many others. More recently he served 2 years as VP of Unscripted Development for MGM before moving to Austin and joining the Back Roads team.

Pamela Covais

VP of Production

Pamela Covais is the newest addition to the Back Roads Entertainment team. Previously, Pamela spent 9 years as SVP of Production at September Films USA and 3 years at Polygon Productions, working in Los Angeles as a Producer and Production Executive, overseeing more than 400 hours of programming. At SFUSA, Pamela guided production on the hit series “Bridezillas”, “Billy the Exterminator” and “Mall Cops”. Her efforts made SFUSA one of the most profitable divisions of DCD Media. Most recently, Pamela held the position of Consulting Producer at Based On Media.

Alexis O'Donnell

Sr Director of Development

Alexis O’Donnell joined the Back Roads Team as an intern before moving up the ranks to Sr Director of Development. She’s a graduate of New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study where she majored in Storytelling and Engagement for the Modern Entertainment Industry, with a minor in producing.

CJ Felux

Executive Assistant

Charles (CJ) Felux grew up in rural Texas with aspirations for the city life. He moved to Austin and soon began working at film startup New Republic Studios as the Production Manager. Out of one of the offices, he started his production company, Space Horse Media, which lead him to start directing music videos, corporate work, and animation. You’ll find him currently working on producing an animated short with his team.

Endyia Kinney-Sterns

Strategic Partner

With over 20 years of Entertainment and Television experience, Endyia Kinney-Sterns is an accomplished television producer and network executive. Named one of the “Top Female Executives in Hollywood” by Essence Magazine, Kinney-Sterns has been instrumental in identifying and developing new programming for various networks, including OWN, VH1, BET, CBS, NBC, HGTV, and production companies such as A Smith & Co. Production Company and Arnold Shapiro Productions just to name a few.

Join our journey

We are always on the look-out for new talented, hard-working folks that share our vision.

Submit your details here or email us contact@backroadsentertainment.com

If you would like to get to know us a little better drop in and say hi.

Internships

Back Roads Entertainment is committed to nurturing those entering the production community. As a premier ATX production company, we offer internships on a part-time basis and school credit is required. If you’re interested, send your resume and contact info to: contact@backroadsentertainment.com