Emmy Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker
Ric Burns: Biography at a Glance
- Ric Burns is one of America’s preeminent documentary filmmakers who has been writing, directing, and producing historical films for over 25 years.
- Best known for his Emmy Award-winning New York: A Documentary Film, Burns has told the story of America from the Mayflower and the Civil War to 9/11.
- Burns founded Steeplechase Films which has produced over 30 hours of award-winning humanities programming for prime-time national broadcast on public television.
- A profoundly powerful storyteller whose thought-provoking and deeply poetic films have garnered a devoted following, Burns brings to the stage an overview of America and a look at our future — from a historical perspective.
Media
Biography
One of America’s preeminent documentary filmmakers, Ric Burns has been writing, directing, and producing historical films for over 25 years. Best known for his Emmy Award-winning New York: A Documentary Film, Burns has told the story of America from the Mayflower and the Civil War to 9/11.
A profoundly powerful storyteller whose thought-provoking and deeply poetic films have garnered a devoted following, Burns brings to the stage an overview of America, from the pilgrims and the civil war to the ongoing cultural changes, and a look at our future — from a historical perspective. With short film clips interspersed throughout his lectures, Burns also shares the secrets to his creative process with tips on how to tell a compelling story.
The winner of six Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards, Ric has directed some of the most distinguished programs for the award-winning public television series, American Experience and American Masters, including Coney Island, The Donner Party, The Way West, Ansel Adams, Andy Warhol: A Documentary Film, and The Chinese Exclusion Act. According to the New York Times, The Chinese Exclusion Act “feels as if it were made for a moment when border walls and immigration controls are topics of daily conversation.”
Variety called his PBS series New York, “Nothing short of gripping...a monumental documentary series.” TV Guide described the eighth episode — a three-hour portrait of the rise and fall of the World Trade Center — as “a majestically composed eulogy.”
His most recent work, Oliver Sacks: His Own Life, explores the riveting and profoundly moving life and work of this unique figure—an old-fashioned polymath and natural historian of the 19th-century sort who redefined our understanding of the brain and mind.
Burns directed American Ballet Theatre: A History; Debt of Honor: Disabled Veterans in American History, and The Pilgrims, which uncovers the riveting, true story of the men and women of the Mayflower and their harrowing first decade in Massachusetts.
Burns created Driving While Black, a look at the long history of African Americans and automobiles, starting as early as the 20th century.
Coinciding with the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, Burns completed Death and the Civil War in 2012, which examines the impact of the war’s staggering death toll and its enduring trauma on the nation, the government, and the psyche of the American people.
Beginning with a collaboration with his brother Ken Burns on PBS’s The Civil War, Ric first founded Steeplechase Films in 1989. With over 30 hours of award-winning programming for broadcast on national television, Steeplechase has earned thirteen national Emmy nominations, two Peabody Awards, three Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Journalism awards, and the Erick Barnouw prize from the Organization of American Historians.
Topics
Seeing The Invisible World: The Art Of Filmmaking
We all love films, but what exactly happens between the camera and the screen. How do tricks of light create universes populated by complicated people, glorious images, and immersive sound? Using clips and stories from his own award-winning documentaries, director Ric Burns takes audiences on a journey into the creative process of filmmaking, from script to screen.
“Seeing the Invisible World: The Art of Filmmaking” is a combination of sight and sound. Your audience can be treated to clips from The Civil War, New York, The Way West, Coney Island, The Donner Party, Andy Warhol, Eugene O’Neill, Ansel Adams, The Pilgrims, Death and the Civil War, Into the Deep: America, Whaling & the World, and more.
One of America’s preeminent documentary filmmakers, Ric Burns is a profoundly powerful storyteller whose thought-provoking and deeply poetic films have garnered a devoted following. Best known for his Emmy Award-winning New York: A Documentary Film, Burns has told the story of America through his movies, from the Mayflower and the Civil War to 9/11.
New York: Capitalism, Democracy And The Culture Of Change
Capital of capitalism, birthplace of democracy, cauldron of the modern world: for nearly four hundred years now, New York City has been the premier urban laboratory and unofficial capital of the American dream. From its establishment in 1624 as a remote Dutch trading post, down through its emergence in the 20th century as the undisputed cultural and economic clearinghouse of the world, New York City has played a unique, and uniquely transformative, role in the development of American culture, mingling and unleashing the extraordinarily powerful and transforming forces of capitalism and democracy as no other city on earth. Walking through four hundred years of history, from the arrival of the Dutch down past the catastrophe of 9/11, Ric Burns discusses the salient forces that have driven New York upward, and made it the complex center of the modern world.
What History Tells Us About The Present
The Making Of America: From The Pilgrims And Tecumseh To The Civil War
Celebrating The Creative Spirit: Andy Warhol, Eugene O’Neill, And Oliver Sacks
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FAQs
How do I book Ric Burns for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Ric Burns to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Ric Burns's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Ric Burns’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Ric Burns in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Ric Burns's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Ric Burns's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Ric Burns, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Ric Burns's speaking fee?
Ric Burns's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Ric Burns's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Ric Burns's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Ric Burns as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Ric Burns as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Ric Burns's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Ric Burns's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Ric Burns for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Ric Burns speaking engagements.
Official contact for Ric Burns bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/ric-burns
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Ric Burns.
Is Ric Burns available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Ric Burns speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Ric Burns's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Ric Burns's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Ric Burns's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Ric Burns for?
Book Ric Burns for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Ric Burns customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Ric Burns engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Ric Burns can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Ric Burns booking information and availability
Check Ric Burns's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Ric Burns for your preferred event date.
Book Ric Burns keynote speaker through CAA
Book Ric Burns through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Ric Burns, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Ric Burns's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Ric Burns for your next event.
Will Ric Burns speak at private events?
Yes, Ric Burns speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Ric Burns's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Ric Burns?
CAA Speakers responds to Ric Burns booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Ric Burns?
Book Ric Burns 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Ric Burns pricing information?
Get Ric Burns pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.