Steven L. Wagner is a director, producer, editor, and creative director known for his work in film, television, and high-profile promo campaigns. For over a decade, Wagner has explored the art of storytelling in every format, from regional TV promos to large-scale NBC Olympics and Super Bowl commercials, earning multiple awards and acclaim for his inventive vision and technical expertise.
Early Life and Beginnings in Media
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Wagner grew up immersed in television, with his father, Steve N. Wagner, serving as a longtime cameraman at WGN-TV. Steven’s early fascination with media led him to experiment with video production using his elementary school’s VHS camera. Even as a child, he displayed a keen storytelling instinct, casting classmates in short films and creating projects such as a biographical film about a parish priest.
In his early twenties, he honed his skills at the Community Film Workshop of Chicago, producing shorts like Toys of War, which became a finalist at the 1990 Worldfest-Houston International Film Festival. Wagner gained hands-on experience working with director Ted Sarantos on the cable access series Actors Acting, and he created low-budget music videos for local bands, blending creativity with practical production know-how.
Professional Career and Regional Success
Wagner began his professional journey in 1993 at WCIU-TV, a Kids’ WB affiliate in Chicago, producing and editing promotional content. Long before TV Land, WCIU “The U” was repackaging old TV series like Hogan’s Heroes, The Munsters, and The Love Boat in fresh and fun new ways. He soon became a cameraman and producer on the popular horror host show Svengoolie, where he also designed and built the show’s original dungeon set with Chicago artist Mario Martinez, now on display at the Museum of Broadcast Communications. His work at WCIU earned him six Midwest Emmy Awards for editing, music composition, and producing, establishing him as a rising star in regional television.
In 1997, Wagner co-founded Astropolitan Pictures, Inc. with Ahdee Goldberg and Andrew Honacker. The company was pioneering in its use of desktop computers to create high-quality visual effects, enabling smaller teams to produce work at the scale of major studios. Projects included a custom THX logo for the Terminator 2: Judgment Day Ultimate Edition DVD and award-winning original sci-fi shorts such as E-lectricity and So to Speak, the latter earning a Visual Effects Society Award for its inventive mix of miniatures, motion capture, live action, and 3D animation.
NBC and Television Promotions
In 2010, Wagner joined NBC in a hybrid role as director, creative director, and editor. His tenure at the network included high-end launch promos and trailers for acclaimed series, including Heroes Reborn, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Blacklist, The Good Place, Hannibal, Timeless, Shades of Blue, and the Dick Wolf Chicago franchise. He also directed promotional content for major events like the Super Bowl and multiple Summer and Winter Olympics, blending cinematic storytelling with marketing savvy.
A hallmark of Wagner’s work is his ability to distill complex narratives into impactful, visually arresting spots. One example is the show Timeless from producers Eric Kripke and Shawn Ryan. Debuting after the 2016 Summer Olympics, NBC wanted a bold, adventurous, time-hopping promo, but only had one pilot episode of the show. Wagner created an original spot featuring the show’s cast travelling through multiple time periods, including an epic World War II battle scene. The promo was so engaging that fans clamored to see a WWII episode in the series.
When the comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine transitioned from Fox to NBC for its sixth season, Wagner pitched and creative directed a blockbuster-sized promo portraying character Jake Peralta’s ultimate Die Hard fantasy. Featuring VFX from Digital Domain and released the same day as the Avengers: Endgame trailer, the promo trended online alongside the Marvel blockbuster, demonstrating Wagner’s knack for timing and audience engagement.
During the 2020 Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, Wagner directed a CGI-driven promo for the launch of Young Rock featuring a giant balloon of Dwayne Johnson from the 1990s. Due to COVID restrictions, there was no parade crowd in attendance that year, sparking online debate as to whether the balloon was real or not. The Rock praised the spot on social media, saying, “I’ve been a lucky SOB to have done some pretty cool shit in my career, but after seeing my Young Rock FANNY PACK FLOAT in the #MacysThanksgivingParade, this might take the cake.”
Recognition and Impact
Wagner’s work has been widely recognized. He received an Emmy nomination for his interactive fan experience campaign for The Good Place, and his contributions to Comic-Con marketing activations have been celebrated within the industry. Between 2012 and 2025, he earned numerous PromaxBDA awards and a GEMA award, cementing his reputation as a leader in television promotion and creative direction.
Legacy and Ongoing Work
Throughout his career, Wagner has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to visual storytelling and innovation. From childhood shorts to high-profile television promos, he combines technical skill with creativity, consistently delivering content that captivates audiences.
Based in Los Angeles, California, Wagner continues to direct while also developing film, television, and graphic novel projects.
