HAZMAT Productions is a full service television and film production company based in Los Angeles and New York. Our mission is to push the boundaries of cinematic, non-fiction storytelling.
Founded by veteran filmmakers Ben Haslup and Paul Matusheski, the creative force behind hours of must-see television, including some of the highest rated specials of all time, we’re passionate about stories and content that transports viewers closer to unique places, people, wildlife, the natural world, strange subcultures, and more.
Besides their extensive field experience, Ben and Paul are both accomplished editors with an in depth knowledge of all things post. Their experience in the edit bay translates to creative insights in the field, where they test the limits of modern filmmaking techniques.
With a unique style and a special eye for the epic, HAZMAT is constantly developing and employing new tools, technology, and methodologies to ensure that what we deliver always feels fresh and new. We don’t chase trends - we create them.
From documenting how NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal overcame his fear of sharks to filming microscopic tardigrades in a lab, no subject is too big or too small for HAZMAT Productions to tackle.
THE TEAM
Ben Haslup
Ben Haslup is an alumnus of the James Madison University’s School of Media Arts & Design. After graduating he made the award winning short film Taste of Evil, a film noir parody set inside a refrigerator with condiments for characters. Through a strange series of events, Taste of Evil led to a job at America’s Most Wanted, where he went on to produce and direct multiple segments which led to the capture of fugitives around the country, including one from a decades old cold case murder in Harrisonburg, VA, home of his alma mater. He’s continued to work as a professional filmmaker ever since.
Throughout his career, he’s worked on the front lines as a writer, director, producer and editor in multiple genres. His credits range from shepherding the first season of the real life X-Files series Paranatural on National Geographic to the true crime series People Magazine Investigates on Investigation Discovery. He served as Co-Executive Producer and Lead Writer & Editor on the premiere season of the horror/natural history mash up series Dead By Dawn for NatGeo Wild. And along with his HAZMAT partner Paul, he’s been behind some of the highest rated SHARK WEEK specials of all time, including those starring world class athletes and celebrities like Michael Phelps in Phelps v. Shark and Shaquille O’Neal in Shaq Week.
PAUL MATUSHESKI
Paul Matusheski is a seasoned wildlife documentarian and executive producer. Born and raised in Cape May, New Jersey, Paul migrated to Los Angeles to earn his film degree at the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. For more than a decade, he’s been producing unscripted shows for a variety of networks. He’s known for creating a unique style and sound for every project he takes on as he got his start in the edit room, cutting and developing pilot episodes of several long running series like Auction Hunters, Haunted Collector, Speed of Life, Beasts of the Bayou, American Guns and the cultural phenomenon Duck Dynasty.
His suspenseful storytelling and comedic timing eventually lead him into the field directing and showrunning. Perhaps his greatest passion is the world below the water’s surface. A veteran and pioneer for Discovery Channel’s Shark Week, he has produced and edited over twenty five ocean based specials, including 2017's Phelps vs Shark, the highest rated Shark Week in history. In 2018, he broke rating records again with the first ever Shark Week buddy comedy, Shaq Does Shark Week which featured Shaquille O'Neil, Rob Riggle and Kevin Hart. Paul’s aims to push the boundaries of technology, illuminating the intricacies and majesty of the animal kingdom, giving audiences unprecedented access to some of the world's rarest species.
OUR CREW
It takes a village and we’re honored to collaborate regularly with a team of talented crew members from around the world. From pre through post, our roster of specialists can get any job done.
