Rick Allen
CEO, SnagFilms
Rick Allen has run successful companies in nearly every form of media, and helped to develop or extend some of the country’s most prestigious brands. Rick is the CEO of SnagFilms, which he helped to found with Ted Leonsis. The company is the leading digital distributor of independent films, with thousands of titles offered via sponsor-supported free streaming on its own website and across a network of over 110,000 website and webpages, and via applications on iPad, Roku and Boxee. SnagFilms also offers a tightly-refereed selection of films on branded pay channels with Comcast and FiOS, and with iTunes, HuluPlus, Amazon and other partners. Named one of the fastest growing tech companies in the Washington DC area, the company’s investors also include Steve and Jean Case, New Enterprise Associates and Comcast Ventures. Allen joined Leonsis to produce Kicking It, which screened at Sundance, Tribeca and other film festivals and was aired globally by ESPN; for the film and their work on homelessness, Leonsis, Allen and colleagues received the 2009 Stewart B. McKinney Award from the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. The two most recently produced A Fighting Chance, which premiered on ESPN in November of 2010. Previously, as President and CEO of Sporting News, the country’s oldest sports media company, Allen led a revitalization that saw it named twice to Adweek’s annual “Hot List” as a top-10 media property. Earlier, he served as President and CEO of the for-profit arm of the National Geographic Society, responsible for television and film; interactive products, websites and e-commerce; maps; travel; retail; catalog; and consumer products. Under his leadership, the National Geographic Channel was launched and became one of the fastest growing cable channels in recent history. Before coming to National Geographic, Rick was a senior executive at Discovery Communications, parent of the Discovery Channel, where he extended the company’s brand into filmed entertainment, education, technology and retail.
CEO, SnagFilms
Rick Allen has run successful companies in nearly every form of media, and helped to develop or extend some of the country’s most prestigious brands. Rick is the CEO of SnagFilms, which he helped to found with Ted Leonsis. The company is the leading digital distributor of independent films, with thousands of titles offered via sponsor-supported free streaming on its own website and across a network of over 110,000 website and webpages, and via applications on iPad, Roku and Boxee. SnagFilms also offers a tightly-refereed selection of films on branded pay channels with Comcast and FiOS, and with iTunes, HuluPlus, Amazon and other partners. Named one of the fastest growing tech companies in the Washington DC area, the company’s investors also include Steve and Jean Case, New Enterprise Associates and Comcast Ventures. Allen joined Leonsis to produce Kicking It, which screened at Sundance, Tribeca and other film festivals and was aired globally by ESPN; for the film and their work on homelessness, Leonsis, Allen and colleagues received the 2009 Stewart B. McKinney Award from the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. The two most recently produced A Fighting Chance, which premiered on ESPN in November of 2010. Previously, as President and CEO of Sporting News, the country’s oldest sports media company, Allen led a revitalization that saw it named twice to Adweek’s annual “Hot List” as a top-10 media property. Earlier, he served as President and CEO of the for-profit arm of the National Geographic Society, responsible for television and film; interactive products, websites and e-commerce; maps; travel; retail; catalog; and consumer products. Under his leadership, the National Geographic Channel was launched and became one of the fastest growing cable channels in recent history. Before coming to National Geographic, Rick was a senior executive at Discovery Communications, parent of the Discovery Channel, where he extended the company’s brand into filmed entertainment, education, technology and retail.
Simon Andreae
Senior Vice President of Development and Production, West Coast, Discovery Channel
As Senior Vice President of Development and Production, West Coast, Simon Andreae is instrumental in Discovery's development and production of series and specials that contribute to the strategic vision and direction of the network. Shows developed under his tenure include American Guns, Final Offer and Unchained Reaction, as well as two of the network’s newest hits, The Devils Ride and Fast N Loud. Andreae also spearheads the development and production of CURIOSITY, the network’s largest programming initiative to date. Episodes in season one included Did God Create the Universe? with Stephen Hawking, How Will the World End? with Samuel L. Jackson, and Your Body on Drugs with Robin Williams. Prior to joining Discovery, Andreae served as President of The Incubator, the multi-award-winning independent production company behind such shows as Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman (with Revelations Entertainment for Science Channel), In the Womb (with Pioneer Productions for National Geographic Channel), and My Shocking Story (TLC). He was also an Executive Producer on the feature documentary In the Shadow of the Moon, which won the Audience Award at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
Senior Vice President of Development and Production, West Coast, Discovery Channel
As Senior Vice President of Development and Production, West Coast, Simon Andreae is instrumental in Discovery's development and production of series and specials that contribute to the strategic vision and direction of the network. Shows developed under his tenure include American Guns, Final Offer and Unchained Reaction, as well as two of the network’s newest hits, The Devils Ride and Fast N Loud. Andreae also spearheads the development and production of CURIOSITY, the network’s largest programming initiative to date. Episodes in season one included Did God Create the Universe? with Stephen Hawking, How Will the World End? with Samuel L. Jackson, and Your Body on Drugs with Robin Williams. Prior to joining Discovery, Andreae served as President of The Incubator, the multi-award-winning independent production company behind such shows as Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman (with Revelations Entertainment for Science Channel), In the Womb (with Pioneer Productions for National Geographic Channel), and My Shocking Story (TLC). He was also an Executive Producer on the feature documentary In the Shadow of the Moon, which won the Audience Award at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.
Lori Rothschild Ansaldi
Vice President, Development, LMNO Productions
Lori Rothschild Ansaldi joined LMNO in 2011 and serves as Vice President of Development. Her passion for finding outrageous characters and concepts has created an entirely new approach to LMNO’s development centered on casting. Rothschild’s non-fiction television career started in the halls of Discovery Communications where she served on the Production and Development teams at Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. While at the Travel Channel, she co-created and Executive Produced the hit treasure hunting series “Cash and Treasures” and won a National Daytime Emmy for her work on “Passport to Latin America with Samantha Brown.” She also served as the Executive Producer on the wildly popular “World Poker Tour” which created a new vanguard in televised poker. At Discovery, Rothschild served as Supervising Producer and sat on the development team responsible for “Cash Cab,” “Deadliest Catch,” “I Shouldn’t Be Alive,” “ Dirty Jobs” and “Planet Earth.” She also produced numerous specials including “Last Mysteries of the Titanic with James Cameron” and “Biker Build Off: The Ultimate Chop.”
Vice President, Development, LMNO Productions
Lori Rothschild Ansaldi joined LMNO in 2011 and serves as Vice President of Development. Her passion for finding outrageous characters and concepts has created an entirely new approach to LMNO’s development centered on casting. Rothschild’s non-fiction television career started in the halls of Discovery Communications where she served on the Production and Development teams at Travel Channel and Discovery Channel. While at the Travel Channel, she co-created and Executive Produced the hit treasure hunting series “Cash and Treasures” and won a National Daytime Emmy for her work on “Passport to Latin America with Samantha Brown.” She also served as the Executive Producer on the wildly popular “World Poker Tour” which created a new vanguard in televised poker. At Discovery, Rothschild served as Supervising Producer and sat on the development team responsible for “Cash Cab,” “Deadliest Catch,” “I Shouldn’t Be Alive,” “ Dirty Jobs” and “Planet Earth.” She also produced numerous specials including “Last Mysteries of the Titanic with James Cameron” and “Biker Build Off: The Ultimate Chop.”
Blythe Asher
Vice President, Talent Development and Casting, E!
Blythe Asher joined E! as Vice President, Talent Development and Casting in June 2009. Blythe is charged with leading the talent activities for E!, which include developing talent-driven projects, casting pilots, series and specials, and over seeing talent on E! News, E! Specials, Live From The Red Carpet and other E! franchises. In addition, she acts as a liaison with the outside representative community and forges and maintains relationships with talent. Blythe is responsible for putting Joan Rivers, Kelly Osbourne, George Kotsiopolous and Guiliana Rancic together on the hit weekly series “Fashion Police”, as well as developing the series’ “Married To Jonas”, “Married to Rock”, “Opening Act”, and “The Dance Scene”. Prior to joining E!, Blythe served as the Vice President of Casting and Talent Development at MTV, overseeing the casting of hit shows “Wild N Out”, “America’s Best Dance Crew”, and “Punk’d”, overseeing talent development on “The Hills”, “Taking The Stage”, and “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila”. She was instrumental in the casting of MTV’s first foray into scripted, and oversaw the casting of “The Hard Times of RJ Berger”, “The American Mall”, and “Kaya” Before MTV, Blythe was a feature film casting director, casting “Anchorman”, “Dodgeball” ,“Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind”, “Zoolander”, “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me & Goldmember”, “Starsky & Hutch”, and “Sweet Home Alabama”. Blythe began her career as an agent trainee at the highly prestigious William Morris Agency.
Vice President, Talent Development and Casting, E!
Blythe Asher joined E! as Vice President, Talent Development and Casting in June 2009. Blythe is charged with leading the talent activities for E!, which include developing talent-driven projects, casting pilots, series and specials, and over seeing talent on E! News, E! Specials, Live From The Red Carpet and other E! franchises. In addition, she acts as a liaison with the outside representative community and forges and maintains relationships with talent. Blythe is responsible for putting Joan Rivers, Kelly Osbourne, George Kotsiopolous and Guiliana Rancic together on the hit weekly series “Fashion Police”, as well as developing the series’ “Married To Jonas”, “Married to Rock”, “Opening Act”, and “The Dance Scene”. Prior to joining E!, Blythe served as the Vice President of Casting and Talent Development at MTV, overseeing the casting of hit shows “Wild N Out”, “America’s Best Dance Crew”, and “Punk’d”, overseeing talent development on “The Hills”, “Taking The Stage”, and “A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila”. She was instrumental in the casting of MTV’s first foray into scripted, and oversaw the casting of “The Hard Times of RJ Berger”, “The American Mall”, and “Kaya” Before MTV, Blythe was a feature film casting director, casting “Anchorman”, “Dodgeball” ,“Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind”, “Zoolander”, “Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me & Goldmember”, “Starsky & Hutch”, and “Sweet Home Alabama”. Blythe began her career as an agent trainee at the highly prestigious William Morris Agency.
Stephen Auerbach
Producer/Director
Stephen Auerbach is the Producer, Director, Editor, and Marketing Department for the successful indie documentary Bicycle Dreams. By saying “no” to just about every opportunity presented to him by outside companies (digital, VOD, cable, etc), Auerbach has been able to create a worldwide audience for his film where he calls the shots and collects the revenue. Prior to his work in the indie film world (earlier films include The Memory Box and Race Across America), Auerbach produced and wrote over 100 hours of programming for networks and cable outlets such as ABC, NBC, FOX, DISCOVERY AND TLC.
Producer/Director
Stephen Auerbach is the Producer, Director, Editor, and Marketing Department for the successful indie documentary Bicycle Dreams. By saying “no” to just about every opportunity presented to him by outside companies (digital, VOD, cable, etc), Auerbach has been able to create a worldwide audience for his film where he calls the shots and collects the revenue. Prior to his work in the indie film world (earlier films include The Memory Box and Race Across America), Auerbach produced and wrote over 100 hours of programming for networks and cable outlets such as ABC, NBC, FOX, DISCOVERY AND TLC.
Robert Baltazar
Director of Reality Development, USA Network
Robert Baltazar is currently USA Network’s Director of Reality Development. Prior to joining USA, he was most recently Executive Director of Development & Current Programming at ITV Studios where he oversaw pilots and series such as Celebrity Fit Club for Vh1, WCG Ultimate Gamer for SyFy, and First Love, Second Chance for TV Land. He joined ITV Studios in 2006 as Manager of Development. Prior to ITV Studios, Baltazar was Manager of Development at Lion Television and was Department Coordinator of Alternative Programming at The WB Television Network where he assisted in the development of shows like Beauty and the Geek, High School Reunion, and The Surreal Life.
Director of Reality Development, USA Network
Robert Baltazar is currently USA Network’s Director of Reality Development. Prior to joining USA, he was most recently Executive Director of Development & Current Programming at ITV Studios where he oversaw pilots and series such as Celebrity Fit Club for Vh1, WCG Ultimate Gamer for SyFy, and First Love, Second Chance for TV Land. He joined ITV Studios in 2006 as Manager of Development. Prior to ITV Studios, Baltazar was Manager of Development at Lion Television and was Department Coordinator of Alternative Programming at The WB Television Network where he assisted in the development of shows like Beauty and the Geek, High School Reunion, and The Surreal Life.
Mathew Baxt
Director of Development, truTV
Mathew Baxt serves as director of development for the rapidly growing cable network truTV. In this capacity, he is responsible for finding and developing new programming for the network, such as the recently launched series The Wiener's Circle. Baxt is based in New York and reports to Marissa Ronca, vice president of development for truTV. Baxt joined truTV in January 2011 after serving as executive vice president in charge of development for Eyeboogie, Inc. While there, he oversaw all program development for the company and supervised the production staff. He also created such popular online series as Who Knew? for Yahoo and the Effie Award-winning, James Beard-nominated series Appetite for Life with Andrew Zimmern for MSN. Baxt previously served in variety of production capacities on such programs as American Gladiators (consulting producer); Extra (supervising producer/development) and Access Hollywood (head writer/senior field producer. He has also worked in VH1's programming and development department, where he served as executive producer and creator of Cover Wars, and for AMC, where he served as a creative consultant and senior producer.
Director of Development, truTV
Mathew Baxt serves as director of development for the rapidly growing cable network truTV. In this capacity, he is responsible for finding and developing new programming for the network, such as the recently launched series The Wiener's Circle. Baxt is based in New York and reports to Marissa Ronca, vice president of development for truTV. Baxt joined truTV in January 2011 after serving as executive vice president in charge of development for Eyeboogie, Inc. While there, he oversaw all program development for the company and supervised the production staff. He also created such popular online series as Who Knew? for Yahoo and the Effie Award-winning, James Beard-nominated series Appetite for Life with Andrew Zimmern for MSN. Baxt previously served in variety of production capacities on such programs as American Gladiators (consulting producer); Extra (supervising producer/development) and Access Hollywood (head writer/senior field producer. He has also worked in VH1's programming and development department, where he served as executive producer and creator of Cover Wars, and for AMC, where he served as a creative consultant and senior producer.
Chad Bennett
Founder and CEO, Populus Brands
Chad Bennett is founder and CEO of Populus Brands, an innovative brand-building company that drives franchise growth, incremental revenue and consumer engagement for clients. The company forms strategic partnerships between content creators, sponsors, licensors, manufacturers, retailers and marketers to build lifestyle and entertainment brands derived from and driven by show content. Bennett has produced more than 650 hours of network and cable programming, developed and launched more than 1000 product skus and brand extensions, driving more than $500 million in consumer spend, and sold in and executed hundreds of integrations and marketing extensions driving millions in revenue and billions of marketing impressions. Prior to launching Populus Brands in February 2012, Bennett served as Vice President of Brand Development at Reveille where he built the brand development department from the ground up, changing the landscape of the business around reality programming. He was tasked with continuing to redefine and drive new paradigms around reality and digital content by establishing and proving new revenue streams and business models. He leveraged show content to drive deeper financial and emotional investment from the audience to maximize larger business opportunities through strategic integration, licensing, interactive marketing and key partnerships/relationships.
Founder and CEO, Populus Brands
Chad Bennett is founder and CEO of Populus Brands, an innovative brand-building company that drives franchise growth, incremental revenue and consumer engagement for clients. The company forms strategic partnerships between content creators, sponsors, licensors, manufacturers, retailers and marketers to build lifestyle and entertainment brands derived from and driven by show content. Bennett has produced more than 650 hours of network and cable programming, developed and launched more than 1000 product skus and brand extensions, driving more than $500 million in consumer spend, and sold in and executed hundreds of integrations and marketing extensions driving millions in revenue and billions of marketing impressions. Prior to launching Populus Brands in February 2012, Bennett served as Vice President of Brand Development at Reveille where he built the brand development department from the ground up, changing the landscape of the business around reality programming. He was tasked with continuing to redefine and drive new paradigms around reality and digital content by establishing and proving new revenue streams and business models. He leveraged show content to drive deeper financial and emotional investment from the audience to maximize larger business opportunities through strategic integration, licensing, interactive marketing and key partnerships/relationships.
Alex Ben Block
Senior Editor, The Hollywood Reporter
Entertainment industry journalist, author, broadcaster and show business historian Alex Ben Block is Senior Editor of The Hollywood Reporter. In June 2012, Block was honored as Entertainment Journalist of the Year at the Southern California Journalism Awards by the Los Angeles Press Club. He was lead Editor of “George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success,” and author of the critically acclaimed books "OUTFOXED: The Inside Story of America's Fourth Television Network," and international bestseller "The Legend of Bruce Lee." Block returned to The Hollywood Reporter in 2009, where he had been Editor in the 1990s. He regularly writes major news stories for the magazine, web site and digital daily. His other positions have included Entertainment Editor of The Miami News, City Editor of The L.A. Herald Examiner, columnist for the Detroit News and Editor of TelevisionWeek. Block is a popular public speaker and frequently appears on TV and radio, including the Advertising Show, NPR, KNBC, NBC, CBS, CNN and elsewhere. His many other honors include a 2011 nomination for the National Entertainment Journalism Awards, three LA Press Club Awards for journalistic excellence, Hearst Awards, Will Rogers Foundation Award and the Journalism Award from the Caucus For Television Producers, Directors and Writers.
Senior Editor, The Hollywood Reporter
Entertainment industry journalist, author, broadcaster and show business historian Alex Ben Block is Senior Editor of The Hollywood Reporter. In June 2012, Block was honored as Entertainment Journalist of the Year at the Southern California Journalism Awards by the Los Angeles Press Club. He was lead Editor of “George Lucas's Blockbusting: A Decade-by-Decade Survey of Timeless Movies Including Untold Secrets of Their Financial and Cultural Success,” and author of the critically acclaimed books "OUTFOXED: The Inside Story of America's Fourth Television Network," and international bestseller "The Legend of Bruce Lee." Block returned to The Hollywood Reporter in 2009, where he had been Editor in the 1990s. He regularly writes major news stories for the magazine, web site and digital daily. His other positions have included Entertainment Editor of The Miami News, City Editor of The L.A. Herald Examiner, columnist for the Detroit News and Editor of TelevisionWeek. Block is a popular public speaker and frequently appears on TV and radio, including the Advertising Show, NPR, KNBC, NBC, CBS, CNN and elsewhere. His many other honors include a 2011 nomination for the National Entertainment Journalism Awards, three LA Press Club Awards for journalistic excellence, Hearst Awards, Will Rogers Foundation Award and the Journalism Award from the Caucus For Television Producers, Directors and Writers.
David Bloom
Principal, Words & Deeds
David Bloom advises on communications strategy, media relations and social media for prominent companies, institutions and individuals in politics, technology, entertainment and business. He currently is social-media consultant for Deadline.com, the premiere online site for entertainment business news. Bloom previously ran all communications and social media for the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles; was associate dean and chief communications officer for the USC Marshall School of Business; and vice president of corporate communications at movie studio MGM Inc. He previously worked 20 years as an award-winning journalist for such publications as Variety, Red Herring, the Los Angeles Daily News and the Dallas Times Herald. Bloom writes regularly on technology, media, politics and art at the blogs Bloom’s Day and Post Mad Bills; guest lectures at USC, Pepperdine and Chapman University, and is a frequent moderator and panelist at conferences such as Digital Hollywood, Ad:Tech, Produced By, NATPE and OMMA. He is vice president of the Board of Directors of Outpost for Contemporary Art.
Principal, Words & Deeds
David Bloom advises on communications strategy, media relations and social media for prominent companies, institutions and individuals in politics, technology, entertainment and business. He currently is social-media consultant for Deadline.com, the premiere online site for entertainment business news. Bloom previously ran all communications and social media for the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles; was associate dean and chief communications officer for the USC Marshall School of Business; and vice president of corporate communications at movie studio MGM Inc. He previously worked 20 years as an award-winning journalist for such publications as Variety, Red Herring, the Los Angeles Daily News and the Dallas Times Herald. Bloom writes regularly on technology, media, politics and art at the blogs Bloom’s Day and Post Mad Bills; guest lectures at USC, Pepperdine and Chapman University, and is a frequent moderator and panelist at conferences such as Digital Hollywood, Ad:Tech, Produced By, NATPE and OMMA. He is vice president of the Board of Directors of Outpost for Contemporary Art.
David E. Brenner
CEO, Principal Media
David E. Brenner, Chief Executive Officer of Principal Media, oversees all aspects of the Beverly Hills-based TV production/distribution company. Under his stewardship, Principal Media has created over 300 hours of TV programming for Sky Channel, National Geographic, Travel Channel, Fox Reality, ABC Family and others. Additionally, Principal Media’s international distribution wing represents 3,000+ hours of Award-winning TV programming, including long-running series on Spike, Lifetime, Fuel, Fox, Discovery, Versus, Speed, National Geographic and many more. With over 17 years experience in TV & film finance, distribution and production, Mr. Brenner is a well-known TV executive and producer, and is featured as a speaker at TV conferences throughout the world. Prior to joining Principal Media in 2006, Mr. Brenner was a business & legal affairs executive at Lionsgate Entertainment, as well as Director of Worldwide Distribution at Alliance Atlantis Pictures International.
CEO, Principal Media
David E. Brenner, Chief Executive Officer of Principal Media, oversees all aspects of the Beverly Hills-based TV production/distribution company. Under his stewardship, Principal Media has created over 300 hours of TV programming for Sky Channel, National Geographic, Travel Channel, Fox Reality, ABC Family and others. Additionally, Principal Media’s international distribution wing represents 3,000+ hours of Award-winning TV programming, including long-running series on Spike, Lifetime, Fuel, Fox, Discovery, Versus, Speed, National Geographic and many more. With over 17 years experience in TV & film finance, distribution and production, Mr. Brenner is a well-known TV executive and producer, and is featured as a speaker at TV conferences throughout the world. Prior to joining Principal Media in 2006, Mr. Brenner was a business & legal affairs executive at Lionsgate Entertainment, as well as Director of Worldwide Distribution at Alliance Atlantis Pictures International.
Rachel Brill
Director of Unscripted Development, TNT
Rachel Brill, Director of Unscripted Development, brings a wealth of reality expertise to the emerging TNT Unscripted Originals team. Working alongside Brett Weitz, TNT’s vice president of series development, Brill is responsible for identifying unique pitches and fostering the creative development of all pilots and unscripted series, including this summer’s reality competition, “The Great Escape” from the team of Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri. Prior to joining TNT, Brill served as vice president of development and supervising producer at ZOO Productions. While at ZOO, Brill oversaw development and production of pitches, presentations and pilots, including the Emmy-nominated Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?; GSN’s LINGO, with Bill Engvall; HUB’s Family Game Night; truTV’s Southern Fried Stings and Over the Limit; TV Land’s How’d You Get So Rich? with Joan Rivers; MTV’s Busted; and CMT’s Redneck Dreams. In addition to development, Brill supervised specials and premiere season launches for such shows as NBC’s All-Star Celebrity Treasure Hunt; Disney’s first unscripted series, PrankStars; WEtv’s Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?, starring Joan Rivers; Lifetime’s Bunco World Championship; and truTV’s Speeders and spin-off series Speeders Fight Back. Earlier in her career, Brill was on the production team of Oxygen’s Girls Behaving Badly, with Chelsea Handler, and spin-off Guys Behaving Badly, with Ken Jeong.
Director of Unscripted Development, TNT
Rachel Brill, Director of Unscripted Development, brings a wealth of reality expertise to the emerging TNT Unscripted Originals team. Working alongside Brett Weitz, TNT’s vice president of series development, Brill is responsible for identifying unique pitches and fostering the creative development of all pilots and unscripted series, including this summer’s reality competition, “The Great Escape” from the team of Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri. Prior to joining TNT, Brill served as vice president of development and supervising producer at ZOO Productions. While at ZOO, Brill oversaw development and production of pitches, presentations and pilots, including the Emmy-nominated Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?; GSN’s LINGO, with Bill Engvall; HUB’s Family Game Night; truTV’s Southern Fried Stings and Over the Limit; TV Land’s How’d You Get So Rich? with Joan Rivers; MTV’s Busted; and CMT’s Redneck Dreams. In addition to development, Brill supervised specials and premiere season launches for such shows as NBC’s All-Star Celebrity Treasure Hunt; Disney’s first unscripted series, PrankStars; WEtv’s Joan & Melissa: Joan Knows Best?, starring Joan Rivers; Lifetime’s Bunco World Championship; and truTV’s Speeders and spin-off series Speeders Fight Back. Earlier in her career, Brill was on the production team of Oxygen’s Girls Behaving Badly, with Chelsea Handler, and spin-off Guys Behaving Badly, with Ken Jeong.
Brenda Brkusic
Executive Producer of Program Development and National Productions, PBS SoCaL
Brenda Brkusic is an Emmy Award-winning television producer and the Executive Producer of Program Development and National Productions for PBS SoCaL. She joined PBS SoCaL (then KOCE) in 2006 as a producer for their Emmy Award-winning nightly news program and went on to spearhead and manage PBS SoCaL's digital OC Channel (PBS OC), which has been called "the next generation of PBS" by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and received CPB's My Source Education Innovation Award. Brenda's dedication to program development has resulted in the creation of thousands of new programs and series for PBS SoCaL. Some of her recent credits include the award-winning film Freedom from Despair, which was presented to members of the European Parliament in Brussels, and for which she was honored on the Congressional Record of the US House of Representatives for her work promoting human rights, and the Emmy award-winning film Bloody Thursday which aired on PBS stations nationally. Brenda currently has numerous programs and series in development including the film Mia Slavenska: A Dancer's Odyssey, starring Blythe Danner.
Executive Producer of Program Development and National Productions, PBS SoCaL
Brenda Brkusic is an Emmy Award-winning television producer and the Executive Producer of Program Development and National Productions for PBS SoCaL. She joined PBS SoCaL (then KOCE) in 2006 as a producer for their Emmy Award-winning nightly news program and went on to spearhead and manage PBS SoCaL's digital OC Channel (PBS OC), which has been called "the next generation of PBS" by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and received CPB's My Source Education Innovation Award. Brenda's dedication to program development has resulted in the creation of thousands of new programs and series for PBS SoCaL. Some of her recent credits include the award-winning film Freedom from Despair, which was presented to members of the European Parliament in Brussels, and for which she was honored on the Congressional Record of the US House of Representatives for her work promoting human rights, and the Emmy award-winning film Bloody Thursday which aired on PBS stations nationally. Brenda currently has numerous programs and series in development including the film Mia Slavenska: A Dancer's Odyssey, starring Blythe Danner.
Michael Brockhoff
Producer
Michael Brockhoff has created and produced hundreds of hours of non-fiction programming for major cable networks. His company Big Focus TV specializes in docu-reality and recreation projects executed with a unique creative vision. Michael has produced nonfiction shows for Food Network, TLC, Nat Geo Wild, TruTV, WE, Disocvery Health and Travel Channel. His latest project is a feature lengthdocumentary called BronyCon: The Documentary about a rapidly growing adult and mostly male fan base of the TV show "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic". The project is the third most funded film & video project on Kickstarter with over $322,000 raised.
Producer
Michael Brockhoff has created and produced hundreds of hours of non-fiction programming for major cable networks. His company Big Focus TV specializes in docu-reality and recreation projects executed with a unique creative vision. Michael has produced nonfiction shows for Food Network, TLC, Nat Geo Wild, TruTV, WE, Disocvery Health and Travel Channel. His latest project is a feature lengthdocumentary called BronyCon: The Documentary about a rapidly growing adult and mostly male fan base of the TV show "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic". The project is the third most funded film & video project on Kickstarter with over $322,000 raised.
Elizabeth Jane Browde
Senior Vice President, Head of Programming, Veria Living
Elizabeth is currently Senior Vice President, Head of Programming at Veria Living where she oversees development and current programming on all platforms. She is charged with launching the newly formed Veria Living Studios, and is on track to produce over 300 hours of studio based programming this year alone. Elizabeth has also introduced the new prime time commissioned lineup to the network, including Good Food America, Yogi Cameron: A Model Guru and Make Me Under. Prior to Veria Living, Elizabeth was Vice President of Programming and Development for Travel Channel Media. During her tenure, the network had the highest prime time demo ratings since 2003 and in 2010, she received the Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Series Special Class for her work on The Relic Hunter: with Ian Grant. Previously, Elizabeth served as Director of Development at TLC where she launched series including Take Home Chef, Tuckerville, My First Home, Model Life, Untold Stories of the ER, Property Ladder, and executive produced the long running What Not to Wear. Prior to joining Discovery Networks, Elizabeth headed up her own production company in NY where she created original series and was the executive producer for 100's of hours of programming including, A&E's Biography, Lifetime's Intimate Portrait, Bravo’s Profiles, Court TV’s Crime Diaries, Discovery's New Detectives, The Daisy Fuentes Talk Show, and dozens of music and variety specials. Elizabeth began her career in news on air for Hard Copy and served as Matt Lauer’s producer at NBC. She has won a Cable Ace Award, multiple Emmys, and a GLAAD award.
Senior Vice President, Head of Programming, Veria Living
Elizabeth is currently Senior Vice President, Head of Programming at Veria Living where she oversees development and current programming on all platforms. She is charged with launching the newly formed Veria Living Studios, and is on track to produce over 300 hours of studio based programming this year alone. Elizabeth has also introduced the new prime time commissioned lineup to the network, including Good Food America, Yogi Cameron: A Model Guru and Make Me Under. Prior to Veria Living, Elizabeth was Vice President of Programming and Development for Travel Channel Media. During her tenure, the network had the highest prime time demo ratings since 2003 and in 2010, she received the Daytime Emmy Award, Outstanding Series Special Class for her work on The Relic Hunter: with Ian Grant. Previously, Elizabeth served as Director of Development at TLC where she launched series including Take Home Chef, Tuckerville, My First Home, Model Life, Untold Stories of the ER, Property Ladder, and executive produced the long running What Not to Wear. Prior to joining Discovery Networks, Elizabeth headed up her own production company in NY where she created original series and was the executive producer for 100's of hours of programming including, A&E's Biography, Lifetime's Intimate Portrait, Bravo’s Profiles, Court TV’s Crime Diaries, Discovery's New Detectives, The Daisy Fuentes Talk Show, and dozens of music and variety specials. Elizabeth began her career in news on air for Hard Copy and served as Matt Lauer’s producer at NBC. She has won a Cable Ace Award, multiple Emmys, and a GLAAD award.
Jason Brubaker
Producer/Author
Jason Brubaker is a Hollywood based Independent Motion Picture Producer and an expert in Video On Demand distribution. He is focused on helping YOU make, market and sell movies more easily by growing your fan base, building buzz and creating community around your title. Jason is a contributing author of The Independent’s Guide to Film Distributors, he is the founder of Filmmaking Stuff, a professional resource for independent filmmakers, and his articles on independent movie marketing and film distribution have been featured in The Independent, Film Slate and Movie Maker Magazine. Brubaker has has lectured on these subjects to filmmakers from around the globe through various filmmaking seminars, panel discussions and Workshops.
Producer/Author
Jason Brubaker is a Hollywood based Independent Motion Picture Producer and an expert in Video On Demand distribution. He is focused on helping YOU make, market and sell movies more easily by growing your fan base, building buzz and creating community around your title. Jason is a contributing author of The Independent’s Guide to Film Distributors, he is the founder of Filmmaking Stuff, a professional resource for independent filmmakers, and his articles on independent movie marketing and film distribution have been featured in The Independent, Film Slate and Movie Maker Magazine. Brubaker has has lectured on these subjects to filmmakers from around the globe through various filmmaking seminars, panel discussions and Workshops.
Jason Carey
Vice President of Production, Animal Planet Media
Jason Carey joined Animal Planet as an executive producer in April 2006, and was promoted to vice president of production in July 2009. While keeping his executive producer role for the 5-time Emmy-nominated WHALE WARS as well as other select projects, Carey’s responsibilities as vice president include collaborating with Animal Planet upper management to define and grow the network brand, partnering with the development team to ensure the formation of new show concepts, working closely with executive producers to execute creative vision, and maintaining and improving the quality and integrity of shows produced.
As an executive producer for Animal Planet, Carey led the editorial direction for series that were critical in the network’s rebrand and brand exposure, including ESCAPE TO CHIMP EDEN, THE GRIZZLY MAN DIARIES, JOCKEYS, TAKING ON TYSON and Animal Planet’s record-breaking series WHALE WARS. Prior to joining Animal Planet, Carey worked as an LA based freelance writer, director and producer for over 10 years crafting projects for VH-1, Disney Channel, CBS, HBO, Showtime, NBC, TBS and ANIMAL PLANET. With this level of experience outside the network, Carey has helped to solidify a respect for the Animal Planet production team amongst outside producers and given Animal Planet a reputation as a place where projects reach their creative vision and the pathway to get there is a rewarding collaboration.
Vice President of Production, Animal Planet Media
Jason Carey joined Animal Planet as an executive producer in April 2006, and was promoted to vice president of production in July 2009. While keeping his executive producer role for the 5-time Emmy-nominated WHALE WARS as well as other select projects, Carey’s responsibilities as vice president include collaborating with Animal Planet upper management to define and grow the network brand, partnering with the development team to ensure the formation of new show concepts, working closely with executive producers to execute creative vision, and maintaining and improving the quality and integrity of shows produced.
As an executive producer for Animal Planet, Carey led the editorial direction for series that were critical in the network’s rebrand and brand exposure, including ESCAPE TO CHIMP EDEN, THE GRIZZLY MAN DIARIES, JOCKEYS, TAKING ON TYSON and Animal Planet’s record-breaking series WHALE WARS. Prior to joining Animal Planet, Carey worked as an LA based freelance writer, director and producer for over 10 years crafting projects for VH-1, Disney Channel, CBS, HBO, Showtime, NBC, TBS and ANIMAL PLANET. With this level of experience outside the network, Carey has helped to solidify a respect for the Animal Planet production team amongst outside producers and given Animal Planet a reputation as a place where projects reach their creative vision and the pathway to get there is a rewarding collaboration.
Jim Casey
Founder & President, Painless Productions
After writing, producing and editing for an eclectic range of television projects from news magazines to The New Mickey Mouse Club, Jim Casey launched Painless Productions with one primary goal: to take a personal, hands-on approach to creating truly unique television concepts borne of his curious mind and short attention span. Painless’ hit show, The Dead Files, is currently a top Travel Channel series, now in its 3rd season. Painless also created Sand Masters for Travel Channel, and has so far produced 28 episodes of the comedic build-and-reveal series from locations around the world. Painless has produced more than 130 hours of The Eukanuba Tournament of Champions, a series of live event dog shows for Animal Planet, as well as the multiple award-winning, quirky comic documentary, Cat People. From eccentric character-driven projects like The Lady with 700 Cats to the literally hypnotic series Seeing Stars and the explosively innovative Sand Blasters, Painless projects are instantly recognizable by their unique approach to visual storytelling.
Founder & President, Painless Productions
After writing, producing and editing for an eclectic range of television projects from news magazines to The New Mickey Mouse Club, Jim Casey launched Painless Productions with one primary goal: to take a personal, hands-on approach to creating truly unique television concepts borne of his curious mind and short attention span. Painless’ hit show, The Dead Files, is currently a top Travel Channel series, now in its 3rd season. Painless also created Sand Masters for Travel Channel, and has so far produced 28 episodes of the comedic build-and-reveal series from locations around the world. Painless has produced more than 130 hours of The Eukanuba Tournament of Champions, a series of live event dog shows for Animal Planet, as well as the multiple award-winning, quirky comic documentary, Cat People. From eccentric character-driven projects like The Lady with 700 Cats to the literally hypnotic series Seeing Stars and the explosively innovative Sand Blasters, Painless projects are instantly recognizable by their unique approach to visual storytelling.
Jon Cody
Principal, Cody Consulting Group
Jon Cody is one of the nation’s top digital and traditional media experts, with over a decade of experience defining the United States broadband Internet access and video industries in senior operational, strategic, and government roles. Currently Principal at Cody Consulting Group, Cody spent the last six years at News Corporation. Most recently, Cody ran Fox Digital Media, the corporate digital unit of Fox Networks Group. Previously at News Corp, Cody served as the lead Fox operational executive and Launch GM on the Hulu launch team and incubated and launched several digital businesses and products for Fox Entertainment Group. Prior to his time at News Corporation, Cody served as a senior advisor to Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Michael K. Powell. Cody was the primary architect of the first national broadband plan for the United States, which serves as the policy and legal framework governing the broadband Internet access industry today. Additionally, Cody advised Chairman Powell on the Digital Television Transition, media ownership, spectrum allocation, and homeland security policies.
Principal, Cody Consulting Group
Jon Cody is one of the nation’s top digital and traditional media experts, with over a decade of experience defining the United States broadband Internet access and video industries in senior operational, strategic, and government roles. Currently Principal at Cody Consulting Group, Cody spent the last six years at News Corporation. Most recently, Cody ran Fox Digital Media, the corporate digital unit of Fox Networks Group. Previously at News Corp, Cody served as the lead Fox operational executive and Launch GM on the Hulu launch team and incubated and launched several digital businesses and products for Fox Entertainment Group. Prior to his time at News Corporation, Cody served as a senior advisor to Federal Communications Commission Chairman, Michael K. Powell. Cody was the primary architect of the first national broadband plan for the United States, which serves as the policy and legal framework governing the broadband Internet access industry today. Additionally, Cody advised Chairman Powell on the Digital Television Transition, media ownership, spectrum allocation, and homeland security policies.
Nancy Daniels
Executive Vice President of Production and Development, Discovery Channel
Nancy Daniels is Executive Vice President of Production and Development for the Discovery Channel. Based in Los Angeles, Daniels recently joined the channel and now oversees all execution for the network’s programming, including such long running series as DEADLIEST CATCH and AMERICAN CHOPPER, newer hits GOLD RUSH and BERING SEA GOLD, and DEVILS RIDE and big blue chip documentaries such as FROZEN PLANET and AFRICA. Daniels shifted to Discovery Channel from its sister network, TLC, where she served as the SVP of Production and Development since August, 2008. While at TLC, Daniels oversaw the launch of such new diverse hits as SISTER WIVES, SARAH PALIN’S ALASKA, CAKE BOSS, the POLICEWOMEN franchise, and FOUR WEDDINGS. At the same time, she guided the strength and resurgence of TLC’s long running hits, WHAT NOT TO WEAR, AMERICAN CHOPPER (now back under her purview at Discovery Channel), SAY YES TO THE DRESS, and LA INK. Previously, Daniels served as Senior Vice President of Development and Production for Discovery Studios—West Coast since July 2007. As a full-service production house, Discovery Studios develops and produces original programming in any format for any platform, including multi-part series, documentaries, and short form pieces. While at Discovery Studios, Daniels managed development and production for all programming out of the LA branch, and supervised key programs for networks such as TLC, Planet Green, Discovery Health Channel, and Science Channel. Prior to Discovery Studios, Daniels was at CBS where she served as Vice President of Alternative Series Development since 2003. In this role, she worked on CBS’s key reality properties including SURVIVOR, multiple Emmy Award winner THE AMAZING RACE, BIG BROTHER, ROCK STAR and others.
Executive Vice President of Production and Development, Discovery Channel
Nancy Daniels is Executive Vice President of Production and Development for the Discovery Channel. Based in Los Angeles, Daniels recently joined the channel and now oversees all execution for the network’s programming, including such long running series as DEADLIEST CATCH and AMERICAN CHOPPER, newer hits GOLD RUSH and BERING SEA GOLD, and DEVILS RIDE and big blue chip documentaries such as FROZEN PLANET and AFRICA. Daniels shifted to Discovery Channel from its sister network, TLC, where she served as the SVP of Production and Development since August, 2008. While at TLC, Daniels oversaw the launch of such new diverse hits as SISTER WIVES, SARAH PALIN’S ALASKA, CAKE BOSS, the POLICEWOMEN franchise, and FOUR WEDDINGS. At the same time, she guided the strength and resurgence of TLC’s long running hits, WHAT NOT TO WEAR, AMERICAN CHOPPER (now back under her purview at Discovery Channel), SAY YES TO THE DRESS, and LA INK. Previously, Daniels served as Senior Vice President of Development and Production for Discovery Studios—West Coast since July 2007. As a full-service production house, Discovery Studios develops and produces original programming in any format for any platform, including multi-part series, documentaries, and short form pieces. While at Discovery Studios, Daniels managed development and production for all programming out of the LA branch, and supervised key programs for networks such as TLC, Planet Green, Discovery Health Channel, and Science Channel. Prior to Discovery Studios, Daniels was at CBS where she served as Vice President of Alternative Series Development since 2003. In this role, she worked on CBS’s key reality properties including SURVIVOR, multiple Emmy Award winner THE AMAZING RACE, BIG BROTHER, ROCK STAR and others.
Dave Davis
Vice President of Television Production, Oregon Public Broadcasting
David Davis is currently the Vice President for Television Production at Oregon Public Broadcasting. With more than thirty years of experience in film and television, Davis is a long-time producer and executive producer of documentary series and specials for US public television. He has three times won a National Emmy for documentary television production, in addition to the George Foster Peabody Award, The Robert F. Kennedy Award, the Cine Golden Eagle, and the Ohio State Award. Oregon Public Broadcasting is one of the top producing stations in the PBS system.
Vice President of Television Production, Oregon Public Broadcasting
David Davis is currently the Vice President for Television Production at Oregon Public Broadcasting. With more than thirty years of experience in film and television, Davis is a long-time producer and executive producer of documentary series and specials for US public television. He has three times won a National Emmy for documentary television production, in addition to the George Foster Peabody Award, The Robert F. Kennedy Award, the Cine Golden Eagle, and the Ohio State Award. Oregon Public Broadcasting is one of the top producing stations in the PBS system.
Christy Dees
Director of Development, Bravo Media
As Director of Development for Bravo Media, Christy Dees is responsible for developing new original series for the network focusing on innovative concepts and memorable characters that define Bravo programming. Since being at Bravo, Dees has developed a number of new series including Interior Therapy w/ Jeff Lewis, Miss Advised and Shah’s of Sunset as well as the upcoming Kandi Factory and Silicon Valley. Prior to joining Bravo, Dees was an Executive Director of Programming at TLC and an executive at The Style Network where she oversaw a number of series including Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane and Tia and Tamara Take 2. Dees credits Thom Beers with her big break when Beers hired her as Vice President of Development at Original Productions where she developed a number of projects including Monster House and America's Deadliest Season, the prequel to Deadliest Catch.
Director of Development, Bravo Media
As Director of Development for Bravo Media, Christy Dees is responsible for developing new original series for the network focusing on innovative concepts and memorable characters that define Bravo programming. Since being at Bravo, Dees has developed a number of new series including Interior Therapy w/ Jeff Lewis, Miss Advised and Shah’s of Sunset as well as the upcoming Kandi Factory and Silicon Valley. Prior to joining Bravo, Dees was an Executive Director of Programming at TLC and an executive at The Style Network where she oversaw a number of series including Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane and Tia and Tamara Take 2. Dees credits Thom Beers with her big break when Beers hired her as Vice President of Development at Original Productions where she developed a number of projects including Monster House and America's Deadliest Season, the prequel to Deadliest Catch.
Nicole De Fusco
Vice President of Programming & Development, Sundance Channel
As the Vice President of Programming & Development at Sundance Channel, Nicole oversees development and current series production at the network and creates game changing original concepts. She is responsible for bolstering the production of original series for the network as well as developing brand expansion strategies. Original series under her supervision include: Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys (2 seasons), All on the Line with Joe Zee (3 seasons) Love Lust (3 seasons), and Ludo Bites America.
Prior to joining Sundance Channel, Nicole served as Director of Development and original series at FUSE where she developed and produced the highest rated series of the time, including Pants off Dance off, Redemption Song, Videos that Rocked the World, and NOFX: Punkrock Passport. She has also worked as a Creative Executive for Oxygen Network where she was responsible for the development and production of unscripted and scripted series as well as movies. Nicole has a proven track record as an independent producer for broadcast networks as well as an independent film.
Vice President of Programming & Development, Sundance Channel
As the Vice President of Programming & Development at Sundance Channel, Nicole oversees development and current series production at the network and creates game changing original concepts. She is responsible for bolstering the production of original series for the network as well as developing brand expansion strategies. Original series under her supervision include: Girls Who Like Boys Who Like Boys (2 seasons), All on the Line with Joe Zee (3 seasons) Love Lust (3 seasons), and Ludo Bites America.
Prior to joining Sundance Channel, Nicole served as Director of Development and original series at FUSE where she developed and produced the highest rated series of the time, including Pants off Dance off, Redemption Song, Videos that Rocked the World, and NOFX: Punkrock Passport. She has also worked as a Creative Executive for Oxygen Network where she was responsible for the development and production of unscripted and scripted series as well as movies. Nicole has a proven track record as an independent producer for broadcast networks as well as an independent film.
Peter De Jong
Vice President, Sales & Development, CABLEready
Television industry veteran Peter De Jong serves as CABLEready‘s Vice President, Sales & Development. In addition to his responsibilities regarding territorial sales, he co-manages the company’s original programming activities, working closely with its partners in the development of new content for the global marketplace. He joined the company in the fall of 2010. Prior to joining CABLEready, Mr. De Jong was an executive for nearly two decades with the AETN organization. As AETN’s director of programming since 2005, Mr. De Jong was responsible for the processes by which all AETN content was made available for worldwide distribution through web sites, catalogs, and production of programming highlight reels. Additionally, he had oversight of the division’s program acquisitions, negotiations involving program sales to U.S. government services and Canadian broadcasters, and setting strategy with channel partners concerning programming content aimed at accelerating viewership ratings and revenue goals. Mr. De Jong also collaborated on the development of strategies for marketing, ad sales and on-air promotion for international series launches and one-off programming events. As well, he directed programming operations of all AETN channel launches including premiere schedules, program highlights, and interviewing and training of programming personnel on AETN scheduling philosophies.
Vice President, Sales & Development, CABLEready
Television industry veteran Peter De Jong serves as CABLEready‘s Vice President, Sales & Development. In addition to his responsibilities regarding territorial sales, he co-manages the company’s original programming activities, working closely with its partners in the development of new content for the global marketplace. He joined the company in the fall of 2010. Prior to joining CABLEready, Mr. De Jong was an executive for nearly two decades with the AETN organization. As AETN’s director of programming since 2005, Mr. De Jong was responsible for the processes by which all AETN content was made available for worldwide distribution through web sites, catalogs, and production of programming highlight reels. Additionally, he had oversight of the division’s program acquisitions, negotiations involving program sales to U.S. government services and Canadian broadcasters, and setting strategy with channel partners concerning programming content aimed at accelerating viewership ratings and revenue goals. Mr. De Jong also collaborated on the development of strategies for marketing, ad sales and on-air promotion for international series launches and one-off programming events. As well, he directed programming operations of all AETN channel launches including premiere schedules, program highlights, and interviewing and training of programming personnel on AETN scheduling philosophies.
James DeSimas
Manager of Series Development, MTV
James DeSimas is currently a manager of series development at MTV, where he is responsible for developing and overseeing a number of reality projects – from pitch all the way up to air. Since joining MTV in 2006, DeSimas has worked on many pilots and series. Most notably, he worked as the executive in charge of Paris Hilton’s My New BFF, Disaster Date, and Is She Really Going Out With Him?. He is currently working with 495 Productions on his third season of the popular strip series Friend Zone. Prior to his time at MTV, DeSimas worked at World Poker Tour as a production coordinator.
Manager of Series Development, MTV
James DeSimas is currently a manager of series development at MTV, where he is responsible for developing and overseeing a number of reality projects – from pitch all the way up to air. Since joining MTV in 2006, DeSimas has worked on many pilots and series. Most notably, he worked as the executive in charge of Paris Hilton’s My New BFF, Disaster Date, and Is She Really Going Out With Him?. He is currently working with 495 Productions on his third season of the popular strip series Friend Zone. Prior to his time at MTV, DeSimas worked at World Poker Tour as a production coordinator.
Juan Devis
Producer
Juan Devis is a Public Media artist and producer, whose work crosses across platforms – video, film, interactive media and gaming. His work, regardless of the medium is often produced collaboratively allowing for a greater exchange of ideas in the production of media and art. Devis is currently in director of program development and production for the largest independent television station in the United States, KCET. In this capacity, Devis has had to develop strategic partnerships with funders, organizations and independent production houses to ensure a new slate of content, securing funds and maintaining an editorial vision and cohesiveness for the station’s new mission. Devis has also charted the stations’ new Arts and Culture initiative, ARTBOUND, consisting of a television series, an online networked cultural hub and the creation programmatic partnerships with cultural institutions in Los Angeles. In addition, Devis has spear headed a new slate of series that are either in production or development, some of the include DEPARTURES, the EMMY nominated LIVE @ THE FORD among others.
Producer
Juan Devis is a Public Media artist and producer, whose work crosses across platforms – video, film, interactive media and gaming. His work, regardless of the medium is often produced collaboratively allowing for a greater exchange of ideas in the production of media and art. Devis is currently in director of program development and production for the largest independent television station in the United States, KCET. In this capacity, Devis has had to develop strategic partnerships with funders, organizations and independent production houses to ensure a new slate of content, securing funds and maintaining an editorial vision and cohesiveness for the station’s new mission. Devis has also charted the stations’ new Arts and Culture initiative, ARTBOUND, consisting of a television series, an online networked cultural hub and the creation programmatic partnerships with cultural institutions in Los Angeles. In addition, Devis has spear headed a new slate of series that are either in production or development, some of the include DEPARTURES, the EMMY nominated LIVE @ THE FORD among others.
Kirby Dick
Director/Writer
WESTDOC 2012 Keynote Speaker Kirby Dick is an Academy- and Emmy Award-nominated documentary director. His most recent film, The Invisible War, a groundbreaking investigation into the epidemic of rape in the U.S. military, won the Audience Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Released by Cinedigm/Documara, the film helped influence the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to announce some important policy changes. In 2009, Dick was nominated for an Emmy for Outrage (released by Magnolia Pictures) a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of powerful, closeted politicians and the political and media institutions that protect them. In 2006, he directed This Film Is Not Yet Rated, released by IFC Films. A breakthrough investigation of the highly secretive MPAA film ratings system, the film compelled the MPAA to make long overdue changes in the way it rates films. Dick's prior film, Twist of Faith, is the powerful story of a man confronting the trauma of his past sexual abuse by a Catholic priest. Produced for HBO, the film received a 2004 Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. Dick's other films include Derrida, a complex portrait of the world-renowned French philosopher Jacques Derrida, which won the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco Film Festival, and the internationally acclaimed Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Grand Prize at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
Director/Writer
WESTDOC 2012 Keynote Speaker Kirby Dick is an Academy- and Emmy Award-nominated documentary director. His most recent film, The Invisible War, a groundbreaking investigation into the epidemic of rape in the U.S. military, won the Audience Award at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Released by Cinedigm/Documara, the film helped influence the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta to announce some important policy changes. In 2009, Dick was nominated for an Emmy for Outrage (released by Magnolia Pictures) a searing indictment of the hypocrisy of powerful, closeted politicians and the political and media institutions that protect them. In 2006, he directed This Film Is Not Yet Rated, released by IFC Films. A breakthrough investigation of the highly secretive MPAA film ratings system, the film compelled the MPAA to make long overdue changes in the way it rates films. Dick's prior film, Twist of Faith, is the powerful story of a man confronting the trauma of his past sexual abuse by a Catholic priest. Produced for HBO, the film received a 2004 Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature. Dick's other films include Derrida, a complex portrait of the world-renowned French philosopher Jacques Derrida, which won the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco Film Festival, and the internationally acclaimed Sick: The Life & Death of Bob Flanagan, Supermasochist, which won the Special Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and the Grand Prize at the Los Angeles Film Festival.
Paola di Florio
Writer/Director/Producer
Oscar-nominee Paola di Florio has directed, written and produced award-winning documentaries, TV pilots and reality shows. Her work has been distributed in theatrical venues worldwide, and broadcast on HBO, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, Sundance Channel, Court TV and A&E. She has traveled extensively, filming a variety of subjects from Balinese spiritual healing to the Italian Mafia. Her first independent documentary, Speaking in Strings, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1999 and was nominated the following year for an Academy Award. Home of the Brave, her next film, was likewise launched at Sundance, then honored by the Academy on its Oscar shortlist. Both projects received Women in Film grants and garnered numerous awards on the festival circuit, including the Social Justice Award at Santa Barbara, a Writers Guild nomination, and a special screening by Human Rights Watch. Di Florio is currently in post-production on a documentary about Hindu mystic Paramahansa Yogananda, who brought yoga to the West in the 1920’s. She is a founding partner of Nerd Girls, Inc., a global media brand dedicated to creating new role models for women and inspiring careers and lifestyles that can transform the world.
Writer/Director/Producer
Oscar-nominee Paola di Florio has directed, written and produced award-winning documentaries, TV pilots and reality shows. Her work has been distributed in theatrical venues worldwide, and broadcast on HBO, CBS, NBC, FOX, PBS, Sundance Channel, Court TV and A&E. She has traveled extensively, filming a variety of subjects from Balinese spiritual healing to the Italian Mafia. Her first independent documentary, Speaking in Strings, premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 1999 and was nominated the following year for an Academy Award. Home of the Brave, her next film, was likewise launched at Sundance, then honored by the Academy on its Oscar shortlist. Both projects received Women in Film grants and garnered numerous awards on the festival circuit, including the Social Justice Award at Santa Barbara, a Writers Guild nomination, and a special screening by Human Rights Watch. Di Florio is currently in post-production on a documentary about Hindu mystic Paramahansa Yogananda, who brought yoga to the West in the 1920’s. She is a founding partner of Nerd Girls, Inc., a global media brand dedicated to creating new role models for women and inspiring careers and lifestyles that can transform the world.
DMA - Donna Michelle Anderson
President, Planet DMA
For nearly two decades, DMA (Donna Michelle Anderson) has been writing, producing and running top-rated television series for CBS, Bravo, BET, A&E, TLC and more. In 2007, she expanded into online and mobile, launching Columbia College Hollywood's new media department and creating the first online production financials software (Show Starter Scheduling & Budgeting Plus was named one of MovieMaker magazine's "Top 40 Indie Film Friendly Companies"). She is the author of "The Show Starter Reality TV Made Simple System," called the "bible" of the biz and taught at film schools nationwide, and the author of "The 1-3-5 Story Structure Made Simple System," the first and only story structure system integrated into Final Draft's industry-leading screenwriting software. Now a non-fiction television development executive, DMA is a graduate, with distinction, of Stanford University and is an active member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Producers Guild of America and Showbiz Mensans.
President, Planet DMA
For nearly two decades, DMA (Donna Michelle Anderson) has been writing, producing and running top-rated television series for CBS, Bravo, BET, A&E, TLC and more. In 2007, she expanded into online and mobile, launching Columbia College Hollywood's new media department and creating the first online production financials software (Show Starter Scheduling & Budgeting Plus was named one of MovieMaker magazine's "Top 40 Indie Film Friendly Companies"). She is the author of "The Show Starter Reality TV Made Simple System," called the "bible" of the biz and taught at film schools nationwide, and the author of "The 1-3-5 Story Structure Made Simple System," the first and only story structure system integrated into Final Draft's industry-leading screenwriting software. Now a non-fiction television development executive, DMA is a graduate, with distinction, of Stanford University and is an active member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, the Producers Guild of America and Showbiz Mensans.
Mary Donahue
Vice President, Development and Programming, HISTORY
Mary Donahue is Vice President, Development and Programming for History, a position she assumed in September 2010. A veteran cable television executive, Mary Donahue joined HISTORY in October 2008 and was part of the team that developed and launched mega hit series, Pawn Stars; she serves as its executive producer. She also developed and supervised the breakout hit, Swamp People, which debuted in the summer of 2010 as History’s highest rated series premiere to date. In addition to supervising a team of programmers, Donahue also develops and oversees series and specials, including Cajun Pawn Stars, American Restoration, Mudcats and the top rated special Gettysburg, nominated for eight Emmys and winner of four. Prior to joining HISTORY, Donahue worked from 2004-2008 at Discovery Channel, serving as Executive Producer, Senior Executive Producer and Vice President, Creative Content. Specializing in talent and character driven series, she developed and launched a broad array of programs during that time, including Man Vs Wild, Storm Chasers, Cash Cab, Alaska Experiment and Future Weapons, as well as the Emmy nominated “Expedition” series with the BBC Natural History Unit. Donahue also oversaw Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs, growing ratings on both series. She also supervised stunts, including several of the top rated years of Shark Week.
Vice President, Development and Programming, HISTORY
Mary Donahue is Vice President, Development and Programming for History, a position she assumed in September 2010. A veteran cable television executive, Mary Donahue joined HISTORY in October 2008 and was part of the team that developed and launched mega hit series, Pawn Stars; she serves as its executive producer. She also developed and supervised the breakout hit, Swamp People, which debuted in the summer of 2010 as History’s highest rated series premiere to date. In addition to supervising a team of programmers, Donahue also develops and oversees series and specials, including Cajun Pawn Stars, American Restoration, Mudcats and the top rated special Gettysburg, nominated for eight Emmys and winner of four. Prior to joining HISTORY, Donahue worked from 2004-2008 at Discovery Channel, serving as Executive Producer, Senior Executive Producer and Vice President, Creative Content. Specializing in talent and character driven series, she developed and launched a broad array of programs during that time, including Man Vs Wild, Storm Chasers, Cash Cab, Alaska Experiment and Future Weapons, as well as the Emmy nominated “Expedition” series with the BBC Natural History Unit. Donahue also oversaw Mythbusters and Dirty Jobs, growing ratings on both series. She also supervised stunts, including several of the top rated years of Shark Week.
Tim Duffy
Senior Vice President, Original Series, SPIKE TV
Tim Duffy joined Spike TV in 2004 as Director, Original Programming. In 2010, he was promoted to his current position of Senior Vice President, Original Series. Over the past several years, Duffy has spearheaded the development and/or production on some of Spike's most successful programs including Auction Hunters, Bar Rescue, DEA, 1000 Ways To Die and World's Worst Tenants.
In 2009, Duffy was selected by TV Week magazine for their "Hot List"- a list of 10 of the most promising under 35 players in the television industry and in 2010, he was selected by Multichannel News for their "Top 40 Under 40" list. Before his work in development, Duffy worked as a production manager at Dick Clark Productions. He also worked on Steven Spielberg's Millennium Project, a documentary on the history of democracy in the United States.
Senior Vice President, Original Series, SPIKE TV
Tim Duffy joined Spike TV in 2004 as Director, Original Programming. In 2010, he was promoted to his current position of Senior Vice President, Original Series. Over the past several years, Duffy has spearheaded the development and/or production on some of Spike's most successful programs including Auction Hunters, Bar Rescue, DEA, 1000 Ways To Die and World's Worst Tenants.
In 2009, Duffy was selected by TV Week magazine for their "Hot List"- a list of 10 of the most promising under 35 players in the television industry and in 2010, he was selected by Multichannel News for their "Top 40 Under 40" list. Before his work in development, Duffy worked as a production manager at Dick Clark Productions. He also worked on Steven Spielberg's Millennium Project, a documentary on the history of democracy in the United States.
Charlie Ebersol
Co-Founder, The Hochberg Ebersol Company (THE Company)
Charlie Ebersol is the Co-Founder of The Hochberg Ebersol Company (THE Company), a reality and scripted television production studio that specializes in unscripted, documentary and competition formats, as well as new media content and branded entertainment. Ebersol founded THE Company with Justin Hochberg in 2010. THE Company is already making headlines as it launches two top cable networks into reality programming for the first time. Ebersol is executive producing USA’s first reality series “The Moment” (airing this fall) and the TNT reality show "The Great Escape," which Ebersol co-created and is producing with Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Bertram van Munster. The Hollywood Reporter recently recognized THE Company’s rapid success rate by including Ebersol and Hochberg on their 2012 Reality Power List. Ebersol has executive produced both film and television projects across a variety of top-tier networks, including HBO, ESPN, NBC, USA, TNT and many others. He recently teamed up with the NFL to produce the one-hour USA documentary “NFL Characters Unite,” and also co-created and executive produced “Off the Grid: Million Dollar Manhunt,” an action-adventure special for History. Many of the undercover filmmaking techniques utilized in “Off the Grid” were made possible by employing techniques perfected in a previous show Ebersol produced, “The Wanted,” which aired on NBC and followed a former Navy Seal, a former Green Beret and an investigative journalist as they tracked down internationally known terrorists (2009). Prior to launching THE Company, Ebersol headed production on numerous successful documentary films. In 2007, he produced the documentary “Don’t Look Down,” which followed the life of Olympic snowboarder Shaun White following his Gold Medal win. He then produced “Tradition Never Graduates,” the story of the Notre Dame Football team and its fans, in 2008.
Co-Founder, The Hochberg Ebersol Company (THE Company)
Charlie Ebersol is the Co-Founder of The Hochberg Ebersol Company (THE Company), a reality and scripted television production studio that specializes in unscripted, documentary and competition formats, as well as new media content and branded entertainment. Ebersol founded THE Company with Justin Hochberg in 2010. THE Company is already making headlines as it launches two top cable networks into reality programming for the first time. Ebersol is executive producing USA’s first reality series “The Moment” (airing this fall) and the TNT reality show "The Great Escape," which Ebersol co-created and is producing with Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Bertram van Munster. The Hollywood Reporter recently recognized THE Company’s rapid success rate by including Ebersol and Hochberg on their 2012 Reality Power List. Ebersol has executive produced both film and television projects across a variety of top-tier networks, including HBO, ESPN, NBC, USA, TNT and many others. He recently teamed up with the NFL to produce the one-hour USA documentary “NFL Characters Unite,” and also co-created and executive produced “Off the Grid: Million Dollar Manhunt,” an action-adventure special for History. Many of the undercover filmmaking techniques utilized in “Off the Grid” were made possible by employing techniques perfected in a previous show Ebersol produced, “The Wanted,” which aired on NBC and followed a former Navy Seal, a former Green Beret and an investigative journalist as they tracked down internationally known terrorists (2009). Prior to launching THE Company, Ebersol headed production on numerous successful documentary films. In 2007, he produced the documentary “Don’t Look Down,” which followed the life of Olympic snowboarder Shaun White following his Gold Medal win. He then produced “Tradition Never Graduates,” the story of the Notre Dame Football team and its fans, in 2008.
Kirt Eftekhar
Co-Founder, Area23a
Kirt Eftekhar is co-founder of Area23a, a bi-coastal, independently owned “event” based U.S. theatrical distribution company. The company focuses on event driven films, providing value-added distribution through alternative ways to reach audiences across the country, releasing films in convention and community centers, night clubs, casinos, libraries, museums, and college campuses, in addition to traditional venues like theaters, cinematheques and festivals. Area23a distributes award-winning films such as Dan Sturman and Bill Guttentag’s SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION, Michael Paul Stephenson’s BEST WORST MOVIE, Gerardine Wurzburg’s WRETCHES and JABBERERS, Gayle Ferraro’s TO CATCH A DOLLAR, Adrian Grenier’s TEENAGE PAPARAZZO, Chris Paine's REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR as well as the upcoming DEATH BY CHINA directed by Peter Navarro. In addition, Eftekhar is founder of Ocule Films, an international sales and production company, which produces and distributes award-winning documentary titles, including Doug Pray's BIG RIG, Scott Gill's PORN STAR: THE LEGEND OF RON JEREMY and WILD IN THE STREETS directed by Peter Baxter.
Co-Founder, Area23a
Kirt Eftekhar is co-founder of Area23a, a bi-coastal, independently owned “event” based U.S. theatrical distribution company. The company focuses on event driven films, providing value-added distribution through alternative ways to reach audiences across the country, releasing films in convention and community centers, night clubs, casinos, libraries, museums, and college campuses, in addition to traditional venues like theaters, cinematheques and festivals. Area23a distributes award-winning films such as Dan Sturman and Bill Guttentag’s SOUNDTRACK FOR A REVOLUTION, Michael Paul Stephenson’s BEST WORST MOVIE, Gerardine Wurzburg’s WRETCHES and JABBERERS, Gayle Ferraro’s TO CATCH A DOLLAR, Adrian Grenier’s TEENAGE PAPARAZZO, Chris Paine's REVENGE OF THE ELECTRIC CAR as well as the upcoming DEATH BY CHINA directed by Peter Navarro. In addition, Eftekhar is founder of Ocule Films, an international sales and production company, which produces and distributes award-winning documentary titles, including Doug Pray's BIG RIG, Scott Gill's PORN STAR: THE LEGEND OF RON JEREMY and WILD IN THE STREETS directed by Peter Baxter.
David Eilenberg
Senior Vice President of Unscripted Development, TBS and TNT
David Eilenberg serves as senior vice president of unscripted development for TBS and TNT. Joining the networks in this newly created role in July 2012, Eilenberg oversees all unscripted original programming for TBS and TNT, which are in the process of expanding their original series lineups significantly to a fill a year-round slate. Eilenberg is based is Los Angeles and reports to Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies. Eilenberg comes to TBS and TNT after serving as head of development and current programming for Mark Burnett Productions, working on such popular series as The Voice, The Apprentice and Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?, which earned him a Daytime EmmyÒ nomination. Prior to joining Mark Burnett Productions full time, Eilenberg was a producer on several of the company's series, as well as online projects with AOL. In addition, Eilenberg served as co-creator of Dismissed, head writer on Weakest Link and writer on Da Ali G Show.
Senior Vice President of Unscripted Development, TBS and TNT
David Eilenberg serves as senior vice president of unscripted development for TBS and TNT. Joining the networks in this newly created role in July 2012, Eilenberg oversees all unscripted original programming for TBS and TNT, which are in the process of expanding their original series lineups significantly to a fill a year-round slate. Eilenberg is based is Los Angeles and reports to Michael Wright, president, head of programming for TNT, TBS and Turner Classic Movies. Eilenberg comes to TBS and TNT after serving as head of development and current programming for Mark Burnett Productions, working on such popular series as The Voice, The Apprentice and Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?, which earned him a Daytime EmmyÒ nomination. Prior to joining Mark Burnett Productions full time, Eilenberg was a producer on several of the company's series, as well as online projects with AOL. In addition, Eilenberg served as co-creator of Dismissed, head writer on Weakest Link and writer on Da Ali G Show.
Roger Eman
Chief Operating Officer, REELZ
Roger Eman is the Chief Operating Officer at REELZ, one of the fastest growing cable networks on television in both ratings growth and distribution. Since becoming COO in January, Eman has been instrumental in the acquisition and development of the network’s new slate of programming including the scripted series “Bomb Girls”, the miniseries “World Without End”, the network’s first reality series “Beverly Hills Pawn”, the network’s first original miniseries “Barabbas” and the network’s first reality competition show “Race to the Scene” - which are all scheduled to premiere on REELZ in the next nine months. Eman has been a member of the REELZ executive team since 2007 and was a key player in bringing “The Kennedys” to the network, managing all of the digital components and original productions produced by REELZ. “The Kennedys” went on to garner 10 Emmy® nominations and won 4 Emmys®. Eman began his career at REELZ as Chief Technical Officer, where he managed all aspects of broadcast operations. In 2009, Eman led the effort to relocate studio operations of REELZ from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, New Mexico in less than 10 weeks. Prior to REELZ, Eman worked for 12 years for Sony Pictures Entertainment in various capacities, including Executive Director of International Broadcast Operations for Sony Pictures International Television.
Chief Operating Officer, REELZ
Roger Eman is the Chief Operating Officer at REELZ, one of the fastest growing cable networks on television in both ratings growth and distribution. Since becoming COO in January, Eman has been instrumental in the acquisition and development of the network’s new slate of programming including the scripted series “Bomb Girls”, the miniseries “World Without End”, the network’s first reality series “Beverly Hills Pawn”, the network’s first original miniseries “Barabbas” and the network’s first reality competition show “Race to the Scene” - which are all scheduled to premiere on REELZ in the next nine months. Eman has been a member of the REELZ executive team since 2007 and was a key player in bringing “The Kennedys” to the network, managing all of the digital components and original productions produced by REELZ. “The Kennedys” went on to garner 10 Emmy® nominations and won 4 Emmys®. Eman began his career at REELZ as Chief Technical Officer, where he managed all aspects of broadcast operations. In 2009, Eman led the effort to relocate studio operations of REELZ from Los Angeles to Albuquerque, New Mexico in less than 10 weeks. Prior to REELZ, Eman worked for 12 years for Sony Pictures Entertainment in various capacities, including Executive Director of International Broadcast Operations for Sony Pictures International Television.
Harrison Engle
Director/Producer
With more than 80 films to his credit, Harrison has directed documentaries and dramatic films for nearly every broadcast and cable network, often dealing with . history, biography and the arts. Amongst his credits are THE LOST KENNEDY HOME MOVIES (History, 2011), THE INDOMITABLE TEDDY ROOSEVELT (ABC; Emmy Nominee), THEY CAME TO PLAY (PBS), FUTURE FLIGHT (Discovery), OBSESSED WITH VERTIGO (AMC), BENNY CARTER: SYMPHONY IN RIFFS (A&E) and the Native American-themed feature film, THE LEGEND OF TWO-PATH. He has created tributes for seven ACADEMY AWARDS telecasts, as well as segments for the SAG Awards, AFI Life Achievement Awards, the EMMY AWARDS, DGA Awards and the American Society of Cinematographers. He is a past president of the International Documentary Association, and he has served on media arts panels for the NEH and the Rockefeller Foundation. In 2009 he traveled to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for the U.S. State Department. Harrison is a director member of the Directors Guild of America.
Director/Producer
With more than 80 films to his credit, Harrison has directed documentaries and dramatic films for nearly every broadcast and cable network, often dealing with . history, biography and the arts. Amongst his credits are THE LOST KENNEDY HOME MOVIES (History, 2011), THE INDOMITABLE TEDDY ROOSEVELT (ABC; Emmy Nominee), THEY CAME TO PLAY (PBS), FUTURE FLIGHT (Discovery), OBSESSED WITH VERTIGO (AMC), BENNY CARTER: SYMPHONY IN RIFFS (A&E) and the Native American-themed feature film, THE LEGEND OF TWO-PATH. He has created tributes for seven ACADEMY AWARDS telecasts, as well as segments for the SAG Awards, AFI Life Achievement Awards, the EMMY AWARDS, DGA Awards and the American Society of Cinematographers. He is a past president of the International Documentary Association, and he has served on media arts panels for the NEH and the Rockefeller Foundation. In 2009 he traveled to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for the U.S. State Department. Harrison is a director member of the Directors Guild of America.
Laura Fleury
Vice President, Non-Fiction and Alternative Programming,
A&E/BIO Channel/Crime & Investigation Network
Laura Fleury is Vice President of Non-Fiction and Alternative Programming at A&E Network. In this position, she plays a senior role in the development and production of nonfiction series and specials for A&E, BIO Channel and Crime & Investigation Network. She has developed, launched and currently serves as Executive Producer for many of A&E's most critically-acclaimed and top-rated series including THE FIRST 48, BEYOND SCARED STRAIGHT (highest-rated series launch in network history), CAJUN JUSTICE, THE FIRST 48: MISSING PERSONS, MANHUNTERS: FUGITIVE TASK FORCE™, and PARKING WARS. She is currently developing and overseeing several new projects for launch in 2012 and beyond. She also has developed and executive-produced series for The BIO Channel, including I SURVIVED…™ which launched as the #1 series in the history of the BIO Channel. She has also developed and produced numerous other series and specials for AETN including RUNAWAY SQUAD, CRIME 360™, THE SQUAD: PRISON POLICE and THE INTERROGATORS. In her previous roles as Senior Director, and prior to that, Director, Documentary Programming at A&E Network, she developed, launched and executive-produced several documentary series and specials to ratings and critical acclaim including 2-time Emmy-nominated Cold Case Files™, SWAT, Minute-by-Minute, American Justice, Parole Board, Investigative Reports, Makeover Mamas, The Real Story, The Point and The Hunt. Prior to that, Ms. Fleury served as a Supervising Producer for a number of A&E's documentary specials and series, including A&E's very first 'real-life series', LA Detectives, as well as Biography®, The New Explorers, Sea Tales, Treasure!, The Unexplained, Inside Story, The Planets and One-on-One with David Frost among others. Prior to joining A&E, Ms. Fleury worked in independent film production on scripted and unscripted films, including the award-winning documentaries BROTHER’S KEEPER and PARADISE LOST.
Vice President, Non-Fiction and Alternative Programming,
A&E/BIO Channel/Crime & Investigation Network
Laura Fleury is Vice President of Non-Fiction and Alternative Programming at A&E Network. In this position, she plays a senior role in the development and production of nonfiction series and specials for A&E, BIO Channel and Crime & Investigation Network. She has developed, launched and currently serves as Executive Producer for many of A&E's most critically-acclaimed and top-rated series including THE FIRST 48, BEYOND SCARED STRAIGHT (highest-rated series launch in network history), CAJUN JUSTICE, THE FIRST 48: MISSING PERSONS, MANHUNTERS: FUGITIVE TASK FORCE™, and PARKING WARS. She is currently developing and overseeing several new projects for launch in 2012 and beyond. She also has developed and executive-produced series for The BIO Channel, including I SURVIVED…™ which launched as the #1 series in the history of the BIO Channel. She has also developed and produced numerous other series and specials for AETN including RUNAWAY SQUAD, CRIME 360™, THE SQUAD: PRISON POLICE and THE INTERROGATORS. In her previous roles as Senior Director, and prior to that, Director, Documentary Programming at A&E Network, she developed, launched and executive-produced several documentary series and specials to ratings and critical acclaim including 2-time Emmy-nominated Cold Case Files™, SWAT, Minute-by-Minute, American Justice, Parole Board, Investigative Reports, Makeover Mamas, The Real Story, The Point and The Hunt. Prior to that, Ms. Fleury served as a Supervising Producer for a number of A&E's documentary specials and series, including A&E's very first 'real-life series', LA Detectives, as well as Biography®, The New Explorers, Sea Tales, Treasure!, The Unexplained, Inside Story, The Planets and One-on-One with David Frost among others. Prior to joining A&E, Ms. Fleury worked in independent film production on scripted and unscripted films, including the award-winning documentaries BROTHER’S KEEPER and PARADISE LOST.
Lilibet Foster
Filmmaker
Lilibet Foster is an Academy Award® Nominated filmmaker and multiple award winning director, producer and writer of feature documentaries, television programs and integrated brand campaigns. She earned her Oscar® Nomination for producing feature documentary, "Speaking in Strings,” her previous film, “Soul in the Hole,” won the Independent Spirit®: Truer Than Fiction Award and feature documentary “Brotherhood: Life in the FDNY” premiered to critical acclaim at the Tribeca Film Festival before being released internationally. Her work includes directing and producing shows for major broadcasters including HBO, Discovery, ESPN, O2 and A&E, segments for Stand Up To Cancer’s live television show, simulcast on ABC, CBS, NBC and directing campaigns for brands such as Sony, Apple and Nike, represented by @radical.media. Additional awards her work has earned her include, a Cine Golden Eagle; an International Documentary Association (IDA) Nomination; the Honorary Webby and iFilms Best of the Net Awards; the Newport and Paramount Studio’s WIN Film Festival Awards; selection in competition at the Sundance Film Festivals; and Top Film of the Year nods by “Premiere” and “Village Voice.” She just finished conducting one of the most successful digital crowd funding campaigns for a documentary on Kickstarter, for her newest film “Be Here Now: The Andy Whitfield Story,” which is currently in production. She is from the Virgin Islands and is a principal of her production company, Asphalt Films Entertainment, based in New York City.
Filmmaker
Lilibet Foster is an Academy Award® Nominated filmmaker and multiple award winning director, producer and writer of feature documentaries, television programs and integrated brand campaigns. She earned her Oscar® Nomination for producing feature documentary, "Speaking in Strings,” her previous film, “Soul in the Hole,” won the Independent Spirit®: Truer Than Fiction Award and feature documentary “Brotherhood: Life in the FDNY” premiered to critical acclaim at the Tribeca Film Festival before being released internationally. Her work includes directing and producing shows for major broadcasters including HBO, Discovery, ESPN, O2 and A&E, segments for Stand Up To Cancer’s live television show, simulcast on ABC, CBS, NBC and directing campaigns for brands such as Sony, Apple and Nike, represented by @radical.media. Additional awards her work has earned her include, a Cine Golden Eagle; an International Documentary Association (IDA) Nomination; the Honorary Webby and iFilms Best of the Net Awards; the Newport and Paramount Studio’s WIN Film Festival Awards; selection in competition at the Sundance Film Festivals; and Top Film of the Year nods by “Premiere” and “Village Voice.” She just finished conducting one of the most successful digital crowd funding campaigns for a documentary on Kickstarter, for her newest film “Be Here Now: The Andy Whitfield Story,” which is currently in production. She is from the Virgin Islands and is a principal of her production company, Asphalt Films Entertainment, based in New York City.
David Frank
Founder, Owner and Executive Producer, Indigo Films
David Frank founded Indigo Films fifteen years ago with the goal of establishing a San Francisco-Bay Area production house that focused on reality television for national audiences. From documentaries and reenactment-based productions to reality series and signature specials, Indigo Films delivers the best in dramatic storytelling and visual entertainment. odigious development and production slate of high-end documentary, reality and investigative programming for such networks as History Channel, TLC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, WeTV and Travel Channel. Frank is an Emmy-award winning producer for the television series Secrets & Mysteries for KABC and received a CINE Golden Eagle Award for best documentary series for the A&E series Mysteries of the Bible. Indigo Films has been included for three years as part of the Real Screen Global 100 Production Companies.
Constantly on the lookout for new talent and show concepts, Frank frequently travels around the country uncovering uncommon characters or stories. The company is currently working on a number of projects, including I Almost Got Away With It for ID Network, 42 Ways to Kill Hitler for National Geographic Channel and Haunted for Travel Channel. Indigo also premiered very first documentary, The Jewish Soldiers in Blue & Gray, on PBS in April 2012. Prior to starting Indigo Films, Frank was an executive at Columbia Studios and a producer at KCET, the PBS station in Los Angeles. He started his television career as a researcher on , one of the first reality shows on TV, and holds a masters degree from UCLA. Frank is a member of the International Documentary Association.
Founder, Owner and Executive Producer, Indigo Films
David Frank founded Indigo Films fifteen years ago with the goal of establishing a San Francisco-Bay Area production house that focused on reality television for national audiences. From documentaries and reenactment-based productions to reality series and signature specials, Indigo Films delivers the best in dramatic storytelling and visual entertainment. odigious development and production slate of high-end documentary, reality and investigative programming for such networks as History Channel, TLC, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel, WeTV and Travel Channel. Frank is an Emmy-award winning producer for the television series Secrets & Mysteries for KABC and received a CINE Golden Eagle Award for best documentary series for the A&E series Mysteries of the Bible. Indigo Films has been included for three years as part of the Real Screen Global 100 Production Companies.
Constantly on the lookout for new talent and show concepts, Frank frequently travels around the country uncovering uncommon characters or stories. The company is currently working on a number of projects, including I Almost Got Away With It for ID Network, 42 Ways to Kill Hitler for National Geographic Channel and Haunted for Travel Channel. Indigo also premiered very first documentary, The Jewish Soldiers in Blue & Gray, on PBS in April 2012. Prior to starting Indigo Films, Frank was an executive at Columbia Studios and a producer at KCET, the PBS station in Los Angeles. He started his television career as a researcher on , one of the first reality shows on TV, and holds a masters degree from UCLA. Frank is a member of the International Documentary Association.
Ron Frank
Director, Writer, Editor
Ron is an Award-winning and Emmy nominated filmmaker with numerous credits on PBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MTV, A&E, TLC, Starz, Encore, National Geographic, Discovery and History Channels. Screenings of his films have been held at Kennedy Center, United Nations, N.Y., Television Academy, L.A. SXSW, AFI, MOMA, Israel Film Fest. His work has been reviewed by NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, and MSNBC. Ron was director of In the House, a Hollywood talk show with Peter Bart and Peter Guber on Starz/Encore. He also produced and edited The Lost JFK Tapes for National Geographic Channel, a two hour special on the JFK assassination, for which he received an Emmy nomination. He was director and producer for When Comedy Went to School about the astonishing array of comedians from the Catskill Mountains, hosted by Robert Klein; featuring Jerry Lewis, Jackie Mason, Sid Caesar, Jerry Stiller and Larry King. Ron produced and directed bestselling author and lecturer, Deepak Chopra turning two of his major books, How to Know God and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success into feature length films for Fox Home Entertainment. Ron also produced, directed and edited Only in America, a behind-the-scenes story of Senator Joe Lieberman’s national campaign for VP in 2000. The Hunt for Adolf Eichmann, which he wrote, produced and edited, for A&E, narrated by Gregory Peck, was honored by the New York Festival, the United Nations and won a Telly award. He produced and directed Gloria, hosted by James Earl Jones, a musical spectacle performed live in Jerusalem, with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Millennium Choir. Israeli Intelligence and Shadows of the Six Day War were filmed for the History Channel’s Secrets of War series. Ron has always been intrigued by films with social content, but never more than when he produced, The Eternal Road: An Encounter with the Past, a testament to the last German-Jewish generation born in the early part of the 20th century – screened on over 50 PBS stations & numerous film festivals.
Director, Writer, Editor
Ron is an Award-winning and Emmy nominated filmmaker with numerous credits on PBS, ABC, NBC, CNN, MTV, A&E, TLC, Starz, Encore, National Geographic, Discovery and History Channels. Screenings of his films have been held at Kennedy Center, United Nations, N.Y., Television Academy, L.A. SXSW, AFI, MOMA, Israel Film Fest. His work has been reviewed by NY Times, LA Times, Washington Post, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, and MSNBC. Ron was director of In the House, a Hollywood talk show with Peter Bart and Peter Guber on Starz/Encore. He also produced and edited The Lost JFK Tapes for National Geographic Channel, a two hour special on the JFK assassination, for which he received an Emmy nomination. He was director and producer for When Comedy Went to School about the astonishing array of comedians from the Catskill Mountains, hosted by Robert Klein; featuring Jerry Lewis, Jackie Mason, Sid Caesar, Jerry Stiller and Larry King. Ron produced and directed bestselling author and lecturer, Deepak Chopra turning two of his major books, How to Know God and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success into feature length films for Fox Home Entertainment. Ron also produced, directed and edited Only in America, a behind-the-scenes story of Senator Joe Lieberman’s national campaign for VP in 2000. The Hunt for Adolf Eichmann, which he wrote, produced and edited, for A&E, narrated by Gregory Peck, was honored by the New York Festival, the United Nations and won a Telly award. He produced and directed Gloria, hosted by James Earl Jones, a musical spectacle performed live in Jerusalem, with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and Millennium Choir. Israeli Intelligence and Shadows of the Six Day War were filmed for the History Channel’s Secrets of War series. Ron has always been intrigued by films with social content, but never more than when he produced, The Eternal Road: An Encounter with the Past, a testament to the last German-Jewish generation born in the early part of the 20th century – screened on over 50 PBS stations & numerous film festivals.
Daniel Frankel
Entertainment Journalist
Based in Los Angeles, Daniel has a 15-year background in media and entertainment reporting, serving on staff at top-level trades including Adweek and Variety, as well as consumer-oriented digital publications like E! Online and TheWrap. From film distribution to TV ad sales to home entertainment technologies, he's covered virtually all facets of the Hollywood business model and has a unique perspective on the industry's various sectors as they undergo the challenges of digital transformation
Entertainment Journalist
Based in Los Angeles, Daniel has a 15-year background in media and entertainment reporting, serving on staff at top-level trades including Adweek and Variety, as well as consumer-oriented digital publications like E! Online and TheWrap. From film distribution to TV ad sales to home entertainment technologies, he's covered virtually all facets of the Hollywood business model and has a unique perspective on the industry's various sectors as they undergo the challenges of digital transformation
Mark Freeman
Executive Producer/Programming Executive, Veria Living Network
Mark Freeman joined Veria Living Network in 2012 as an Executive Producer/Programming Executive, where he has been tasked with overseeing a number of the Studio/Field shows on the network, as well as developing new programs, finding on-air talent and coordinating show support with PR, Marketing and Online. Mark was hired by GSN (Game Show Network) in 2010 as an Executive Director of Original Programming and Development, and oversaw all aspects of production and coverage of numerous GSN programs such as Baggage (w/Jerry Springer) & Lingo (w/Bill Engvall). He developed relationships with agents & production companies who were new to the network and brought in a number of well-received projects. Mark worked closely with the development team on new concepts and talent choices. Freeman joined the Fine Living Network (FLN) in 2006 and was responsible for development and production of all original series and specials, and had direct oversight of all network casting. Some of the well-received original series and specials that he had developed and oversaw were the New York Emmy nominated show Closet Cases, Shopping with Chefs, Dinner Date, Freakiest Foods as well as a majority of the highly successful “Frankenspecials” such as Bodacious BBQ’s, X-Treme X-Mas Decorations, 30 Bizarre Inventions and Easy Landscaping Projects. In addition, Mark developed and produced “Advertiser-Integrated” and “Branded Partnership" content for such brands as Walt Disney, Purina, Hearst Publications, Westin Hotels, and Cookie Magazine. Prior to Fine Living, Freeman was a producer working on shows such as America’s Next Top Model, Punk’d, Dr. Phil, Tough Crowd w/Colin Quinn, Battle of the Network Reality Stars and Access Hollywood. He was also a Creative Executive with Harvey Keitel’s production company The Goatsingers, as well as a freelance writer/producer at Comedy Central, Lifetime and The Sundance Channel.
Executive Producer/Programming Executive, Veria Living Network
Mark Freeman joined Veria Living Network in 2012 as an Executive Producer/Programming Executive, where he has been tasked with overseeing a number of the Studio/Field shows on the network, as well as developing new programs, finding on-air talent and coordinating show support with PR, Marketing and Online. Mark was hired by GSN (Game Show Network) in 2010 as an Executive Director of Original Programming and Development, and oversaw all aspects of production and coverage of numerous GSN programs such as Baggage (w/Jerry Springer) & Lingo (w/Bill Engvall). He developed relationships with agents & production companies who were new to the network and brought in a number of well-received projects. Mark worked closely with the development team on new concepts and talent choices. Freeman joined the Fine Living Network (FLN) in 2006 and was responsible for development and production of all original series and specials, and had direct oversight of all network casting. Some of the well-received original series and specials that he had developed and oversaw were the New York Emmy nominated show Closet Cases, Shopping with Chefs, Dinner Date, Freakiest Foods as well as a majority of the highly successful “Frankenspecials” such as Bodacious BBQ’s, X-Treme X-Mas Decorations, 30 Bizarre Inventions and Easy Landscaping Projects. In addition, Mark developed and produced “Advertiser-Integrated” and “Branded Partnership" content for such brands as Walt Disney, Purina, Hearst Publications, Westin Hotels, and Cookie Magazine. Prior to Fine Living, Freeman was a producer working on shows such as America’s Next Top Model, Punk’d, Dr. Phil, Tough Crowd w/Colin Quinn, Battle of the Network Reality Stars and Access Hollywood. He was also a Creative Executive with Harvey Keitel’s production company The Goatsingers, as well as a freelance writer/producer at Comedy Central, Lifetime and The Sundance Channel.
Scott Freeman
Executive Vice President, Current Programming & Development, Bunim/Murray Productions
Scott Freeman serves as Executive Vice President, Current Programming & Development for Bunim/Murray Productions (BMP). Freeman heads up BMP's development team with a busy slate of original and acquired projects continuously being developed, pitched and sold to broadcast and cable networks, new media outlets and international buyers. Current BMP projects include The Real World and The Challenge for MTV, Project Runway for Lifetime, The Bad Girls Club, Love Games and Best Ink for Oxygen, and Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Kim & Kourtney Take New York for E! Entertainment.
Executive Vice President, Current Programming & Development, Bunim/Murray Productions
Scott Freeman serves as Executive Vice President, Current Programming & Development for Bunim/Murray Productions (BMP). Freeman heads up BMP's development team with a busy slate of original and acquired projects continuously being developed, pitched and sold to broadcast and cable networks, new media outlets and international buyers. Current BMP projects include The Real World and The Challenge for MTV, Project Runway for Lifetime, The Bad Girls Club, Love Games and Best Ink for Oxygen, and Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Kim & Kourtney Take New York for E! Entertainment.
Bill Gardner
Director, General Audience Programming, PBS
Bill Gardner is a recent addition to the PBS Programming team, where he oversees historical, cultural, current and world events, natural history and science programming from development through broadcast. Before joining PBS he was executive producer at Discovery Studios, where he oversaw development of projects in the reality, lifestyle and CGI-based science genres. He also oversaw national productions including Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl and served as show runner on Science Channel’s Human Nature with Dan Riskin. Prior to moving to Discovery Bill spent over a decade in the independent production world, working as director, producer, writer and show runner on shows for multiple networks, including Digging for the Truth on the History Channel, Treasure Quest and Solving History with Olly Steeds on Discovery, CNN Presents and several episodes of Explorer for National Geographic Television. He has produced shows in over 30 countries, including spending 2 months in Iraq embedded with US Special Forces investigating the looting of the Baghdad museum. Before getting into TV Bill earned a Masters Degree in cultural anthropology, worked as a university instructor in Arkansas and lectured study abroad students in Marrakech, Morocco. He speaks excellent Arabic.
Director, General Audience Programming, PBS
Bill Gardner is a recent addition to the PBS Programming team, where he oversees historical, cultural, current and world events, natural history and science programming from development through broadcast. Before joining PBS he was executive producer at Discovery Studios, where he oversaw development of projects in the reality, lifestyle and CGI-based science genres. He also oversaw national productions including Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl and served as show runner on Science Channel’s Human Nature with Dan Riskin. Prior to moving to Discovery Bill spent over a decade in the independent production world, working as director, producer, writer and show runner on shows for multiple networks, including Digging for the Truth on the History Channel, Treasure Quest and Solving History with Olly Steeds on Discovery, CNN Presents and several episodes of Explorer for National Geographic Television. He has produced shows in over 30 countries, including spending 2 months in Iraq embedded with US Special Forces investigating the looting of the Baghdad museum. Before getting into TV Bill earned a Masters Degree in cultural anthropology, worked as a university instructor in Arkansas and lectured study abroad students in Marrakech, Morocco. He speaks excellent Arabic.
Anna Garwood
Director of Development, Travel Channel
Anna Garwood is responsible for recognizing and scouting emerging talent while also developing current on-air and online personalities for new and ongoing series at Travel Channel and TravelChannel.com. In addition to overseeing talent relations, she works closely with the production and development team to actively identify and develop new programming for the network. She helped develop the 2012 summer hit, “Xtreme Waterparks” and the upcoming “Kevin Michael Connolly Project” (wt). Further, she collaborates with the network’s digital team to implement TravelChannel.com’s “Day in the Life” online series, which has become a popular original series on the website. Garwood previously served as manager of development at Travel Channel. In this role, she helped develop hit series including “Man vs. Food,” “Mysteries at the Museum” and “Ghost Adventures.” Prior to Travel Channel, Garwood worked in acquisitions and development at Science Channel, Military Channel and Discovery Home Channel.
Director of Development, Travel Channel
Anna Garwood is responsible for recognizing and scouting emerging talent while also developing current on-air and online personalities for new and ongoing series at Travel Channel and TravelChannel.com. In addition to overseeing talent relations, she works closely with the production and development team to actively identify and develop new programming for the network. She helped develop the 2012 summer hit, “Xtreme Waterparks” and the upcoming “Kevin Michael Connolly Project” (wt). Further, she collaborates with the network’s digital team to implement TravelChannel.com’s “Day in the Life” online series, which has become a popular original series on the website. Garwood previously served as manager of development at Travel Channel. In this role, she helped develop hit series including “Man vs. Food,” “Mysteries at the Museum” and “Ghost Adventures.” Prior to Travel Channel, Garwood worked in acquisitions and development at Science Channel, Military Channel and Discovery Home Channel.
Bruce Gersh
Co-Founder, President and CEO, FishBowl Worldwide Media
Bruce Gersh co-founded FishBowl Worldwide Media with Vin Di Bona in January 2010 and serves as President and CEO, responsible for setting and executing the company’s vision. Prior to joining FishBowl, Gersh was Senior Vice President, Strategy and Operations, Intellectual Property at the William Morris Agency where he worked with clients to help develop new and innovative business opportunities. His efforts included developing a branded cable channel with Hasbro in partnership with Discovery to creating new business opportunities for some of WMA's high profile clients including J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Lost), Steve Oedekerk (Jimmy Neutron) and Jon Chu (Step Up). Gersh spent eight years at Disney/ABC, most recently as SVP Business Development, Disney-ABC Television Group. In this capacity, he was responsible for all traditional and digital media business development programs across ABC Daytime, ABC prime time, ABC Studios, ABC News, Soapnet and ABC Family. Gersh was charged with the development and management of new business initiatives, spanning merchandise licensing, book publishing, music soundtracks, home video, e-commerce, and product placement for hit prime time series Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty, which spawned successful product lines ranging from DVDs and soundtracks to apparel and computer video games. As part of the Disney-ABC Television Group's Digital Media team, he also managed ABC Entertainment's digital media efforts, including web-based, mobile and broadband platforms.
Co-Founder, President and CEO, FishBowl Worldwide Media
Bruce Gersh co-founded FishBowl Worldwide Media with Vin Di Bona in January 2010 and serves as President and CEO, responsible for setting and executing the company’s vision. Prior to joining FishBowl, Gersh was Senior Vice President, Strategy and Operations, Intellectual Property at the William Morris Agency where he worked with clients to help develop new and innovative business opportunities. His efforts included developing a branded cable channel with Hasbro in partnership with Discovery to creating new business opportunities for some of WMA's high profile clients including J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Lost), Steve Oedekerk (Jimmy Neutron) and Jon Chu (Step Up). Gersh spent eight years at Disney/ABC, most recently as SVP Business Development, Disney-ABC Television Group. In this capacity, he was responsible for all traditional and digital media business development programs across ABC Daytime, ABC prime time, ABC Studios, ABC News, Soapnet and ABC Family. Gersh was charged with the development and management of new business initiatives, spanning merchandise licensing, book publishing, music soundtracks, home video, e-commerce, and product placement for hit prime time series Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty, which spawned successful product lines ranging from DVDs and soundtracks to apparel and computer video games. As part of the Disney-ABC Television Group's Digital Media team, he also managed ABC Entertainment's digital media efforts, including web-based, mobile and broadband platforms.
Jaron Gilinsky
Co-founder, Storyhunter
Jaron Gilinsky is a pioneer of “backpack web video journalism” and a co-founder of Storyhunter, a Webby-nominated platform which empowers video journalists to tell the world’s most important, untold stories. With just a backpack, video camera, microphone, and laptop, Jaron produced, filmed, edited feature documentaries and short video journalism stories from every world continent. His videos and writing have been featured in the New York Times, Time, PBS, Documentary International Magazine, Haaretz, Current TV, and CNN. For much of the last decade he lived and worked in Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he taught video journalism as an adjunct university professor. In between classes, Jaron covered uprisings, wars, and the occasional peace rally. Last year, Jaron was honored with an Overseas Press Club award for Best Online Commentary for his coverage of the Arab Spring. Now based in Brooklyn, Jaron is a full time Storyhunter who also enjoys surfing, soccer, and travelling off the beaten track.
Co-founder, Storyhunter
Jaron Gilinsky is a pioneer of “backpack web video journalism” and a co-founder of Storyhunter, a Webby-nominated platform which empowers video journalists to tell the world’s most important, untold stories. With just a backpack, video camera, microphone, and laptop, Jaron produced, filmed, edited feature documentaries and short video journalism stories from every world continent. His videos and writing have been featured in the New York Times, Time, PBS, Documentary International Magazine, Haaretz, Current TV, and CNN. For much of the last decade he lived and worked in Israel and the Palestinian territories, where he taught video journalism as an adjunct university professor. In between classes, Jaron covered uprisings, wars, and the occasional peace rally. Last year, Jaron was honored with an Overseas Press Club award for Best Online Commentary for his coverage of the Arab Spring. Now based in Brooklyn, Jaron is a full time Storyhunter who also enjoys surfing, soccer, and travelling off the beaten track.
Eliot Goldberg
Senior Vice President of Development and Original Programming, CMT
Television industry veteran Eliot Goldberg joined CMT as Senior Vice President of Development and Original Programming in September of 2011. Since then Goldberg has overseen one of the highest-rated original series in the network’s history: “Bayou Billionaires.” In addition, Eliot is the CMT Executive on the recent celebrity docu-series “Jennie Garth: A Little Bit Country” and “Melissa & Tye.” Previously, Goldberg served as Senior Vice President of Development and Original Programming for TV Land, where he developed and oversaw scripted and non-scripted programming for the network. In his position, Goldberg played a key role in building TV Land’s highly-successful original programming slate, helping the network achieve unprecedented ratings success with sitcoms “Hot in Cleveland,” “The Exes” and “Happily Divorced,” as well as the reality hit “High School Reunion.” Prior to TV Land, Goldberg was Executive Vice President of Programming and development for Ryan Seacrest Productions, where he launched and help build RSP into one of the industry’s top production companies. During his tenure there, Goldberg created, developed and executive-produced hit franchises “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” “Khourtney and Khloe Take Miami” and “Denise Richards: It’s Complicated.” Goldberg also developed the Emmy- winning ABC series, “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.” As CMT’s EVP Jayson Dinsmore notes, “his fingerprints are all over some of the hottest shows on television, including ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ for Ryan Seacrest Productions.” Preceding Ryan Seacrest Productions, Goldberg served as Vice President of Alternative Programming for The WB Network. At The WB he developed and supervised the hit franchise “Beauty and the Geek.” Earlier in his career, Goldberg was Vice President of Current Programming for Stone Stanley Entertainment where he managed a full slate of network and cable series including “The Mole” for ABC, The WB’s “Popstars” and “The Joe Schmo Show” for Spike. Before Stone Stanley, Goldberg held development and programming positions at Disney and VH1, where he was nominated for an Emmy for the groundbreaking series, “Bands On The Run.” Goldberg started his career as a producer and launched the long-running syndicated hit, “Access Hollywood.”
Senior Vice President of Development and Original Programming, CMT
Television industry veteran Eliot Goldberg joined CMT as Senior Vice President of Development and Original Programming in September of 2011. Since then Goldberg has overseen one of the highest-rated original series in the network’s history: “Bayou Billionaires.” In addition, Eliot is the CMT Executive on the recent celebrity docu-series “Jennie Garth: A Little Bit Country” and “Melissa & Tye.” Previously, Goldberg served as Senior Vice President of Development and Original Programming for TV Land, where he developed and oversaw scripted and non-scripted programming for the network. In his position, Goldberg played a key role in building TV Land’s highly-successful original programming slate, helping the network achieve unprecedented ratings success with sitcoms “Hot in Cleveland,” “The Exes” and “Happily Divorced,” as well as the reality hit “High School Reunion.” Prior to TV Land, Goldberg was Executive Vice President of Programming and development for Ryan Seacrest Productions, where he launched and help build RSP into one of the industry’s top production companies. During his tenure there, Goldberg created, developed and executive-produced hit franchises “Keeping Up With The Kardashians,” “Khourtney and Khloe Take Miami” and “Denise Richards: It’s Complicated.” Goldberg also developed the Emmy- winning ABC series, “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution.” As CMT’s EVP Jayson Dinsmore notes, “his fingerprints are all over some of the hottest shows on television, including ‘Keeping Up With the Kardashians’ for Ryan Seacrest Productions.” Preceding Ryan Seacrest Productions, Goldberg served as Vice President of Alternative Programming for The WB Network. At The WB he developed and supervised the hit franchise “Beauty and the Geek.” Earlier in his career, Goldberg was Vice President of Current Programming for Stone Stanley Entertainment where he managed a full slate of network and cable series including “The Mole” for ABC, The WB’s “Popstars” and “The Joe Schmo Show” for Spike. Before Stone Stanley, Goldberg held development and programming positions at Disney and VH1, where he was nominated for an Emmy for the groundbreaking series, “Bands On The Run.” Goldberg started his career as a producer and launched the long-running syndicated hit, “Access Hollywood.”
Lyn Goldfarb
Filmmaker
Lyn Goldfarb is an Academy Award -nominated filmmaker, specializing in historical and social issue documentaries, with 15 feature documentaries broadcast on national primetime PBS and major cable. She is the executive producer, and producer and director on 3 series, broadcast on the national primetime PBS schedule: CALIFORNIA AND THE AMERICAN DREAM, (4 hours); JAPAN: MEMOIRS OF A SECRET EMPIRE (3 hours); and THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN THE FIRST CENTURY (4 hours). She is a producer, director and writer for 3 of the most celebrated PBS series: THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE GREAT WAR, and PEOPLE IN MOTION. She is a producer of WITH BABIES AND BANNERS, nominated for an Academy Award. She is currently producing BRIDGING THE DIVIDE: TOM BRADLEY AND THE POLITICS OF RACE, an independent feature documentary, designed for broadcast on PBS. She has also produced numerous short documentaries for a variety of clients, including: the Guadalajara International Book Fair, J. Paul Getty Museum, the American Association of Museums, and Stanford University. Her awards include: Academy Award nomination; 2 Emmy Awards; Peabody; 2 du-Pont Columbia Awards; Golden Mike; CINE Golden Eagle; IDA Distinguished Documentary Award; 3 Bronze Telly Awards; IMAGEN Award nominee; Blue Ribbon, Emily Grand Prize, American Film Festival; Gold Ducat, Mannheim Int'l Film Festival; Award of Excellence, National Film Advisory Board; First Prize, Festival du Cinema Portugal; Outstanding Film of the Year, London Int’l Film Festival; Silver Medal, Nyon Int'l Film Festival
Filmmaker
Lyn Goldfarb is an Academy Award -nominated filmmaker, specializing in historical and social issue documentaries, with 15 feature documentaries broadcast on national primetime PBS and major cable. She is the executive producer, and producer and director on 3 series, broadcast on the national primetime PBS schedule: CALIFORNIA AND THE AMERICAN DREAM, (4 hours); JAPAN: MEMOIRS OF A SECRET EMPIRE (3 hours); and THE ROMAN EMPIRE IN THE FIRST CENTURY (4 hours). She is a producer, director and writer for 3 of the most celebrated PBS series: THE GREAT DEPRESSION, THE GREAT WAR, and PEOPLE IN MOTION. She is a producer of WITH BABIES AND BANNERS, nominated for an Academy Award. She is currently producing BRIDGING THE DIVIDE: TOM BRADLEY AND THE POLITICS OF RACE, an independent feature documentary, designed for broadcast on PBS. She has also produced numerous short documentaries for a variety of clients, including: the Guadalajara International Book Fair, J. Paul Getty Museum, the American Association of Museums, and Stanford University. Her awards include: Academy Award nomination; 2 Emmy Awards; Peabody; 2 du-Pont Columbia Awards; Golden Mike; CINE Golden Eagle; IDA Distinguished Documentary Award; 3 Bronze Telly Awards; IMAGEN Award nominee; Blue Ribbon, Emily Grand Prize, American Film Festival; Gold Ducat, Mannheim Int'l Film Festival; Award of Excellence, National Film Advisory Board; First Prize, Festival du Cinema Portugal; Outstanding Film of the Year, London Int’l Film Festival; Silver Medal, Nyon Int'l Film Festival
Johnny Gould
Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Pilgrim Studios
Johnny Gould serves as Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development at Pilgrim Studios, heading up the company’s original unscripted programming development and current programming, and international format sales and acquisitions. Johnny oversees an array of programming for Pilgrim, whose hit series include Dirty Jobs and American Chopper (Discovery), Top Shot, Only In America with Larry the Cable Guy (History), Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International (Syfy), The Ultimate Fighter Live (FX), Wicked Tuna (National Geographic Channel), My Fair Wedding (WEtv), and Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s (OWN). Prior to Pilgrim, Johnny cast the reality series The Cut for CBS, and also worked on such shows as Big Brother, The Next Great Champ, Forever Eden and The Player. Johnny began his career in branding and promotion at Columbia Records, working on campaigns for such top-selling artists as Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Destiny’s Child, Wyclef Jean, Aerosmith, System of a Down, Train, Ricky Martin, Beyoncé, Mark Anthony, and The Offspring.
Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Pilgrim Studios
Johnny Gould serves as Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development at Pilgrim Studios, heading up the company’s original unscripted programming development and current programming, and international format sales and acquisitions. Johnny oversees an array of programming for Pilgrim, whose hit series include Dirty Jobs and American Chopper (Discovery), Top Shot, Only In America with Larry the Cable Guy (History), Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters International (Syfy), The Ultimate Fighter Live (FX), Wicked Tuna (National Geographic Channel), My Fair Wedding (WEtv), and Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s (OWN). Prior to Pilgrim, Johnny cast the reality series The Cut for CBS, and also worked on such shows as Big Brother, The Next Great Champ, Forever Eden and The Player. Johnny began his career in branding and promotion at Columbia Records, working on campaigns for such top-selling artists as Bruce Springsteen, John Mayer, Destiny’s Child, Wyclef Jean, Aerosmith, System of a Down, Train, Ricky Martin, Beyoncé, Mark Anthony, and The Offspring.
Amy Grey
Founder, Dish Communications
Amy Grey founded Dish Communications with the philosophy that relationships are at the heart of public relations. Grey built her career around her passions: documentary film, television and music. Grey began her career working for the group Kansas and continued on with them until 1981. Afterwards, she joined APA in the personal appearance department. Through the years she has publicized artists such as The Manhattan Transfer, Frankie Valli Anne Murray and comedians Steven Wright and David Brenner. Grey was named VP of television for public relations firm Rogers & Cowan where she represented shows such as Designing Women, Anything But Love, Alf, the AFI Salute to Gregory Peck and Michael Mann's Emmy Award-winning mini-series, "Drug Wars: The Camerena Story," among others. Grey was also instrumental in signing the Disney Channel, representing them on a corporate, programming and trade basis. The company quickly expanded from her core programming clients to such entities as International Documentary Association (IDA), Television Critics Association (TCA) the Los Angeles Film Critics, Association (LAFCA), HBO Networks, Viacom, A&E Networks, Discovery Networks, Sundance Channel; filmmakers like Werner Herzog, Rory Kennedy and Peter Jones. Grey also represents films at the Sundance Film Festival, Toronto and other festivals. Dish Communications has represented nine Academy Award winning documentary shorts and numerous other nominated documentary shorts and feature films.
Founder, Dish Communications
Amy Grey founded Dish Communications with the philosophy that relationships are at the heart of public relations. Grey built her career around her passions: documentary film, television and music. Grey began her career working for the group Kansas and continued on with them until 1981. Afterwards, she joined APA in the personal appearance department. Through the years she has publicized artists such as The Manhattan Transfer, Frankie Valli Anne Murray and comedians Steven Wright and David Brenner. Grey was named VP of television for public relations firm Rogers & Cowan where she represented shows such as Designing Women, Anything But Love, Alf, the AFI Salute to Gregory Peck and Michael Mann's Emmy Award-winning mini-series, "Drug Wars: The Camerena Story," among others. Grey was also instrumental in signing the Disney Channel, representing them on a corporate, programming and trade basis. The company quickly expanded from her core programming clients to such entities as International Documentary Association (IDA), Television Critics Association (TCA) the Los Angeles Film Critics, Association (LAFCA), HBO Networks, Viacom, A&E Networks, Discovery Networks, Sundance Channel; filmmakers like Werner Herzog, Rory Kennedy and Peter Jones. Grey also represents films at the Sundance Film Festival, Toronto and other festivals. Dish Communications has represented nine Academy Award winning documentary shorts and numerous other nominated documentary shorts and feature films.
Brandon Gross
Programming Strategist, YouTube
Brandon is currently a Programming Strategist at YouTube as part of the Next Lab, where he scouts for new creative talent, while focusing on innovation and advising Partners on content strategy. Previously, Brandon joined Current TV as a Creative Executive in Viewer Created Content, where he managed one third of the network's short documentary content. He then became Director of Brand Engagement, overseeing custom cross-platform content integration for the network's major sponsors. Brandon then co-created and produced "2 Months, $2 Million," a 10-episode docu-series that premiered in August 2009 on Comcast's G4 Network. Simultaneously, he co-founded Urgent Content, a social content company responsible for creating and producing the award-winning integrated campaigns, among them, Cisco's Flip Video "Do You Flip" campaign.
Programming Strategist, YouTube
Brandon is currently a Programming Strategist at YouTube as part of the Next Lab, where he scouts for new creative talent, while focusing on innovation and advising Partners on content strategy. Previously, Brandon joined Current TV as a Creative Executive in Viewer Created Content, where he managed one third of the network's short documentary content. He then became Director of Brand Engagement, overseeing custom cross-platform content integration for the network's major sponsors. Brandon then co-created and produced "2 Months, $2 Million," a 10-episode docu-series that premiered in August 2009 on Comcast's G4 Network. Simultaneously, he co-founded Urgent Content, a social content company responsible for creating and producing the award-winning integrated campaigns, among them, Cisco's Flip Video "Do You Flip" campaign.
Tony Hale
Producer, Natural Health Expert
Like most natural health experts, Tony Hale (aka T.C. Hale) began his career in stand-up comedy. Touring professionally as a comic for nearly a decade, he never envisioned that he would one day teach the world how to sleep, poop, lose weight, and more.
On Valentine’s Day 2004, Tony lost his voice and it didn’t come back. After twenty-three doctors couldn't figure out the problem, Tony decided it was time to find his own answers. Eight years later, not only did Tony figure out his issues, he also happened upon hidden information on how to improve countless other health problems. In order to spread the word about what he learned, Tony decided to make a documentary on a subject sure to grab the attention of many. “Why Am I So Fat?” teaches the truth about weight loss while showcasing Tony's client, Gabe Evans, who lost 200 pounds in 9 ½ months. Furthermore, Tony is the author of a natural health book series and has worked with many celebrity clients including Jane Lynch and SpongeBob SquarePants. Tony is also an executive board member for The Coalition For Health Education, a nonprofit association that spans over thirty-five countries.
Producer, Natural Health Expert
Like most natural health experts, Tony Hale (aka T.C. Hale) began his career in stand-up comedy. Touring professionally as a comic for nearly a decade, he never envisioned that he would one day teach the world how to sleep, poop, lose weight, and more.
On Valentine’s Day 2004, Tony lost his voice and it didn’t come back. After twenty-three doctors couldn't figure out the problem, Tony decided it was time to find his own answers. Eight years later, not only did Tony figure out his issues, he also happened upon hidden information on how to improve countless other health problems. In order to spread the word about what he learned, Tony decided to make a documentary on a subject sure to grab the attention of many. “Why Am I So Fat?” teaches the truth about weight loss while showcasing Tony's client, Gabe Evans, who lost 200 pounds in 9 ½ months. Furthermore, Tony is the author of a natural health book series and has worked with many celebrity clients including Jane Lynch and SpongeBob SquarePants. Tony is also an executive board member for The Coalition For Health Education, a nonprofit association that spans over thirty-five countries.
Peter Hamilton
Consultant/Publisher, DocumentaryTelevision.com
Peter Hamilton is a senior consultant who works with Factual industry leaders on their marketing & business development projects. He is a former executive with CBS. His clients have included NBC, Discovery, A+E Networks, BBC, Scripps, Nat Geo, Smithsonian, Weather, CBC, ABC Australia and many other top media groups, investors, governments and non-profits. Peter served as the senior consultant on Discovery's hugely successful international expansion: he was involved in the launch of Discovery's channels in UK, Europe, Asia, Australia and MENA. He also led the planning and launch of Discovery's Productions, consumer video, music and book publishing efforts. Peter was educated in Melbourne and at the University of Pennsylvania (MBA). He lectures frequently at industry conferences, and shares his expertise in the evolving business practices of the TV industry in DocumentaryTelevision.com.
Consultant/Publisher, DocumentaryTelevision.com
Peter Hamilton is a senior consultant who works with Factual industry leaders on their marketing & business development projects. He is a former executive with CBS. His clients have included NBC, Discovery, A+E Networks, BBC, Scripps, Nat Geo, Smithsonian, Weather, CBC, ABC Australia and many other top media groups, investors, governments and non-profits. Peter served as the senior consultant on Discovery's hugely successful international expansion: he was involved in the launch of Discovery's channels in UK, Europe, Asia, Australia and MENA. He also led the planning and launch of Discovery's Productions, consumer video, music and book publishing efforts. Peter was educated in Melbourne and at the University of Pennsylvania (MBA). He lectures frequently at industry conferences, and shares his expertise in the evolving business practices of the TV industry in DocumentaryTelevision.com.
Sara Hansemann
Vice President of Development, Zodiak USA
Sara Hansemann is Vice President of Development for Zodiak USA. In her role, Hansemann focuses on the non-scripted space, creating and developing both original programming as well as adapting international formats for American television. Additionally, she is charged with creating sales materials from producing sizzle reels to writing treatments and expanded episodic breakdowns.
Since joining the company in 2006, she has been instrumental in the sale of numerous series both to cable and broadcast networks, including Hardcore Pawn for truTV, Real Deal for History as well as assisting in production for both Secret Millionaire and Celebrity Wife Swap for ABC.
Vice President of Development, Zodiak USA
Sara Hansemann is Vice President of Development for Zodiak USA. In her role, Hansemann focuses on the non-scripted space, creating and developing both original programming as well as adapting international formats for American television. Additionally, she is charged with creating sales materials from producing sizzle reels to writing treatments and expanded episodic breakdowns.
Since joining the company in 2006, she has been instrumental in the sale of numerous series both to cable and broadcast networks, including Hardcore Pawn for truTV, Real Deal for History as well as assisting in production for both Secret Millionaire and Celebrity Wife Swap for ABC.
Adam Harman
Director, Program Planning and Acquisitions, Style
As Director of Program Planning and Acquisitions for Style, Adam Harman is responsible for the program planning and scheduling strategy of the network. He works in all phases of programming, including the scheduling of programs and stunts, as well as negotiating content acquisitions. Additionally, he's involved with key cross channel strategy and opportunities across the NBCU portfolio. Harman began his role at Style in 2007 as a Manager in Program Planning and Acquisitions. He works closely with the Finance, Development and Research teams in addition to Ad Sales and reports to Katie Buchanan, SVP Programming and Acquisitions, Style. Prior to Style, Harman was a coordinator at Hallmark Channel in Program Scheduling and Acquisitions where he concentrated on the daily scheduling for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel in addition to identifying on-brand content for acquisition.
Director, Program Planning and Acquisitions, Style
As Director of Program Planning and Acquisitions for Style, Adam Harman is responsible for the program planning and scheduling strategy of the network. He works in all phases of programming, including the scheduling of programs and stunts, as well as negotiating content acquisitions. Additionally, he's involved with key cross channel strategy and opportunities across the NBCU portfolio. Harman began his role at Style in 2007 as a Manager in Program Planning and Acquisitions. He works closely with the Finance, Development and Research teams in addition to Ad Sales and reports to Katie Buchanan, SVP Programming and Acquisitions, Style. Prior to Style, Harman was a coordinator at Hallmark Channel in Program Scheduling and Acquisitions where he concentrated on the daily scheduling for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movie Channel in addition to identifying on-brand content for acquisition.
Stephen Harris
President, Reality Rockstar
Stephen Harris is a seasoned production professional skilled in the development, oversight and execution of broadcast projects at the executive and creative levels. The former executive with A&E Television Network has over 15 years of experience in developing, producing, and directing non-scripted reality shows on cable and network television. He has produced, directed, and developed over 500 hours of network programming, talk shows, documentaries and commercials. In addition, he has experience managing all aspects of shows, including show structure, casting, writing, budgeting, scheduling and post-production. He presently brings his wealth of reality development and production experience to two business ventures which focus mainly on factual programming. Through “Reality Rockstar,” his factual entertainment consulting company, he offers a range of services to clients advising in the process of crafting pitches; fine tuning treatments; producing sizzle reels; and budget consultations. As Head of Development for Marlon Wayans’ new reality production company, "The Workaholic Entertainment Group," he coordinates all development activities and oversees the physical production of all pilot and series orders.
President, Reality Rockstar
Stephen Harris is a seasoned production professional skilled in the development, oversight and execution of broadcast projects at the executive and creative levels. The former executive with A&E Television Network has over 15 years of experience in developing, producing, and directing non-scripted reality shows on cable and network television. He has produced, directed, and developed over 500 hours of network programming, talk shows, documentaries and commercials. In addition, he has experience managing all aspects of shows, including show structure, casting, writing, budgeting, scheduling and post-production. He presently brings his wealth of reality development and production experience to two business ventures which focus mainly on factual programming. Through “Reality Rockstar,” his factual entertainment consulting company, he offers a range of services to clients advising in the process of crafting pitches; fine tuning treatments; producing sizzle reels; and budget consultations. As Head of Development for Marlon Wayans’ new reality production company, "The Workaholic Entertainment Group," he coordinates all development activities and oversees the physical production of all pilot and series orders.
David Hillman
Vice President, Reality Programming, Lifetime Networks
David Hillman currently serves as Vice President, Reality Programming, for Lifetime Networks and is responsible for developing, overseeing and launching new primetime reality series for Lifetime Television. His extensive work includes the Emmy® Award-nominated series, Project Runway, for which he also serves as an executive producer. 2011’s number one competitive unscripted program on ad-supported cable among Women, Project Runway returned for its milestone tenth season in summer 2012. Hillman also oversees Project Runway All Stars, featuring talented and memorable past contestants from the hit series who once again compete against each other in a series of challenges to show they still have the innovation, talent and poise that made them household names. Most recently, Hillman launched the celebrity interview program, The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet, hosted by the British television personality and renowned photographer, and executive produced by Demi Moore and de Cadenet; and Seriously Funny Kids, with host Heidi Klum. He also oversaw the series Lisa Williams: Life among the Dead, How to Look Good Naked with Carson Kressley, Gay, Straight or Taken, I Married a Princess and Spotlight 25 with Willow Bay. Hillman’s extensive television credits include serving as a supervising producer on SOAPnet’s I Wanna Be a Soap Star and Lifetime’s What Should You Do. He was also a producer on the ABC Family reality pilot Bachelor Pad and a senior producer on ABC’s Behind Closed Doors with Joan Lunden for five years.
Vice President, Reality Programming, Lifetime Networks
David Hillman currently serves as Vice President, Reality Programming, for Lifetime Networks and is responsible for developing, overseeing and launching new primetime reality series for Lifetime Television. His extensive work includes the Emmy® Award-nominated series, Project Runway, for which he also serves as an executive producer. 2011’s number one competitive unscripted program on ad-supported cable among Women, Project Runway returned for its milestone tenth season in summer 2012. Hillman also oversees Project Runway All Stars, featuring talented and memorable past contestants from the hit series who once again compete against each other in a series of challenges to show they still have the innovation, talent and poise that made them household names. Most recently, Hillman launched the celebrity interview program, The Conversation with Amanda de Cadenet, hosted by the British television personality and renowned photographer, and executive produced by Demi Moore and de Cadenet; and Seriously Funny Kids, with host Heidi Klum. He also oversaw the series Lisa Williams: Life among the Dead, How to Look Good Naked with Carson Kressley, Gay, Straight or Taken, I Married a Princess and Spotlight 25 with Willow Bay. Hillman’s extensive television credits include serving as a supervising producer on SOAPnet’s I Wanna Be a Soap Star and Lifetime’s What Should You Do. He was also a producer on the ABC Family reality pilot Bachelor Pad and a senior producer on ABC’s Behind Closed Doors with Joan Lunden for five years.
Justin Hochberg
Co-Founder, The Hochberg Ebersol Company (THE Company)
Justin Hochberg is the Co-Founder of The Hochberg Ebersol Company (THE Company), a reality and scripted television production studio that specializes in unscripted, documentary and competition formats, as well as new media content and branded entertainment. Hochberg founded THE Company with Charlie Ebersol in 2010. THE Company is already making headlines as it launches two top cable networks into reality programming for the first time. Hochberg is executive producing USA’s first reality series “The Moment” (airing this fall) and the TNT reality show "The Great Escape," which Hochberg co-created and is producing with Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Bertram van Munster. The Hollywood Reporter recently recognized THE Company’s rapid success rate by including Hochberg and Ebersol on their 2012 Reality Power List. Since it’s launch, THE Company has been rapidly selling shows across a range of broadcast and cable networks. Hochberg recently teamed up with the NFL to produce the one-hour USA documentary “NFL Characters Unite,” and also co-created and executive produced “Off the Grid: Million Dollar Manhunt,” an action-adventure special for History. Hochberg had years of production and branded entertainment experience under his belt prior to founding THE Company. He has produced shows for an array of major networks and broadcast cable channels, including NBC, ABC, Bravo, Oxygen, Spike TV, CBS, and others, and has also developed series with BBC, DreamWorks, Reveille Studios, IMG Media, Scout Productions, Juma Entertainment, Pilgrim Films, Stone & Co., LMNO, Mess Media, and Fremantle Media. Hochberg also produced two original theatrical productions that have both been optioned for feature films. Hochberg has also had great success in the branded entertainment space. Over the course of his career he has completed more than $100 million in product integration deals with the world’s leading brands, including P&G, Pepsi, Royal Caribbean, Marquis Jet, Staples, DirecTV, Planet Hollywood Resorts, Fosters, Las Vegas Convention Visitors Bureau and the N.Y.P.D., among others. Hochberg began his television career as a producer on the first three seasons of NBC’s “The Apprentice.” Following the show’s first-season success, Mark Burnett selected him to develop “The Contender,” which was sold for the highest price of any unscripted program to date.
Co-Founder, The Hochberg Ebersol Company (THE Company)
Justin Hochberg is the Co-Founder of The Hochberg Ebersol Company (THE Company), a reality and scripted television production studio that specializes in unscripted, documentary and competition formats, as well as new media content and branded entertainment. Hochberg founded THE Company with Charlie Ebersol in 2010. THE Company is already making headlines as it launches two top cable networks into reality programming for the first time. Hochberg is executive producing USA’s first reality series “The Moment” (airing this fall) and the TNT reality show "The Great Escape," which Hochberg co-created and is producing with Ron Howard, Brian Grazer and Bertram van Munster. The Hollywood Reporter recently recognized THE Company’s rapid success rate by including Hochberg and Ebersol on their 2012 Reality Power List. Since it’s launch, THE Company has been rapidly selling shows across a range of broadcast and cable networks. Hochberg recently teamed up with the NFL to produce the one-hour USA documentary “NFL Characters Unite,” and also co-created and executive produced “Off the Grid: Million Dollar Manhunt,” an action-adventure special for History. Hochberg had years of production and branded entertainment experience under his belt prior to founding THE Company. He has produced shows for an array of major networks and broadcast cable channels, including NBC, ABC, Bravo, Oxygen, Spike TV, CBS, and others, and has also developed series with BBC, DreamWorks, Reveille Studios, IMG Media, Scout Productions, Juma Entertainment, Pilgrim Films, Stone & Co., LMNO, Mess Media, and Fremantle Media. Hochberg also produced two original theatrical productions that have both been optioned for feature films. Hochberg has also had great success in the branded entertainment space. Over the course of his career he has completed more than $100 million in product integration deals with the world’s leading brands, including P&G, Pepsi, Royal Caribbean, Marquis Jet, Staples, DirecTV, Planet Hollywood Resorts, Fosters, Las Vegas Convention Visitors Bureau and the N.Y.P.D., among others. Hochberg began his television career as a producer on the first three seasons of NBC’s “The Apprentice.” Following the show’s first-season success, Mark Burnett selected him to develop “The Contender,” which was sold for the highest price of any unscripted program to date.
Steve Holzer
Executive Producer of Programming, REELZ
Steve Holzer is Executive Producer of Programming at REELZ. Based in Los Angeles, Holzer is now working on the development and creation of new series for the network. In his nearly three years at REELZ, Holzer has served as Executive Producer of more than 600 hours of studio-based programming produced annually by REELZ staff. Holzer has spearheaded the production of four daily shows, seven weekly shows and nearly 75 specials all centered on the network’s commitment to its TV About Movies brand. Also, he served as Executive Producer of all original productions surrounding “The Kennedys” and of the network’s live coverage of the Royal Wedding as well as the highly-acclaimed special “Diana at 50”, a documentary-style special about the late Princess Diana seen by more than 2 million viewers. Holzer is an Emmy®-award winning television veteran with more than 20 years’ experience developing original programming including reality/chat and talk shows, including a stint as Co-Executive Producer of “Lifetime’s Speaking of Women’s Health”. In addition, Holzer spent nearly 10 years as Executive Producer and producer at network affiliates in Los Angeles and was part of the management team that launched the market’s first duopoly KCAL/KCBS.
Executive Producer of Programming, REELZ
Steve Holzer is Executive Producer of Programming at REELZ. Based in Los Angeles, Holzer is now working on the development and creation of new series for the network. In his nearly three years at REELZ, Holzer has served as Executive Producer of more than 600 hours of studio-based programming produced annually by REELZ staff. Holzer has spearheaded the production of four daily shows, seven weekly shows and nearly 75 specials all centered on the network’s commitment to its TV About Movies brand. Also, he served as Executive Producer of all original productions surrounding “The Kennedys” and of the network’s live coverage of the Royal Wedding as well as the highly-acclaimed special “Diana at 50”, a documentary-style special about the late Princess Diana seen by more than 2 million viewers. Holzer is an Emmy®-award winning television veteran with more than 20 years’ experience developing original programming including reality/chat and talk shows, including a stint as Co-Executive Producer of “Lifetime’s Speaking of Women’s Health”. In addition, Holzer spent nearly 10 years as Executive Producer and producer at network affiliates in Los Angeles and was part of the management team that launched the market’s first duopoly KCAL/KCBS.
Eli Holzman
President, Studio Lambert
Eli Holzman began his career at Miramax Films in New York. He relocated to Los Angeles to found the company's television department and helped create Project Greenlight. While there, he oversaw the production of numerous projects including scripted network series, children's animation, MOW, miniseries, primetime animation and game shows. Rising to run the department, his tenure at Miramax culminated in 2004, when he created the hit Bravo series Project Runway. He left Miramax to run Ashton Kutcher’s 20th Century Fox-based Katalyst Films where he developed and launched the CW series Beauty & the Geek. In 2006, Eli founded a boutique production company where he created CW reality series Stylista, created the Bravo reality series Work of Art, helped create the ABC Family scripted series Longevity, set up the Paramount film Fix (with Kurt Sutter, Joel Schumacher and Lorenzo DiBonaventura) and served as the showrunning executive producer on seasons I and II of G4’s first reality series, The Block. In 2008, Eli founded the US arm of British production company, Studio Lambert, where he launched and Executive Produced Undercover Boss, the #1 new show of the 2009-10 season and the highest rated reality premiere of all time. Eli has executive produced numerous shows including Diamond Divers (Spike), Be the Boss, (A&E), Three in a Bed, (Travel Channel) Southern Fried Stings (TruTV) and The Pitch (AMC) as well as numerous existing and upcoming series and pilots for A&E, Animal Planet, Bravo, CBS, CMT, Discovery, E!, Lifetime, Logo, MTV, Nat Geo, NBC, OWN, Oxygen, Style, TLC, TNT, TruTV and Vh1. Holzman has been nominated six times for the Emmy Award and three is a three-time Producers Guild Award nominee.
President, Studio Lambert
Eli Holzman began his career at Miramax Films in New York. He relocated to Los Angeles to found the company's television department and helped create Project Greenlight. While there, he oversaw the production of numerous projects including scripted network series, children's animation, MOW, miniseries, primetime animation and game shows. Rising to run the department, his tenure at Miramax culminated in 2004, when he created the hit Bravo series Project Runway. He left Miramax to run Ashton Kutcher’s 20th Century Fox-based Katalyst Films where he developed and launched the CW series Beauty & the Geek. In 2006, Eli founded a boutique production company where he created CW reality series Stylista, created the Bravo reality series Work of Art, helped create the ABC Family scripted series Longevity, set up the Paramount film Fix (with Kurt Sutter, Joel Schumacher and Lorenzo DiBonaventura) and served as the showrunning executive producer on seasons I and II of G4’s first reality series, The Block. In 2008, Eli founded the US arm of British production company, Studio Lambert, where he launched and Executive Produced Undercover Boss, the #1 new show of the 2009-10 season and the highest rated reality premiere of all time. Eli has executive produced numerous shows including Diamond Divers (Spike), Be the Boss, (A&E), Three in a Bed, (Travel Channel) Southern Fried Stings (TruTV) and The Pitch (AMC) as well as numerous existing and upcoming series and pilots for A&E, Animal Planet, Bravo, CBS, CMT, Discovery, E!, Lifetime, Logo, MTV, Nat Geo, NBC, OWN, Oxygen, Style, TLC, TNT, TruTV and Vh1. Holzman has been nominated six times for the Emmy Award and three is a three-time Producers Guild Award nominee.
Matt Holzman
Host, KCRW
Matt Holzman the host of KCRW's screening series, Matt's Movies.
Host, KCRW
Matt Holzman the host of KCRW's screening series, Matt's Movies.
Beth Hoppe
Vice President, General Audience Programming, PBS
Beth Hoppe is thrilled to be back in public television where she oversees science, history, natural history and news and public affairs. She recently shepherded some timely documentaries to the PBS primetime schedule including Steve Jobs – One Last Thing (Pioneer Productions), Titanic with Len Goodman (BBCWW and 360 Productions), and the upcoming Cuban Missile Crisis - Three Men Go to War (Crossing the Line Productions) to coincide with the 50th anniversary of that event. Beth is excited about the rich science and history pipeline at PBS which includes ‘Exploration Wednesdays’ this fall with new episodes of Nature (WNET/Thirteen), NOVA, and NOVA ScienceNOW (WGBH), a four hour two night special in November from Ken Burns - The Dustbowl, and the exciting partnership between Kunhardt Magee Productions and AOL that will bring Makers – Women who Made America to the schedule this winter. Beth joined PBS from Discovery Studios. Prior to that she was President and CEO of Optomen Productions USA, a New York-based television production company known for science, reality and factual programming. During her tenure Optomen produced numerous programs and series for Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, PBS, and the Food Network including Monsters Inside Me, Worst Cooks in America, and Most Evil.
Before joining Optomen, Beth was at WNET/Thirteen where she created and oversaw numerous productions and co-productions for PBS including the long running strand Secrets of the Dead with Channel 4 in the UK, and the primetime Emmy nominated Frontier House and Colonial House with Wall to Wall Television. At WGBH she was series producer of NOVA and directed the Ten O’Clock News.
Vice President, General Audience Programming, PBS
Beth Hoppe is thrilled to be back in public television where she oversees science, history, natural history and news and public affairs. She recently shepherded some timely documentaries to the PBS primetime schedule including Steve Jobs – One Last Thing (Pioneer Productions), Titanic with Len Goodman (BBCWW and 360 Productions), and the upcoming Cuban Missile Crisis - Three Men Go to War (Crossing the Line Productions) to coincide with the 50th anniversary of that event. Beth is excited about the rich science and history pipeline at PBS which includes ‘Exploration Wednesdays’ this fall with new episodes of Nature (WNET/Thirteen), NOVA, and NOVA ScienceNOW (WGBH), a four hour two night special in November from Ken Burns - The Dustbowl, and the exciting partnership between Kunhardt Magee Productions and AOL that will bring Makers – Women who Made America to the schedule this winter. Beth joined PBS from Discovery Studios. Prior to that she was President and CEO of Optomen Productions USA, a New York-based television production company known for science, reality and factual programming. During her tenure Optomen produced numerous programs and series for Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Travel Channel, PBS, and the Food Network including Monsters Inside Me, Worst Cooks in America, and Most Evil.
Before joining Optomen, Beth was at WNET/Thirteen where she created and oversaw numerous productions and co-productions for PBS including the long running strand Secrets of the Dead with Channel 4 in the UK, and the primetime Emmy nominated Frontier House and Colonial House with Wall to Wall Television. At WGBH she was series producer of NOVA and directed the Ten O’Clock News.
Tom Huffman
Vice President of Development and Production, Vh1
As Vice President of Development and Production at Vh1, Tom Huffman is responsible for Executive Producing new series at the pop culture centric network as they expand their programming with two additional nights. Tom oversees the Basketball Wives and Celebrity Rehab franchises along with launching new series Hollywood Exes and the upcoming series Model Employee and Grand River Singers. Prior to joining Vh1, Tom Huffman was Vice President of Development at Shed Media US, and before that, a Development Executive at Mark Burnett Productions. At Shed Media, Tom created the Vh1 franchise Basketball Wives which will soon amass to over 100 hours of television.
Vice President of Development and Production, Vh1
As Vice President of Development and Production at Vh1, Tom Huffman is responsible for Executive Producing new series at the pop culture centric network as they expand their programming with two additional nights. Tom oversees the Basketball Wives and Celebrity Rehab franchises along with launching new series Hollywood Exes and the upcoming series Model Employee and Grand River Singers. Prior to joining Vh1, Tom Huffman was Vice President of Development at Shed Media US, and before that, a Development Executive at Mark Burnett Productions. At Shed Media, Tom created the Vh1 franchise Basketball Wives which will soon amass to over 100 hours of television.
Jeff Jenkins
Executive Vice President of Entertainment and Programming, Bunim/Murray Productions
Jeff Jenkins serves as the Executive Vice President of Entertainment and Programming for Bunim/Murray Productions. He is an Executive Producer of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kourtney and Kim Take New York and Mrs. Eastwood & Company, all for E! Entertainment. He was also an Executive Producer of Khloe and Lamar, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Married to Rock, The Spin Crowd and Living Lohan for E!, Dr. Steve-O for USA Network and five seasons of The Simple Life for FOX and E!. He was the Creator and Executive Producer of Ski Patrol for TruTV. Jeff wrote and directed the comedy feature film Play Dead, which premiered at the Slamdance International Film Festival and won Best Feature at the Mix Brazil Film Festival.
Executive Vice President of Entertainment and Programming, Bunim/Murray Productions
Jeff Jenkins serves as the Executive Vice President of Entertainment and Programming for Bunim/Murray Productions. He is an Executive Producer of Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kourtney and Kim Take New York and Mrs. Eastwood & Company, all for E! Entertainment. He was also an Executive Producer of Khloe and Lamar, Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami, Married to Rock, The Spin Crowd and Living Lohan for E!, Dr. Steve-O for USA Network and five seasons of The Simple Life for FOX and E!. He was the Creator and Executive Producer of Ski Patrol for TruTV. Jeff wrote and directed the comedy feature film Play Dead, which premiered at the Slamdance International Film Festival and won Best Feature at the Mix Brazil Film Festival.
Tom Jennings
Producer
Tom Jennings is an award-winning television and documentary movie producer with more than 400 hours of programming to his credit. He started his career as a journalist, writing for newspapers including the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. After covering the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, Tom began making non-fiction films as a writer for the Discovery Networks. Writing led to producing, which led to directing for several production companies. In 2004 Tom founded Tom Jennings Productions and began producing his own television shows and documentary films. Tom has won and been nominated for various awards including a Pulitzer Prize nomination for Investigative journalism, 28 Telly Awards and several New York Festival Awards. His company received its first Emmy Award nomination in 2010.
Producer
Tom Jennings is an award-winning television and documentary movie producer with more than 400 hours of programming to his credit. He started his career as a journalist, writing for newspapers including the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. After covering the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, Tom began making non-fiction films as a writer for the Discovery Networks. Writing led to producing, which led to directing for several production companies. In 2004 Tom founded Tom Jennings Productions and began producing his own television shows and documentary films. Tom has won and been nominated for various awards including a Pulitzer Prize nomination for Investigative journalism, 28 Telly Awards and several New York Festival Awards. His company received its first Emmy Award nomination in 2010.
John Judalena
Manger of Development, TLC
John Judalena currently serves as the Manger of Development at TLC. Based in Los Angeles, Judalena is responsible for the continuing development of original TLC Programming. Judalena joined TLC in 2008 where he worked with the Production team on notable series such as Randy to the Rescue, Say Yes to the Dress, What Not to Wear, American Chopper and LA Ink. Before working in Production and Development Judalena worked in branded Entertainment with Toyota Motor Sales, USA. Judalena began his career at the Endeavor Agency.
Manger of Development, TLC
John Judalena currently serves as the Manger of Development at TLC. Based in Los Angeles, Judalena is responsible for the continuing development of original TLC Programming. Judalena joined TLC in 2008 where he worked with the Production team on notable series such as Randy to the Rescue, Say Yes to the Dress, What Not to Wear, American Chopper and LA Ink. Before working in Production and Development Judalena worked in branded Entertainment with Toyota Motor Sales, USA. Judalena began his career at the Endeavor Agency.
Bess Kargman
Director/Producer
Bess Kargman is the director, producer and co-editor of the feature length documentary FIRST POSITION. Since the film's premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, it has been awarded numerous audience and jury prizes at festivals around the world. In May Sundance Selects released the film in the U.S., where it has played in over 200 theaters. The film's broadcast premiere is slated for the television channel BRAVO; this fall FIRST POSITION is also being released in over 15 countries abroad. FIRST POSITION is Kargman's first film. Previously she produced stories for numerous media outlets including National Public Radio, The Washington Post and NBC Olympics. She holds degrees from Amherst College and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she studied under the acclaimed documentary filmmaker Jon Alpert. In her final semester at Columbia Alpert challenged her to "actually finish a film some day," which spurred her to make FIRST POSITION. Just recently, Kargman moved from New York City to Los Angeles to pursue new projects in film and television. Winning WESTDOC's first Pitchfest in 2009 instilled in Kargman a confidence that guided her during the process of making her first film.
Director/Producer
Bess Kargman is the director, producer and co-editor of the feature length documentary FIRST POSITION. Since the film's premiere at the 2011 Toronto International Film Festival, it has been awarded numerous audience and jury prizes at festivals around the world. In May Sundance Selects released the film in the U.S., where it has played in over 200 theaters. The film's broadcast premiere is slated for the television channel BRAVO; this fall FIRST POSITION is also being released in over 15 countries abroad. FIRST POSITION is Kargman's first film. Previously she produced stories for numerous media outlets including National Public Radio, The Washington Post and NBC Olympics. She holds degrees from Amherst College and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, where she studied under the acclaimed documentary filmmaker Jon Alpert. In her final semester at Columbia Alpert challenged her to "actually finish a film some day," which spurred her to make FIRST POSITION. Just recently, Kargman moved from New York City to Los Angeles to pursue new projects in film and television. Winning WESTDOC's first Pitchfest in 2009 instilled in Kargman a confidence that guided her during the process of making her first film.
Scott Hamilton Kennedy
Writer, Director, Producer
Writer, director, producer Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s documentary The Garden, tells the story of the nation’s largest community garden, and its complicated struggle for survival. It was nominated for an Academy Award, and won awards and garnered rave reviews around the world. His previous documentary OT: our town, about the first play in 25 years at Dominguez High in Compton, was short listed for an Oscar and received equal critical acclaim. Scott is currently developing several narrative projects, and his latest documentary, Fame High, will have its world premiere at the 2012 Tribeca International Film Festival in NYC.
Writer, Director, Producer
Writer, director, producer Scott Hamilton Kennedy’s documentary The Garden, tells the story of the nation’s largest community garden, and its complicated struggle for survival. It was nominated for an Academy Award, and won awards and garnered rave reviews around the world. His previous documentary OT: our town, about the first play in 25 years at Dominguez High in Compton, was short listed for an Oscar and received equal critical acclaim. Scott is currently developing several narrative projects, and his latest documentary, Fame High, will have its world premiere at the 2012 Tribeca International Film Festival in NYC.
Marine Ksadzhikyan
Vice President of International Sales, Rive Gauche Television
Marine Ksadzhikyan, Vice President of International Sales, is responsible for driving Rive Gauche Television's global sales strategy and business development initiatives in France, Italy, Benelux, Scandinavia, and South Africa. After joining Rive Gauche in 2010 with over ten years of experience, she has shared her vast knowledge of distribution, operations, and acquisitions to help successfully distribute a variety of genres to major broadcasters around the world. Prior to Rive Gauche Marine was the Director of International Sales at GRB Entertainment negotiating, executing and managing multiple television rights agreements in Asia, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. She also held positions in the legal department, and worked closely with accounting, managing all aspects of workflow and financial operations pertaining to the International division.
Vice President of International Sales, Rive Gauche Television
Marine Ksadzhikyan, Vice President of International Sales, is responsible for driving Rive Gauche Television's global sales strategy and business development initiatives in France, Italy, Benelux, Scandinavia, and South Africa. After joining Rive Gauche in 2010 with over ten years of experience, she has shared her vast knowledge of distribution, operations, and acquisitions to help successfully distribute a variety of genres to major broadcasters around the world. Prior to Rive Gauche Marine was the Director of International Sales at GRB Entertainment negotiating, executing and managing multiple television rights agreements in Asia, Scandinavia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. She also held positions in the legal department, and worked closely with accounting, managing all aspects of workflow and financial operations pertaining to the International division.
Timothy Kuryak
Vice President of Production & Development, TLC West Coast
Timothy Kuryak is TLC’s Vice President of Production & Development, West Coast. His is responsible for overseeing the West Coast production team, liaising with the production community, and working with TLC’s East Coast headquarters. In addition, he currently executive produces several of the network's series, including CRAFT WARS and LITTLE PEOPLE BIG WORLD. Prior to TLC, Timothy previously created, sold and executive produced many projects for TLC, Animal Planet, Lifetime and HGTV. He was also a part of the teams that launched networks OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network andPlanet Green. Previously, Timothy served as Vice President of Production for FOX, where he oversaw 40 different productions around the world, including such hits as “Beauty & the Geek,” “Joe Millionaire,” “The Simple Life” and “The Ex Wives Club.” Timothy graduated from Brown University, and is a member of the Producers' Guild of America.
Vice President of Production & Development, TLC West Coast
Timothy Kuryak is TLC’s Vice President of Production & Development, West Coast. His is responsible for overseeing the West Coast production team, liaising with the production community, and working with TLC’s East Coast headquarters. In addition, he currently executive produces several of the network's series, including CRAFT WARS and LITTLE PEOPLE BIG WORLD. Prior to TLC, Timothy previously created, sold and executive produced many projects for TLC, Animal Planet, Lifetime and HGTV. He was also a part of the teams that launched networks OWN: The Oprah Winfrey Network andPlanet Green. Previously, Timothy served as Vice President of Production for FOX, where he oversaw 40 different productions around the world, including such hits as “Beauty & the Geek,” “Joe Millionaire,” “The Simple Life” and “The Ex Wives Club.” Timothy graduated from Brown University, and is a member of the Producers' Guild of America.
JT Ladt
Vice President, Programming and Development, National Geographic
Ladt comes to National Geographic Channel from Renegade 83, where he served as Co-Head of Development for the TV powerhouse. During his tenure, Ladt was responsible for developing and setting up reality projects across multiple networks, including Discovery, Spike, VH1, Style, G4, Syfy and TLC. Before joining Renegade 83, Ladt was an executive producer and partner at James Bruce Productions, where he created, developed and produced reality and scripted television, feature films and digital media. Reality programs he produced include “Meet Mister Mom” (NBC), “Wake-up Call” (ABC), “Profiler” (A&E) and the digital series “Big Shot Live” (CBS). Ladt started his career in the mailroom as an agent trainee at the Gersh Agency.
Vice President, Programming and Development, National Geographic
Ladt comes to National Geographic Channel from Renegade 83, where he served as Co-Head of Development for the TV powerhouse. During his tenure, Ladt was responsible for developing and setting up reality projects across multiple networks, including Discovery, Spike, VH1, Style, G4, Syfy and TLC. Before joining Renegade 83, Ladt was an executive producer and partner at James Bruce Productions, where he created, developed and produced reality and scripted television, feature films and digital media. Reality programs he produced include “Meet Mister Mom” (NBC), “Wake-up Call” (ABC), “Profiler” (A&E) and the digital series “Big Shot Live” (CBS). Ladt started his career in the mailroom as an agent trainee at the Gersh Agency.
Megan Lawrence
Director, Development, WE tv
As Director of Development, Megan Lawrence vets all incoming submissions, internal concept development, and show editorial at WE tv. During her tenure at WE tv she has been instrumental in developing a number of WE tv’s popular series, including Braxton Family Values, Mary Mary, Kendra on Top and the upcoming Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual. Prior to joining WE tv, Lawrence was a Creative Executive at The Weinstein Company managing their slate of television projects including the hit series Project Runway and critically-acclaimed The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Lawrence began her career in casting working for New Screen Concepts on Extreme Makeover and 3 Ball Productions on The Biggest Loser, Beauty and the Geek, and For Love or Money.
Director, Development, WE tv
As Director of Development, Megan Lawrence vets all incoming submissions, internal concept development, and show editorial at WE tv. During her tenure at WE tv she has been instrumental in developing a number of WE tv’s popular series, including Braxton Family Values, Mary Mary, Kendra on Top and the upcoming Cyndi Lauper: Still So Unusual. Prior to joining WE tv, Lawrence was a Creative Executive at The Weinstein Company managing their slate of television projects including the hit series Project Runway and critically-acclaimed The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. Lawrence began her career in casting working for New Screen Concepts on Extreme Makeover and 3 Ball Productions on The Biggest Loser, Beauty and the Geek, and For Love or Money.
Brian Lowry
Chief TV Critic, Variety
Brian Lowry has been a columnist and critic for Variety since September 2003. Before that, he spent seven years at the Los Angeles Times as a reporter and columnist covering the television industry, which was preceded by a nine-year stint at Variety. Lowry has been a contributor to National Public Radio and is the former co-host of "Square Off," a weekly talk program on TV Guide Network. He also is the author of two authorized companion guides to the Fox series "The X-Files." Lowry graduated from UCLA in 1984.
Chief TV Critic, Variety
Brian Lowry has been a columnist and critic for Variety since September 2003. Before that, he spent seven years at the Los Angeles Times as a reporter and columnist covering the television industry, which was preceded by a nine-year stint at Variety. Lowry has been a contributor to National Public Radio and is the former co-host of "Square Off," a weekly talk program on TV Guide Network. He also is the author of two authorized companion guides to the Fox series "The X-Files." Lowry graduated from UCLA in 1984.
Sharon Levy
Executive Vice President, Original Series, Spike TV
Sharon Levy serves as executive vice president, original series Spike TV. Levy joined Spike in 2005 and has overseen the development of many of the network's most ambitious and successful series including Auction Hunters, American Digger, Bar Rescue, Flip Men, InkMaster, Repo Games and World’s Worst Tenants. Prior to joining Spike TV, Levy worked at Stone & Company Entertainment (formally known as Stone Stanley Entertainment) from 2000-05 as Senior Vice President Programming/Executive Producer. She was responsible for creating, developing and/or served as executive producer for a number of broadcast and cable series, including ABC’s reality series Mole, NBC’s Fame, and Spike TV’s hit faux-reality series, The Joe Schmo Show Season 1. Levy has also produced programs for Fox, WB, Comedy Central and MTV. From 2000-2001, Levy served as director of public relations at Comedy Central in Los Angeles where she launched publicity campaigns for the hit series, The Man Show and South Park. Previously, she was senior publicist at Sci-Fi Channel from 1999-2000, where she worked on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Levy was also a publicist at Comedy Central, based in New York, from 1994-1999.
Executive Vice President, Original Series, Spike TV
Sharon Levy serves as executive vice president, original series Spike TV. Levy joined Spike in 2005 and has overseen the development of many of the network's most ambitious and successful series including Auction Hunters, American Digger, Bar Rescue, Flip Men, InkMaster, Repo Games and World’s Worst Tenants. Prior to joining Spike TV, Levy worked at Stone & Company Entertainment (formally known as Stone Stanley Entertainment) from 2000-05 as Senior Vice President Programming/Executive Producer. She was responsible for creating, developing and/or served as executive producer for a number of broadcast and cable series, including ABC’s reality series Mole, NBC’s Fame, and Spike TV’s hit faux-reality series, The Joe Schmo Show Season 1. Levy has also produced programs for Fox, WB, Comedy Central and MTV. From 2000-2001, Levy served as director of public relations at Comedy Central in Los Angeles where she launched publicity campaigns for the hit series, The Man Show and South Park. Previously, she was senior publicist at Sci-Fi Channel from 1999-2000, where she worked on Mystery Science Theater 3000. Levy was also a publicist at Comedy Central, based in New York, from 1994-1999.
Lauren Lexton
Co-Founder and Executive Producer, Authentic Entertainment, Inc.
Lauren is co-founder and Executive Producer of Authentic Entertainment, Inc. Prior to co-founding Authentic, Ms. Lexton has worked as a Show Runner, Director, Story Editor, Writer and Producer for numerous specials and series for network and cable. Among Lauren's credits are series and specials for CBS, TLC, Bravo, A&E, Animal Planet, Discovery, and others. Ms. Lexton graduated cum laude from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She serves on the annual award screening committee for the International Documentary Association, and is a member of the Directors Guild of America.
Co-Founder and Executive Producer, Authentic Entertainment, Inc.
Lauren is co-founder and Executive Producer of Authentic Entertainment, Inc. Prior to co-founding Authentic, Ms. Lexton has worked as a Show Runner, Director, Story Editor, Writer and Producer for numerous specials and series for network and cable. Among Lauren's credits are series and specials for CBS, TLC, Bravo, A&E, Animal Planet, Discovery, and others. Ms. Lexton graduated cum laude from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. She serves on the annual award screening committee for the International Documentary Association, and is a member of the Directors Guild of America.
Michael Lumpkin
Executive Director, International Documentary Association
With nearly three decades of leadership in the nonprofit film community, Michael Lumpkin joined the International Documentary Association in 2009 as Executive Director. Michael previously served as both Executive Director of Frameline and Festival Director for the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, and co-produced the highly acclaimed HBO documentary, The Celluloid Closet. His work on the film included archival footage research and clip licensing from scores of motion pictures spanning the first 100 years of America’s film history. Michael has also participated as a juror for the Sundance Film Festival, the Los Angeles Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival.
Executive Director, International Documentary Association
With nearly three decades of leadership in the nonprofit film community, Michael Lumpkin joined the International Documentary Association in 2009 as Executive Director. Michael previously served as both Executive Director of Frameline and Festival Director for the San Francisco International LGBT Film Festival, and co-produced the highly acclaimed HBO documentary, The Celluloid Closet. His work on the film included archival footage research and clip licensing from scores of motion pictures spanning the first 100 years of America’s film history. Michael has also participated as a juror for the Sundance Film Festival, the Los Angeles Film Festival, the Berlin International Film Festival and the Seattle International Film Festival.
Nicole Maxwell
Director of Development, NBCUniversal's Peacock Productions, West Coast
Nicole Maxwell is currently the Director of Development, for NBCUniversal's Peacock Productions, West Coast. Nicole is responsible for the creation and development of nonfiction series programming and content, that in turn, can be sold to a wide spectrum of broadcast and cable networks. For example, the successful series Storm Riders on TWC. Previously, Nicole was Director of Development at Banyan Productions where she oversaw all creation and development of TV and multi-media projects. While there, she developed the hit primetime docudrama series, “Deliver Me,” on Discovery Health and "Surviving Motherhood" for TLC. In addition, she was a Producer on the Emmy awarding-winning series “True Life,” (MTV) and “The Daily Show,” (Comedy Central), as well as a Producer for Sundance Channel, A&E and Travel Channel. Nicole also produced and directed the documentary, “Her Name Is Zelda,” which aired in HBO’s Film Festival.
Director of Development, NBCUniversal's Peacock Productions, West Coast
Nicole Maxwell is currently the Director of Development, for NBCUniversal's Peacock Productions, West Coast. Nicole is responsible for the creation and development of nonfiction series programming and content, that in turn, can be sold to a wide spectrum of broadcast and cable networks. For example, the successful series Storm Riders on TWC. Previously, Nicole was Director of Development at Banyan Productions where she oversaw all creation and development of TV and multi-media projects. While there, she developed the hit primetime docudrama series, “Deliver Me,” on Discovery Health and "Surviving Motherhood" for TLC. In addition, she was a Producer on the Emmy awarding-winning series “True Life,” (MTV) and “The Daily Show,” (Comedy Central), as well as a Producer for Sundance Channel, A&E and Travel Channel. Nicole also produced and directed the documentary, “Her Name Is Zelda,” which aired in HBO’s Film Festival.
Claire McCabe
Vice President of Original Programming and Series Development, CMT
As Vice President of Original Programming and Series Development, CMT, Claire McCabe is responsible for creating new series and executing all aspects of production from conception to delivery at CMT. Since joining CMT in 2008, she has overseen production of such series as, SOUTHERN NIGHTS, THE SINGING BEE and SWEET HOME ALABAMA, among the many productions in development.. SWEET HOME ALABAMA is one of the highest-rated series in network history, and is the most-streamed original program on CMT.com. Coming to CMT by way of VH1, Claire served as Executive Producer, responsible for developing new series such as “Scott Baio is 45 and Single” and “Breaking Bonaduce,” along with the celebrity music series “But Can They Sing” in addition to multiple reality series. She has over 15 years’ experience in the entertainment and TV industry working on a variety of music, unscripted and original programming with her career starting at MTV. Prior to working at VH1, McCabe was executive producer and director of artist and label relations at Music Choice, where she produced concert specials with such artists as The Cranberries, Coldplay, Smashmouth and KD lang, among others. In addition, she managed live concert specials and music series as Director of Alternative Programming and Specials at Disney Channel.
Vice President of Original Programming and Series Development, CMT
As Vice President of Original Programming and Series Development, CMT, Claire McCabe is responsible for creating new series and executing all aspects of production from conception to delivery at CMT. Since joining CMT in 2008, she has overseen production of such series as, SOUTHERN NIGHTS, THE SINGING BEE and SWEET HOME ALABAMA, among the many productions in development.. SWEET HOME ALABAMA is one of the highest-rated series in network history, and is the most-streamed original program on CMT.com. Coming to CMT by way of VH1, Claire served as Executive Producer, responsible for developing new series such as “Scott Baio is 45 and Single” and “Breaking Bonaduce,” along with the celebrity music series “But Can They Sing” in addition to multiple reality series. She has over 15 years’ experience in the entertainment and TV industry working on a variety of music, unscripted and original programming with her career starting at MTV. Prior to working at VH1, McCabe was executive producer and director of artist and label relations at Music Choice, where she produced concert specials with such artists as The Cranberries, Coldplay, Smashmouth and KD lang, among others. In addition, she managed live concert specials and music series as Director of Alternative Programming and Specials at Disney Channel.
Gena McCarthy
Senior Vice President, Reality & Alternative Programming, Lifetime Networks
Gena McCarthy is Senior Vice President, Reality & Alternative Programming, of Lifetime Networks. Based in New York, she oversees Lifetime’s strategy for all development and production of its unscripted programming, including the Emmy® Award-nominated Project Runway and Project Runway All Stars; the breakout hit Dance Moms; and recently announced Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition, among others. Before joining Lifetime in 2010, McCarthy was Senior Vice President, Development and Production, for Discovery Channel, where she managed the creation and execution of all primetime series and specials, including development of Dual Survivor, Auction Kings, Pitchmen and The Colony. McCarthy also executive produced the hit series Dirty Jobs, Mythbusters and Deadliest Catch in an earlier tenure at the company from 2004 to 2006. From 2006 to 2008, McCarthy was Vice President, Development and Production, at WE, where she launched series and specials, created the hit My Fair Wedding, developed High School Confidential and oversaw Bridezillas to record growth. A six-year veteran of TLC Programming and Production units, McCarthy co-developed and executive produced numerous successful series and specials for the network, helping acquire Junkyard Wars and executive produced the final season of Junkyard Mega-Wars, and executive produced TLC’s first successful primetime wedding series, For Better or for Worse. She also ran critical TLC series, including In a Fix, Mostly True Stories and Faking It.
Senior Vice President, Reality & Alternative Programming, Lifetime Networks
Gena McCarthy is Senior Vice President, Reality & Alternative Programming, of Lifetime Networks. Based in New York, she oversees Lifetime’s strategy for all development and production of its unscripted programming, including the Emmy® Award-nominated Project Runway and Project Runway All Stars; the breakout hit Dance Moms; and recently announced Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition, among others. Before joining Lifetime in 2010, McCarthy was Senior Vice President, Development and Production, for Discovery Channel, where she managed the creation and execution of all primetime series and specials, including development of Dual Survivor, Auction Kings, Pitchmen and The Colony. McCarthy also executive produced the hit series Dirty Jobs, Mythbusters and Deadliest Catch in an earlier tenure at the company from 2004 to 2006. From 2006 to 2008, McCarthy was Vice President, Development and Production, at WE, where she launched series and specials, created the hit My Fair Wedding, developed High School Confidential and oversaw Bridezillas to record growth. A six-year veteran of TLC Programming and Production units, McCarthy co-developed and executive produced numerous successful series and specials for the network, helping acquire Junkyard Wars and executive produced the final season of Junkyard Mega-Wars, and executive produced TLC’s first successful primetime wedding series, For Better or for Worse. She also ran critical TLC series, including In a Fix, Mostly True Stories and Faking It.
Lauren McCollester
Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, NBCUniversal
Lauren McCollester is currently a Senior Vice President of Business Affairs at NBCUniversal. In that role, she heads up Business Affairs for Bravo, Oxygen and Style Media. Prior to joining the Business Affairs team at NBCUniversal in 2004, Lauren was Interactive Media Counsel for NBC, and started her legal career as a litigator. Lauren is based at NBC Universal’s offices in New York City.
Senior Vice President of Business Affairs, NBCUniversal
Lauren McCollester is currently a Senior Vice President of Business Affairs at NBCUniversal. In that role, she heads up Business Affairs for Bravo, Oxygen and Style Media. Prior to joining the Business Affairs team at NBCUniversal in 2004, Lauren was Interactive Media Counsel for NBC, and started her legal career as a litigator. Lauren is based at NBC Universal’s offices in New York City.
Jennifer McGovern
Director of Development and Production, Oxygen Media
Jennifer McGovern is Director of Development and Production for Oxygen Media, a position she has held since August 2010. In this role, she is responsible for developing and executive producing some of the network’s original programming, including reality competition series and docu-series such as “The Glee Project” and “I’m Having Their Baby.” Based in New York, McGovern reports directly to Cori Abraham, SVP Development, Oxygen Media. Before joining Oxygen, McGovern was Manager of Alternative Series at TLC, where she developed and produced various shows including “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” “Brace for Impact: The Chesley B Sullenberger Story” and “Police Women of Broward County.” Prior to that, she served as Manager of Development at Fox Television Studios, overseeing high profile development slates and assisting with production and development on series like “Talkshow with Spike Feresten.” McGovern started her career in the NBC Page Program in Los Angeles where she worked with “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The Weakest Link.”
Director of Development and Production, Oxygen Media
Jennifer McGovern is Director of Development and Production for Oxygen Media, a position she has held since August 2010. In this role, she is responsible for developing and executive producing some of the network’s original programming, including reality competition series and docu-series such as “The Glee Project” and “I’m Having Their Baby.” Based in New York, McGovern reports directly to Cori Abraham, SVP Development, Oxygen Media. Before joining Oxygen, McGovern was Manager of Alternative Series at TLC, where she developed and produced various shows including “Sarah Palin’s Alaska,” “Brace for Impact: The Chesley B Sullenberger Story” and “Police Women of Broward County.” Prior to that, she served as Manager of Development at Fox Television Studios, overseeing high profile development slates and assisting with production and development on series like “Talkshow with Spike Feresten.” McGovern started her career in the NBC Page Program in Los Angeles where she worked with “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” and “The Weakest Link.”
Betsy McLane
Executive Director, International Cinema US
Betsy McLane is the author of the book A NEW HISTORY OF DOCUMENTARY FILM: SECOND EDITION. She is currently the Executive Director of International Cinema US She recently served as the Project Director for The American Documentary Showcase, a cooperative project of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State. For eight years McLane was the Executive Director the International Documentary Association.
Executive Director, International Cinema US
Betsy McLane is the author of the book A NEW HISTORY OF DOCUMENTARY FILM: SECOND EDITION. She is currently the Executive Director of International Cinema US She recently served as the Project Director for The American Documentary Showcase, a cooperative project of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State. For eight years McLane was the Executive Director the International Documentary Association.
Hayden Meyer
Partner and Head of the Alternative & International Television Department, APA
In 2010 Hayden Meyer was named Partner and Head of the Alternative & International Television Department at APA. Since joining the firm in late 2006, he has overseen the evolution of the Department into a formidable “alternative” in agency representation. Distinguished by Meyer’s unique business philosophy which promotes exceptional teamwork and innovative deal making, the Department’s six agents provide their clients and buyers a premiere level of service. Today the Department represents the creative and business interests of award-winning production companies, producers, writers, directors, presenters, expert and branded personalities, formats, books, advertiser brands, content libraries and other intellectual properties across all Alternative entertainment genres to media platforms in the U.S and throughout the world. Meyer and his team have been instrumental in setting up hundreds of Alternative entertainment programs, including the current and forthcoming U.S. television series BETTY WHITE’S OFF THEIR ROCKERS (NBC), DANCE MOMS (Lifetime), BETHENNY EVER AFTER (Bravo), GATOR BOYS (Animal Planet), THE UNITED STATS OF AMERICA (History), AMERICA’S BOOK OF SECRETS (H2), DUI (TLC), FLIP MEN (Spike), KENDRA ON TOP (WE), GIRLFRIEND CONFIDENTIAL: LA (Oxygen), AMERICAN COLONY: MEET THE HUTTERITES (National Geographic), OWNER’S MANUAL (AMC), SIN CITY CRITICS (Travel), JUNK GYPSIES (HGTV), BLOOD RELATIVES (Investigation Discovery), SIX LITTLE MCGHEES (OWN), DIAGNOSIS: DEAD OR ALIVE (Discovery Fit & Health), PURE GOLD (GSN), MEN (Weather), THE SUPER (HD Net), WILD THINGS WITH DOMINIC MONAGHAN (BBC America) and LOVE ADDICTION (TVOne), to name a few.
Partner and Head of the Alternative & International Television Department, APA
In 2010 Hayden Meyer was named Partner and Head of the Alternative & International Television Department at APA. Since joining the firm in late 2006, he has overseen the evolution of the Department into a formidable “alternative” in agency representation. Distinguished by Meyer’s unique business philosophy which promotes exceptional teamwork and innovative deal making, the Department’s six agents provide their clients and buyers a premiere level of service. Today the Department represents the creative and business interests of award-winning production companies, producers, writers, directors, presenters, expert and branded personalities, formats, books, advertiser brands, content libraries and other intellectual properties across all Alternative entertainment genres to media platforms in the U.S and throughout the world. Meyer and his team have been instrumental in setting up hundreds of Alternative entertainment programs, including the current and forthcoming U.S. television series BETTY WHITE’S OFF THEIR ROCKERS (NBC), DANCE MOMS (Lifetime), BETHENNY EVER AFTER (Bravo), GATOR BOYS (Animal Planet), THE UNITED STATS OF AMERICA (History), AMERICA’S BOOK OF SECRETS (H2), DUI (TLC), FLIP MEN (Spike), KENDRA ON TOP (WE), GIRLFRIEND CONFIDENTIAL: LA (Oxygen), AMERICAN COLONY: MEET THE HUTTERITES (National Geographic), OWNER’S MANUAL (AMC), SIN CITY CRITICS (Travel), JUNK GYPSIES (HGTV), BLOOD RELATIVES (Investigation Discovery), SIX LITTLE MCGHEES (OWN), DIAGNOSIS: DEAD OR ALIVE (Discovery Fit & Health), PURE GOLD (GSN), MEN (Weather), THE SUPER (HD Net), WILD THINGS WITH DOMINIC MONAGHAN (BBC America) and LOVE ADDICTION (TVOne), to name a few.
Steve Michelson
Executive Producer, Specialty Studios
Steve Michelson is the Executive Producer for Specialty Studios and the Video Project. The company is celebrating it 28th year in 2012 and focuses on films about the Environment, Social Justice and Sustainability. He has functioned as the Executive Producer on many award-winning films including Climb Against the Odds (1998), Oil on Ice (2004), Crude Impact (2006), Burning the Future (2008) River of Renewal (2009) Power Paths (2009) and Scarred Lands and Wounded Lives (2010). He has currently commenced production on In Our Own Hands a health related story about the epidemic in neuroimmune disorders like Autism and ADHD. In 2001 he opened the Studio at Lobitos Creek Ranch that specializes in providing production and completion services for documentary producers. He has served four terms as a Governor with the National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and is the recipient of the Gilbert Award from the San Francisco Bay Area film community for his contributions to the industry. Steve was the co-founder of One Pass Inc., San Francisco’s largest production service from 1975-1988.
Executive Producer, Specialty Studios
Steve Michelson is the Executive Producer for Specialty Studios and the Video Project. The company is celebrating it 28th year in 2012 and focuses on films about the Environment, Social Justice and Sustainability. He has functioned as the Executive Producer on many award-winning films including Climb Against the Odds (1998), Oil on Ice (2004), Crude Impact (2006), Burning the Future (2008) River of Renewal (2009) Power Paths (2009) and Scarred Lands and Wounded Lives (2010). He has currently commenced production on In Our Own Hands a health related story about the epidemic in neuroimmune disorders like Autism and ADHD. In 2001 he opened the Studio at Lobitos Creek Ranch that specializes in providing production and completion services for documentary producers. He has served four terms as a Governor with the National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) and is the recipient of the Gilbert Award from the San Francisco Bay Area film community for his contributions to the industry. Steve was the co-founder of One Pass Inc., San Francisco’s largest production service from 1975-1988.
Rob Miller
President, Peleton Entertainment
Rob is the President of Peleton Entertainment. Working on all levels of broadcasting, including network, cable, syndication, and co-production financing, the company represents high-profile producers of reality and documentary programming. The producers represented by Peleton are producing over 25 series that are currently on the air. Peleton also represents distribution rights for the licensing of programming to both the domestic and international broadcasting markets. Rob brings over 25years of experience in the television and feature film production and distribution. Prior to forming Peleton, he was an agent at N.S. Bienstock where he established the program packaging division of the company. Prior to N.S. Bienstock he was President of Television for Unapix Entertainment, an independent film and television production and distribution firm, Vice President of International Television for the NFL and Vice President of Program Enterprises for Showtime Networks.
President, Peleton Entertainment
Rob is the President of Peleton Entertainment. Working on all levels of broadcasting, including network, cable, syndication, and co-production financing, the company represents high-profile producers of reality and documentary programming. The producers represented by Peleton are producing over 25 series that are currently on the air. Peleton also represents distribution rights for the licensing of programming to both the domestic and international broadcasting markets. Rob brings over 25years of experience in the television and feature film production and distribution. Prior to forming Peleton, he was an agent at N.S. Bienstock where he established the program packaging division of the company. Prior to N.S. Bienstock he was President of Television for Unapix Entertainment, an independent film and television production and distribution firm, Vice President of International Television for the NFL and Vice President of Program Enterprises for Showtime Networks.
James Moll
Documentary Filmmaker
James Moll’s work as a documentary filmmaker has earned him an Oscar, two Emmys and a Grammy. A protégé of Steven Spielberg, James has directed, produced and edited such films as the sports adventure RUNNING THE SAHARA, executive produced by Matt Damon; and his Oscar winning THE LAST DAYS, executive produced by Spielberg. Most recently, James directed FOO FIGHTERS: BACK AND FORTH, for which he earned his Grammy. His television credits include programing for AMC, HISTORY, VH1, Hallmark and Showtime. James continues to be one of the industry's busiest documentarians, as both a director and producer. His company Allentown Productions has been based at Universal Studios since 1994. In addition to his work as a filmmaker, James established and headed the non-profit Shoah Foundation with Spielberg for the purpose of recording and preserving more than 50,000 ‘visual histories’ of Holocaust survivors. James currently serves as co-chair of the DGA Documentary Award and is an active member of the Executive Committee of the Documentary Branch of the Motion Picture Academy. James earned his degree from the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Documentary Filmmaker
James Moll’s work as a documentary filmmaker has earned him an Oscar, two Emmys and a Grammy. A protégé of Steven Spielberg, James has directed, produced and edited such films as the sports adventure RUNNING THE SAHARA, executive produced by Matt Damon; and his Oscar winning THE LAST DAYS, executive produced by Spielberg. Most recently, James directed FOO FIGHTERS: BACK AND FORTH, for which he earned his Grammy. His television credits include programing for AMC, HISTORY, VH1, Hallmark and Showtime. James continues to be one of the industry's busiest documentarians, as both a director and producer. His company Allentown Productions has been based at Universal Studios since 1994. In addition to his work as a filmmaker, James established and headed the non-profit Shoah Foundation with Spielberg for the purpose of recording and preserving more than 50,000 ‘visual histories’ of Holocaust survivors. James currently serves as co-chair of the DGA Documentary Award and is an active member of the Executive Committee of the Documentary Branch of the Motion Picture Academy. James earned his degree from the USC School of Cinematic Arts.
Brent Montgomery
Founder and Owner, Leftfield Pictures
Brent Montgomery is founder and owner of Leftfield Pictures, in charge of all of Leftfield's programming, development and operations. Brent executive produces History Channel’s breakout series Pawn Stars, which premiered in 2009. In less than three years, nearly 300 episodes of the smash-hit series have been commissioned by History. The show has consistently broken ratings records and, in 2011, drove History to be the #1 cable network across all key metrics, including total viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49. In 2011, Pawn Stars also delivered History its #1 series telecast of all time. Pawn Stars spawned its first spin-off series, Cajun Pawn Stars, which premiered in January 2012 to record numbers and is currently airing its second season. With the Pawn Stars franchise, Montgomery and Leftfield Pictures have helped define and drive the “hidden treasures” genre of television. In addition to Pawn Stars and Cajun Pawn Stars, Leftfield also produces for History the hit series American Restoration, which premiered its third season in June 2012. The company also has two other yet-to-be-announced series for History set to premiere before the end of the year. Leftfield has also created an “odd” franchise for Science, with its breakout show Oddities. Currently in its third season, Oddities has spawned two spin-offs: Oddities: San Francsico, which premiered in June 2012, and Odd Folks Home, which also will air in 2012. The company also produces Monster In-Laws for A&E, Truck Stop USA for Travel Channel, and the series Ball Boys for ABC, a “Hidden Treasures” show set in the competitive world of sports memorabilia. Leftfield, in conjunction with Lance Bass, recently announced a deal for a new series for Lifetime, Celebrity Yard Sale. The project will follow celebrities as they go through their homes, auctioning off items and memorabilia for charity. Currently, Leftfield has numerous series in development for History, A&E, Lifetime, ABC, Bravo, Food Network, Tru, Syfy, Nat Geo, and Speed. Montgomery strives to create smart and fun programming, and Leftfield places enormous emphasis on aggressive, on-point casting, with the company employing a casting team of more than 50 people. As a production company, Leftfield has earned a reputation for delivering to buyers a large volume of high-quality programming in record time. Since its first series, The Principal’s Office, aired in 2008, Leftfield Pictures has produced 225+ hours of programming and 500+ episodes.
Founder and Owner, Leftfield Pictures
Brent Montgomery is founder and owner of Leftfield Pictures, in charge of all of Leftfield's programming, development and operations. Brent executive produces History Channel’s breakout series Pawn Stars, which premiered in 2009. In less than three years, nearly 300 episodes of the smash-hit series have been commissioned by History. The show has consistently broken ratings records and, in 2011, drove History to be the #1 cable network across all key metrics, including total viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49. In 2011, Pawn Stars also delivered History its #1 series telecast of all time. Pawn Stars spawned its first spin-off series, Cajun Pawn Stars, which premiered in January 2012 to record numbers and is currently airing its second season. With the Pawn Stars franchise, Montgomery and Leftfield Pictures have helped define and drive the “hidden treasures” genre of television. In addition to Pawn Stars and Cajun Pawn Stars, Leftfield also produces for History the hit series American Restoration, which premiered its third season in June 2012. The company also has two other yet-to-be-announced series for History set to premiere before the end of the year. Leftfield has also created an “odd” franchise for Science, with its breakout show Oddities. Currently in its third season, Oddities has spawned two spin-offs: Oddities: San Francsico, which premiered in June 2012, and Odd Folks Home, which also will air in 2012. The company also produces Monster In-Laws for A&E, Truck Stop USA for Travel Channel, and the series Ball Boys for ABC, a “Hidden Treasures” show set in the competitive world of sports memorabilia. Leftfield, in conjunction with Lance Bass, recently announced a deal for a new series for Lifetime, Celebrity Yard Sale. The project will follow celebrities as they go through their homes, auctioning off items and memorabilia for charity. Currently, Leftfield has numerous series in development for History, A&E, Lifetime, ABC, Bravo, Food Network, Tru, Syfy, Nat Geo, and Speed. Montgomery strives to create smart and fun programming, and Leftfield places enormous emphasis on aggressive, on-point casting, with the company employing a casting team of more than 50 people. As a production company, Leftfield has earned a reputation for delivering to buyers a large volume of high-quality programming in record time. Since its first series, The Principal’s Office, aired in 2008, Leftfield Pictures has produced 225+ hours of programming and 500+ episodes.
Melanie Moreau
Vice President, Original Programming and Series Development, CMT
Melanie Moreau is a television veteran currently serving as Vice President Original programming and series development at CMT. She is responsible for overseeing the creation and development of new content from concept to delivery for the network. Since joining CMT in 2003, Melanie has developed a string of hits for the channel including the long running series Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team as well as Gone Country, Worlds Strictest Parents and CMT’s Next Superstar. Most recently, she helmed the highly rated series Redneck Island. Prior to joining CMT, Melanie was Vice President of Television at Greystone TV where she produced over 500 hours of original programming for various cable networks including A&E, The History Channel and Lifetime. Before serving as development exec and producer at Greystone, Melanie began her career as a news writer and producer at KTTV in Los Angeles.
Vice President, Original Programming and Series Development, CMT
Melanie Moreau is a television veteran currently serving as Vice President Original programming and series development at CMT. She is responsible for overseeing the creation and development of new content from concept to delivery for the network. Since joining CMT in 2003, Melanie has developed a string of hits for the channel including the long running series Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders: Making the Team as well as Gone Country, Worlds Strictest Parents and CMT’s Next Superstar. Most recently, she helmed the highly rated series Redneck Island. Prior to joining CMT, Melanie was Vice President of Television at Greystone TV where she produced over 500 hours of original programming for various cable networks including A&E, The History Channel and Lifetime. Before serving as development exec and producer at Greystone, Melanie began her career as a news writer and producer at KTTV in Los Angeles.
Michael Murphy
President, Gravitas Ventures
As President of Gravitas Ventures, Michael manages distribution of Gravitas' library of more than 2000 titles to more than 100 transactional, subscription, and ad-sponsored VOD operators on a worldwide basis. Prior to joining Gravitas Ventures in 2007, Michael was Captain in the US Army where he served over four years on active duty as a Judge Advocate. In 2005 he deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
President, Gravitas Ventures
As President of Gravitas Ventures, Michael manages distribution of Gravitas' library of more than 2000 titles to more than 100 transactional, subscription, and ad-sponsored VOD operators on a worldwide basis. Prior to joining Gravitas Ventures in 2007, Michael was Captain in the US Army where he served over four years on active duty as a Judge Advocate. In 2005 he deployed with the 3rd Infantry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Kelly Nash
Director of Development, FishBowl Worldwide Media
Kelly Nash currently serves as FishBowl Worldwide Media’s Director of Development. She is the creator of the hit Yahoo! series ULTIMATE PROPOSAL and is developing projects for cable networks including Bravo, HGTV, VH1, MTV and Animal Planet. She developed UPLOAD WITH SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, which was recently picked up by truTV as well as OFF BEAT, which was picked up by Fuse. Nash began her career in entertainment at Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles, working for Emanuel Nunez. She then went to work on the feature comedy A LOT LIKE LOVE, starring Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet, and working under the Line Producer. She decided that her love of television was her path and got a job working at the cable network Oxygen, where she was a part of the development team for many years. She then went to the selling side of the market and developed content at New Line Television and then transitioned to working for Marty Adelstein, the Executive Producer of PRISON BREAK, where she helped development many projects.
Director of Development, FishBowl Worldwide Media
Kelly Nash currently serves as FishBowl Worldwide Media’s Director of Development. She is the creator of the hit Yahoo! series ULTIMATE PROPOSAL and is developing projects for cable networks including Bravo, HGTV, VH1, MTV and Animal Planet. She developed UPLOAD WITH SHAQUILLE O’NEAL, which was recently picked up by truTV as well as OFF BEAT, which was picked up by Fuse. Nash began her career in entertainment at Creative Artists Agency in Los Angeles, working for Emanuel Nunez. She then went to work on the feature comedy A LOT LIKE LOVE, starring Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet, and working under the Line Producer. She decided that her love of television was her path and got a job working at the cable network Oxygen, where she was a part of the development team for many years. She then went to the selling side of the market and developed content at New Line Television and then transitioned to working for Marty Adelstein, the Executive Producer of PRISON BREAK, where she helped development many projects.
Robert Nashak
Executive Vice President, Digital Entertainment & Games, BBC Worldwide
Robert Nashak is EVP of Digital Entertainment & Games, overseeing BBC Worldwide’s games strategy. Robert launched the business in 2010, working with top BBC brands to develop new opportunities across a wide range of game platforms. The business is responsible for the company's first MMO, Doctor Who: Worlds In Time, the upcoming console release Doctor Who: Eternity Clock and the multi-year partnership with Top Gear and Forza Motorsport, among others. Prior to joining BBC, Robert was SVP at Electronic Arts (EA), VP and General Manager of Yahoo! Games, and SVP for the mobile entertainment publisher, Glu Mobile. Earlier in his career, Robert held key positions at Acclaim Entertainment, Vivendi Games and Disney Online. Robert serves as an Adjunct Professor in the University of Southern California’s interactive media program.
Executive Vice President, Digital Entertainment & Games, BBC Worldwide
Robert Nashak is EVP of Digital Entertainment & Games, overseeing BBC Worldwide’s games strategy. Robert launched the business in 2010, working with top BBC brands to develop new opportunities across a wide range of game platforms. The business is responsible for the company's first MMO, Doctor Who: Worlds In Time, the upcoming console release Doctor Who: Eternity Clock and the multi-year partnership with Top Gear and Forza Motorsport, among others. Prior to joining BBC, Robert was SVP at Electronic Arts (EA), VP and General Manager of Yahoo! Games, and SVP for the mobile entertainment publisher, Glu Mobile. Earlier in his career, Robert held key positions at Acclaim Entertainment, Vivendi Games and Disney Online. Robert serves as an Adjunct Professor in the University of Southern California’s interactive media program.
Stephen Nemeth
Founder, Rhino Films
Stephen Nemeth formed and heads up Rhino Films, the independent film company that originated as a division of iconoclastic record label Rhino Records. He has produced and executive produced dozens of films. His producer credits include The Surrogate, starring John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and Wlliam H. Macy, which will be released by Fox Searchlight October 26th as The Sessions, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Dogtown and Z Boys, What We Do Is Secret, Radio Free Albemuth, and You and I. He is in post-production on Snake and Mongoose about a legendary drag-racing rivalry. Nemeth's documentary credits include War/Dance which was nominated for a 2008 Academy Award for Best Documentary, Fuel (Audience Award Sundance '08), Flow (Sundance '08), Pick Up The Mic (Toronto '05), Climate Refugees (Sundance '10), Mr. Bitchin' about artist Robert Williams, Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story, Patriocracy and is in production on A Nuclear Family, Ride With Larry and State of Control. He is on the board of numerous non-profit organizations including Friends of the Earth, Children Uniting Nations and the International Documentary Association and is on the dean's board of the UC Santa Cruz's School for the Arts.
Founder, Rhino Films
Stephen Nemeth formed and heads up Rhino Films, the independent film company that originated as a division of iconoclastic record label Rhino Records. He has produced and executive produced dozens of films. His producer credits include The Surrogate, starring John Hawkes, Helen Hunt and Wlliam H. Macy, which will be released by Fox Searchlight October 26th as The Sessions, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Why Do Fools Fall in Love, Dogtown and Z Boys, What We Do Is Secret, Radio Free Albemuth, and You and I. He is in post-production on Snake and Mongoose about a legendary drag-racing rivalry. Nemeth's documentary credits include War/Dance which was nominated for a 2008 Academy Award for Best Documentary, Fuel (Audience Award Sundance '08), Flow (Sundance '08), Pick Up The Mic (Toronto '05), Climate Refugees (Sundance '10), Mr. Bitchin' about artist Robert Williams, Under the Boardwalk: The Monopoly Story, Patriocracy and is in production on A Nuclear Family, Ride With Larry and State of Control. He is on the board of numerous non-profit organizations including Friends of the Earth, Children Uniting Nations and the International Documentary Association and is on the dean's board of the UC Santa Cruz's School for the Arts.
Sue Norton
Senior Vice President and Head of Lonely Planet Television, BBC Worldwide
Sue heads up Lonely Planet Television for BBC Worldwide. She is responsible for delivering Lonely Planet’s television strategy, including building Lonely Planet’s presence on television in all regions around the globe, maximizing commissions, strategic media partnerships and accelerating the development of short form digital video content to feed Lonely Planet’s digital platforms. Prior to joining Lonely Planet Sue was Vice President of Travel Channel Studios where she was responsible for developing and overseeing the production and fulfillment of original content for all of Travel Channel Media’s platforms including TV, Web, VOD, Mobile and external partner platforms. At Discovery Networks, Sue worked as an executive producer overseeing original series, specials and live events for Discovery Networks for ten years including Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, Military Channel, and Discovery Home Channel, specializing in lifestyle, science and military production. Sue also served as Director of Production for the launch of Military Channel and relaunch of Discovery Home Channel. Credits include: Wild China (Emmy Award Winner), Year of Adventures, Free Rein, 1000 Ultimate Experiences, Most Haunted Live, Blue Angels: A Year in the Life, Toolbelt Diva, Flip that House, Delta Company, Cookin’ in Brooklyn, and Science of the Deep. Sue accepted 3 news and documentary Emmy Awards on behalf of the BBC team for Wild China in 2009, received the 2005 Peer Award for Best Documentary for “Elle Deco: Behind the Design”. And in 2004, Sue was awarded the National Academies of Sciences top media prize for her Science of the Deep documentary “Mid Water Mysteries”.
Senior Vice President and Head of Lonely Planet Television, BBC Worldwide
Sue heads up Lonely Planet Television for BBC Worldwide. She is responsible for delivering Lonely Planet’s television strategy, including building Lonely Planet’s presence on television in all regions around the globe, maximizing commissions, strategic media partnerships and accelerating the development of short form digital video content to feed Lonely Planet’s digital platforms. Prior to joining Lonely Planet Sue was Vice President of Travel Channel Studios where she was responsible for developing and overseeing the production and fulfillment of original content for all of Travel Channel Media’s platforms including TV, Web, VOD, Mobile and external partner platforms. At Discovery Networks, Sue worked as an executive producer overseeing original series, specials and live events for Discovery Networks for ten years including Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel, Military Channel, and Discovery Home Channel, specializing in lifestyle, science and military production. Sue also served as Director of Production for the launch of Military Channel and relaunch of Discovery Home Channel. Credits include: Wild China (Emmy Award Winner), Year of Adventures, Free Rein, 1000 Ultimate Experiences, Most Haunted Live, Blue Angels: A Year in the Life, Toolbelt Diva, Flip that House, Delta Company, Cookin’ in Brooklyn, and Science of the Deep. Sue accepted 3 news and documentary Emmy Awards on behalf of the BBC team for Wild China in 2009, received the 2005 Peer Award for Best Documentary for “Elle Deco: Behind the Design”. And in 2004, Sue was awarded the National Academies of Sciences top media prize for her Science of the Deep documentary “Mid Water Mysteries”.
Erick Opeka
Vice President of Digital Distribution, Cinedigm Entertainment Group
As Vice President of Digital Distribution for Cinedigm Entertainment Group, Erick directs the company’s client management, content strategy, development and operations across digital platforms, including subscription and ad-supported video-on-demand, electronic sell-through, cable TV and IPTV. Erick has been responsible for growing the company into one of the largest aggregators of digital video content worldwide. His team oversees the distribution of over 11,000 films and programs for entertainment partners ranging from global television distributors and home entertainment companies to independent film producers and filmmakers. Most recently, Erick worked with the Sundance Institute to create a new distribution platform to bring the festival’s 4,000 film alumni to digital audiences worldwide. Previously, Erick spearheaded digital business development efforts for New Video, leading to that company’s selection as the first iTunes video aggregation partner. Prior to that, Erick managed releases for the A&E Home Entertainment line and the Docurama Films label, including over 20 Academy Award®-winning and nominated films. Widely recognized in his field, Erick was named a 2011 Digital Driver by Home Media Magazine. He is a frequent moderator and speaker at industry events including the Sundance Film Festival, SxSW, AFM, and Independent Film Week, among others. He is also on the board of Digital Hollywood and a member of the International Academy of Web Television.
Vice President of Digital Distribution, Cinedigm Entertainment Group
As Vice President of Digital Distribution for Cinedigm Entertainment Group, Erick directs the company’s client management, content strategy, development and operations across digital platforms, including subscription and ad-supported video-on-demand, electronic sell-through, cable TV and IPTV. Erick has been responsible for growing the company into one of the largest aggregators of digital video content worldwide. His team oversees the distribution of over 11,000 films and programs for entertainment partners ranging from global television distributors and home entertainment companies to independent film producers and filmmakers. Most recently, Erick worked with the Sundance Institute to create a new distribution platform to bring the festival’s 4,000 film alumni to digital audiences worldwide. Previously, Erick spearheaded digital business development efforts for New Video, leading to that company’s selection as the first iTunes video aggregation partner. Prior to that, Erick managed releases for the A&E Home Entertainment line and the Docurama Films label, including over 20 Academy Award®-winning and nominated films. Widely recognized in his field, Erick was named a 2011 Digital Driver by Home Media Magazine. He is a frequent moderator and speaker at industry events including the Sundance Film Festival, SxSW, AFM, and Independent Film Week, among others. He is also on the board of Digital Hollywood and a member of the International Academy of Web Television.
David Padrusch
Vice President, Production & Development, Travel Channel
David W. Padrusch is responsible for augmenting Travel Channel’s development slate and overseeing the creative process including all phases of pre-production, production, post-production and final delivery of those series. Having creative oversight over a variety of production projects, Padrusch manages multiple external production companies and leads all initiatives that execute on the strategic programming vision. Prior to Travel Channel, Padrusch served as vice president of development and executive producer of Towers Productions. In this role, he developed “Tug of War,” a primetime docu-series for History Channel and “Fields of Valor: Civil War,” a four-part 3D Civil War special for 3Net. In 2004, Padrusch founded Limulus Productions and created a signature, adrenaline-charged graphic novel aesthetic seen in “Last Stand of the 300, Battles BC, and Art of War.” Padrusch began his career producing and directing the “Discover Magazine Series” for Discovery Channel. Soon after, he produced and directed a 10-part series, “Body Invaders” for Discovery Health, and a two-hour special “Rumrunners, Moonshiners & Bootleggers” for History Channel.
Vice President, Production & Development, Travel Channel
David W. Padrusch is responsible for augmenting Travel Channel’s development slate and overseeing the creative process including all phases of pre-production, production, post-production and final delivery of those series. Having creative oversight over a variety of production projects, Padrusch manages multiple external production companies and leads all initiatives that execute on the strategic programming vision. Prior to Travel Channel, Padrusch served as vice president of development and executive producer of Towers Productions. In this role, he developed “Tug of War,” a primetime docu-series for History Channel and “Fields of Valor: Civil War,” a four-part 3D Civil War special for 3Net. In 2004, Padrusch founded Limulus Productions and created a signature, adrenaline-charged graphic novel aesthetic seen in “Last Stand of the 300, Battles BC, and Art of War.” Padrusch began his career producing and directing the “Discover Magazine Series” for Discovery Channel. Soon after, he produced and directed a 10-part series, “Body Invaders” for Discovery Health, and a two-hour special “Rumrunners, Moonshiners & Bootleggers” for History Channel.
Lisanne Pajot
Director/Producer
Lisanne Pajot is one of the directors, producers, editors, cinematographers and distributors behind the Sundance award-winning feature documentary, Indie Game: The Movie. Indie Game: The Movie was one of the first films to be born on Kickstarter. It was funded in part by 2 successful crowd-funded campaigns. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012, where it won the Best Editing Award in World Documentary Cinema and was optioned by HBO and Scott Rudin for a fictional TV series. Indie Game: The Movie is a New York Times Critics’ Pick and one of top reviewed movies of 2012 on Rotten Tomatoes. It has been selected for many festivals including SXSW, the Game Developers Conference, Hot Docs and Sheffield Doc/Fest. The film continues to screen all over the world and is available in 17 languages. Prior to Indie Game: the Movie, Lisanne and her partner, James Swrisky, ran the commercial production company, BlinkWorks, producing work for major companies and governments in Canada and US. Prior to joining BlinkWorks, Lisanne was at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She worked in CBC TV’s news and documentary departments, and went on to be a producer/editor for national lifestyle series. She also holds a degree and diploma in Communications.
Director/Producer
Lisanne Pajot is one of the directors, producers, editors, cinematographers and distributors behind the Sundance award-winning feature documentary, Indie Game: The Movie. Indie Game: The Movie was one of the first films to be born on Kickstarter. It was funded in part by 2 successful crowd-funded campaigns. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012, where it won the Best Editing Award in World Documentary Cinema and was optioned by HBO and Scott Rudin for a fictional TV series. Indie Game: The Movie is a New York Times Critics’ Pick and one of top reviewed movies of 2012 on Rotten Tomatoes. It has been selected for many festivals including SXSW, the Game Developers Conference, Hot Docs and Sheffield Doc/Fest. The film continues to screen all over the world and is available in 17 languages. Prior to Indie Game: the Movie, Lisanne and her partner, James Swrisky, ran the commercial production company, BlinkWorks, producing work for major companies and governments in Canada and US. Prior to joining BlinkWorks, Lisanne was at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. She worked in CBC TV’s news and documentary departments, and went on to be a producer/editor for national lifestyle series. She also holds a degree and diploma in Communications.
Brant Pinvidic
Executive Vice President, Development, Eyeworks USA
Brant Pinvidic is Executive Vice President of Development at Eyeworks USA (formerly 3 Ball Productions), in charge of the company’s development slate for both broadcast and cable series and specials. The company is responsible for global franchises including The Biggest Loser and Beauty and the Geek, inspiring millions of viewers worldwide. Among Pinvidic’s current primetime hits in multiple-season pickup is ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, which recently aired its season two finale, improving ratings consistently and across all demos (season three is in production). Other hit series include Discovery’s Flying Wild Alaska, Spike’s Bar Rescue (in production on season three), Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell (in production on season three); CMT’s Texas Women; and WE’s LA Hair (in season two).
Executive Vice President, Development, Eyeworks USA
Brant Pinvidic is Executive Vice President of Development at Eyeworks USA (formerly 3 Ball Productions), in charge of the company’s development slate for both broadcast and cable series and specials. The company is responsible for global franchises including The Biggest Loser and Beauty and the Geek, inspiring millions of viewers worldwide. Among Pinvidic’s current primetime hits in multiple-season pickup is ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition, which recently aired its season two finale, improving ratings consistently and across all demos (season three is in production). Other hit series include Discovery’s Flying Wild Alaska, Spike’s Bar Rescue (in production on season three), Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell (in production on season three); CMT’s Texas Women; and WE’s LA Hair (in season two).
Noah Pollack
Vice President, Reality Programming, Lifetime Networks
Noah Pollack was named Vice President, Reality Programming, for Lifetime Networks in November 2011. Based in Los Angeles, he is responsible for developing and overseeing production of non-fiction projects for Lifetime. Pollack is currently preparing Lifetime’s upcoming docu-series The Houston Family Chronicles (working title), which will follow the surviving members of the late Whitney Houston’s family as they move on with their lives after her tragic death. Pollack also produced The Week the Women Went, a social experiment airing in August in which a South Carolina town’s entire female population departs for one whole week to leave their men to fend entirely for themselves. Pollack joined Lifetime from VH1 in Los Angeles, where he served as Vice President, Series Development and Original Programming. Programs launched under his guidance include Basketball Wives, the network’s highest rated series, Basketball Wives LA, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, VH1’s longest running show, The T.O. Show, Tough Love and Stevie TV.
Vice President, Reality Programming, Lifetime Networks
Noah Pollack was named Vice President, Reality Programming, for Lifetime Networks in November 2011. Based in Los Angeles, he is responsible for developing and overseeing production of non-fiction projects for Lifetime. Pollack is currently preparing Lifetime’s upcoming docu-series The Houston Family Chronicles (working title), which will follow the surviving members of the late Whitney Houston’s family as they move on with their lives after her tragic death. Pollack also produced The Week the Women Went, a social experiment airing in August in which a South Carolina town’s entire female population departs for one whole week to leave their men to fend entirely for themselves. Pollack joined Lifetime from VH1 in Los Angeles, where he served as Vice President, Series Development and Original Programming. Programs launched under his guidance include Basketball Wives, the network’s highest rated series, Basketball Wives LA, Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew, VH1’s longest running show, The T.O. Show, Tough Love and Stevie TV.
Pamela Post
Vice President, Original Programming and Development, LOGO
Pamela Post is the Vice President of Original Programming at Logo where she oversees the RuPaul franchises: “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Untucked,” “RuPaul’s Drag U” and “All Stars.” She’s also the executive on “Bad Sex” and “In the Big House” along with the upcoming “The Baby Wait.” Prior to Logo, Pam was partnered in Dexterity Pictures, a film and television production company. They developed several independent films and a drama for WB/ABC. She was the Vice President of Development and Production for Team Todd who produced Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Memento and Idle Hands. The company also produced If These Walls Could Talk 2 and Boiler Room (which she associate produced).
Vice President, Original Programming and Development, LOGO
Pamela Post is the Vice President of Original Programming at Logo where she oversees the RuPaul franchises: “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” “Untucked,” “RuPaul’s Drag U” and “All Stars.” She’s also the executive on “Bad Sex” and “In the Big House” along with the upcoming “The Baby Wait.” Prior to Logo, Pam was partnered in Dexterity Pictures, a film and television production company. They developed several independent films and a drama for WB/ABC. She was the Vice President of Development and Production for Team Todd who produced Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Memento and Idle Hands. The company also produced If These Walls Could Talk 2 and Boiler Room (which she associate produced).
Jennifer Quainton
Vice President of Programming, Scripps Networks Interactive
Jennifer Quainton currently serves as vice president of programming for both Food Network and Cooking Channel. Part of the Food Network programming team since 2000, she’s overseen key day-part scheduling for the brand, managed its VOD strategy, negotiated acquisitions, and managed all financial and legal matters for programming. In her current role, she oversees the scheduling and development strategy for Cooking Channel, Scripps Networks Interactive’s newest lifestyle brand. Quainton’s career achievements and leadership in the cable industry earned her designation to Women in Cable Telecommunications’ 2010 Rising Leaders Program.
Vice President of Programming, Scripps Networks Interactive
Jennifer Quainton currently serves as vice president of programming for both Food Network and Cooking Channel. Part of the Food Network programming team since 2000, she’s overseen key day-part scheduling for the brand, managed its VOD strategy, negotiated acquisitions, and managed all financial and legal matters for programming. In her current role, she oversees the scheduling and development strategy for Cooking Channel, Scripps Networks Interactive’s newest lifestyle brand. Quainton’s career achievements and leadership in the cable industry earned her designation to Women in Cable Telecommunications’ 2010 Rising Leaders Program.
Chris Rantamaki
Vice President, Original Series, Spike TV
Chris Rantamaki is Vice President, Original Series, at Spike TV where he is responsible for overseeing the development of non-scripted series, further broadening and expanding Spike TV's growing audience. Rantamaki is based in the network’s California offices and came to Spike TV from Discovery Channel, where he was Vice President of Production. There, he oversaw a slew of marquee shows, including “Auction Kings,” “The Colony,” “One Man Army,” “Howe & Howe Tech,” “Gang Wars,” “Construction Intervention” and “Expedition Alaska,” among others. Prior to his stint at Discovery, Rantamaki served as executive producer and producer for more than ten years on a wide variety of reality staples, including TLC’s hit docudrama “Miami Ink,” Fox’s “Ambush Makeover,” E!’s “#1 Single,” “Shipmates” and TLC’s “A Dating Story.” He also has extensive experience in the talk show arena, serving as producer on “Queen Latifah,” “Dr. Joy Browne” and “Jerry Springer,” to name a few.
Vice President, Original Series, Spike TV
Chris Rantamaki is Vice President, Original Series, at Spike TV where he is responsible for overseeing the development of non-scripted series, further broadening and expanding Spike TV's growing audience. Rantamaki is based in the network’s California offices and came to Spike TV from Discovery Channel, where he was Vice President of Production. There, he oversaw a slew of marquee shows, including “Auction Kings,” “The Colony,” “One Man Army,” “Howe & Howe Tech,” “Gang Wars,” “Construction Intervention” and “Expedition Alaska,” among others. Prior to his stint at Discovery, Rantamaki served as executive producer and producer for more than ten years on a wide variety of reality staples, including TLC’s hit docudrama “Miami Ink,” Fox’s “Ambush Makeover,” E!’s “#1 Single,” “Shipmates” and TLC’s “A Dating Story.” He also has extensive experience in the talk show arena, serving as producer on “Queen Latifah,” “Dr. Joy Browne” and “Jerry Springer,” to name a few.
Christopher Redman
Actor, Director, Visual Artist
Christopher Redman is an actor, director and visual artist best known for his work playing "Michael Travers" on CSI Miami as well as other lanky characters. He is also the subject, along with Matt Lemche, of the lifelong documentary film series The Decades Project which began in 2002 when the two friends filmed interviews and posed questions to themselves to be answered ten years in the future. In May 2012 they completed the first interviews and posed new questions to be answered in 2022. Originally from the farmlands of Canada, he now lives in LA with his wife and coffee. Images and updates from the film can be found online www.DecadesProject.com, FB and Twitter @DecadesFilm and @iChris_Redman.
Actor, Director, Visual Artist
Christopher Redman is an actor, director and visual artist best known for his work playing "Michael Travers" on CSI Miami as well as other lanky characters. He is also the subject, along with Matt Lemche, of the lifelong documentary film series The Decades Project which began in 2002 when the two friends filmed interviews and posed questions to themselves to be answered ten years in the future. In May 2012 they completed the first interviews and posed new questions to be answered in 2022. Originally from the farmlands of Canada, he now lives in LA with his wife and coffee. Images and updates from the film can be found online www.DecadesProject.com, FB and Twitter @DecadesFilm and @iChris_Redman.
Nick Rigg
President, Leopard Films USA
Nick Rigg is president of Leopard Films USA, a leading producer of reality and non-fiction television and digital programming, focusing on lifestyle and entertainment content. Under Rigg’s leadership, the company has built a stronghold in lifestyle franchises, including the global hits House Hunters International and Dear Genevieve for HGTV, and Man Caves for DIY, all of which are in multiple-season pick-up, with various brand extensions and spin-offs in the works. Leopard USA also is producing the new series Top Spot, which premiered its first season on Travel Channel in July 2012, as well as a new series for Cooking Channel. The company has a number of other series and pilots in development across various genres and networks. Rigg joined Leopard Films USA in 2002, playing a key role in establishing the company that year, which was launched off the highly successful British format, Cash in the Attic, originally produced by its sister company, UK-based Leopard Films (Cash in the Attic premiered in the US on HGTV). Producing more than 500 hours of programming, including lifestyle formats and documentaries, Rigg rose from showrunner to VP of Programming at Leopard Films USA, taking on the role of president in 2009. He currently oversees a team of 250 producers, directors and production personnel based in New York, Los Angeles and London.
President, Leopard Films USA
Nick Rigg is president of Leopard Films USA, a leading producer of reality and non-fiction television and digital programming, focusing on lifestyle and entertainment content. Under Rigg’s leadership, the company has built a stronghold in lifestyle franchises, including the global hits House Hunters International and Dear Genevieve for HGTV, and Man Caves for DIY, all of which are in multiple-season pick-up, with various brand extensions and spin-offs in the works. Leopard USA also is producing the new series Top Spot, which premiered its first season on Travel Channel in July 2012, as well as a new series for Cooking Channel. The company has a number of other series and pilots in development across various genres and networks. Rigg joined Leopard Films USA in 2002, playing a key role in establishing the company that year, which was launched off the highly successful British format, Cash in the Attic, originally produced by its sister company, UK-based Leopard Films (Cash in the Attic premiered in the US on HGTV). Producing more than 500 hours of programming, including lifestyle formats and documentaries, Rigg rose from showrunner to VP of Programming at Leopard Films USA, taking on the role of president in 2009. He currently oversees a team of 250 producers, directors and production personnel based in New York, Los Angeles and London.
Benjamin Ringe
Senior Vice President of Development and Executive Producer, Peacock Productions
Benjamin Ringe is the Senior Vice President of Development and Executive Producer at Peacock Productions where he oversees the creation and development of multi-platform, nonfiction programming and content for NBC Universal properties and outside clients. Responsible for development in the NY, London, Burbank and Miami offices, Ringe has overseen the creation, development and sales of more than 45 series and specials across 33 cable networks and first run syndication. Before joining NBC, Ringe was at Banyan Productions where he was responsible for the development of various "Trading Spaces" specials and spin offs for TLC, "Ambush Makeover" for 20th Century Fox, and "Surviving Motherhood" for TLC. In addition, he served as Executive Producer and Producer on many Banyan series, most notably, for TLC's "A Dating Story."
Senior Vice President of Development and Executive Producer, Peacock Productions
Benjamin Ringe is the Senior Vice President of Development and Executive Producer at Peacock Productions where he oversees the creation and development of multi-platform, nonfiction programming and content for NBC Universal properties and outside clients. Responsible for development in the NY, London, Burbank and Miami offices, Ringe has overseen the creation, development and sales of more than 45 series and specials across 33 cable networks and first run syndication. Before joining NBC, Ringe was at Banyan Productions where he was responsible for the development of various "Trading Spaces" specials and spin offs for TLC, "Ambush Makeover" for 20th Century Fox, and "Surviving Motherhood" for TLC. In addition, he served as Executive Producer and Producer on many Banyan series, most notably, for TLC's "A Dating Story."
Tom Rogan
Co-Founder & CEO, Authentic Entertainment
After serving in the trenches of some of the biggest reality production companies in Los Angeles, Tom co-founded Authentic Entertainment in 2000. Since then, the company has grown to become one of the leading producers of reality television.
Authentic has produced hundreds of hours of programming, including Ace of Cakes, Flipping Out!, Toddlers & Tiaras, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Auction Kings, Off Limits, Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo, and many more series and specials. The company has brought its creative vision to the Discovery Channel, Food Network, TLC, History Channel, National Geographic, Showtime, Planet Green, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, Bravo, and more. In 2010, Authentic joined forces with Endemol, a worldwide leader in multi-platform entertainment programming.
Co-Founder & CEO, Authentic Entertainment
After serving in the trenches of some of the biggest reality production companies in Los Angeles, Tom co-founded Authentic Entertainment in 2000. Since then, the company has grown to become one of the leading producers of reality television.
Authentic has produced hundreds of hours of programming, including Ace of Cakes, Flipping Out!, Toddlers & Tiaras, The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Auction Kings, Off Limits, Here Comes Honey Boo-Boo, and many more series and specials. The company has brought its creative vision to the Discovery Channel, Food Network, TLC, History Channel, National Geographic, Showtime, Planet Green, Travel Channel, Animal Planet, Bravo, and more. In 2010, Authentic joined forces with Endemol, a worldwide leader in multi-platform entertainment programming.
Marissa Ronca
Vice President of Development, truTV
Marissa Ronca is the vice president of program development at truTV overseeing all aspects of the network’s new programming slate. Ronca joined the network in 2007 as senior director of development and was focused on expanding the brand away from exclusively crime & law enforcement programming. She has headed up the development team responsible for one of the most successful rebrands in cable history with projects like Hardcore Pawn, Impractical Jokers, South Beach Tow and the upcoming Guinness World Records™ Gone Wild! Before coming to truTV, Ronca was director of development at TLC and Discovery Home Channel, where she was responsible for cultivating original programming for daytime and primetime series and specials. In this position she developed the successful series Little People, Big World, LA Ink and Say Yes to the Dress. Ronca began her career with Discovery Communications Inc. in 2001. Over the next few years, she worked in production and development for Discovery Onboard/VOD and Discovery Networks International. In 2005, Ronca left Discovery and joined Brainbox Productions, an independent production company. While there she developed, wrote and produced original programming for such networks as HGTV, Court TV, Style and Discovery. Ronca’s documentary film work includes serving as executive producer on the feature Crazy Sexy Cancer. She also produced the 2006 independent scripted feature film The Guatemalan Handshake.
Vice President of Development, truTV
Marissa Ronca is the vice president of program development at truTV overseeing all aspects of the network’s new programming slate. Ronca joined the network in 2007 as senior director of development and was focused on expanding the brand away from exclusively crime & law enforcement programming. She has headed up the development team responsible for one of the most successful rebrands in cable history with projects like Hardcore Pawn, Impractical Jokers, South Beach Tow and the upcoming Guinness World Records™ Gone Wild! Before coming to truTV, Ronca was director of development at TLC and Discovery Home Channel, where she was responsible for cultivating original programming for daytime and primetime series and specials. In this position she developed the successful series Little People, Big World, LA Ink and Say Yes to the Dress. Ronca began her career with Discovery Communications Inc. in 2001. Over the next few years, she worked in production and development for Discovery Onboard/VOD and Discovery Networks International. In 2005, Ronca left Discovery and joined Brainbox Productions, an independent production company. While there she developed, wrote and produced original programming for such networks as HGTV, Court TV, Style and Discovery. Ronca’s documentary film work includes serving as executive producer on the feature Crazy Sexy Cancer. She also produced the 2006 independent scripted feature film The Guatemalan Handshake.
Leela Roof
Director of Original Programming and Series Development, E! Entertainment
Leela Roof is Director of Original Programming and Series Development at E! Entertainment, where she is responsible for the daily management of the network’s hit daily talk and comedy show, “Chelsea Lately.” She’s also the point executive between E! and the show’s production company, Borderline Amazing Productions. Beyond that show, Roof is part of the team that develops new unscripted TV formats and works with talent to create new hit shows. In addition to “Chelsea Lately,” Roof will oversee E!’s new series “Love You, Mean It with Whitney Cummings”, premiering later this year. She has also helped develop such E! series as “After Lately,” “Scouted,” “Dr. 90210” and “Candy Girls,” among many others. Prior to joining E! Entertainment in 2007, she got her start at the CW, 20th Century Fox Television and, at the beginning of her career, Dick Clark Productions.
Director of Original Programming and Series Development, E! Entertainment
Leela Roof is Director of Original Programming and Series Development at E! Entertainment, where she is responsible for the daily management of the network’s hit daily talk and comedy show, “Chelsea Lately.” She’s also the point executive between E! and the show’s production company, Borderline Amazing Productions. Beyond that show, Roof is part of the team that develops new unscripted TV formats and works with talent to create new hit shows. In addition to “Chelsea Lately,” Roof will oversee E!’s new series “Love You, Mean It with Whitney Cummings”, premiering later this year. She has also helped develop such E! series as “After Lately,” “Scouted,” “Dr. 90210” and “Candy Girls,” among many others. Prior to joining E! Entertainment in 2007, she got her start at the CW, 20th Century Fox Television and, at the beginning of her career, Dick Clark Productions.
Jane Root
Chief Executive Officer, Nutopia
Jane Root is Chief Executive of Nutopia, a production company committed to thinking big and creating some of the most ambitious and ground breaking television in the world. In the first year of its life Nutopia created a new kind of television the ‘mega doc’ – huge scale series’ designed to stand out from the crowd and be channel defining. Nutopia’s first ‘mega doc’ was the 12 part Emmy-winning series America Story of Us with astonishing CGI, astounding specialist real-world filming techniques and stylised dramatisation. Introduced by President Barack Obama, it became the most watched special show in History Channel history. A former President of Discovery Channel USA and Controller of BBC2 in the UK, Jane’s other credits include the incredible genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are, action-adventure smash The Deadliest Catch, global comedy success The Office and landmark format series, Great Britons, which sold in over 60 territories worldwide, her credits as broadcaster include Planet Earth for Discovery. Nutopia is currently in production or about to air, with a slate of ‘mega-docs’ for UK and international broadcasters – The British for Sky Television; Mankind The Story of All of Us for the History Channel; The 80’s for National Geographic and How We Invented The World for Discovery Networks International.
Chief Executive Officer, Nutopia
Jane Root is Chief Executive of Nutopia, a production company committed to thinking big and creating some of the most ambitious and ground breaking television in the world. In the first year of its life Nutopia created a new kind of television the ‘mega doc’ – huge scale series’ designed to stand out from the crowd and be channel defining. Nutopia’s first ‘mega doc’ was the 12 part Emmy-winning series America Story of Us with astonishing CGI, astounding specialist real-world filming techniques and stylised dramatisation. Introduced by President Barack Obama, it became the most watched special show in History Channel history. A former President of Discovery Channel USA and Controller of BBC2 in the UK, Jane’s other credits include the incredible genealogy series Who Do You Think You Are, action-adventure smash The Deadliest Catch, global comedy success The Office and landmark format series, Great Britons, which sold in over 60 territories worldwide, her credits as broadcaster include Planet Earth for Discovery. Nutopia is currently in production or about to air, with a slate of ‘mega-docs’ for UK and international broadcasters – The British for Sky Television; Mankind The Story of All of Us for the History Channel; The 80’s for National Geographic and How We Invented The World for Discovery Networks International.
Michael Rose
Filmmaker
Michael Rose’s background as a program executive and a creative has provided him with a wide range of skills and a depth of understanding that spans the television industry. He’s apprenticed as an editor, trained as a director, served as a producer and executive producer, have shot programs and written everything from 30-second spots to scripts for feature-length films. Rose has written books, speeches, op-ed pieces and articles for magazines, newspapers and online outlets. He’s lectured at universities on documentary production and story development, moderated panels at industry seminars, handled domestic and international sales and distribution, overseen rights clearances, casting and major talent negotiations. As a producer he can shepherd a project from inception to completion and through television, DVD and online distribution. He even knows the ins and outs of packaging and shipping, including international shipping, customs and tax issues. And is well versed in copyright law and understand contract negotiations. Rose has a great deal of experience developing projects with public and private cooperation bringing together corporations, government agencies and non-government organizations such as the AMA, the ABA, the AARP and the EPA. Rose studied filmmaking at the UCLA Film school and did Post graduate studies with Uta Hagen and Lloyd Richards. He’s directed Lilly Tomlin, Christine Lahti, Colleen Dewhurst, Alfre Woodard, Edward Herrmann, Kris Kristofferson and other professional actors. During a stint at General Motors he developed the ability to direct non-professionals and get them ready for primetime including corporate executives, union leaders, line workers and non-actors like Chuck Yeager. He currently head his own boutique production company specializing in programming for television. Building on the axiom, “Good Stories, Well Told,” he’s written, directed, produced and consulted on over 200 specials and documentaries on a wide range of subjects.
Filmmaker
Michael Rose’s background as a program executive and a creative has provided him with a wide range of skills and a depth of understanding that spans the television industry. He’s apprenticed as an editor, trained as a director, served as a producer and executive producer, have shot programs and written everything from 30-second spots to scripts for feature-length films. Rose has written books, speeches, op-ed pieces and articles for magazines, newspapers and online outlets. He’s lectured at universities on documentary production and story development, moderated panels at industry seminars, handled domestic and international sales and distribution, overseen rights clearances, casting and major talent negotiations. As a producer he can shepherd a project from inception to completion and through television, DVD and online distribution. He even knows the ins and outs of packaging and shipping, including international shipping, customs and tax issues. And is well versed in copyright law and understand contract negotiations. Rose has a great deal of experience developing projects with public and private cooperation bringing together corporations, government agencies and non-government organizations such as the AMA, the ABA, the AARP and the EPA. Rose studied filmmaking at the UCLA Film school and did Post graduate studies with Uta Hagen and Lloyd Richards. He’s directed Lilly Tomlin, Christine Lahti, Colleen Dewhurst, Alfre Woodard, Edward Herrmann, Kris Kristofferson and other professional actors. During a stint at General Motors he developed the ability to direct non-professionals and get them ready for primetime including corporate executives, union leaders, line workers and non-actors like Chuck Yeager. He currently head his own boutique production company specializing in programming for television. Building on the axiom, “Good Stories, Well Told,” he’s written, directed, produced and consulted on over 200 specials and documentaries on a wide range of subjects.
Alex Rotaru
Filmmaker
Alex Rotaru has worked in script development and documentaries, helming several award-winning docs - including the New York Times Critic’s Pick THEY CAME TO PLAY, and KIDS WITH CAMERAS, chosen by the US State Department for its 2011 American Documentary Showcase. His most recent project, SHAKESPEARE HIGH, a feature documentary executive produced by Kevin Spacey and starring Spacey, Richard Dreyfuss, Mare Winningham and Val Kilmer, is about teens improving their lives through theater, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, won awards at several international film festivals, is being released theatrically and on Showtime Networks in the USA, and was included in the State Department’s 2012 American Film Showcase - as one of 19 documentaries most representative of American values. Alex is currently developing a slate of documentary and fiction features, two reality series, and prepping to direct his first fiction feature - after winning the Romanian government’s CNC screenplay financing competition. He is the recipient of a Christopher Award for PBS POV’s THE HOBART SHAKESPEAREANS.
Filmmaker
Alex Rotaru has worked in script development and documentaries, helming several award-winning docs - including the New York Times Critic’s Pick THEY CAME TO PLAY, and KIDS WITH CAMERAS, chosen by the US State Department for its 2011 American Documentary Showcase. His most recent project, SHAKESPEARE HIGH, a feature documentary executive produced by Kevin Spacey and starring Spacey, Richard Dreyfuss, Mare Winningham and Val Kilmer, is about teens improving their lives through theater, premiered at Tribeca Film Festival, won awards at several international film festivals, is being released theatrically and on Showtime Networks in the USA, and was included in the State Department’s 2012 American Film Showcase - as one of 19 documentaries most representative of American values. Alex is currently developing a slate of documentary and fiction features, two reality series, and prepping to direct his first fiction feature - after winning the Romanian government’s CNC screenplay financing competition. He is the recipient of a Christopher Award for PBS POV’s THE HOBART SHAKESPEAREANS.
Joey Sabella
Director, International Sales & Acquisitions, GRB Entertainment
As the Director of International Sales and Acquisitions, Joey Sabella is responsible for bolstering sales in key international territories along with shaping GRB Entertainment’s acquisitions and marketing strategies. Prior to joining GRB Entertainment, Joey worked at Sheldon Prosnit Agency, one of the most prestigious below the line boutique agencies in the entertainment industry. He graduated from Emerson College, where he majored in Film and Television.
Director, International Sales & Acquisitions, GRB Entertainment
As the Director of International Sales and Acquisitions, Joey Sabella is responsible for bolstering sales in key international territories along with shaping GRB Entertainment’s acquisitions and marketing strategies. Prior to joining GRB Entertainment, Joey worked at Sheldon Prosnit Agency, one of the most prestigious below the line boutique agencies in the entertainment industry. He graduated from Emerson College, where he majored in Film and Television.
Jeff Savaiano
Manager of Original Series, SPIKE TV
Jeff Savaiano Manager of Original Series, SPIKE TV Jeff Savaiano joined Spike TV in January 2008 and is currently Manager of Original Series. He is responsible for new and current series development and managing show production from pilot development through series post-production. Savaiano oversees the creative and day-to-day operations of such high-profile Spike TV series as Auction Hunters, World’s Worst Tenants, and the upcoming series, Joe Schmo: The Full Bounty. He also oversaw such Spike favorites as Deadliest Warrior and 1000 Ways to Die. Before making a shift into Alternative Programming at Spike TV, Savaiano started his career working at United Talent Agency and then moved into Feature/Scripted TV development for Tollin/Robbins Productions at Paramount Studios. His passion for story led him into TV production as a writers' assistant for shows on Warner Bros. and NBC Networks. After selling a scripted pilot to the Fox Television Network, he had the opportunity to work for Reveille, LLC and was quickly exposed to the great opportunities in the alternative television business.
Manager of Original Series, SPIKE TV
Jeff Savaiano Manager of Original Series, SPIKE TV Jeff Savaiano joined Spike TV in January 2008 and is currently Manager of Original Series. He is responsible for new and current series development and managing show production from pilot development through series post-production. Savaiano oversees the creative and day-to-day operations of such high-profile Spike TV series as Auction Hunters, World’s Worst Tenants, and the upcoming series, Joe Schmo: The Full Bounty. He also oversaw such Spike favorites as Deadliest Warrior and 1000 Ways to Die. Before making a shift into Alternative Programming at Spike TV, Savaiano started his career working at United Talent Agency and then moved into Feature/Scripted TV development for Tollin/Robbins Productions at Paramount Studios. His passion for story led him into TV production as a writers' assistant for shows on Warner Bros. and NBC Networks. After selling a scripted pilot to the Fox Television Network, he had the opportunity to work for Reveille, LLC and was quickly exposed to the great opportunities in the alternative television business.
David Schiff
Senior Vice President of Programming and Development, Game Show Network
David Schiff is the Senior Vice President of Programming and Development at the Game Show Network. In that capacity, he supervises a team of 6 and oversees all original programming and development for the network. In the past 4 years he has overseen over 1000 episodes of television including the network hits BAGGAGE, THE NEWLYWED GAME, LINGO, 1 vs 100, THE PYRAMID, DREW CAREY’S IMPROVAGANZA, CATCH 21, CARNIE WILSON UNSTAPLED, BIG SATURDAY NIGHT, HIGH STAKES POKER and LATE NIGHT LIARS. Prior to his time at GSN Schiff served as the Vice President of Development at A. Smith & Co where he worked on an array of shows such as HELL’S KITCHEN, I SURVIVED A JAPANESE GAME SHOW, TRADING SPACES, FULL THROTTLE SALOON, AMERICA’S WORST DRIVER and CONSPIRACY THEORY WITH JESSE VENTURA. Prior to A. Smith Schiff was the Head of Production & Development at World of Wonder Productions.
Senior Vice President of Programming and Development, Game Show Network
David Schiff is the Senior Vice President of Programming and Development at the Game Show Network. In that capacity, he supervises a team of 6 and oversees all original programming and development for the network. In the past 4 years he has overseen over 1000 episodes of television including the network hits BAGGAGE, THE NEWLYWED GAME, LINGO, 1 vs 100, THE PYRAMID, DREW CAREY’S IMPROVAGANZA, CATCH 21, CARNIE WILSON UNSTAPLED, BIG SATURDAY NIGHT, HIGH STAKES POKER and LATE NIGHT LIARS. Prior to his time at GSN Schiff served as the Vice President of Development at A. Smith & Co where he worked on an array of shows such as HELL’S KITCHEN, I SURVIVED A JAPANESE GAME SHOW, TRADING SPACES, FULL THROTTLE SALOON, AMERICA’S WORST DRIVER and CONSPIRACY THEORY WITH JESSE VENTURA. Prior to A. Smith Schiff was the Head of Production & Development at World of Wonder Productions.
AJ Schnack
Filmmaker
AJ Schnack is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His feature documentary credits include CONVENTION (2009), which premiered as the Centerpiece Film at the AFI Silverdocs Film Festival and was acquired and released by IFC Films/Sundance Selects; KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON (2006), which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and was released theatrically in North America, France, Japan, Brazil, Australia and aired on More4 in the United Kingdom ; and GIGANTIC (A TALE OF TWO JOHNS) (2002), which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and was released theatrically in North America by Cowboy Pictures. All of his films have premiered in the US on the Sundance Channel. Schnack was nominated for a 2007 Independent Spirit Award for KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON and was the first recipient of AFI Silverdocs' Cinematic Vision Award. He was recently an editor on Michael Rapaport's BEATS, RHYMES AND LIFE: THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and won the Producers Guild Award for Best Documentary. He is currently in post-production on two feature documentaries: CAUCUS, which chronicles Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann and the other 2012 GOP presidential candidates in their campaign to win over the Republican voters of Iowa, and WE ALWAYS LIE TO STRANGERS, a film about performing families in Branson, Missouri, a popular Ozark Mountain music and tourism destination.
Filmmaker
AJ Schnack is a filmmaker based in Los Angeles. His feature documentary credits include CONVENTION (2009), which premiered as the Centerpiece Film at the AFI Silverdocs Film Festival and was acquired and released by IFC Films/Sundance Selects; KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON (2006), which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival and was released theatrically in North America, France, Japan, Brazil, Australia and aired on More4 in the United Kingdom ; and GIGANTIC (A TALE OF TWO JOHNS) (2002), which premiered at the SXSW Film Festival and was released theatrically in North America by Cowboy Pictures. All of his films have premiered in the US on the Sundance Channel. Schnack was nominated for a 2007 Independent Spirit Award for KURT COBAIN ABOUT A SON and was the first recipient of AFI Silverdocs' Cinematic Vision Award. He was recently an editor on Michael Rapaport's BEATS, RHYMES AND LIFE: THE TRAVELS OF A TRIBE CALLED QUEST, which premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival, was acquired by Sony Pictures Classics and won the Producers Guild Award for Best Documentary. He is currently in post-production on two feature documentaries: CAUCUS, which chronicles Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann and the other 2012 GOP presidential candidates in their campaign to win over the Republican voters of Iowa, and WE ALWAYS LIE TO STRANGERS, a film about performing families in Branson, Missouri, a popular Ozark Mountain music and tourism destination.
Michael Schneider
Los Angeles Bureau Chief, TV Guide Magazine.
Michael Schneider is the Los Angeles Bureau Chief for TV Guide Magazine. With more than 17 years’ experience covering TV business, Schneider often appears on news and entertainment shows as a television expert. He also served as judge on a Fox Reality Channel show you probably didn't see. Previously, Michael worked as TV editor of Variety and Daily Variety, and LA bureau chief of Electronic Media.
Los Angeles Bureau Chief, TV Guide Magazine.
Michael Schneider is the Los Angeles Bureau Chief for TV Guide Magazine. With more than 17 years’ experience covering TV business, Schneider often appears on news and entertainment shows as a television expert. He also served as judge on a Fox Reality Channel show you probably didn't see. Previously, Michael worked as TV editor of Variety and Daily Variety, and LA bureau chief of Electronic Media.
Eric Schotz,
President/CEO, LMNO Productions
Eric Schotz, President and CEO of LMNO Productions, is a nine-time Emmy-award winner whose innovative style and creativity has established him as one of the television industry’s foremost producers/directors of non-fiction and reality-based programming.
His extensive credits include executive producing the highly successful hidden camera series of specials for CBS, “I Get That A Lot;” the Lifetime Television series, “Seriously Funny Kids” hosted by Heidi Klum; “The Little Couple” for TLC, now in its fifth season; “Meteorite Men” for Science Discovery (Season 3); “Unusual Suspects”(Season 2) for Investigation Discovery and the special, “True Life: I’m The Big Girl” for MTV. In addition, Schotz has also served as executive producer on “Wickedly Perfect” and “Fire Me…Please!” for CBS and the nationally syndicated daily talk show, “The Dr. Keith Ablow Show.” He is also currently in production on a new series for The Weather Channel, “Lifeguard!” Schotz began his career as a journalist in 1979 for a daily news program on KQED, the PBS television station in San Francisco. Soon after, he moved to KABC-TV in Los Angeles where in 1980, he played a key role in creating the highly successful magazine series, “Eye on L.A” which ultimately led to the long-running late-night ABC network series, “Eye on Hollywood.”
President/CEO, LMNO Productions
Eric Schotz, President and CEO of LMNO Productions, is a nine-time Emmy-award winner whose innovative style and creativity has established him as one of the television industry’s foremost producers/directors of non-fiction and reality-based programming.
His extensive credits include executive producing the highly successful hidden camera series of specials for CBS, “I Get That A Lot;” the Lifetime Television series, “Seriously Funny Kids” hosted by Heidi Klum; “The Little Couple” for TLC, now in its fifth season; “Meteorite Men” for Science Discovery (Season 3); “Unusual Suspects”(Season 2) for Investigation Discovery and the special, “True Life: I’m The Big Girl” for MTV. In addition, Schotz has also served as executive producer on “Wickedly Perfect” and “Fire Me…Please!” for CBS and the nationally syndicated daily talk show, “The Dr. Keith Ablow Show.” He is also currently in production on a new series for The Weather Channel, “Lifeguard!” Schotz began his career as a journalist in 1979 for a daily news program on KQED, the PBS television station in San Francisco. Soon after, he moved to KABC-TV in Los Angeles where in 1980, he played a key role in creating the highly successful magazine series, “Eye on L.A” which ultimately led to the long-running late-night ABC network series, “Eye on Hollywood.”
Jill Schwartz
Senior Vice President, Development/Programming, Fox Television Studios
Jill Schwartz is Senior Vice President, Development/Programming, at Fox Television Studios where she oversees all of the studio’s unscripted development and programming, both domestically and for international broadcasters. Currently, FtvS is producing The Great Escape, airing on TNT, from Executive Producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard at Imagine Entertainment, and eight-time, Emmy award-winning producers Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri. For Discovery, the studio is in development on an untitled “robot” series in conjunction with James Cameron’s Cameron-Pace, and Mark Burnett Productions, with additional series in development across a broad spectrum of cable networks. Internationally, Schwartz oversees production of Fox TV Studios’ hit series Survival Handbook with Laura Posada, now in its second season on Fox International Channels (FIC), with additional markets pending, including the soon-to-launch MundoFOX Spanish-language network in the US. Other FtvS series include The Girls Next Door, Kendra, and Holly’s World for E!; and the late-night In the Flow with Affion Crockett (from Executive Producer Jamie Foxx), The Wanda Sykes Show, and Talkshow with Spike Feresten, for FOX. Prior to joining Fox TV Studios, Schwartz spent 10 years at FremantleMedia North America, where she oversaw production on the first four seasons of American Idol, as well as the hit game shows Family Feud, Match Game, and To Tell the Truth. She also served as the international liaison for Fremantle Worldwide, overseeing formats including The Apprentice, America’s Got Talent, American Inventor and Thank God You’re Here.
Senior Vice President, Development/Programming, Fox Television Studios
Jill Schwartz is Senior Vice President, Development/Programming, at Fox Television Studios where she oversees all of the studio’s unscripted development and programming, both domestically and for international broadcasters. Currently, FtvS is producing The Great Escape, airing on TNT, from Executive Producers Brian Grazer and Ron Howard at Imagine Entertainment, and eight-time, Emmy award-winning producers Bertram Van Munster and Elise Doganieri. For Discovery, the studio is in development on an untitled “robot” series in conjunction with James Cameron’s Cameron-Pace, and Mark Burnett Productions, with additional series in development across a broad spectrum of cable networks. Internationally, Schwartz oversees production of Fox TV Studios’ hit series Survival Handbook with Laura Posada, now in its second season on Fox International Channels (FIC), with additional markets pending, including the soon-to-launch MundoFOX Spanish-language network in the US. Other FtvS series include The Girls Next Door, Kendra, and Holly’s World for E!; and the late-night In the Flow with Affion Crockett (from Executive Producer Jamie Foxx), The Wanda Sykes Show, and Talkshow with Spike Feresten, for FOX. Prior to joining Fox TV Studios, Schwartz spent 10 years at FremantleMedia North America, where she oversaw production on the first four seasons of American Idol, as well as the hit game shows Family Feud, Match Game, and To Tell the Truth. She also served as the international liaison for Fremantle Worldwide, overseeing formats including The Apprentice, America’s Got Talent, American Inventor and Thank God You’re Here.
Philip D. Segal
President & Executive Producer, Original Productions
Philip D. Segal is President & Executive Producer of Original Productions, a FremantleMedia company. Segal has operating responsibility for the company’s business, creative, development and production divisions. In 2011 alone, Segal supervised 240 hours of programming, including A&E’s ratings hits “Storage Wars” and “Storage Wars: Texas”, prime-time Emmy® and PGA (Producer’s Guild of America) award winning “Deadliest Catch” on Discovery and History’s top rated Emmy® nominated “Ice Road Truckers”. Additional series under Segal’s purview include A&E’s “American Hoggers”; “Wild Justice”, “America’s Lost Treasures” and “Are You Tougher Than A Boy Scout?” for the National Geographic Channel; “Ax Men” and “IRT: Deadliest Roads” for History; IFC’s “Whisker Wars”; “Black Gold” on truTV and “Bering Sea Gold” and “Bering Sea Gold: Under the Ice” for Discovery. Prior to joining Original Productions, Segal spent three years as Executive Vice President of Bunim-Murray Productions and as Senior Vice President of Programming and Production for Tribune Entertainment. From 1990 to 1996, Segal was Executive Vice President of Amblin Television at Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment. Before joining Amblin, Segal was a programming executive at ABC Television.
President & Executive Producer, Original Productions
Philip D. Segal is President & Executive Producer of Original Productions, a FremantleMedia company. Segal has operating responsibility for the company’s business, creative, development and production divisions. In 2011 alone, Segal supervised 240 hours of programming, including A&E’s ratings hits “Storage Wars” and “Storage Wars: Texas”, prime-time Emmy® and PGA (Producer’s Guild of America) award winning “Deadliest Catch” on Discovery and History’s top rated Emmy® nominated “Ice Road Truckers”. Additional series under Segal’s purview include A&E’s “American Hoggers”; “Wild Justice”, “America’s Lost Treasures” and “Are You Tougher Than A Boy Scout?” for the National Geographic Channel; “Ax Men” and “IRT: Deadliest Roads” for History; IFC’s “Whisker Wars”; “Black Gold” on truTV and “Bering Sea Gold” and “Bering Sea Gold: Under the Ice” for Discovery. Prior to joining Original Productions, Segal spent three years as Executive Vice President of Bunim-Murray Productions and as Senior Vice President of Programming and Production for Tribune Entertainment. From 1990 to 1996, Segal was Executive Vice President of Amblin Television at Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment. Before joining Amblin, Segal was a programming executive at ABC Television.
David Seevers
Chief Marketing Officer, Footage.net
As Chief Marketing Officer at Footage.net, the world’s premier online platform for stock footage research, Seevers oversees all marketing and outreach efforts, builds new content partnerships and manages the site design. With his help, Footage.net has become one of the world’s largest online repositories of stock footage clips, and essential production resource for creative professionals around the world. Seevers also owns and operates Thriving Archives, a company providing strategic marketing, market research and business development services to companies working in and around the footage-licensing field. In partnership with the Association of Commercial Stock Image Licensors (ACSIL), Seevers produced both the ACSIL Global Survey of Stock Footage Companies 2007, and, in 2011, the ACSIL Global Survey of Stock Footage Companies 2. He is also the author of the Footage Customer Survey: Non-Fiction USA, an in-depth study of footage customers from the US documentary film community. He was formerly the Director of ABCNEWS VideoSource. A key member of the start-up, he led VideoSource through 10 years of growth.
Chief Marketing Officer, Footage.net
As Chief Marketing Officer at Footage.net, the world’s premier online platform for stock footage research, Seevers oversees all marketing and outreach efforts, builds new content partnerships and manages the site design. With his help, Footage.net has become one of the world’s largest online repositories of stock footage clips, and essential production resource for creative professionals around the world. Seevers also owns and operates Thriving Archives, a company providing strategic marketing, market research and business development services to companies working in and around the footage-licensing field. In partnership with the Association of Commercial Stock Image Licensors (ACSIL), Seevers produced both the ACSIL Global Survey of Stock Footage Companies 2007, and, in 2011, the ACSIL Global Survey of Stock Footage Companies 2. He is also the author of the Footage Customer Survey: Non-Fiction USA, an in-depth study of footage customers from the US documentary film community. He was formerly the Director of ABCNEWS VideoSource. A key member of the start-up, he led VideoSource through 10 years of growth.
Amir Shahkhalili
Non-Scripted Television Agent, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
Amir Shahkhalili is an agent in the Non-Scripted television department at WME. He represents notable production companies such as 44 Blue Productions (MSNBC’s “Lockup,” OWN’s “Married to the Army: Alaska”), eOne Entertainment (WE tv’s “Mary Mary,” TLC’s “Pink Pastry Parlor”), Full Picture (Lifetime’s “Project Runway”), Coolfire Media (Discovery’s “Fast ‘N Loud,” OWN’s “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s”), and Craig Ferguson’s Green Mountain West. In addition, Shahkhalili works with Giuliana Rancic (Host of “E! News”) and Adam Richman (EP and Host of Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food Nation”).
Non-Scripted Television Agent, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
Amir Shahkhalili is an agent in the Non-Scripted television department at WME. He represents notable production companies such as 44 Blue Productions (MSNBC’s “Lockup,” OWN’s “Married to the Army: Alaska”), eOne Entertainment (WE tv’s “Mary Mary,” TLC’s “Pink Pastry Parlor”), Full Picture (Lifetime’s “Project Runway”), Coolfire Media (Discovery’s “Fast ‘N Loud,” OWN’s “Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s”), and Craig Ferguson’s Green Mountain West. In addition, Shahkhalili works with Giuliana Rancic (Host of “E! News”) and Adam Richman (EP and Host of Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food Nation”).
David Sherman
Non-Scripted Television Agent, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
David Sherman is a non-scripted television agent at WME. Sherman’s clients include some of TV’s most successful hosts, including Howie Mandel (NBC’s new game show “Howie Mandel’s White Elephant”), Mario Lopez (NBC’s “Extra”) and Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman (EPs and hosts of Discovery Channel’s hit series “MythBusters”). In addition, Sherman also works with entertainment powerhouses A. Smith & Co. Productions (“Hell’s Kitchen,” “American Ninja Warrior”), BermanBraun (Discovery’s “Unchained Reaction”) and T Group Productions (truTV’s “Storage Hunters” and History Channel’s “Invention USA”). Prior to joining WME in February 2005, Sherman worked in advertisement sales at CBS Television.
Non-Scripted Television Agent, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment
David Sherman is a non-scripted television agent at WME. Sherman’s clients include some of TV’s most successful hosts, including Howie Mandel (NBC’s new game show “Howie Mandel’s White Elephant”), Mario Lopez (NBC’s “Extra”) and Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman (EPs and hosts of Discovery Channel’s hit series “MythBusters”). In addition, Sherman also works with entertainment powerhouses A. Smith & Co. Productions (“Hell’s Kitchen,” “American Ninja Warrior”), BermanBraun (Discovery’s “Unchained Reaction”) and T Group Productions (truTV’s “Storage Hunters” and History Channel’s “Invention USA”). Prior to joining WME in February 2005, Sherman worked in advertisement sales at CBS Television.
Frank Sinton
Chief Operating Officer, A. Smith & Co. Productions
Frank Sinton is Chief Operating Officer of A. Smith & Co. Productions. In this role he oversees internal operations and the development of the company’s production slate. Sinton serves as Executive Producer on a number of current A. Smith & Co. productions including, TVOne’s NAACP image award-winning hit show Unsung, now in its sixth season, Tru TV’s Full Throttle Saloon which has been picked up for a fourth season, and Speed’s Dumbest Stuff on Wheels. Sports shows make up a significant portion of A. Smith & Co.’s programming. Sinton currently serves as Executive Producer for the UFC's hit show, UFC: Countdown. Some of his other sports credits include Pros vs. Joes, Sports Unfiltered with Dennis Miller, The Sports List, Harlem Globetrotters: A New Generation, Holy @#$%!, and In Focus, along with the Emmy-nominated documentary series Fearless and the award-winning documentary series Beyond the Glory. Sinton’s other EP credits for A. Smith & Co. include Travel Channel’s The Streets of America: The Search for America’s Worst Driver, Discovery Channel’s Ultimate Car Build-off, TLC’s Trading Spaces, Discovery ID’s Crime Scene University, and BET’s critically acclaimed documentary series American Gangster as well as a number of variety and game show specials. Prior to becoming an independent producer, Sinton was the VP of Programming for FOX Sports Net where he first met and worked for Arthur Smith. Before joining Smith at FOX, Frank was VP of Programming at The Disney Channel.
Chief Operating Officer, A. Smith & Co. Productions
Frank Sinton is Chief Operating Officer of A. Smith & Co. Productions. In this role he oversees internal operations and the development of the company’s production slate. Sinton serves as Executive Producer on a number of current A. Smith & Co. productions including, TVOne’s NAACP image award-winning hit show Unsung, now in its sixth season, Tru TV’s Full Throttle Saloon which has been picked up for a fourth season, and Speed’s Dumbest Stuff on Wheels. Sports shows make up a significant portion of A. Smith & Co.’s programming. Sinton currently serves as Executive Producer for the UFC's hit show, UFC: Countdown. Some of his other sports credits include Pros vs. Joes, Sports Unfiltered with Dennis Miller, The Sports List, Harlem Globetrotters: A New Generation, Holy @#$%!, and In Focus, along with the Emmy-nominated documentary series Fearless and the award-winning documentary series Beyond the Glory. Sinton’s other EP credits for A. Smith & Co. include Travel Channel’s The Streets of America: The Search for America’s Worst Driver, Discovery Channel’s Ultimate Car Build-off, TLC’s Trading Spaces, Discovery ID’s Crime Scene University, and BET’s critically acclaimed documentary series American Gangster as well as a number of variety and game show specials. Prior to becoming an independent producer, Sinton was the VP of Programming for FOX Sports Net where he first met and worked for Arthur Smith. Before joining Smith at FOX, Frank was VP of Programming at The Disney Channel.
Kris Slava
Senior Vice President, Programming and Production, Ovation
Kris Slava is Senior Vice President, Programming and Production, of Ovation. He is a senior cable and digital content executive who joined Ovation as the continuation of a distinguished television programming career with particular focus on arts and art-related programming. Previously, he served as Vice President, Digital Content and Acquisitions, for BRAVO Network where he launched a suite of websites, forged major partnerships, oversaw design, created editorial, and acquired and produced video. He was instrumental in moving the company into new content areas, launching free-standing web businesses and developing web-based content for existing sites. Prior to that Mr. Slava was Vice President of Acquisitions and Program Planning at TRIO Network, where he was part of the core team that launched the network. He helped launch numerous brands, including “OutZone,” “Brilliant But Cancelled,” “9 Sharp” and “UnCensored.” He was instrumental in the acquisition of “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Sessions At West 54th” and more than 1000 hours of concerts, documentaries and films for TRIO. His other experience includes serving as Director, Drama and Performing Arts Programming at A&E Network, where he was responsible for performance and arts programming, live programming, UK mysteries, and selected UK long-form. At A&E he originated and/or executive produced numerous specials including “Live By Request,” live Boston Pops concerts, UK miniseries and domestic theatrical specials including “Peter Pan” starring Cathy Rigby. For his work, Mr. Slava has been honored with 12 Emmy© Award nominations, multiple CableAce Awards, Poe Awards, Banff Rocky Awards, and a Gold Record. He is a founding board member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, East Coast. A graduate of Northwestern University, Mr. Slava is also a produced playwright.
Senior Vice President, Programming and Production, Ovation
Kris Slava is Senior Vice President, Programming and Production, of Ovation. He is a senior cable and digital content executive who joined Ovation as the continuation of a distinguished television programming career with particular focus on arts and art-related programming. Previously, he served as Vice President, Digital Content and Acquisitions, for BRAVO Network where he launched a suite of websites, forged major partnerships, oversaw design, created editorial, and acquired and produced video. He was instrumental in moving the company into new content areas, launching free-standing web businesses and developing web-based content for existing sites. Prior to that Mr. Slava was Vice President of Acquisitions and Program Planning at TRIO Network, where he was part of the core team that launched the network. He helped launch numerous brands, including “OutZone,” “Brilliant But Cancelled,” “9 Sharp” and “UnCensored.” He was instrumental in the acquisition of “Late Night with David Letterman,” “Sessions At West 54th” and more than 1000 hours of concerts, documentaries and films for TRIO. His other experience includes serving as Director, Drama and Performing Arts Programming at A&E Network, where he was responsible for performance and arts programming, live programming, UK mysteries, and selected UK long-form. At A&E he originated and/or executive produced numerous specials including “Live By Request,” live Boston Pops concerts, UK miniseries and domestic theatrical specials including “Peter Pan” starring Cathy Rigby. For his work, Mr. Slava has been honored with 12 Emmy© Award nominations, multiple CableAce Awards, Poe Awards, Banff Rocky Awards, and a Gold Record. He is a founding board member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, East Coast. A graduate of Northwestern University, Mr. Slava is also a produced playwright.
Arthur Smith
Founder/CEO, A. Smith & Co. Productions
Arthur Smith founded A. Smith & Co. Productions with longtime friend Kent Weed in 2000 and serves as executive producer on all the company’s productions, including the Emmy® and People’s Choice Award nominated hit Hell’s Kitchen as well as Kitchen Nightmares with Chef Gordon Ramsay, The Choice, Surprise with Jenny McCarthy, I Survived a Japanese Game Show, Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, Full Throttle Saloon, The World According to Paris, Unsung, American Ninja Warrior, American Gangster, Pros Vs. Joes, UFC Countdown, The Swan, Skating with Celebrities, and Trading Spaces. Beyond overseeing A. Smith & Co, Smith serves on the board of directors for Tinopolis Group, one of the UK’s leading producers of media and programming, which A. Smith & Co. joined in 2011. Smith is also a lead consultant to major media companies and sport entities with clients such as Paul Allen, The Harlem Globetrotters, and Gemstar/TV Guide. Additionally, Smith serves on the boards of several sports organizations. Prior to launching A. Smith & Co. in November 2000, Smith held the role of executive vice president of programming, production and news for FOX Sports, where he launched the network into the cable sports business as well as overseeing what would become the fastest growing television sports network. Smith's responsibilities included supervising production, development, scheduling, and acquisition of all national and regional programming. While serving as an executive producer at FOX, Smith launched 22 sports networks, oversaw over 4,500 events, and facilitated thousands of original hours of programming each year.
Founder/CEO, A. Smith & Co. Productions
Arthur Smith founded A. Smith & Co. Productions with longtime friend Kent Weed in 2000 and serves as executive producer on all the company’s productions, including the Emmy® and People’s Choice Award nominated hit Hell’s Kitchen as well as Kitchen Nightmares with Chef Gordon Ramsay, The Choice, Surprise with Jenny McCarthy, I Survived a Japanese Game Show, Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura, Full Throttle Saloon, The World According to Paris, Unsung, American Ninja Warrior, American Gangster, Pros Vs. Joes, UFC Countdown, The Swan, Skating with Celebrities, and Trading Spaces. Beyond overseeing A. Smith & Co, Smith serves on the board of directors for Tinopolis Group, one of the UK’s leading producers of media and programming, which A. Smith & Co. joined in 2011. Smith is also a lead consultant to major media companies and sport entities with clients such as Paul Allen, The Harlem Globetrotters, and Gemstar/TV Guide. Additionally, Smith serves on the boards of several sports organizations. Prior to launching A. Smith & Co. in November 2000, Smith held the role of executive vice president of programming, production and news for FOX Sports, where he launched the network into the cable sports business as well as overseeing what would become the fastest growing television sports network. Smith's responsibilities included supervising production, development, scheduling, and acquisition of all national and regional programming. While serving as an executive producer at FOX, Smith launched 22 sports networks, oversaw over 4,500 events, and facilitated thousands of original hours of programming each year.
Adam Steinman
Vice President, Non-Scripted International Development & Sales
Warner Bros. International Television Production
Adam Steinman has served as Vice President, Non-Scripted International Development & Sales, at Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP), since October 2010. Based in Burbank, Calif., Steinman reports to London-based Andrew Zein, WBITVP’s Senior Vice President, Creative Format Development & Sales. In this position, Steinman is charged with overseeing the adaptation and development of non-scripted programming based on formats and original concepts developed from within the International Television Production group and international third-party producers (and vice-versa). He is also responsible for helping WBITVP identify U.S. producers to partner with, as well as acquiring U.S. formats to be exploited internationally. Steinman joined WBITVP after four years at Tiger Aspect USA, an entity of Tiger Aspect Productions (TAP), one of the UK’s leading television producers. Since December 2006, he had served as Vice President of Development and Production, responsible for Tiger Aspect USA's network and cable development projects. He developed and sold shows to Bravo (“Make Me a Supermodel”), Lifetime (“Cook Yourself Thin”), A&E (“Rookies”), History (“Extreme Trains”), TLC (“Makeover Train”) and truTV. During his tenure at Tiger, he also was an executive producer on several series, pilots and specials, including Bravo's "Make Me a Supermodel" and History's "Extreme Trains."
Vice President, Non-Scripted International Development & Sales
Warner Bros. International Television Production
Adam Steinman has served as Vice President, Non-Scripted International Development & Sales, at Warner Bros. International Television Production (WBITVP), since October 2010. Based in Burbank, Calif., Steinman reports to London-based Andrew Zein, WBITVP’s Senior Vice President, Creative Format Development & Sales. In this position, Steinman is charged with overseeing the adaptation and development of non-scripted programming based on formats and original concepts developed from within the International Television Production group and international third-party producers (and vice-versa). He is also responsible for helping WBITVP identify U.S. producers to partner with, as well as acquiring U.S. formats to be exploited internationally. Steinman joined WBITVP after four years at Tiger Aspect USA, an entity of Tiger Aspect Productions (TAP), one of the UK’s leading television producers. Since December 2006, he had served as Vice President of Development and Production, responsible for Tiger Aspect USA's network and cable development projects. He developed and sold shows to Bravo (“Make Me a Supermodel”), Lifetime (“Cook Yourself Thin”), A&E (“Rookies”), History (“Extreme Trains”), TLC (“Makeover Train”) and truTV. During his tenure at Tiger, he also was an executive producer on several series, pilots and specials, including Bravo's "Make Me a Supermodel" and History's "Extreme Trains."
Edwin Stepp
President, Django Productions
Edwin Stepp has more than twenty years experience in television, media and marketing. In 2001 he helped form Vision Media Productions, an independent production company based in Pasadena, California. The company specializes in documentaries about Middle East history, biblical and religious history and archaeology. VMP’s first production, Cheating God Out of Christianity won four international TV awards including a Gold Camera Award, the top prize at the U.S. International Film & Video Festival and the Intermedia Globe Gold award from the World Media Festival in Hamburg, Germany. Stepp continues to head up new development and assists in writing, editing and researching projects for Vision Media Productions, but last year he formed Django Productions to focus on music related documentaries and films. The company co-produced a feature documentary about the resurgent popularity of vinyl records titled Vinylmania: When Life Runs at 33 RPMs. The documentary has been featured at more than a dozen film festivals around the world and aired on ARTE and ZDF earlier this year. Django is currently at work on a feature film about the life of Bill Monroe, the father of Bluegrass music. The film already has an A-list cast attached and a “Who’s Who” of Bluegrass and Country musicians will be featured on the soundtrack.
President, Django Productions
Edwin Stepp has more than twenty years experience in television, media and marketing. In 2001 he helped form Vision Media Productions, an independent production company based in Pasadena, California. The company specializes in documentaries about Middle East history, biblical and religious history and archaeology. VMP’s first production, Cheating God Out of Christianity won four international TV awards including a Gold Camera Award, the top prize at the U.S. International Film & Video Festival and the Intermedia Globe Gold award from the World Media Festival in Hamburg, Germany. Stepp continues to head up new development and assists in writing, editing and researching projects for Vision Media Productions, but last year he formed Django Productions to focus on music related documentaries and films. The company co-produced a feature documentary about the resurgent popularity of vinyl records titled Vinylmania: When Life Runs at 33 RPMs. The documentary has been featured at more than a dozen film festivals around the world and aired on ARTE and ZDF earlier this year. Django is currently at work on a feature film about the life of Bill Monroe, the father of Bluegrass music. The film already has an A-list cast attached and a “Who’s Who” of Bluegrass and Country musicians will be featured on the soundtrack.
Ryan Stoner
CEO, MoPix
Ryan Stoner spent more than 10 years pioneering new technology, entertainment and brand marketing strategies for huge international companies and small start-ups, helping them better engage with their customers. He launched the strategic division of a branded entertainment agency in LA and founded an iPhone and iPad technology company, developing apps for both brands looking to invest in the digital and mobile entertainment sectors, and influencers like Anthony Zuiker, creator of CSI. In addition to MoPix, Ryan is currently on Advisory Board of 100 Urban Entrepreneurs, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing entrepreneurial assistance to those from economically distressed and/or disadvantaged communities, and for Mymag, a limited-edition magazine company designed to hero today’s most prominent tastemakers.
CEO, MoPix
Ryan Stoner spent more than 10 years pioneering new technology, entertainment and brand marketing strategies for huge international companies and small start-ups, helping them better engage with their customers. He launched the strategic division of a branded entertainment agency in LA and founded an iPhone and iPad technology company, developing apps for both brands looking to invest in the digital and mobile entertainment sectors, and influencers like Anthony Zuiker, creator of CSI. In addition to MoPix, Ryan is currently on Advisory Board of 100 Urban Entrepreneurs, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing entrepreneurial assistance to those from economically distressed and/or disadvantaged communities, and for Mymag, a limited-edition magazine company designed to hero today’s most prominent tastemakers.
Torene Svitil
Awards Coordinator, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Torene Svitil heads the Awards Office at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where she administers the Short Film Academy Awards, Foreign Language Film Academy Awards and Documentary Academy Awards, among others. She has worked for motion picture studios as well as in the non-profit film world. She is the author of two books and several study guides for high school students covering different aspects of the film industry and has written for such publications as The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and The Hollywood Reporter.
Awards Coordinator, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Torene Svitil heads the Awards Office at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where she administers the Short Film Academy Awards, Foreign Language Film Academy Awards and Documentary Academy Awards, among others. She has worked for motion picture studios as well as in the non-profit film world. She is the author of two books and several study guides for high school students covering different aspects of the film industry and has written for such publications as The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times and The Hollywood Reporter.
James Swirsky
Director/Producer
James Swirsky is one of the directors, producers, editors, cinematographers and distributors behind the Sundance award-winning feature documentary, Indie Game: The Movie. Indie Game: The Movie was one of the first films to be born on Kickstarter. It was funded in part by 2 successful crowd-funded campaigns. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012, where it won the Best Editing Award in World Documentary Cinema and was optioned by HBO and Scott Rudin for a fictional TV series. Indie Game: The Movie is a New York Times Critics’ Pick and one of top reviewed movies of 2012 on Rotten Tomatoes. It has been selected for many festivals including SXSW, the Game Developers Conference, Hot Docs and Sheffield Doc/Fest. The film continues to screen all over the world and is available in 17 languages. Prior to Indie Game: the Movie, James and his partner, Lisanne Pajot, ran the commercial production company, BlinkWorks, producing work for major companies and governments in Canada and US. Through BlinkWorks, James directed/produced 30+ episodes of an educational green construction series that is licensed to governments and companies. James has an MBA and has directed several award-winning short films.
Director/Producer
James Swirsky is one of the directors, producers, editors, cinematographers and distributors behind the Sundance award-winning feature documentary, Indie Game: The Movie. Indie Game: The Movie was one of the first films to be born on Kickstarter. It was funded in part by 2 successful crowd-funded campaigns. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2012, where it won the Best Editing Award in World Documentary Cinema and was optioned by HBO and Scott Rudin for a fictional TV series. Indie Game: The Movie is a New York Times Critics’ Pick and one of top reviewed movies of 2012 on Rotten Tomatoes. It has been selected for many festivals including SXSW, the Game Developers Conference, Hot Docs and Sheffield Doc/Fest. The film continues to screen all over the world and is available in 17 languages. Prior to Indie Game: the Movie, James and his partner, Lisanne Pajot, ran the commercial production company, BlinkWorks, producing work for major companies and governments in Canada and US. Through BlinkWorks, James directed/produced 30+ episodes of an educational green construction series that is licensed to governments and companies. James has an MBA and has directed several award-winning short films.
Lawrence Tanz
CEO, Vuguru
As a digital entertainment veteran, Mr. Lawrence Tanz brings more than 15 years of strategy and operating experience in media, entertainment and technology. Mr. Tanz also has extensive expertise in producing, developing and financing successful film, television, and new media projects including documentary feature films Running the Sahara and First Descent for Universal Pictures and the Emmy-nominated TV series Project Greenlight for HBO and Bravo. In December 2009, he was appointed President of Vuguru, the leading independent studio developing and financing scripted content for emerging and traditional platforms founded by Michael Eisner’s Tornante Company. Under Mr. Tanz’s direction, Vuguru has developed and financed a slate of over 20 titles, with global multiplatform distribution partnerships in place. Mr. Eisner announced Mr. Tanz’s promotion to CEO in 2012. Before joining Vuguru, Mr. Tanz served as President and co-founder of Agility Studios, a boutique multiplatform studio that develops and finances intellectual-property based businesses. Paramount Digital Entertainment has distributed globally the three-season Agility Studios’ multiplatform franchise The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers. Prior to Agility, Mr. Tanz served as CEO and President of LivePlanet, a multiplatform production company founded by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey and Chris Moore. At LivePlanet Mr. Tanz oversaw development and production of numerous projects and negotiated high-profile deals with top studios including Universal, Miramax, ABC, NBC, MTV, E! and Spike TV.
CEO, Vuguru
As a digital entertainment veteran, Mr. Lawrence Tanz brings more than 15 years of strategy and operating experience in media, entertainment and technology. Mr. Tanz also has extensive expertise in producing, developing and financing successful film, television, and new media projects including documentary feature films Running the Sahara and First Descent for Universal Pictures and the Emmy-nominated TV series Project Greenlight for HBO and Bravo. In December 2009, he was appointed President of Vuguru, the leading independent studio developing and financing scripted content for emerging and traditional platforms founded by Michael Eisner’s Tornante Company. Under Mr. Tanz’s direction, Vuguru has developed and financed a slate of over 20 titles, with global multiplatform distribution partnerships in place. Mr. Eisner announced Mr. Tanz’s promotion to CEO in 2012. Before joining Vuguru, Mr. Tanz served as President and co-founder of Agility Studios, a boutique multiplatform studio that develops and finances intellectual-property based businesses. Paramount Digital Entertainment has distributed globally the three-season Agility Studios’ multiplatform franchise The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers. Prior to Agility, Mr. Tanz served as CEO and President of LivePlanet, a multiplatform production company founded by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Sean Bailey and Chris Moore. At LivePlanet Mr. Tanz oversaw development and production of numerous projects and negotiated high-profile deals with top studios including Universal, Miramax, ABC, NBC, MTV, E! and Spike TV.
David Tillman
Editor/Producer
David Tillman is an award-winning editor and producer with credits on National Geographic, Smithsonian, 3Net, MSNBC, and more. David began his filmmaking career at the ripe age of 14, shooting man on the street interviews for Columbia High School’s local access channel in Maplewood, New Jersey. Documentaries he made while a film student at the University of Texas played at the South by Southwest Film Festival and as part of the Texas Filmmakers Showcase in Los Angeles. In addition to his award-winning documentary work with Tom Jennings at 1895 Films, he has edited shows for the Writers Guild Foundation and will be editing his first narrative feature film this fall. He has also directed music videos for musicians such as Matt Duke and Salvae, and recently optioned his first feature length screenplay. David has high hopes that a found footage doc will someday be made about his life.
Editor/Producer
David Tillman is an award-winning editor and producer with credits on National Geographic, Smithsonian, 3Net, MSNBC, and more. David began his filmmaking career at the ripe age of 14, shooting man on the street interviews for Columbia High School’s local access channel in Maplewood, New Jersey. Documentaries he made while a film student at the University of Texas played at the South by Southwest Film Festival and as part of the Texas Filmmakers Showcase in Los Angeles. In addition to his award-winning documentary work with Tom Jennings at 1895 Films, he has edited shows for the Writers Guild Foundation and will be editing his first narrative feature film this fall. He has also directed music videos for musicians such as Matt Duke and Salvae, and recently optioned his first feature length screenplay. David has high hopes that a found footage doc will someday be made about his life.
Larry Verbit
Entertainment Attorney
Larry Verbit has over thirty years of management and legal experience in the entertainment industry and a primary focus of his practice is reality television production. He serves as counsel for numerous reality programs, including Bravo’s “Around the World in 80 Plates.” Included among his many reality clients are: One Three Media (a Hearst | Mark Burnett company), 3 Doors Productions (a FremantleMedia Company), Juma Entertainment, Magical Elves, Mark Phillips Philms and Telephision, the UK’s Mentorn and Pioneer Film and Television Productions, Populus Brands, Trium Entertainment and World of Wonder Productions. He also works on scripted projects having recently completed work on six television movies and features. Larry has an MFA degree in Theatre Administration from Florida State University, was a professional stage manager and served as the chief administrative officer of several nationally recognized performing arts centers and theatre companies where he produced plays and concerts. After earning his law degree, Larry held in-house executive positions at publicly held Westwood One, Inc. and as General Counsel for Landmark Entertainment Group. He subsequently joined the Beverly Hills based firm Heenan Blaikie (an affiliate of Heenan Blaikie, Canada). In August, 2003 he opened his own boutique law practice where he works with several affiliate counsel. Larry’s article on Moral Rights won two national awards and he has authored articles that have appeared in law reviews and industry publications.
Entertainment Attorney
Larry Verbit has over thirty years of management and legal experience in the entertainment industry and a primary focus of his practice is reality television production. He serves as counsel for numerous reality programs, including Bravo’s “Around the World in 80 Plates.” Included among his many reality clients are: One Three Media (a Hearst | Mark Burnett company), 3 Doors Productions (a FremantleMedia Company), Juma Entertainment, Magical Elves, Mark Phillips Philms and Telephision, the UK’s Mentorn and Pioneer Film and Television Productions, Populus Brands, Trium Entertainment and World of Wonder Productions. He also works on scripted projects having recently completed work on six television movies and features. Larry has an MFA degree in Theatre Administration from Florida State University, was a professional stage manager and served as the chief administrative officer of several nationally recognized performing arts centers and theatre companies where he produced plays and concerts. After earning his law degree, Larry held in-house executive positions at publicly held Westwood One, Inc. and as General Counsel for Landmark Entertainment Group. He subsequently joined the Beverly Hills based firm Heenan Blaikie (an affiliate of Heenan Blaikie, Canada). In August, 2003 he opened his own boutique law practice where he works with several affiliate counsel. Larry’s article on Moral Rights won two national awards and he has authored articles that have appeared in law reviews and industry publications.
Joe Weinstock
Senior Director of Development, Discovery Channel
Weinstock joined Discovery Channel in July, 2012. Previously he was Vice President of Production for Gurney Productions and earned Co-Executive Producer credit for Auction Hunters, American Digger, Monster Man, Haunted Collector, Hollywood Treasure, Duck Dynasty, American Guns, and several others. Prior to Gurney Productions he was Senior Director, Original Series for Spike TV. He was a part of the Spike development team for 5 years and worked on high-profile projects such as Auction Hunters, Jesse James is a Dead Man, Deadliest Warrior, Pros vs. Joes, DEA and 1000 Ways to Die. Weinstock started his entertainment career at MTV Networks in 2005 in the business and legal affairs department at Comedy Central in Los Angeles. He brought with him an extensive legal background from his home state of Oklahoma. Weinstock earned his juris doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Oklahoma and worked as a trial attorney in Tulsa.
Senior Director of Development, Discovery Channel
Weinstock joined Discovery Channel in July, 2012. Previously he was Vice President of Production for Gurney Productions and earned Co-Executive Producer credit for Auction Hunters, American Digger, Monster Man, Haunted Collector, Hollywood Treasure, Duck Dynasty, American Guns, and several others. Prior to Gurney Productions he was Senior Director, Original Series for Spike TV. He was a part of the Spike development team for 5 years and worked on high-profile projects such as Auction Hunters, Jesse James is a Dead Man, Deadliest Warrior, Pros vs. Joes, DEA and 1000 Ways to Die. Weinstock started his entertainment career at MTV Networks in 2005 in the business and legal affairs department at Comedy Central in Los Angeles. He brought with him an extensive legal background from his home state of Oklahoma. Weinstock earned his juris doctor from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, Norman, Oklahoma and worked as a trial attorney in Tulsa.
Barbara Westfield
Managing Partner, Populus Brands
Barb Westfield is a managing partner of Populus Brands, an innovative brand-building company that drives franchise growth, incremental revenue and consumer engagement for clients. The company forms strategic partnerships between content creators, talent, sponsors, licensors, manufacturers, retailers and marketers to build lifestyle and entertainment brands. Westfield has created and launched thousands of consumer products that have generated billions of dollars in gross revenues and has built brands that have become household names from The George Forman Grill to Wolfgang Puck to HoMedics. Federated Departments Stores was her retail proving ground where she was a member of the Federated Steering Committee for Housewares. During her tenure, she served as Divisional Manager (DM) in stores, a buyer in Home Textiles, Small Appliances, Trend Furniture and headed up the developed of strategic liquidations. Barb currently sits on the Board of the International Housewares Association Charity Foundation along with industry leaders and CEOs. Westfield combines her business savy with her degree in Broadcast Journalism. She uses that reporter background to dive into the sizzle, buzz and facts about products, creating positioning and campaigns with massive results
Managing Partner, Populus Brands
Barb Westfield is a managing partner of Populus Brands, an innovative brand-building company that drives franchise growth, incremental revenue and consumer engagement for clients. The company forms strategic partnerships between content creators, talent, sponsors, licensors, manufacturers, retailers and marketers to build lifestyle and entertainment brands. Westfield has created and launched thousands of consumer products that have generated billions of dollars in gross revenues and has built brands that have become household names from The George Forman Grill to Wolfgang Puck to HoMedics. Federated Departments Stores was her retail proving ground where she was a member of the Federated Steering Committee for Housewares. During her tenure, she served as Divisional Manager (DM) in stores, a buyer in Home Textiles, Small Appliances, Trend Furniture and headed up the developed of strategic liquidations. Barb currently sits on the Board of the International Housewares Association Charity Foundation along with industry leaders and CEOs. Westfield combines her business savy with her degree in Broadcast Journalism. She uses that reporter background to dive into the sizzle, buzz and facts about products, creating positioning and campaigns with massive results
Amie Williams
Filmmaker
Amie is an accomplished documentary filmmaker and digital rights activist. Her award-winning work has focused on giving voice to the margins, while pushing filmic conventions. From films focused on women workers and labor unions, to training young female HIV+ citizen journalists in Soweto, Amie’s work drives creative ideologies shaped for a globalized world in constant flux. Her feature documentary films have been financed by and broadcast on PBS, Al Jazeera English, BBC, and CBC, winning numerous awards, including the IDA David Wolper, Paul Robeson, SONY/Streisand Award for emerging female filmmakers, and the MacArthur Foundation Peace Grant. Her credits include: UNCOMMON GROUND (1998) FALLON NV: DEADLY OASIS; (2001) ONE DAY LONGER, (2002) STRIPPED AND TEASED: TALES FROM LAS VEGAS WOMEN, (2004) AMASAN: WOMEN OF THE SEAS, (2008) NO SWEAT, (2009) and the recetly released WE ARE WISCONSIN, about the very first Occupy Action in the United States. www.balmaidenfilms.com Amie is also the co-founder of Global Girl Media, an all-female digital start-up and non-profit organization that trains under-served teenage girls in new media journalism, and distributes their work on trans-media platforms. Founded to address the glaring lack of women in power positions in new media, GGM launched during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and has projects in Morocco, South Africa, Los Angeles and Chicago. www.globalgirlmedia.org.
Filmmaker
Amie is an accomplished documentary filmmaker and digital rights activist. Her award-winning work has focused on giving voice to the margins, while pushing filmic conventions. From films focused on women workers and labor unions, to training young female HIV+ citizen journalists in Soweto, Amie’s work drives creative ideologies shaped for a globalized world in constant flux. Her feature documentary films have been financed by and broadcast on PBS, Al Jazeera English, BBC, and CBC, winning numerous awards, including the IDA David Wolper, Paul Robeson, SONY/Streisand Award for emerging female filmmakers, and the MacArthur Foundation Peace Grant. Her credits include: UNCOMMON GROUND (1998) FALLON NV: DEADLY OASIS; (2001) ONE DAY LONGER, (2002) STRIPPED AND TEASED: TALES FROM LAS VEGAS WOMEN, (2004) AMASAN: WOMEN OF THE SEAS, (2008) NO SWEAT, (2009) and the recetly released WE ARE WISCONSIN, about the very first Occupy Action in the United States. www.balmaidenfilms.com Amie is also the co-founder of Global Girl Media, an all-female digital start-up and non-profit organization that trains under-served teenage girls in new media journalism, and distributes their work on trans-media platforms. Founded to address the glaring lack of women in power positions in new media, GGM launched during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, and has projects in Morocco, South Africa, Los Angeles and Chicago. www.globalgirlmedia.org.
Brent Zacky
Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Logo
In his current role as Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Logo, Zacky oversees all aspects of current Logo original programming and development for the network. Current projects include “The Baby Wait,” “In the Big House,” "Bad Sex," “RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race” and "RuPaul's Drag Race." Additionally, he manages Logo’s bi-coastal development team and celebrity talent development. Prior to his move to Logo in 2011, Zacky was Vice President of Development and Programming at TLC where he developed several key series including the “Miss America” franchise, “Cake Boss,” “Outrageous Kid Parties,” “Freaky Eaters,” “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding,” “Niecy Nash’s Wedding Bash” and the critically acclaimed “All-American Muslim.” Before his tenure at TLC, he spent five years at E! Entertainment Television, Inc. where he held positions of Executive Producer and ultimately Vice President of Development and launched original hits “Chelsea Lately,” ”The Girls Next Door” and “Dr. 90210.”
Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Logo
In his current role as Senior Vice President, Original Programming and Development, Logo, Zacky oversees all aspects of current Logo original programming and development for the network. Current projects include “The Baby Wait,” “In the Big House,” "Bad Sex," “RuPaul’s All Stars Drag Race” and "RuPaul's Drag Race." Additionally, he manages Logo’s bi-coastal development team and celebrity talent development. Prior to his move to Logo in 2011, Zacky was Vice President of Development and Programming at TLC where he developed several key series including the “Miss America” franchise, “Cake Boss,” “Outrageous Kid Parties,” “Freaky Eaters,” “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding,” “Niecy Nash’s Wedding Bash” and the critically acclaimed “All-American Muslim.” Before his tenure at TLC, he spent five years at E! Entertainment Television, Inc. where he held positions of Executive Producer and ultimately Vice President of Development and launched original hits “Chelsea Lately,” ”The Girls Next Door” and “Dr. 90210.”
Sean Zeid
Co-Head of Alternative, Kaplan Stahler
Sean Zeid joined Kaplan Stahler four years ago from Endeavor. At Kaplan he has worked with clients that have either created or executive produced a number of popular shows such as The Biggest Loser, Secret Millionaire, Sons of Guns, Ink Master, Bizarre Foods and Dead Files. In his new position as co-head of alternative he is expected to lead a number of strategic steps to further enhance the departments packaging efforts.
Co-Head of Alternative, Kaplan Stahler
Sean Zeid joined Kaplan Stahler four years ago from Endeavor. At Kaplan he has worked with clients that have either created or executive produced a number of popular shows such as The Biggest Loser, Secret Millionaire, Sons of Guns, Ink Master, Bizarre Foods and Dead Files. In his new position as co-head of alternative he is expected to lead a number of strategic steps to further enhance the departments packaging efforts.
Natalka Znak
Chief Executive Officer, Zodiak USA
Natalka Znak is Chief Executive Officer at Zodiak USA. In her role, Znak oversees the continued rapid growth of Zodiak USA’s production business in the non-scripted space. Znak runs Zodiak USA’s production offices in both New York and Los Angeles and manages a programming slate that includes Secret Millionaire (ABC), Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC) and truTV’s two highest rated series, Hardcore Pawn and Lizard Lick Towing. Znak joined Zodiak Media in 2010 moving to the US as Chief Creative Officer, Zodiak USA. She has been responsible for selling and adapting international formats for the US market, as well as creating original productions for both broadcast and cable networks. In just two years since her arrival, Zodiak USA has sold nearly 20 new shows, including Real Deal (History) and the upcoming Killer Karaoke (truTV) hosted by Steve-O. Prior to joining Zodiak, Znak served as Controller of Factual Entertainment for ITV Studios in London where she was responsible for creating and producing UK hits including I’m Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!, Hell’s Kitchen, and Love Island. She brought the first two formats to the States, producing the first seasons of Hell’s Kitchen for Fox as well as I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! for NBC. Additionally, Znak was charged with overseeing a broad range of ITV programs such as Dancing On Ice and Paris Hilton’s Best Friend. While at ITV, she earned several awards for her work, including two BAFTA’s, Royal Television Society Awards, National Television Awards, and numerous Broadcast Awards.
Chief Executive Officer, Zodiak USA
Natalka Znak is Chief Executive Officer at Zodiak USA. In her role, Znak oversees the continued rapid growth of Zodiak USA’s production business in the non-scripted space. Znak runs Zodiak USA’s production offices in both New York and Los Angeles and manages a programming slate that includes Secret Millionaire (ABC), Celebrity Wife Swap (ABC) and truTV’s two highest rated series, Hardcore Pawn and Lizard Lick Towing. Znak joined Zodiak Media in 2010 moving to the US as Chief Creative Officer, Zodiak USA. She has been responsible for selling and adapting international formats for the US market, as well as creating original productions for both broadcast and cable networks. In just two years since her arrival, Zodiak USA has sold nearly 20 new shows, including Real Deal (History) and the upcoming Killer Karaoke (truTV) hosted by Steve-O. Prior to joining Zodiak, Znak served as Controller of Factual Entertainment for ITV Studios in London where she was responsible for creating and producing UK hits including I’m Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!, Hell’s Kitchen, and Love Island. She brought the first two formats to the States, producing the first seasons of Hell’s Kitchen for Fox as well as I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! for NBC. Additionally, Znak was charged with overseeing a broad range of ITV programs such as Dancing On Ice and Paris Hilton’s Best Friend. While at ITV, she earned several awards for her work, including two BAFTA’s, Royal Television Society Awards, National Television Awards, and numerous Broadcast Awards.