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SANDRA AISTARS
- Assistant General Counsel for Intellectual Property,
Time Warner, Inc.
Sandra Aistars serves as Assistant General Counsel for Intellectual Property at Time Warner Inc., and leads the Intellectual Property practice for the Company. In this role, she is responsible for developing, managing, and coordinating copyright, trademark and patent policy and strategies for the Company and its divisions, particularly as they pertain to new opportunities and challenges posed by digital technologies. Sandra’s practice includes work as a subject matter expert before the United States Congress, the Copyright Office and Federal Agencies concerning a broad range of intellectual property and related matters. She collaborates with in-house and outside counsel to formulate litigation strategy; advises on business and legal implications of investments, licensing arrangements, and new business models worldwide; and represents the Company in cross-industry coalitions and technology standards efforts. She helped establish and chaired the group of eight companies that developed the Advanced Access Content System technology which protects copyrighted content and provides additional functionality for next generation optical media such as Blu- ray.
Sandra additionally serves as a cleared advisor to the US Department of Commerce on intellectual property aspects of international trade negotiations.
Before joining Time Warner, Sandra was an attorney at the law firm of Weil, ublic Policy and Litigation practices, specializing in technology and e-commerce issues related to intellectual property. While at Weil, she played a key role in developing and implementing a multi-industry licensing and management approach to content distribution and protection which enabled the launch of the DVD and other formats. Sandra also represented consumer electronics and information technology clients in connection with the enactment and enforcement of the anti-circumvention and internet service provider “safe harbor” provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and counseled and litigated on behalf of clients in connection with music licensing matters, including in the first copyright royalty arbitration to set rates for the use of sound recordings on the internet. In the cable arena Sandra has represented clients before the Federal Communications Commission and in negotiating the licenses necessary to build products with “plug and play” digital cable capabilities.
DARCY ANTONELLIS - President,
Warner Bros. Technical Operations
As President of Warner Bros. Technical Operations, her division is responsible for identifying and leveraging new technologies and operational models. These support the Studio’s production and distribution divisions to move entertainment properties from production to marketplace faster and with greater efficiency. This includes worldwide supply chain management with partners and retailers. She oversees activities that define technical, business and legal standards for the secure digital distribution of Warner Bros.’ intellectual property.
She continues to have oversight of Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations. Antonellis works closely with parent company Time Warner and its global public policy offices on the wide array of policy issues dealing with piracy and technology.
Antonellis was appointed President in January, 2008. Previously she had a dual role of Executive Vice President, Distribution & Technology Operations, Warner Bros. Technical Operations and Senior Vice President, Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations, Warner Bros. Entertainment. As Executive Vice President, Distribution & Technology Operations, Antonellis was responsible for overseeing areas directly related to the Studio’s technical strategic planning and implementation related to worldwide distribution and protection of all the Studio’s content through traditional, new and emerging outlets as well as asset management. As Senior Vice President, Worldwide Anti-Piracy Operations, she was responsible for the coordination and facilitation of the Studio’s intellectual property protection strategy and execution on a global basis.
Antonellis joined the company in 1998 as Senior Vice President, Distribution Technologies & Operations, Warner Bros. Technical Operations, where she had oversight of the Company's transition from traditional distribution technologies to advanced digital distribution. She led the Studio’s transition to digital distribution for syndication as well as implementation of the MARS Advertising/Publicity Studio-wide asset management system. Currently, her team is managing the Studio’s digital-end-to-end initiative. A partnership with HP and Accenture, the system has created significant efficiencies to support digital distribution of content.
Prior to joining Warner Bros. Technical Operations, Antonellis was Vice President, Technical and Olympic Operations for CBS Inc., having also served as Vice President, Technical Operations in New York and Director, Washington Operations, for the CBS News Bureau in Washington, DC. She also served as Vice President, Operations and Engineering for Fox’s WTTG-TV in Washington, DC.
A veteran of three Olympics, she last headed up Operations and Engineering for CBS Sports’ coverage of the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan. She also worked as Director of Operations, stationed in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, during the Gulf War. She has received two Emmy Awards for technical production work on the Olympics and honors for work in the field of engineering from her undergraduate alma mater, Temple University. She is a US Patent holder dealing in the area of anti-piracy technology development. She serves on the Global Advisory Board for the professional Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) providing counseling on new media and technology.
She received a master’s degree in finance from Fordham University. In November 2003, she was named a Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers. In 2007, she was the recipient of Broadcasting and Cable’s Technology Leadership Award. In 2008, she was selected to Video Business’ Women Elite.
ASHOK AMRITRAJ - Chairman & CEO, Hyde Park
Entertainment
As
Chairman and CEO of Hyde Park Entertainment, Ashok Amritraj
produced the box office hits BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE,
starring Steve Martin and Academy Award-nominee Queen
Latifah, and PREMONITION, starring Sandra
Bullock and Julian McMahon, and is regarded as one of
the most successful producers working in
Hollywood today. Amritraj’s 2008 releases include the
critically acclaimed TRAITOR,starring Don
Cheadle and Guy Pearce, and the cross-cultural romantic
comedy THE OTHER END OF THE LINE. Early 2009 saw the
release of STREET FIGHTER, based on the extremely
popular video game. Commencing principal photography in
2009 are DEAD OF NIGHT, based on the best-selling
Italian comic book thriller “Dylan Dog”, and the
U.S./Japanese co-production LEONIE. Forthcoming
projects include a remake of the iconic Blake Edwards film
‘10’ and an adaptation of the popular British
television series THE PERSUADERS.
Amritraj’s recent releases include DREAMER, starring
Kurt Russell and Dakota Fanning through DreamWorks SKG,
which opened in the number 2 spot at the U.S. box office,
SHOPGIRL starring Steve Martin and Claire Danes through
The Walt Disney Company, which opened to rave reviews, and
DEATH SENTENCE released by 20th Century
Fox and starring Kevin Bacon and Kelly Preston.
Additionally, Amritraj enjoyed a successful box office with
the Kate Hudson feature RAISING HELEN, which was
directed by Hollywood legend Garry Marshall and WALKING
Amritraj has grown Hyde Park
Entertainment into a cutting-edge option to the traditional
Hollywood studio system for filmmakers by making it one of
the few progressive global independent companies that
encompasses most elements of a full-fledged studio. The
Company, which includes live-action, animation and
cross-cultural cinema, is capable of developing, producing
and financing projects as well as handling their
international sales and marketing. Hyde Park Entertainment
has a first look deal with 20th Century Fox, and
a second look deal with The Walt Disney Studios.
Through The Walt Disney Studios, Amritraj released the
critically acclaimed drama/romance MOONLIGHT MILE,
directed by Brad Silberling, starring Academy Award winners
Dustin Hoffman, Susan Sarandon and Holly Hunter. Through
MGM, Amritraj also produced ORIGINAL SIN starring
Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas and the Golden Globe
nominated BANDITS, directed by Barry Levinson
starring Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton and Cate Blanchett.
During
the span of his 30-year career, having produced or executive
produced 100 films with a worldwide gross in excess of $1
billion, Amritraj has worked with every major Studio in
Hollywood. The stars who have worked with Amritraj include
Bruce Willis, Sylvester Stallone, Angelina Jolie, Cate
Blanchett, Dustin Hoffman, Steve Martin, Antonio Banderas,
The Rock, Kate Hudson, Kurt Russell, etc…
In
2005 the Indian International Film Academy presented
Amritraj with the Award for “Outstanding Achievements in
International Cinema”. In 2004 Amritraj received the
Producer of Vision Award from the Hollywood community and
the prestigious Pride Of India Award from the American India
Foundation.
Amritraj served on the Foreign Film Board of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, was a member of Los
Angeles Board for the British Academy of Film and Television
Arts and the International Council for the Emmy Awards.
Amritraj was a former tennis professional, having played in
every major tennis event including Wimbledon and the U.S.
Open.
JONATHAN BARZILAY -
SVP, Programming
& Advertising,
FLO TV
As senior vice president of programming and advertising for FLO TV, Jonathan Barzilay is responsible for leading the company's USA business in the areas of programming strategy, content acquisition and development, production, advertising, and consumer research. Based in FLO TV's Los Angeles office, he is also responsible for managing relationships with content partners and the creative community.
Prior to joining FLO TV, Barzilay served as senior vice president and general manager of entertainment for CBS Interactive. In that role, he oversaw the online entertainment business for CBS, including the CBS.com and StarTrek.com websites.
Previously, Barzilay served as senior vice president of Disney/ABC Cable Networks, and general manager of Toon Disney and ABC Kids. In that role, he oversaw all operations at both Toon Disney, a cable network, and ABC Kids, the children's programming lineup on ABC–TV. During the course of his 15–year career at Disney/ABC, he held numerous management posts, including vice president and general manager, ABC Children's Programming, and vice president, ABC Television Network Group. As a member of ABC's legal department, he counseled ABC News and ABC Broadcasting on legal and regulatory matters.
He began his career as an attorney in private practice in New York, focusing on entertainment law and First Amendment matters. Barzilay is a graduate of Harvard College and Columbia Law School.
BILL BLOCK - Founder & Chief Executive, QED INTERNATIONAL
Bill
Block founded QED INTERNATIONAL in December 2005 where he
leads day-to-day operations and strategy for the company.
Previously, Block was President of Artisan Entertainment
where he supervised all divisions - film production and
acquisitions, international distribution, home
entertainment, and television. Block managed Artisan’s
senior lending as well as international distribution
relationships. While at Artisan, Block acquired The Blair
Witch Project which realized one of the most profitable
returns on investment in film history. Artisan was
successfully sold to Lionsgate in December 2003. Before
Artisan, Block was one of the industry’s leading talent
agents as Head of West Coast Operations for International
Creative Management from 1992 to 1997 and founder of the
Intertalent Agency.
HAROLD A. BROWN,
Partner,Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, Inc.
JEANETTE BUERLING
- President,
Magnet Media Group (MMG)
Jeanette Buerling has worked in all areas of the entertainment industry including writing, development, production, acquisition, international sales, international co-productions, and entertainment finance. Her career started in 1989 at RTL Television in Cologne, Germany. For the next 5 years she worked in the Entertainment Department, which aired, on average, 15 – 20 daily shows per year. She then left to produce 52 episodes of the one-hour daily show “Fun” for the Leo Kirch network DSF. In 1993 Jeanette moved to Munich, where she produced various television films and series, as well as feature films for ARD/WDR (BR) and PRO SIEBEN. The ARD/WDR series “Wildbach” was one of the networks highest ranking weekly one-hour drama series for 5 consecutive years. The PRO SIEBEN thriller “Kreis der Angst” (aka “Circle of Fear”) launched the career of Germany’s top director, Thomas Jauch.
Her development, packaging and co-production capabilities were the reason for her cooperation with WARNER BROS’ international feature film department. In 1999 Jeanette started her own production company in Los Angeles and produced the WARNER BROS turnaround comedy project “Timeshare” starring Nastassja Kinski, Timothy Dalton and Kevin Zegers (distributed by FOX and CONSTANTIN FILM). In 2004 Jeanette was hired by FAR EAST NATIONAL BANK to run their equity film finance fund HOLLYWOOD INTERNATIONAL FINANCE. The fund invested into 38 films and 2 television series. With HOLLYWOOD INTL. FINANCE, Jeanette produced, executive produced, acquired and/or financed films and television products for HBO, ABC, DISNEY, LIONS GATE, and USA NETWORK. Such product includes “Harvard Man” (Lions Gate Films) with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Adrian Grenier, “Rent Control” (ABC/DISNEY) with Melissa Joan Hart, “A Case of Evil” (USA NETWORK) with Gabrielle Anwar, Vincent D’Onofrio, etc.
In May of 2008 Jeanette Buerling and Maggie Monteith formed their current film finance and production company MAGNET MEDIA GROUP LLC. In November of 2008, Buerling and Monteith produced their film, “13”, a thriller starring Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Sam Riley, Ray Winston, Michael Shannon and 50 Cent (Paramount Vantage). In June of 2009 MMG financed and produced “The Experiment” starring Adrien Brody, Forrest Whitaker and Cam Gigandet (Sony). The MMG team is currently preparing various projects in the budget ranges of $10 to $60 million per film.
Jeanette Buerling holds a MBA from University FH Cologne, a business degree from IHK Aachen, and studied screenplay writing at USC, Los Angeles. She is furthermore the US Correspondent for the German entertainment magazine “Professional Production”.
Jeanette Buerling was born and raised in Cologne, Germany. In 1999 she and her daughter Verenice immigrated to the United States.
PETER CARANICAS - Managing Editor, Features, Variety
As
Managing Editor of Features, Caranicas helps direct the
production of Variety's annual slate of some 250 editorial
features, which are branded under the moniker VPlus. These
sections appear in both daily and weekly Variety, on
Variety.com and in electronic newsletters and other
custom-publishing ventures. VPlus features include awards
season reports, film festival and market updates, as well as
the high-profile "Ten to Watch," "Billion Dollar" and
"Impact" reports. Prior to joing Variety, he was
editor of the film/TV crafts-and-technology pub Below the
Line, where he directed editorial operations. Before that,
he was editor and publisher of Film & Video magazine and
development director at its tradeshow affiliate, ShowBiz
Expo. He also served in top editorial posts at Shoot,
Videography and Millimeter and has reported on the TV
industry for TV Newsday, NATPE Daily, World Screen News and
the New York Times Encyclopedia of Television.
CHRIS CAREY -
EVP, Worldwide Technical Operations,
Paramount Pictures
CLAUDIA CENICEROS - Senior Director, Content Strategy & Partnerships, Cisco Media Solutions Group
Claudia Ceniceros, senior director of content strategy and partnerships in the Cisco Media Solutions Group (CMSG), is responsible for building strategic, high-level partnerships between the major Hollywood studios and Cisco. She also has responsibility for European media partnerships, and leads a team focused on similar efforts in Europe. In addition, Claudia is responsible for securing rights to distribute third party, short-form professional content on the Cisco Eos™ platform.
Before joining CMSG, Claudia was in the Cisco Corporate Business Development group under Dan Scheinman and responsible for developing strategic relationships with the entertainment industry for Cisco and its consumer division, Linksys. Claudia was also head of Cisco Corporate Public Relations from 2000-2004.
Prior to joining Cisco, Claudia was vice president of corporate communications for Acclaim Entertainment, a developer and publisher of software for a variety of gaming platforms; vice president of strategic communications at ABC Television Network; and vice president at Robinson firm, where she focused on entertainment and other corporate accounts.
Claudia graduated from the University of Illinois, Chicago, with a B.A. in philosophy and political science. She has been a frequent speaker at Digital Hollywood and other media industry forums, as well as a board member of the Entertainment Technology Center at USC.
FRANK CHINDAMO - President & Chief Creative Officer,
Fun Little Movies
Frank Chindamo is the President and Chief Creative Officer of Fun Little Movies. FLM specializes in the development, production and distribution of original content for global distribution on mobile phones, the Internet and portable devices. Its mission is to contribute to love and to laughter by providing fun, funny, advertiser-friendly comedy to every person on Earth. Fun Little Movies was the first U.S. company to produce comedic films for mobile phones worldwide, and launched as a channel on Sprint TV in 2004. FLM's "Fun Funny Phone Films" have won 22 awards including CTIA's "World Smallest Film Festival" and two Golden Eagles at the American Cine' Awards, as well as The Content Award at Cannes in 2008, over MTV and Orange. FLM was also a finalist at: The Cannes Film Festival for Best Short Film, the 2008 Mobile Content Award in London, and the 2006 and 2007 Mobile Entertainment Magazine Awards for Best Video. Fun Little Movies have played on numerous TV networks worldwide including HBO, Showtime, CBS, Playboy, MTV and Comedy Central. FLM's mobile comedy can be watched on iPhones, Sprint, Verizon, Nokia, Motorola and ATT mobile phones, on Veoh.com, Revver.com, Vuze.com and many other top video sites, and on other mobile and Internet platforms. FLM has been a cover story or featured in Forbes Magazine, the L.A. Times, the NY Times, Variety, Hollywood Reporter, CBS and Wired Magazine.
In 2006 and 2007, Frank was named one of the Top 40 people in IPTV. Last year he was nominated by Ernst & Young for Entrepreneur of the Year, and is co-leading the Mobile Entertainment Forum's Educational Initiative. He is also a member of the Mobile Marketing Association.
Frank is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Southern California (USC), where he teaches the class "Mobile/Internet Viral Screenwriting and Production," and an Instructor at UCLA where he teaches "Beyond YouTube: Making Mobile and Internet Movies that Sell." Frank Chindamo received his Film B.F.A. from N.Y.U. and his Screenwriting & Producing M.F.A. from Columbia University. Chindamo is also a supporter and advisor to the worldwide charity www.AirlineAmbasssadors.com , which hand-delivers educational, medical and relief aid globally. He wrote and produced the promo on their website.
DAVID COHEN - Associate Editor,
Features, Variety
David S. Cohen covers 3-D, visual effects and post-production for Variety. Since 2003 he has spearheaded Variety’s expanded coverage of entertainment technology, including the new Tech page in Weekly Variety that debuted earlier this month. He has worked in or covered the entertainment industry for more than 30 years, including stints as a stage electrician, stage manager, Off-Off-Broadway director, television writer and documentary writer-producer. He is also the author of “Screen Plays: How 25 Scripts Made It to a Theater Near You, For Better or Worse,” from HarperCollins, and is now working on a book on the art, science and business of 3-D.
JAY COHEN -
Head of Film Financing and Packaging Division,
The Gersh Agency
Mr. Conner has more than 25 years of experience in the entertainment and media industries. He has served as chief outside entertainment counsel for several major film studios and television networks and numerous film and television production and distribution companies, and as lead counsel in several large finance, distribution, and M&A; transactions for one of America’s largest financial institutions.
Mr. Conner advises clients through the entire life cycle of film, television and new media assets. Over the course of his career, he has restructured the production and distribution of a multi-billion dollar television franchise, closed half-billion dollar feature film finance/production/distribution deals and international distribution deals, $300 million output and broadcast deals, as well as deals for the acquisition of companies and film and television assets.
Mr. Conner has represented film and television industry clients in bank and equity finance deals, licensing deals, and agreements with major talent, and has served as production counsel for a wide variety of feature films, as well as television series, specials, and longform productions.
Prior to joining Manatt, Mr. Conner was a partner at Dickstein Shapiro LLP, where he served as the head of the firm’s Entertainment Law Practice.
SHASHI FERNANDA
- CEO,
Saffron Digital
Shashi has a strong track record of success in the digital space. Starting his career at British Airways on the graduate scheme, He then moved to Hollinger Digital, part of the Telegraph Group and left to work at the Interactive agency, Razorfish working with clients such as Nike, Giorgio Armani, Sony and Hutchinson
Shashi launched Filmnight Digital four years ago winning the Vodafone UK and T-Mobile UK film aggregation business along with early mobile agency clients such as IPC Media and Duran Duran.
The evolving of Filmnight into Saffron Digital has been critical in pushing the business into new areas in the industry and he is instrumental in ensuring that Saffron Digital builds and maintains an edge in delivering converged cutting edge services across mobile and online.
STUART FORD - Founder & CEO, IM Global
Stuart
Ford founded IM Global, a major international sales and
distribution company with offices in Los Angeles and London,
in March 2007. The company is one of the most active and
high profile film and television sales operations in the
worldwide entertainment community and is a prominent
presence at major international film festivals and markets.
In addition Ford and several of his colleagues are regular
speakers at industry gatherings around the globe.
Prior to founding IM Global, in August 2006 Ford joined
resurgent First Look Studios as President of First Look
International, and before First Look Studios, Ford was a
senior executive to Harvey and Bob Weinstein at New
York-based Miramax Films from 1997 to 2004. At Miramax, Ford
filled a variety of roles, most prominently as Co-Head of
Miramax International, the studio’s powerful international
distribution and sales arm. Ford was just 32 when he took
the reigns at Miramax International and was profiled by The
Hollywood Reporter in 2004 as one of Hollywood's top
executives under the age of 40. At Miramax International,
Ford operationally oversaw a staff of 28 people in New York,
Los Angeles, Paris, Beijing, and Sydney, self-distributed
the studio’s pictures in many of the major international
territories often in conjunction with the ‘on the ground’
staff of sister company Buena Vista International or, in
France, via the company’s TF1 joint venture TFM, of which
Ford was a founder/board member. Ford oversaw international
distribution activities such as strategy, marketing,
publicity, physical distribution, legal, and finance.
Miramax International was also a major player in the
international film sales arena and Ford oversaw a prolific
sales team that at the time was recognized as one of the
major suppliers to the independent marketplace in much of
Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Overall, Ford and his team
handled the sale and/or distribution of almost 30 titles a
year in more than 42 countries. Previous to Miramax
International, Ford was Co-Head of the Miramax Acquisitions
division, which was responsible for acquiring the best
foreign language and independent product for distribution in
the US and internationally. During a two and a half year
period Ford’s 18-strong acquisitions team acquired box
office and critical hits such as Amelie, City of God, Hero,
Dirty Pretty Things, Fahrenheit 911, and The Station Agent.
Greg
Foster, Chairman and President of Filmed Entertainment,
joined IMAX Corporation in March, 2001. Based at IMAX's
Santa Monica office, Foster’s primary responsibility is
overseeing all aspects of the company's global filmed
entertainment activities, including creative, production,
film distribution, business affairs, marketing, sponsorship,
studio relationships and the revolutionary IMAX DMR®
process. During Foster's tenure at the Company, he has
successfully re-positioned IMAX’s film slate to include more
commercial entertainment product by bringing numerous
Hollywood blockbuster event films to IMAX Theatres around
the world. Among the films released under Foster are some of
the most popular entertainment franchises, and some of the
most successful in IMAX’s history. A seasoned
Hollywood executive, Foster spent 15 years at MGM/UA where
he served in various senior management posts, including
Executive Vice President of Production and Senior Vice
President of Motion Picture Marketing and Research. During
the course of his career at MGM/UA, Greg played a key role
in the production and/or marketing of over 150 films,
including hits such as A Fish Called Wanda, Get Shorty, King
Pin, Moonstruck, Rain Man, Species, Thelma and Louise,
Untamed Heart and several from the James Bond - 007 series.
In 1999, Foster founded uMogul, a financial services company
offering retail investors competitive market returns via
mutual funds comprised of entertainment industry assets. He
held the positions of Chairman, Co-founder and President of
uMogul. Foster is a 1984 graduate of Georgetown University.
He and his wife have three sons and currently live in Los
Angeles.
STEVEN GAYDOS - Executive Editor, Variety
Variety
executive editor Steven Gaydos directs the planning and
production of the nearly 250 "Vplus" editorial feature
sections in Variety, Daily Variety and on Variety.com. This
includes all of the "Eye on the Oscar" sections and other
awards season feature sections, as well as sections
throughout the year covering the international entertainment
business, music, home entertainment, technology, independent
film, ie the entire gamut of entertainment business
journalism. Among the numerous features projects Gaydos has
launched, he created Variety's internationally recognized
"Ten to Watch" series, which spotlights emerging talents in
directing, acting, producing, writing, comedy and
cinematography, as well as the "Impact" series which
chronicles individual achievements in various sectors of the
business, such as the influential "Women's Impact," "Youth
Impact," "Music Impact" and "Comedy Impact" reports.
In addition to directing the features editorial
operations, Gaydos directs Variety's fast-growing Custom
Publishing operations. He also served for five years as
international managing director of Variety, overseeing the
global editorial operations from the London office from
2000-2005.
Gaydos serves on the board of the British Independent
Film Awards and is a member of the Writers Guild of America,
the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and the
European Film Academy. Gaydos is author of the
Variety/Putnam book, "The Variety Guide to Film Festivals,"
"Movie Talk from the Frontlines" (McFarland) and "Cannes: 50
Years of Sun, Sex and Celluloid" (Miramax/Hyperion). Gaydos
also appears frequently as an entertainment business
authority on CNN, MSNBC, NPR, BBC, Sky News, etc.
SIBYL GOLDMAN - Vice President, Entertainment, Yahoo! Entertainment
As vice president of Yahoo! Entertainment, Sibyl Goldman oversees the continued growth and success of Yahoo!’s Movies, TV, omg! and Shine, properties. Under her leadership, these properties have experienced all time highs in unique users, trailer streams and premiere partnerships.
Sibyl was at the helm of the development of omg!, Yahoo's celebrity news and gossip site. omg!, which launched in June 2007, has become #1 in its Comscore category and has received over 16 million unique visitors in some months, making omg! the number one entertainment news destination on the Web (beating TMZ and People.com). Sibyl played a key role in differentiating omg!’s celebrity news format by aggregating unique, light-hearted, and up-to-the-moment content.
Prior to joining Yahoo!, Sibyl ran Lifetime Television's interactive group. She worked closely with studios to produce video diaries on behalf of Lifetime's movies, as well as tapped into the powerful and often ignored audience of female gamers with a series of original Flash-based games that promoted Lifetime's slate of shows. Sibyl also created Girls on Film (Girls On) in 1995, a ground-breaking website featuring fan friendly perspectives on pop culture, which was acquired by Oxygen in 1999. Sibyl co-authored Girls On Film: The Highly Opinionated, Completely Subjective Guide to the Movies published by Harper Collins in 1999.
omg!, TV, Movies and Shine continue to expand their content offerings, advertising opportunities, and unique and returning users under Sibyl’s guidance and are each premiere destinations in their respective categories.
MARK HORAK
- President,
Warner Home Video Americas
Mr. Horak, formerly Executive Vice President and General Manager Worldwide Operations and New Packaged Media was responsible for Marketing, Operations, Sales and Legal Affairs. Prior to this assignment, he was Executive Vice President and General Manager - Asia, Pacific and Latin America. As Executive Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, Mr. Horak was responsible for building worldwide release strategies on such titles as Harry Potter and The Matrix. He also bolstered cooperation across WB divisions, especially between WHV and the domestic and international theatrical operations, to optimize release strategies. In his role he is responsible for managing his region's P&L as well as growing DVD penetration within his territories. Mr. Horak joined WHV in 1995 as Director of Marketing and held numerous executive marketing roles, including Senior Vice President, US Marketing. Previously he held marketing positions with Dole, RJR Nabisco and StarKist Seafoods. He earned a BBA from Loyola Marymount University and received his MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
BRYAN LACOUR
- SVP,
Union Bank
LaCour work in the bank's specialized financial services division and report to David Musicant, who heads national banking. LaCour is responsible for managing the bank's entertainment finance business, which has provided capital to Hollywood for more than 25 years. Films Union Bank Of California have financed include Alexander, The Aviator, Bring It On and Trust the Man. LaCour has more than eights years of experience in banking finance and joined Union Bank in 2007 from Comerica Bank, where he was vice president with the bank's entertainment industries group.
ED LEONARD
- CTO,
DreamWorks Animation
Ed Leonard is the Chief Technology Officer for DreamWorks Animation, where he is responsible for the design, implementation, successful operation and overall technical direction of the Company.
During his tenure at DreamWorks Animation, Ed has overseen the studio’s adoption of Linux, which made DreamWorks Animation one of the first studios to fully embrace Linux as its core operating system for the production of animated films. Ed was also a principal in developing DreamWorks Animation’s Virtual Studio Collaboration system, which revolutionized the studio’s ability to seamlessly collaborate across multiple geographic sites. The technology has been commercialized and is now being marketed by Hewlett-Packard (a joint developer) under the “Halo” brand.
With over sixteen years of experience in the entertainment industry, Ed has been credited in more than a dozen feature animated film projects, which include the Academy Award®-winning “Shrek” franchise as well as such blockbusters as “Kung Fu Panda,” “Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa” and “Monsters vs. Aliens,” the studio’s first release in stereoscopic 3D.
In 2008, Ed was awarded animation’s highest honor, the Annie Award®, for forming a consortium of technologists that helped Linux to become the standard operating system for many of the VFX and animation studios around the world. And most recently, Ed was recognized in the June 2009 issue of Fast Company Magazine’s “100 Most Creative People” edition.
Prior to Ed’s entertainment industry experience, he held several engineering positions in the aerospace industry, specializing in visual and simulation systems research. He holds degrees in Computer Science/Math from Cal Poly Pomona and serves on the advisory boards for several leading tech companies as well as the High Performance Computing subcommittee of The Council on Competitiveness.
MICHAEL LONDON - Founder and CEO,
Groundswell Productions
MICHAEL LONDON is the principal and founder of Groundswell Productions, an independent production and financing company formed in 2006. Since its inception three years ago, Groundswell has produced several recent releases, which include: Steven Soderbergh’s “The Informant!” starring Matt Damon; Gus Van Sant’s Academy Award®-winning “Milk,” starring Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin and James Franco; “The Visitor,” from writer-director Tom McCarthy and starring Richard Jenkins; “Appaloosa,” directed by Ed Harris, who also stars opposite Renée Zellweger and Viggo Mortensen; “Smart People” directed by Noam Murro and starring Dennis Quaid, Thomas Haden Church, Ellen Page and Sarah Jessica Parker; Rawson Marshall Thurber’s “The Mysteries of Pittsburgh,” based on the Michael Chabon novel and starring Sienna Miller, Peter Sarsgaard, and Jon Foster; and Todd Louiso’s “The Marc Pease Experience,” starring Jason Schwartzman, Ben Stiller and Anna Kendrick.
The company is in post-production on Andrew Jarecki’s “All Good Things,” starring Ryan Gosling, Kirsten Dunst, Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Frank Langella.
Prior to founding Groundswell, London produced the Alexander Payne film “Sideways,” which won a Golden Globe for Best Picture - Comedy or Musical, an Independent Spirit Award, and was a Best Picture nominee at the 2005 Academy Awards®, where it won the Oscar® for Best Adapted Screenplay.
In 2005, London produced “The Family Stone,” written and directed by Thomas Bezucha and starring Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Dermot Mulroney, Luke Wilson, Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams and Craig T. Nelson. London also produced Neil Burger’s “The Illusionist,” a period romantic thriller set in Vienna, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2006 and was released in August 2006. The film starred Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti and Jessica Biel and was produced with David Levien, Brian Koppelman, Cathy Schulman and Bob Yari, who also financed the picture.
Earlier in 2006, London teamed up again with Alexander Payne to produce “King of California,” which was written and directed by Mike Cahill, and starred Michael Douglas and Evan Rachel Wood.
In 2003, London produced “House of Sand and Fog,” starring Jennifer Connelly and Ben Kingsley, and Catherine Hardwicke’s “Thirteen” starring Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood. Both received Academy Award® nominations and 2004 Independent Spirit awards. “Thirteen” also won Best Director honors at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival.
Previously, London spent five years as a production executive at Fox, which he departed as executive vice president of production. Films under his supervision included “Alien 3,” “Die Hard 2,” “Sleeping with the Enemy,” “Hoffa,” and “The Sandlot.” He started his career as a staff writer for the Los Angeles Times after receiving his undergraduate degree from Stanford University.
JAMIE MCCABE -
EVP, Worldwide PPV/VOD and EST,
Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
Mr. McCabe oversees the sales and marketing of Twentieth Century Fox’s feature films and television content on a worldwide basis for the pay per view, video on demand and electronic sell through media. During his tenure, he has been instrumental in bringing Fox films and television to major cable, satellite and Internet services in over 40 countries.
He has managed the release of over 400 films ranging from “Speed”, “Titanic” and “There’s Something About Mary” to “Juno”, “Slumdog Millionaire” and the X-Men franchise. He has distributed over 120 different television series ranging from “Family Guy” to “24”.
Mr. McCabe joined Twentieth Century Fox in 1993 as Manager of Pay Television later serving as Director, Vice President, and then Senior Vice President of Worldwide Pay Per View and Video on Demand. Prior to joining Twentieth Century Fox, he worked for Walt Disney Pictures and on Wall Street for Merrill Lynch.
Mr. McCabe has a B.A. degree from Bucknell University and an MBA from the University of San Diego. He and his lovely wife Kelli are the proud parents of Jake, Sam and Keila.
MARCY MAGIERA -
Editor-in-Chief,
Video Business
Marcy Magiera was named associate publisher of Video Business in 2009, and editor-in-chief in 2006, after a dozen years in various editorial leadership roles with the Variety Group newsweekly. Prior to joining VB, Magiera was a senior reporter at Advertising Age, where she pioneered the coverage of new release movie marketing.
RICK NICITA - COO & Co-Chairman, Morgan Creek Productions
Rick
Nicita is COO and co-chairman of Morgan Creek Productions,
one of the leading and most successful independent
production entities in the film business. Nicita graduated
from Wesleyan University in 1967 and began his career at the
William Morris Agency in New York in 1968. He worked in the
Motion Picture Department representing actors and actresses
until 1976, when he transferred to the William Morris office
in Beverly Hills.
In 1980, he joined CAA, where he went on to co-head the
Motion Picture Department and head the Talent Department
before being named co-chairman of the agency. Over the
years, he has represented many of the world’s leading actors
and directors, including Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman, Al
Pacino, Anthony Hopkins, Kurt Russell, Jeff Bridges, Garry
Marshall, Kevin Costner, and Rob Reiner. He has also been
listed as one of the most influential people in Hollywood by
Premiere Magazine and Entertainment Weekly. Through his
successful representation of clients, Nicita has helped to
reposition the overall structure of talent relationships in
the entertainment industry. He also helped pioneer the
strategy of actor-based properties and production companies.
RENA RONSON -
Co-Head of Independent Film Group,
United Talent Agency
Ronson, currently Co-Head of UTA’s Independent Film Group, is one of the pre-eminent packaging and finance executives in independent film, and brings with her 23 years of experience in the global marketplace, including a 12 year career in foreign sales, production and co-production where she cultivated and continues to nurture relationships with the top distributors overseas. Her extensive experience abroad and in the United States gives her powerful insight concerning the global film market and the expanding economics of this business, and has led her to put together some of the most important independent films of the last few years.
Prior to joining UTA, Ronson helped secure financing and distribution for more than 150 films during her eleven years at William Morris Independent, and has been involved in over 500 titles in her career, including library packages, feature films and documentaries. She has put together creative financing structures for diverse directors such as Gus Van Sant and Woody Allen, as well as raised financing and development funding for producers Lauren Schuler Donner and Mark Canton.
Over the past few years alone, she was involved in the financing and/or distribution of several films that went on to receive Academy nominations, including Frozen River (Best Original Screenplay, Best Actress), Half Nelson (Best Actor), and Away From Her. (Best Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay). Ronson has also been instrumental in the sale of many other successful independent films, including the Thank You For Smoking, The Good Girl, Monster’s Ball, Hard Candy, The Cooler, and New York, I Love You., with directors Alan and Albert Hughes, Joshua Marston, Mira Nair, Brett Ratner, Bennet Miller, and Shekhar Kapur among others.
An advocate and strong supporter of new voices in the independent film community, Ronson helped launch careers for many directors and their first films, including Courtney Hunt’s Frozen River, Ryan Fleck and Anna Boden’s Half Nelson, and Sugar, Sarah Polly’s Away From Her, Nicole Kassell’s The) Woodsman, Brian Dannelly’s Saved, Jacob Estes’ Mean Creek, and most recently, Cherien Dabis’ Amreeka, which went on to win the both the 2009 Fipresci Award in Cannes, and the prestigious Humanitas Award. In addition, Ronson has nurtured and represented several preeminent documentaries, including Louie Psihoyos’ THE COVE, Steven Walker’s YOUNG @ HEART (a 2008 Humanitas Award winner), Bunim-Murray’s AUTISM THE MUSICAL, and the recent feature documentary EVERY LITTLE STEP, which she was also involved in putting together.
In 2008, Ronson helped launch the partnership with Screen Capital International to form the film financing entity Incentive Filmed Entertainment. Through this venture, she helped package and fund Don Roos’ Love and Other Impossible Pursuits, starring Natalie Portman, as well as Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine, starring Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams.
Prior to joining The William Morris Agency, Ronson ran Lakeshore International, a division of Lakeshore Entertainment she helped launch after spearheading the sale of Trans Atlantic Entertainment to create Lakeshore International. She launched the company in October 1996, positioning it as one of the leading independent foreign sales companies, and oversaw its 350-picture library.
In additional to her career in foreign sales and distribution, Ronson produced Twin Falls Idaho, which she developed with writer/director Mark and Michael Polish and served as Executive Producer on several independent features, including Susan Streitfeld’s Female Perversions , starring Tilda Swinton, and more recently, Don Roos’ Love and Other Imposible Pursuits, and Derek Cianfrance’s Blue Valentine.
In 2006, Ronson received "The Independent Hero Award” by the Creative Coalition, and in 2008, she was honored by Women In Film (WIF) and presented with “The Business Leadership Award.”
Ronson received an M.A. in International Educational Development and Media Studies at Columbia University. Her distinct background also includes employment and studies abroad in Spain and Latin America.
JOHN RUBEY -
President,
AEG Live
John Rubey, President of AEG Network LIVE, has been a pioneer in
bringing digital and electronic media to the forefront of
entertainment marketing for more than 25 years. Rubey has created an
innovative approach to the production, promotion and distribution of
live niche events around the world, with a successful track record
that has consistently and creatively expanded the marketing potential
of live events.
As President of AEG Network LIVE, Rubey initiates and oversees
powerfully integrated promotional campaigns that target specific
audiences across numerous media platforms. In addition to utilizing
proprietary brand-building strategies, Mr. Rubey incorporates
broadband, digital cinema and new technological advancements in
High-Definition TV into his campaigns, while also employing
traditional radio, print and cable television applications, among
others.
Under Rubey's direction, AEG Network LIVE is the industry leader in
client-supplied concerts and special events for digital cinema,
broadband, television, HDTV, Video-On-Demand (VOD) and Pay-Per-View
(PPV) exhibitions. AEGNL is the leader in client supplied events with
more than 125 programs have generated more than $1 billion in measured
promotional media and $19.7 million in media value, as well as 813.5
million online impressions and 567 local market radio promotions.
At AEG Network Live, Rubey has worked with clients in the production
and promotion of live concert events including Live 8, Operation
MySpace - LIVE from Kuwait, Garth Brooks, Celine Dion, Bon Jovi,
Beyoncé, John Mayer, The Beatles & Cirque du Soleil, Destiny's Child,
Linkin Park, Fall Out Boy, Nelly, Avril Lavigne, Jimmy Buffet, KORN,
Kenney Chesney, Gloria Estefan, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers and
Prince. Rubey has also been the top provider of music events in
cinemas, with more than 75 events since 2000. In addition, he has
worked in the world of sports with marketing of "3D Cinema" events
that include the BCS Bowl and NBA All Star Cinema Event. He was also
involved in the first endeavors to bring Pay-Per-View to the
professional boxing arena with the likes of Mohammad Ali, George
Foreman, Roberto Duran, Sugar Ray Leonard and Oscar De La Hoya.
Rubey earned his Master of Business Administration from the University
of Houston, and his Bachelor of Science from Regis University in
Denver, Colorado. His productions have won numerous awards, including
twenty-one Telly Awards, and he is a member of the Telly Award Silver
Council. As a television event pioneer, he has spoken throughout the
U.S. as well as in London and Tokyo on the subjects of electronic
distribution and media, and the sponsorship of live events.
KEN RUTKOWSKI -
Owner,
KenRadio
Ken Rutkowski is one of the most broadly-informed and connected people in
the media, entertainment and technology (MET) market. Part pundit, part
matchmaker, part strategist - Ken helps start-ups to multi-national
corporations understand the trends shaping their industries and connect with
the people that matter. His daily Internet and radio talk show, World Tech
Round-Up, is a must-listen-to source of inside information for listeners in
over 40 countries - regularly scooping the major media and giving
perspective to emerging trends, developments and industry maneuvers. An
astute strategist, Ken combines a deep understanding of MET convergence with
an insider's perspective of the problems facing the industry today - helping
clients craft breakthrough strategies that leverage innovations in the
digital economy.
As a media personality and industry figure, Ken has been profiled in The
Wall Street Journal, Fox News, BBC, Wired, Business Week, The Red Herring,
Internet World, Electronic Media, Online Journalism Review, Chicago Tribune,
Chicago SunTimes, Boston Times, Asahi Shinbun, Bangkok Times, Finland
Helsingin Sanomat, Yahoo Internet Life and dozens of other publications
worldwide. He has been a featured presenter, speaker and moderator at
technology and media conferences hosted by industry organizations, like: The
Consumer Electronics Show (CES), The National Association of Broadcasters
Convention (NAB), CTIA, - The Wireless Association, National Association of
Television Program Executives (NATPE), IBC Conference, ITA, Digital
Hollywood, Internet World, Streaming Media, COMDEX, N+I Interop, Radio Ink,
LA Games Conference, XMediaLab, MipTV/MILIA, Seoul Digital Forum,
GadgetFest, Future of Television Conference and Milken Institute. Ken has
cultivated extensive relationships, ranging from the biggest tech companies
(Microsoft, Sun, Nokia and IBM) to the motion picture studios. He has
particular networking reach into the local software development and media
companies, IT outsourcers and consultants.
Ken has also created and hosted various technology programs on the following
radio networks: NPR, ABC, WLS Chicago KHOW Denver, CNET Radio San Francisco,
and BBC. Professional associations Ken is a founding member of the Streaming
Media Executive Committee, and is on the board of several media,
entertainment and technology companies.
He is a guest lecturer at prestigious universities such as Loyola
University, Northwestern University, and University of Illinois -
Champaign/Urbana to name a few. He has also been a guest speaker at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Southern California,
University of California - Los Angeles, San Diego, and Berkeley and other
top tier colleges and universities.
NED SHERMAN - CEO & Publisher, Digital Media Wire
As
CEO and Publisher of Digital Media Wire, Inc., Ned Sherman
works at the center of the rapidly growing digital media
industry, where he brokers relationships and keeps a tab on
the most important developments shaping the industry.
According to the Wall Street Journal, “Publisher Ned Sherman
is more than the average pundit: He is an attorney and has
an inside grasp of what is happening.” Ned is
responsible for establishing DMW's partnerships with NYU's
Stern School of Business, Variety, the Consumer Electronics
Association and numerous other industry publishers,
associations and businesses. Future of Television Forum,
which he co-chairs with NYU's Professor Al Lieberman, is
widely considered to be the most prestigious event of its
kind, bringing together industry leaders from around the
globe twice annually in Los Angeles and New York to network,
do deals and discuss the industry's future. He also
co-chairs and hosts Digital Music Forum, the industry
standard among digital music industry events.
Before co-founding Digital Media Wire, Ned spent seven years
as a corporate and entertainment attorney. As a founding
member of the iLaw Group in the Entertainment Department at
Loeb & Loeb LLP in Los Angeles, he handled licensing and
corporate transactions and financings for media and
entertainment clients including Universal Studios and MGM
and launched dozens of Internet and new media start-ups. Ned
is a graduate of Brown University, with honors, and the
University of Texas School of Law.
NEIL STILES - President & Publisher, Variety Group
As
President and Publisher of Variety, Inc., Neil Stiles is
responsible for the global business operations of the
Variety franchise including Variety, Daily Variety, Daily
Variety Gotham, and Variety.com. Additionally, he oversees
market-leading publications Video Business, Tradeshow Week
and 411 Publishing, and has corporate responsibility for
MarketCast, a leading provider of marketing research for the
film and television industries.
Neil, a native of Great Britain, has more than 30 years
of experience in the magazine industry, beginning as a music
industry journalist in the mid-1970s and moving into sales
management positions throughout the 1980s.
Before joining the Variety team in 2008, Neil played a
large role in the success of sister company Reed Business
Information-UK. As Division Managing Director, he oversaw a
number of online initiatives, including the email marketing
business, while managing the print and electronic portfolios
of more than two dozen products including Personnel Today,
Hairdressers Journal, Travel Weekly, Commercial Motor, Motor
Transport, Truck and Driver and Utility Week. He also served
as Chief Revenue Officer and launched the division’s digital
advertising network.
DAVID STRAUS -
CEO & Founder,
Withoutabox
(IMDb, Amazon co.)
David Straus, a Fulbright scholar, brings a diverse background that encompasses both film and business.
For four years, Straus co-founded and managed a production company. During this time, he developed and produced ten short films and four features, which received limited domestic and international distribution, as well as notable attention on the festival circuit.
In 1993, Straus and business partner Joe Neulight co-founded a successful post-production company, which doubled its revenues within a few years.
Straus brought his film experience to the political realm, leading a team authorized by former President Clinton to film his 1992 inaugural activities.
From this varied experience, Straus and his partners developed and founded Without A Box, Inc. As chairman and chief executive officer, Straus leads the Company in its financing endeavors and oversees its long-term business planning.
Straus recently served as a member of the Board of Directors of Clinica Para Las Americas, a community health care clinic serving the Pico-Union area of Los Angeles. He has an undergraduate degree from Pitzer College and is a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television MFA program.
SHARON SWART - Senior Editor, Variety
Sharon
Swart is a Senior Editor at Variety, primarily covering
independent film, the “10 Directors to Watch” series, the
Global Independents issue, and festival/market focuses such
as Sundance and Cannes. Previously, Swart spent four years
as an editor at The Hollywood Reporter, and served as a
writer-producer on national newscasts for RTL4 and RTL5
Television in The Netherlands. Swart holds a B.S. in
Political Science from the University of California at
Berkeley, and has done graduate work in communications at
the University of Amsterdam.
SIMON SWART -
EVP & General Manager, North America,
Fox Home Entertainment
Simon Swart joined TCFHE in 1997 and currently serves as the Executive
Vice President and General Manager of North America. Prior to this
appointment, he served as Executive Vice President of Sales and is
credited with developing one of the most lauded National Sales teams in
the industry by transforming the company's sales methodology into the
first and most successful team selling model in the industry. Simon
was also the driving force behind several new distribution models
including distributing ,the Lionsgate library and an aggressive
acquisitions and development strategy including the creation of Fox
Faith.
Under Swart's guidance, Fox Home Entertainment has received numerous
accolades from it retail partners including 24vendor of the year awards
over the past eight years.
Mr. Swart joined the company as Vice President of Operations and made
the transition to Sales in 1999. Previously he held positions of
increasing responsibility at Warner Home Entertainment and Buena Vista
Home Entertainment.
He has a unique background demonstrating ethical leadership, creativity,
constant innovation and vision throughout his career, being successful
in executive positions in Finance, Operations, Logistics, Sales and
Marketing.
DANIEL TIBBETS -
Executive Vice President & Studio Chief,
GoTV Networks
Daniel Tibbets brings substantial traditional and new media experience in the entertainment field to GoTV. Prior to joining GoTV, Tibbets spent 16 years at the vortex of the entertainment industry and has held senior executive roles in production and development for companies such as CBS Enterprises, Fireworks Television, Inc., Papazian-Hirsch Entertainment and Twentieth Television. At Twentieth Television, Tibbets ran FOXLAB, Inc. where he co-created and developed the first ever mobisode. In addition, Tibbets executive produced the first two original content mobisodes Love and Hate and Sunset Hotel, which launched in February 2005. Tibbets also developed the first convergence program to air on broadcast television at FOXLAB. In addition to his work at Twentieth Television, Tibbets is credited with the development and sale of the HBO series ROME from his work at Papazian-Hirsch. Tibbets graduated from Arizona State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with an emphasis in International marketing and business.
JARED UNDERWOOD - Senior Vice President and Manager,
Comerica Entertainment Group
Jared Underwood is Senior Vice President and Group Manager of Comerica Entertainment Group, a leading Los Angeles-based specialty finance group targeting the entertainment industry. Underwood has been with Comerica Entertainment Group (CEG), a division of Comerica Bank, for 15 years, during which time the group has financed over 700 films. Notable films financed by the group include Academy Award winners, “Crash”, “Wallace & Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit”, and “Gods and Monsters”. Other more recent notable titles include, "Twilight", "District 9", "New Moon", "Milk", and "Iron Man."
Recent slate transactions underwritten and/or led by CEG include, a $135 million credit facility for Michael London’s AXON Film Finance fund, a $200 million credit facility for The Weinstein Company’s Asian Film Fund, a $75 million credit facility for Larry Levinson's LG Films, a $350 million credit facility for Media Rights Capital (co-led with JP Morgan), a $135 million credit facility for Nu Image films, and an up to $300 million credit facility for Relativity Media's Beverly Blvd 2 (co-led with Union Bank).
Born in Pocatello, Idaho, Underwood majored in Business Administration at the University of Southern California and resides in Los Angeles.
PAULA WAGNER
PAULA WAGNER has worked in the top ranks of the entertainment industry as a powerful talent agent, successful producer, and top studio executive. She is founder of Chestnut Ridge Productions, currently developing film, television, theater, and new media projects.
Wagner began her career at Creative Artists Agency where she spent 15 years representing some of Hollywood's top actors, directors, and writers. In 1993, she launched Cruise/Wagner Productions with her former CAA client Tom Cruise. For the next 13 years, C/W Productions produced a wide range of pictures that earned numerous awards, widespread critical praise, and global box office success. C/W's first film, "Mission: Impossible", was an international hit that brought the company the 1997 Nova Award for Most Promising Producers. Wagner went on to produce such critically acclaimed films as "Without Limits", "Shattered Glass", "Narc", "The Others", "Vanilla Sky", "Elizabethtown", "The Last Samurai", and "Ask The Dust", not to mention the international blockbusters "Mission: Impossible II", "Mission: Impossible III", and Steven Spielberg's "War Of The Worlds" which she executive produced. In the decade that separated "Mission: Impossible" and "Mission: Impossible III", Ms. Wagner's films earned more than $3 billion in worldwide box office receipts.
Wagner was co-owner and CEO of United Artists Entertainment, LLC from 2006 to 2008. During her tenure, she orchestrated relationships with some of the top talents in the business including Oscar-winning screenwriters Christopher McQuarrie, Paul Haggis, Steve Zaillian and Academy Award nominee Guillermo del Toro, among others. UA released the Robert Redford political thriller "Lions for Lambs" and the World War II thriller "Valkyrie", directed by Bryan Singer. On behalf of UA she spoke at MipCom in Cannes, ShoWest in Vegas, and the Cinema Expo in Amsterdam regarding the state of the entertainment industry.
Wagner has received a number of awards and recognition for her contributions to varying film societies. Ms. Wagner was honored by Premiere magazine with the Women In Hollywood Icon Award in 2001 and was featured in Bravo's "Women On Top" documentary which profiled exceptional women in entertainment. In 2004, she was honored by Daily Variety as a "Billion Dollar Producer" and that same year received the UCLA/Producers Guild Of America Visionary Award. She was the recipient of the Excellence in Producing Award at the Sarasota Film Festival, served as the president of the First-Time Directors Jury at the Venice International Film Festival, co-chaired the Hollywood Film Festival from 2002-2006 and was honored by the Costume Designers Guild with its Swarovski President's Award. Most recently, she was honored with the Sherry Lansing Award from the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization. In 2007, she and her husband Rick Nicita were awarded the ACLU Bill of Right Award for championing numerous film projects that highlight civil rights and civil liberty issues.
An ardent supporter of higher education, Wagner serves on the Board of Trustees of Carnegie Mellon University, where she received her degree. She is a member of the American Cinematheque's Board of Directors and sits on the board of the National Film Preservation Foundation through the Library of Congress. Ms. Wagner is also on the Executive Committee of the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, served on the Board of Education for Interlochen Center for the Arts, and participates as a mentor to the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC.
Prior to her career as an agent and producer, Ms. Wagner began as an actress, performing on and off-Broadway. She was also a member of the Yale Repertory Company. She is a published playwright, co-authoring the play "Out Of Our Father's House". She was a member of Actor’s Equity and Screen Actors Guild and currently, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Producers Guild of America. Wagner currently resides in Los Angeles with her husband Rick Nicita, Co-Chairman and COO of Morgan Creek Productions, and their sons, Zachary and Jesse.
BLAIR WESTLAKE
- Corporate Vice President, Media & Entertainment Group,
Microsoft Corporation
As
corporate vice president of the Media & Entertainment Group
at Microsoft Corporation, Blair Westlake serves as the
liaison within Microsoft for the media and entertainment
industries, including Hollywood, broadcasters,
cable/satellite programmers and the music industry. He
directs a cross-organizational group responsible for
business development, policies and content licensing for
services and products including Xbox Live Marketplace Video
store, Windows Media Center Edition PCs and Zune. He joined
Microsoft in August 2004 and is based at the Company's
Redmond, WA headquarters.
Westlake is a seasoned media and entertainment industry
veteran, with more than 25 years of diverse experience
encompassing home video, pay and free television
distribution, video-on-demand and pay-per-view,
non-theatrical content distribution (airlines, hotels,
etc.), television production, physical studio operations,
international thematic channels development and management,
strategic planning for a global television business unit,
magazine publishing and theme parks.
Before joining Microsoft, Westlake consulted for various
media companies including Comcast Corp. and NBC Universal
and was corporate executive vice president of Gemstar-TV
Guide International, Inc. Westlake was also an executive of
Universal Studios, Inc. (formerly known as MCA INC.) for
nearly 20 years, where he was Chairman of Universal
Television & Networks Group. He joined Universal as an
attorney in the Law Department (1982 - 85), and subsequently
held positions as Director of Business Affairs for Studio
Operations (1985-87), Vice President and Senior Vice
President, Business & Legal Affairs, Home Entertainment
Group (1987-93), Executive Vice President, Home
Entertainment Group (1993-96), and President, Worldwide Pay
Television and Television Business Development (1996-97).
Following graduation from law school, he was an attorney
with Great Western Financial Corporation, later acquired by
Washington Mutual Bank.
Under Westlake's leadership, Universal Studios broke new
ground in creating strategic alliances to build the
Universal brand in the global television arena, including
long-term, multibillion dollar channel carriage and content
licensing agreements with Germany's KirchGruppe, France's
Canal+, Stream in Italy and Sogecable in Spain. He was
instrumental in the formation of various multi-party joint
ventures, leading to the creation of a dozen international
channels including HBO Asia, Telecine premium movie channel
in Brazil, Cinecanal premium movie channel in Latin America,
the Premium Movie Partnership (Showtime and Encore movie
channels) in Australia, TV1 Channel in Australia, RTL7
channel partnership (with CLT/UFA and Bertelsmann) in
Poland, and Star Channel in Japan.
Westlake oversaw the global of the licensing of Universal's
motion pictures (output and library comprising 5,000+
titles) and television libraries (40,000+ episodes), through
all forms and means of television. In 1993, Westlake
negotiated a groundbreaking agreement with
Tele-Communications Inc. and Encore Media for Universal
Studio's motion pictures, which led to the formation of what
later became known as Starz, a premium movie channel which
competes with HBO and Showtime. In 2000, he was responsible
for crafting and negotiating the first-ever "split-slate"
output deal with HBO and Starz.
A recognized leader in the media and entertainment
industries, Westlake was the first recipient of the Whittier
College School of Law Alumni Award for Business Excellence
in 2002, and in December 2007 received the Special Founders
Award from the Association of Media and Entertainment
Counsel (AMEC), the leading trade association serving
general counsel and business affairs attorneys at media and
entertainment companies.
He is a member of a number of industry organizations
including The Paley Center for Media (The Museum of
Television & Radio) Media Council, the Executive Branch of
the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences (Academy
Awards®), Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (Emmy
Awards®), the Executive Committee of the International
Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (iEmmy® Awards) and
The Pacific Council on International Policy. Westlake is a
member of Board of Directors of the Digital Entertainment
Group (DEG); ContentGuard, Inc.; and Digital Coast
Roundtable; he is a former member of the Consumer
Electronics Association Board of Directors and the Board
Industry Leaders and board of the National Association of
Television Program Executives (NATPE).
Westlake is admitted and an active member of the California
State Bar.
DAVID P. WHITE
- National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator,
Screen Actors Guild
David
White is the National Executive Director and Chief
Negotiator of Screen Actors Guild, Hollywood’s largest
entertainment union. In this role, he oversees all
executive, operational and contract negotiation matters for
the Guild. Prior to rejoining the Guild, where he
previously served as General Counsel from 2002 to 2006,
White was Managing Principal of Los Angeles-based
Entertainment Strategies Group (ESG) providing consulting
services to the entertainment industry.
A graduate of
Stanford Law School and a Rhodes Scholar, White was a labor
and employment attorney at O’Melveny & Myers LLP before
joining the executive ranks of SAG. Prior to law school,
White served as Executive Director of the
neighborhood-based, non-profit Youth Opportunities
Unlimited, Inc. He also consulted for the Chapin Hall
Center for Children (University of Chicago) and a variety of
urban development projects in the United States, England and
South Africa.
White has been
selected as a “Southern California Super Lawyer - Rising
Star” and has received numerous other awards for his work
and service throughout his career. He is the former
Co-Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Labor Law Standing
Committee of the American Bar Association. He is currently
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of his alma mater,
Grinnell College, and was appointed by the Mayor of Los
Angeles as a Commissioner for urban area planning and
development. White is a member of the Board of Advisors for
the Association of Media and Entertainment Counsel and a
member of the Board of Advisors for the Posse Foundation-LA,
an organization dedicated to expanding educational and
leadership opportunities to students across Los Angeles
County.
White has been a
contributing writer for the Los Angeles Lawyer and,
as a frequent commentator on entertainment industry trends,
has been quoted on National Public Radio’s
“Marketplace,” and in the Los Angeles Times, the
Los Angeles Daily Journal, the Hollywood Reporter,
Daily Variety, Broadcasting & Cable, and other
publications.
Many more to come...
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