5th ANNUAL SUMMIT

Skirball Cultural Center

2701 N Sepulveda Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90049

The fifth annual Women in Entertainment Summit will take place on Thursday, October 24, 2019, at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles, CA. The full-day event will feature a series of keynotes, panels and fireside chats with some of the industry’s most successful and progressive minds.  

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Speakers and panel themes can be found below, and tickets can be purchased here:

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8:00 am

Doors Open & Registration 

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8:40 am

Opening Address 

Renee Rossi and Gretchen McCourt, Co-Founders, Women in Entertainment 

9:00 - 9:25 am

In Conversation with Patricia Heaton 

Moderated by Erika Anderson, Regional Director, Slate 

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9:25 - 10:10 am

Women Shaping and Changing the Comedy Genre

Discussing how strong, funny women are changing the comedy world. We'll discuss how comedy writers shape dynamic, multi-dimensional female characters, the importance of creating more female-led comedies (in front of and behind the camera), and how women creators and comedians are changing the game on social media, on stage, and on streaming services.

Jo Sharon, Co-CEO of Magical Elves

June Diane Raphael, Actress, Writer, Producer (Grace and Frankie, Big Mouth, Bride Wars, How Did This Get Made? podcast)

Allison Raskin, New York Times bestselling Author, Actress, Creator (Just Between Us YouTube channel, Gossip podcast)

Danielle Perez, Stand-up Comedian, Actress, Writer (MTV's Decoded)
 

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10:15 - 10:35 am

A Conversation with Julie McNamara, CBS All Access and Producer Alex Kurtzman

Moderated by Joy Press, writer for Vanity Fair and Author of Stealing the Show: How Women are Revolutionizing Television

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10:55 - 11:35 am

#TaketheLead: A Conversation with Creators and Leaders of STARZ 

Rebecca Cutter, Executive Producer of Hightown

Maril Davis, Executive Producer of Outlander 

Karen Bailey and Susan Lewis, Senior Vice Presidents of Original Programming, STARZ

Moderated by Alison Hoffman, Chief Marketing Officer, STARZ 

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11:40 am - 12:20 pm

Conscious Cultural Accuracy and Representation  

Exploring the importance of achieving accurate representation in film and TV; how authentic depictions of cultural backgrounds can shift the tides towards greater understanding; how are writers are increasingly molding complex characters of all cultures without stereotypes, and the importance of striving for on and off-screen diversity to bring multiple perspectives and experiences to a project’s narrative.

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Gloria Calderón Kellett, Executive Producer and Co-Showrunner of One Day at a Time (Netflix/PopTV)

Daniele Melia, West Coast Head of Development and Producer, Big Beach (The Farewell, Fatherless, 3 Generations)

Diana Mogollón, SVP and General Manager, Stage 13/Warner Bros. Digital Networks (Special, High & Mighty, Lipstick Empire)

Tiana Nonosina Liufau, Creative Director, Nonosina Polynesia, Inc. and Choreographer (Moana, So You Think You Can Dance)

moderated by Sarah Unger, SVP, Cultural Insights & Strategy, CIVIC 

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12:25 -1:50 pm

Lunch Break

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1:55 - 2:35 pm

Cross-Platform Content and Trends Inspiring the Next Generation

Exploring all things "gen z" in the entertainment industry: discussing what kind of content this audience wants to see, social trends that influence themes and topics explored in gen z-focused movies and TV shows, and how studios and networks are learning about viewer preferences and patterns, and tailoring content accordingly. Also, what can we learn from the rise of the social media star? How is the next generation of creatives forging a path in entertainment and finding cross-platform success?

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Paula Kaplan, EVP of Talent and Development, Viacom Digital Studios 

Shelley Zimmerman, Co-Head of Awesomeness TV

Laura Marano, Actress (The Perfect Date, Lady Bird)

Brent Rivera, YouTube Personality and Actor (Light as a Feather)

Daniella Perkins, Actress (Knight Squad, Middle School Moguls)

moderated by Dawn Chmielewski, Senior Editor of Media, Entertainment, and Tech, Forbes

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2:40 - 3:05 pm

In Conversation with Sarah Hyland

Moderated by Erika Anderson, Regional Director, Slate

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3:10 - 3:50 pm

Authenticity in Storytelling

Focusing on how content creators develop and maintain strong, complex female characters and stories across platforms, and what we can learn from the rapid growth of cross-platform content. How are women championing strong narratives across new media formats like podcasts, VR, gaming, and social, as well as unscripted TV and branded content?

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Jennifer Barrett, Head of Entertainment, Creative Shop at Facebook

Vanessa Flaherty, Partner and EVP, Digital Brand Architects

Shabnam Mogharabi, Co-Founder and General Manager, SoulPancake

Shaun MacGillivray, President, MacGillivray Freeman, Producer (Dream Big: Engineering Our World, National Parks Adventure)

Dete Meserve, Principal at Wind Dancer Films, Producer (What Men Want, Ready Jet Go!), Author (Good Sam) 

moderated by Dawn Chmielewski, Senior Editor of Media, Entertainment, and Tech, Forbes

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4:10 - 4:50 pm

Transfer of Knowledge: The Significance of Female Support

Focusing on why is it so important for women getting their start in the entertainment and media industry to find a role model, and for established creatives and executives to impart their knowledge and guidance to help emerging professionals find their path to success. How can receiving support change the course of one’s career? What are some ways to identify and approach someone you're inspired by?

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Thai Randolph, EVP and General Manager, Laugh Out Loud

Danielle Kreinik, Director of Television Development, Ubisoft Film and Television

Mona May, Costume Designer (Clueless, Enchanted, Santa Clarita Diet)

Monica Brady, Founder and COO, VUniverse 

Ty Stiklorius, Founder of Friends at Work, Producer (La La Land) 

moderated by Maria Burton, Director and DGA Women's Steering Committee Co-Chair 

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4:55 - 5:40 pm

On and Off-Screen Inclusivity of People of All Abilities
Exploring the importance of ensuring that on-screen and off-screen environments accurately represent how our world looks, inclusive of those of all abilities. How is the industry growing to become more inclusive, and what are the areas of opportunity? What is the significance of people of all abilities seeing themselves represented on screen and in behind-the-scenes entertainment industry careers? How is Hollywood growing in on-screen portrayal of cognitive, speech, developmental, and mobility disabilities?

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Kaitlyn Yang, Founder and Visual Effects Supervisor, Alpha Studios

RJ Mitte, Actor, Activist (Breaking Bad, Switched at Birth, Vegas)

Jenni Gold, Co-Founder and President of Gold Pictures, Producer & Director (CinemAbility: The Art of Inclusion) 

Irene Taylor Brodsky, Oscar-Nominated Filmmaker (Moonlight Sonata: Deafness In Three Movements, Hear and Now)

Jess Burkle, TV Writer for In the Dark (CBS)

moderated by Tatiana Lee, Hollywood Inclusionist at RespectAbility, Actor, Model, and Founder/Editor of Accessible Hollywood 

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5:45 pm

Cocktail Reception

2019 Summit Sponsors