Amanda Harrell (Former EVP, Business and Legal Affairs for Alternative and Specials, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios)
When: April 9, 2024 - 12:30-1:45 pm CT
Note: Speaker sessions are subject to change based on evolving guest schedules.
Please join us for a Q&A session where we discuss Amanda Harrell's career trajectory, her roles and responsibilities, and her views on the current state of the media industries.
To RSVP, please fill out this form. This MIC will be in-person and on Zoom. Zoom links will be sent out the day of the event.
Speaker Biography
Amanda Harrell is the former Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs for the Alternative and Specials division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios (MGM). MGM’s Alternative and Specials division focuses on unscripted and similar content but also develops and produces other entertainment content such as podcasting and live events. Harrell was responsible for business and legal affairs for all areas of the division, including development, production and management of the team of legal professionals working in the division.
Harrell’s background in unscripted television is deep. She began her career with Mark Burnett in 1994 during college when she had a brief internship with Burnett’s original Eco-Challenge project before being hired by Burnett to oversee competitor relations for the cutting-edge sporting event and television production. Throughout the decade following her graduation from college, Harrell held several positions within the Burnett organization, including serving as line producer for the original Eco-Challenge project and on a number of Burnett’s development projects, including The Apprentice. Harrell left the Burnett organization to attend Villanova University School of Law but didn’t stay away long.
While in law school, Harrell clerked for the Burnett organization’s then newly formed in-house business and legal affairs department, working primarily with the international distribution department. After earning her law degree and passing the California bar, Harrell officially rejoined the organization as a member of its business and legal affairs department, eventually rising to head up the department. MGM engaged Harrell to stay on in this capacity after its acquisition of Burnett’s companies in 2016. In a moment of coming “full circle”, while serving as the business and legal affairs head for MGM’s Alternative and Specials division, Harrell negotiated the deal to revive the Eco-Challenge project for Amazon’s Prime Video in 2020.
Spring 2024 MIC Speakers
Feb 16. - Austin Animation Panel
Guests include Carrye Glazar (Executive Producer, Austin Community College Television), Brad Graeber (CEO, Powerhouse Animation Studios), Austin Harper (Supervising Producer, Rooster Teeth), Evan Narcisse (Senior Writer, Brass Lion Entertainment), and Craig Staggs (CEO, Minnow Mountain).
4:00 - 5:15 pm CT
Feb 20. - Scot Cru
Independent International Television & Media Consultant
12:30–1:45 pm CT
March 21 - Austin-Based Film Festivals Panel
Guests include Neha Aziz (Artistic Director, Austin Asian American Film Festival), Alka Bhanot (Co-Founder, Indie Meme), David Finkel (Director, Austin Jewish Film Festival), Todd Hogan (President, aGLIFF), and Gabriel Ornelas (Executive Director, Cine Las Americas).
4:00–5:15 pm CT
Apr. 1 - Patrick Schumacker
EP and Co-Showrunner of Abbott Elementary, Delicious Non Sequitur Productions and WB Television
5–6:15 pm CT
Apr. 9 - Amanda Harrell
Former EVP, Business and Legal Affairs, Alternative and Specials, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios
12:30–1:45 pm CT
Apr. 23 - Lee Solomon
Partner, Apollo Global Management LLC
12:30–1:45 pm CT
Fall 2023 MIC Speakers
Aug. 28 - Launching Your Career Panel
Guests include Ben Harizman (Executive Assistant to the CEO, OBB Media), Zachary Smith (Line Producer's Assistant, 20th Television), Hemrani Vyas (Assistant Manager of Programming, TCM), and Rachel Wang (Associate Producer, Up Entertainment).
5:00–6:15 pm CT
Sept. 11 - Launching Your Career, Screenwriter & Agent
Guests: Davia Carter (Tulsa King), Jim Ehrich (literary agent, Rothman Brecher Ehrich Livingston) & Cindy McCreery (RTF Interim Chair, Honey Girls)
5:00–6:15 pm CT
Sept. 18 - Brent Weinstein
Chief Development Officer, Candle Media
5:00–6:15 pm CT
Sept. 25 - Gail MacKinnon
Senior Executive Vice President, Global Policy & Government Affairs, Motion Picture Association
5:00-6:15pm CT
Oct. 2 - Dr. Thomas Schatz
Professor Emeritus, University of Texas at Austin
5:00–6:15 pm CT
Oct. 9 - Business of Music Panel
Guests include Wofford Denius (Attorney, Eisner, LLP), Jonathan Eshak (Co-President, Mick Music), Margaret Galton (Promoter, C3 Presents), Dan Goscombe (Managing Director, Cal Financial Group), and Kevin Shivers (Partner, WME).
5:00–6:15 pm CT
Oct. 16 - Amanda Barclay
Director, Comedy Series, Netflix
5:00-6:15pm CT
Oct. 23 - Christopher Casanova
Vice President, Film & Television, Black Bear Pictures
5:00-6:15pm CT
Oct 25 - Emerald Fennell
Writer, Director, Actress and Author
Promising Young Woman, Saltburn
6:00-7:15pm CT
Oct. 30 - Pastor Alvarado III
Executive Producer and Creative Director, Riverside Entertainment
5:00-6:15pm CT
Nov. 6 - Lucy Huang
Senior Production Executive, Amazon Studios
5:00-6:15pm CT
Nov. 9 - Bob Berney
CEO, Picturehouse
9:30-10:45am CT
Nov. 13 - Entertainment Law Panel
PJ Shapiro & Greg Slewett (lawyers and partners, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole)
5:00–6:15 pm CT
Nov. 27 - David Tran
VP, Distribution Strategy and Analysis, Lionsgate
5:00-6:15pm CT
Dec. 4 - Austin Entertainment Industry
Guests include Alfred Gomez (Director, Programming & Development, Blind Nil), Jennifer Hutchins (Producer), Laura Kincaid (Director of Operations, ATX TV), Attia Rasul (Content Hub Editor, Atmosphere TV), and Vince Robinette (Controller, Amazon Studios and 20th Century Fox/Disney).
5:00–6:15 pm CT