Media Industry Conversations

Media Industry Conversations

 

The Media Industry Conversations speaker series invites students to meet and learn from a diverse array of professionals in the media and entertainment industries. Guests discuss their career trajectories, give advice for the next generation of media leaders, and share insights on today’s entertainment landscape.  

 

Media Industry Conversations are a joint initiative between the Department of Radio-Television-Film and the Center for Entertainment and Media Industries.

 

 

Fall 2024 MIC Lineup

Old-fashioned microphone on orange background

September 9 - Launching Your Career

Guests include Katie Hoovestol (Entertainment Research Analyst, National Research Group), Alberto Medina (Manager and Producer, BASH Media), Zachary Smith (Producer Director's Assistant, Station 11) and Rachel Wang (Associate Producer, UP Entertainment).
5:00-6:15pm

Headshots: Cindy McCreery (Black shirt and light background), Jim Ehirch (foliage in background)

September 16 - Screenwriter/Agent Relationship

Guests include Jim Ehrich, Partner Agent at Rothman Brecher Ehrich Livingston, and Cindy McCreery, RTF Chair and Screenwriter.
5:00-6:15pm

Headshot of Lee Solomon, white collered shirt in front of a patterned wall

September 23 - Lee Solomon

Partner, Private Equity at Apollo Global Management
5:00-6:15pm

Elaine Frontain Bryant headshot, black dress in front of a window with a skyline

September 30 - Elaine Frontain Bryant

EVP, Head of Programming, A&E,Lifetime, LMN, A+E Television Networks
5:00-6:15pm

Tom Schatz circle

October 2 - Tom Schatz

Professor Emeritus, UT Austin Radio-Television-Film
3:00-4:15 pm

Old-fashioned microphone on orange background

October 7 - Business of Music

The Agent/Talent Relationship
5:00-6:15pm

Woman with long brown hair, wearing patterned shirt and blazer in front of dark grey background

October 14 - Ashley Brucks

President, Screen Gems/Sony – via Zoom
5:00-6:15pm

Brent Weinstein headshot, shoulders up with a collered shirt in front of a white wall

October 21 - Brent Weinstein

Chief Development Officer, Candle Media
5:00-6:15pm

Headshot of white man with brown hair in black shirt and rectangular glasses

October 28 - Colby Gaines

Producer and Founder of Backroads Entertainment
5:00-6:15pm

PJ Shapiro and Greg Slewett Headshots; Greg Slewett in dark suit in top right, PJ Shapiro in dark suit in bottom left

November 4 - Entertainment Law

Guests: PJ Shapiro and Greg Slewett
Attorneys & Founding Partners, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole
5:00-6:15pm

Don Mischer Headshot, Dark suit jacket with light collered shirt

November 11 - Don Mischer

CEO, Executive Producer, Don Mischer Productions
5:00-6:15pm

Michelle Trujillo McKibben headshot, dark shirt and grey background

November 18 - Michelle Trujillo McKibben

Sr. Manager of Post Production, UCAN Scripted Series, Netflix
5:00-6:15pm

Lucy Huang Headshot, Long black hair with rectangular glasses, shoulder up

December 2 - Lucy Huang

Senior Production Executive, Amazon MGM Studios
5:00-6:15pm

James Emanuel Shapiro Headshot, Waist up, man with white collered shirt and sweater vest standing in front of bookcase. Short black hair and rectangular glasses

December 9 - James Emanuel Shapiro

President, Domestic Distribution, XYZ Films
5:00-6:15pm

Check out upcoming MIC events:


  • Media Industry Conversations: Entertainment Law
    -
    Media Industry Conversation: PJ Shapiro and Greg Slewett, Founding Partners, Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole When: Monday, November 4th, 2024 at 5-6:15 pm CT Please join us for a Q&A session where we discuss PJ Shapiro and Greg Slewett's career trajectory, their roles and responsibilities, an
  • Media Industry Conversations: Don Mischer
    -
    Media Industry Conversation: Don Mischer, CEO and Executive Producer, Don Mischer Productions When: Monday, November 11th, 2024 at 5-6:15 pm CT Please join us for a Q&A session where we discuss Don Mischer's career trajectory, his roles and responsibilities, and his views on the current state of
  • Media Industry Conversations: Michelle Trujillo McKibben
    -
    Media Industry Conversation: Michelle Trujillo McKibben, Sr.
  • Media Industry Conversations: Lucy Huang
    -
    Media Industry Conversation: Lucy Huang (Senior Production Executive, Amazon MGM Studios) When: Monday, December 2nd, 2024 at 5-6:15 pm CT Please join us for a Q&A session where we discuss Lucy Huang's career trajectory, her roles and responsibilities, and her views on the current state of the m
  • Media Industry Conversations: James Emanuel Shapiro
    -
    Media Industry Conversation: James Emanuel Shapiro (President, US Distribution at XYZ Films) When: Monday, December 9th, 2024 at 5-6:15 pm CT Please join us for a Q&A session where we discuss James Emanuel Shapiro's career trajectory, his roles and responsibilities, and his views on the current

Tune In to MIC

Past MIC Sessions

Podcast recordings of MIC sessions are linked in the session title, where applicable.

Lee Solomon - Partner, Apollo Global Management LLC

 

Austin-Based Film Festivals Panel

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)

Gabriel Ornelas (Executive Director, Cine Las Americas)

 

Austin Animation Panel

Carrye Glazar (Executive Producer, Austin Community College Television)

Brad Graeber (CEO and CCO, Powerhouse Animation Studios)

Austin Harper (Supervising Producer, Rooster Teeth)

Evan Narcisse (Senior Writer, Brass Lion Entertainment)

Craig Staggs (CEO, Director, and Producer, Minnow Mountain)

 

Austin Entertainment Industry Panel

Alfred Gomez (Director, Programming & Development, Blind Nil)

Jennifer Hutchins (Producer)

Laura Kincaid (Director of Operations, ATX TV Festival)

Attia Rasul (Content Hub Editor, Atmosphere TV)

Vince Robinette (Controller, Amazon Studios and 20th Century Fox/Disney)

 

David Tran - VP, Distribution Strategy and Analysis, Lionsgate

 

Lucy Huang - Senior Production Executive, Amazon Studios

 

Emerald Fennell - Actress, Writer, Director

 

Amanda Barclay - Director, Comedy Series, Netflix

 

Business of Music Panel

Wofford Denius - Attorney, Eisner, LLP

Jonathan Eshak - Co-Owner and Partner, Mick Management

Margaret Galton - Talent Buyer, C3 Events

Dan Goscombe - Managing Director, Cal Financial Group

Kevin Shivers - Partner, WME Music Division

 

Gail MacKinnon - Senior Executive Vice President, Global Policy & Government Affairs, MPAA

 

Brent Weinstein - Chief Development Officer, Candle Media

 

Breaking In: The Screenwriter/Agent Relationship 2023

Davia Carter - Writer, Tulsa King, Snowfall

Jim Ehrich - Literary Agent, Rothman Brecher Ehrich Livingston

Cindy McCreery - RTF Interim Chair & Associate Professor

 

Breaking In Panel 2023

Ben Harizman - Executive Assistant to the CEO, OBB Media

Zachary Smith - Line Producer's Assistant, 20th Television

Hemrani Vyas - Assistant Manager of Programming, TCM

Rachel Wang - Associate Producer, Up Entertainment

Michelle Trujillo McKibben - Manager, Original Series Post Production, Netflix

 

PJ Shapiro and Greg Slewett - Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole

 

Elaine Frontain Bryant - EVP & Head of Programming, A&E

 

Lucy Huang - Senior Production Executive, Amazon Studios

 

Barry Dale Johnson - Senior Vice President, National Publicity, Fox Searchlight

 

Johannes Larcher - CEO, Storytel

 

Andrew Wang - Head of Development & Production, Juvee Productions

 

Akilah Green - Writer, Producer, Actress

 

Tom Schatz - Chair Emeritus of the Department of Radio-Television-Film at The University of Texas at Austin

 

Breaking In: The Screenwriter/Agent Relationship 2022

Jim Ehrich - Literary Agent, Rothman Brecher Ehrich Livingston

Cindy McCreery - RTF Interim Chair & Associate Professor

 

Bob Iger - CEO, Disney (Retired at the Time of Visit)

Please note that two months after this MIC talk and podcast recording, Mr. Iger rejoined The Walt Disney Company as Chief Executive Officer.

 

Breaking In Panel 2022

Ben Harizman - Assistant, William Morris Endeavor

Daniel Tuggle - Chief of Staff, Moment

Hemrani Vyas - Assistant Manager of Programming, TCM

Rachel Wang - Project Artemis Office Production Assistant, Apple Studios

Jesse Anderson - Brand Manager for BioWare, Electronic Arts

 

Morgan O'Brien - Quality Assurance Tester, Aspyr Media

 

Gracie Arenas Strittmatter - Technical Art Director, EA Sports

 

Hall Hood - Senior Writer, Aspyr Media

Jordan Levin - General Manager, Rooster Teeth

 

PJ Shaprio - Entertainment attorney, Ziffren Brittenham LLP

 

Kyle Davies - Davies Entertainment Group, Owner

 

Maru Buendia-Senties - Senior Post Production Executive, Amazon Studios

 

Michelle Trujillo McKibben - Manager, Original Series Post Production, Netflix

 

Lucy Huang - Production Executive, Amazon Studios

 

Brian Edwards - President, TV Operations, MGM

 

Brandt Joel - Agent & Partner, WME Endeavor

 

Colby Gaines - Executive Producer and Founder, Back Roads Entertainment

 

Keli Lee - Founder & President, Infinite Possibilities Enterprises

 

Kevin Jarzynski - Senior Development Executive, Amazon Studios

 

Tahirah Gooden - Manager, Original Studio Films at Netflix

 

Mindy Kaling - Actress, Writer, Producer (The Office, The Mindy Project)

 

Ginny Morris - Chair/CEO, Hubbard Media

 

Mark Hoffman - Chairman, CNBC

 

Breaking In: The Screenwriter/Agent Relationship 2021

Davia Carter - Executive Story Editor (Debris)

Jim Ehrich - Literary Agent, Rothman Brecher Ehrich Livingston

Kim Tran - Staff Writer (Space Force)

Cindy McCreery - RTF Associate Professor & Screenwriting Area Head

 

Breaking In Panel 2021

Caterina Nasr - Senior Manager, A&R, Elektra Music

Vance Nguyen - Assistant to VP & Executive Director of Development, 20th Century Animation

Lauren Zimmer - Television Scripted Assistant at Creative Artists Agency

Hemrani Vyas - Assistant Manager of Programming, TCM

Scott Grogin - Executive Vice President, Communications, CBS Distribution

 

Casey Cannon and Van Ling - Producing Partners

Casey Cannon - RanchWorks Picture Show, Producer and VFX

Van Ling - Writer, Director, and VFX Supervisor

 

Tery Lopez - Director, Inclusion and Equity, WGA

 

Shira Rockowitz - Director of Creative Producing and Artist Support, Sundance Institute

 

Kevin Rowe - Literary Manager and Producer, Elia

 

Tahirah Gooden - Manager of Original Studio Films, Netflix

 

Raymond Mansfield - Producer and Founding Partner, QC Entertainment

 

Luis Ribeiro - Managing Partner and Executive Producer, LOBO

 

Gaylyn Fraiche - Vice President, Film and Television, Hello Sunshine

 

Felicia Henderson - TV Writer, Producer, Director (Soul Food, The Punisher)

 

Catherine Hardwicke - Director (Twilight, This is Us)

 

Breaking In: The Screenwriter/Agent Relationship 2020

Davia Carter - Writer, Katy Keene

Jim Ehrich - Literary Agent, Rothman Brecher Ehrich Livingston

Britta Lundin - Writer, Betty

Cindy McCreery - RTF faculty member, Writer, Haven

 

Breaking In Panel 2020

Nora Bess - Marketing Coordinator, HBO

Caterina Nasr - A&R Manager, Elektra Music

Daniel Tuggle - Associate, Content Strategy & Analysis, Netflix

Lauren Zimmer - Creative Department Manager, The Third Floor

Jordan Levin - General Manager, Rooster Teeth

 

Jamie Moore - Senior Vice President, Branded Content, Viacom Velocity

 

Gaylyn Fraiche - Vice President, Film & Television, Hello Sunshine

 

Kyle Davies - President of Domestic Distribution, Paramount Pictures

 

Felicia Henderson - TV Writer, Producer & Director (The Punisher, Empire)

 

Christine Vachon - Producer (Carol, Mildred Pierce)

 

Michael Grillo - Producer (Avengers: Endgame, Ant Man)

 

PJ Shapiro - Attorney, Ziffren Brittenham LLP

 

Lucy Huang - Production Executive, Amazon Studios, TV Comedy

 

Ross Richie - CEO, Boom! Studios

 

Carrye Glazar - Executive Producer, ACCTV

 

Panel: Stephanie Simon and Taylor Kitsch

Stephanie Simon - Founder and Manager, Untitled Entertainment

Taylor Kitsch - Actor (Friday Night Lights, True Detective)

 

Screenwriting Panel 2019

Kell Cahoon - Writer (Psych)

Andrew Logan - Writer (Chappaquidick)

Cindy McCreery - Writer, RTF Associate Professor

Shireen Razack - Writer (New Amsterdam)

Chris Berend - Senior Vice President of Digital Video, CNN

 

Matt Stein - Brand Marketing & Partnerships Advisor, Philo

 

Kyle Davies - President of Domestic Distribution, Paramount Pictures

 

Diana Alvarez - Co-Producer (The Hunger Games); Executive Producer (Ocean’s 8)

 

Carl Effenson and Sally Jo Effenson - Producers (Mudbound)

 

Angela Cheng Caplan - Literary Manager, Cheng Caplan Company

 

Carrye Glazar - Head of Original Content & Executive Producer, Mighty Coconut Animation Studio

 

Tommy Paul - Director, Original Programming, Marvel Studios

 

Jordan Levin - Former CEO, Awesomeness

 

Kevin Shivers - Music Agent, WME

 

ATX Panel: Caitlin McFarland, Emily Gipson, and Laura Kincaid

Emily Gipson - Co-Executive Director and Founder, ATX Television Festival

Caitlin McFarland - Co-Executive Director and Founder, ATX Television Festival

Lauren Kincaid - Director of Operations, ATX Television Festival

 

Amy Tenbrick - VP & Associate General Counsel, Revenue/Business Development, Univision

 

Felicia Henderson - TV Writer and Producer (The Punisher, The Quad)

 

Screenwriting Panel 2018

Matt Cook - Writer (Patriots Day)

Tamar Laddy - Writer (Pretty Little Liars)

Cindy McCreery - RTF Assistant Professor, Writer (Haven)

Anne Rapp - Writer (Cookie's Fortune)

Gloria Fan - VP of Creative Affairs, Fox 21 Studios

 

Courtney Kivowitz - Manager and Partner, MGMT Entertainment

Todd Nienkerk & Aaron Stanush - Partners, Four Kitchens

Todd Nienkerk - CEO, Four Kitchens

Aaron Stanush - Partner and Creative Director, Four Kitchens

 

Heather Page - Director, TX Film Commission

 

Tery Lopez - WGA Director of Diversity

 

Panel: Chris Lockhart & Julie Richardson

Christopher Lockhart - Story Editor, WME

Julie Richardson - Writer, Director, Producer, Imaginarium Entertainment

 

Deborah McIntosh - Agent, WME Global Finance & Distribution Group

 

Jordan Levin - Chief Content Officer, NFL Networks