Marriott Marquis | Washington, DC | Sunday, January 28 – Wednesday, January 31, 2021

Please note all times are in Pacific Time (PT)

Agenda

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Panels

Monday, June 7

12:00pm

Entertainment 2025: Where the industry is headed and why (12:00pm - 1:00pm)

Sponsored by:

The pace of change is accelerating ever quicker, with mergers and acquisitions continuing unabated in overhauling the media landscape. It’s hard to keep up with the sweeping changes, and even harder, perhaps to figure out how to navigate them in a way that will benefit your business. Here, a range of experts from different disciplines within the media world will examine the changes that are unfolding with an eye towards how they will impact the screen content industry at large, how unscripted content will fare amidst the activity, and what could be on the way for the near future.

Featuring:

Thomas Dey

CEO & Founder

ACF Investment Bank

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Hayden K. Meyer

Agency Partner, EVP, Head of Alternative & Factual Programming, Senior Agent

APA

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Anjali Midha

Co-founder & CEO

Diesel Labs

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Scott Purdy

National Media Industry Leader

KPMG

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Moderating:


David Ciaramella

Creative Media Consultant

K7 Media Ltd

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4:00pm

New normal, new workplace (4:00pm - 5:00pm)

We might all be sick of the phrase, but the reality is that COVID-19 has impacted our lives in every way, including our work lives -- and a new way of working has had to emerge out of the disruption. But now that a return to the workplace is looming for many of us, and is underway for many as well, what can -- or should -- our work lives look like now? How can you ensure that your staff is protected and supported in what is still a challenging time, while keeping productivity high and retaining your competitive edge? Hear various strategies and approaches to making your workplace the best it can be under current circumstances.

Featuring:

Jennifer Caserta

Chief Transformation & People Officer

AMC Networks

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DeJeana Chappell

Senior Manager, Workplace Strategy Leader, Corporate Real Estate

EY

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Kelly Greenwood

Founder & CEO

Mind Share Partners

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Heidi Reavis

Managing Partner

Reavis Page Jump LLP

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Moderating:


Barry Walsh

Editor-in-Chief & Content Director

Realscreen Magazine

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Tuesday, June 8

1:30pm

DIALOG presents: Finding the way forward in the workplace (1:30pm - 2:30pm)

Sponsored by:

Over the course of the past few years, our world has been rocked by various social and cultural movements that have shown us that, in many ways, the “old normal” isn’t something to aspire to. Diversity, equity and inclusion have become focal points for employees and employers alike, but depending on resources, change can be challenging. This session brings together human resources and management executives from within the unscripted/non-fiction screen content business to explore how you can make sure the members of your team feel seen and heard, and the tools you can use to find a way forward for everyone.

Featuring:

Brenda Lacy Davis

SVP, Human Resources

Endemol Shine North America

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Karen Gray

EVP, Human Resources

A+E Networks

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Julie Neimat

EVP, Employee Experience

Discovery, Inc.

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MyKhanh Shelton

SVP, Enterprise Inclusion

WarnerMedia

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Moderating:


Sharon Vuong

SVP, Alternative Programming & Development

NBCUniversal Television & Streaming

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4:00pm

Making an impact (4:00pm - 5:00pm)

Sponsored by:

Whether it’s hard-hitting documentary programming exposing injustice or unscripted series integrating difficult conversations into the story, producers, broadcasters and viewers have been gravitating towards content that doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff. From tackling conservation in natural history programming -- once viewed as “preaching” -- to bringing discussions about discrimination front and center in reality programming, the “elephant in the room” is no longer being avoided, but often explored. In this session, executives will discuss how they approach balancing education and impact with entertainment.

Featuring:

Sylvia Bugg

Chief Programming Executive & General Manager

PBS

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David Collins

Co-Founder & Executive Producer

Scout Productions

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Danny Gabai

Co-President

VICE

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Janet Han Vissering

SVP, Development & Production

Nat Geo Wild

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Carlos King

Executive Producer, Founder

Kingdom Reign Entertainment

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Moderating:


Abby Greensfelder

Founder & CEO

Everywoman Studios

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Wednesday, June 9

1:30pm

Amping Up Unscripted - Streamers Showcase (1:30pm - 2:30pm)

The streaming landscape is changing rapidly, with an expanding range of services vying for audiences through unique, niche approaches to their content offerings. And many of them see unscripted and non-fiction as integral to their content strategies. Here, you’ll hear from new SVOD and AVOD services looking to “amp up” their commissions and acquisitions in the genre and learn more about such strategies, and their programming wishlists.

Featuring:

Gena Konstantinakos

Vice President, Originals

Topic

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Justin Lacob

Head of Development

XTR & Co-Founder of Documentary+

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Ellen Windemuth

CEO

WaterBear Network

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Moderating:


Andrew Jeffrey

n/a

Realscreen

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Thursday, June 10

1:30pm

NFTs, IP & U (1:30pm - 2:30pm)

No doubt, you have seen and heard much about a technological innovation called the NFT (non-fungible token). And perhaps, like many of us, you have no idea what all the fuss is about, and how it can be relevant to you as a content creator or producer. This session brings together execs from inside the screen content business and those on the cutting edge of cryptocurrency to reveal why anyone in the business of creating and distributing IP should be looking to NFTs not only as a potential revenue stream and funding source, but just maybe, as the future of distribution itself.

Featuring:

Tom Bilyeu

CEO & Co-Founder

Impact Theory Studios

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Alec Shankman

Senior Partner and Head, Alternative

A3 Artists Agency

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Jonathan Skogmo

CEO

Jukin Media

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Sophie Watts

Investor

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Moderating:


Manori Ravindran

London Correspondent

Variety

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4:00pm

The talent test: Why and when you should attach talent to your show (4:00pm - 5:00pm)

Attaching big names to projects has been a major trend in the unscripted business for several years, but with the current slowdown in scripted production, sports and live music, the floodgates have opened even wider, and a bigger pool of A-listers is moving aggressively into the space. But attaching talent to your programming still needs to be approached with caution. In this comprehensive session, you’ll find out why and how the boom in “A-listed unscripted” is taking shape now, and what the potential pitfalls and pluses are in the process, from dealing with buyers to negotiating deals.

Featuring:

Caroline Baumgard

CEO

A. Smith & Co. Productions

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Sahara Bushue

Director, Unscripted Series

Westbrook Studios

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Joni Day

Executive Vice President, Entertainment

Fremantle

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Marc Kamler

Head of Unscripted Packaging

A3 Artists Agency

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Moderating:


Jacqui Pitman

CEO, Casting Director & Executive Producer

Pitman Casting/Partypit Productions

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Friday, June 11

11:00am

Trendwatch: Unscripted’s Family-friendly Face (11:00am - 12:00pm)

As we have all become accustomed to both more time viewing content and more time watching with our families, it makes sense that family-friendly fare is all the rage at present. And with the success of such programming, particularly in the unscripted space, it’s likely to stay that way for the near future. Here, you’ll hear from producers and broadcasters about how and what they’re developing and programming in the space, and what styles of formats are in demand.

Featuring:

Julian Curtis

Founder

Lineup Industries

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Irad Eyal

CEO

Haymaker West

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Cecilie Olsen

SVP, Global Content, Non-Scripted

ITV Studios

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Charles Wachter

Executive Producer & Showrunner

Hard North Media

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Moderating:


Barry Walsh

Editor-in-Chief & Content Director

Realscreen Magazine

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4:00pm

Opportunity in unprecedented times: Where do we go from here? (4:00pm - 5:00pm)

The non-fiction and unscripted production community, like every part of the screen content industry, has weathered unfathomable disruption over the course of the past year, and that disruption will potentially have a permanent impact on how your business, and the industry in general moves forward. What is the “new normal” of producing content going to look like from here on in? Who’s paying for it? How are these changes impacting the buying and selling of programming? This can’t-miss closing session brings together executives from various sectors to identify the key disruptors causing the waves of change, and the ways to ride them to success.

Featuring:

Elaine Frontain Bryant

EVP, Head of Programming Genres for A&E, Lifetime and LMN

A&E

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Mioshi Hill

President

Sirens Media

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Amy Introcaso-Davis

EVP, Development & Production, Factual Programming

Discovery

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Amir Shahkhalili

Partner

WME

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Natalka Znak

President

ZnakTV

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Moderating:


Barry Walsh

Editor-in-Chief & Content Director

Realscreen Magazine

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