Entertainment Conference Focuses on Challenges Facing the Industry
November 16, 2015
More than 300 business and community leaders attended the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s fourth annual State of the Entertainment Industry Conference at Loews Hollywood Hotel on November 13th. Presented by Variety, the conference continues to be the pre-eminent local forum that focuses on the importance of the Entertainment Industry to California and steps that need to be taken to keep it healthy. Returning as co-chairs were Paul Audley, President of FilmL.A., Inc. and Sharon Keyser, Senior VP, Real Estate, Government & Community Relations for Paramount Pictures.
The conference opened with a greeting from Kevin James, Director and Chief Liaison of the Mayor’s Office of Film and Television Production. The Commitment to California Award was presented to Roy Price, the head of Amazon Studios, who was interviewed by Debra Birnbaum of Variety. Producer Vin Di Bona once again emceed the conference.
A special one-on-one interview on “The State of Music in the Digital Age” was conducted with Steve Barnett, Chairman/CEO of Capitol Music Group by Steve Gaydos of Variety.
A panel discussed the rapidly changing landscape within the television industry. Andrew Wallenstein of Variety moderated “Let’s Tune In: The New Multiplatform TV Industry.” Panelists included: Peter Gal, Head of Television Development, DreamWorks Animation; Karin Gilford, Sr. Vice President, Digital Media, ABC Television Network; Hiram Norman, SVP, Digital, Warner Bros. TV Worldwide Marketing; and Jonathan Stern, Executive Producer and President, Abominable Pictures.
A spotlight conversation was held with Amy Lemisch, Executive Director of the California Film Commission, Paul Audley, President of FilmL.A., Inc., and actor/director/writer Daniel Stern on the successful rollout of the State’s new film incentives, with information on what comes next.
A host of businesses sponsored the conference. In addition to presenting sponsor Variety, the Luncheon Sponsor was the Hollywood Museum in the Historic Max Factor Building. Breakfast sponsors included: Loews Hollywood Hotel, Paramount Pictures, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter Hampton LLP, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Trailer Park, Inc. and Vin Di Bona Productions/FishBowl Worldwide Media.
Gold level sponsors included: AT&T, Comcast|NBCUniversal, Entertainment Union Coalition, Hollywood Historic Trust, Hudson Pacific Media, Kilroy Realty Corporation, and Raleigh Studios / Hollywood Rentals.
Silver level sponsors included: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Capitol Music Group, CineSky Pictures, LLC, Emerson College Los Angeles, Entertainment Partners, FilmL.A., Inc., Hollywood American Legion Post 43, Meruelo Studios, Millennium Hollywood, Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, Paramount Contractors & Developers, SAG-AFTRA, Television Academy, W Hollywood Hotel, and The Walt Disney Company.
The conference opened with a greeting from Kevin James, Director and Chief Liaison of the Mayor’s Office of Film and Television Production. The Commitment to California Award was presented to Roy Price, the head of Amazon Studios, who was interviewed by Debra Birnbaum of Variety. Producer Vin Di Bona once again emceed the conference.
A special one-on-one interview on “The State of Music in the Digital Age” was conducted with Steve Barnett, Chairman/CEO of Capitol Music Group by Steve Gaydos of Variety.
A panel discussed the rapidly changing landscape within the television industry. Andrew Wallenstein of Variety moderated “Let’s Tune In: The New Multiplatform TV Industry.” Panelists included: Peter Gal, Head of Television Development, DreamWorks Animation; Karin Gilford, Sr. Vice President, Digital Media, ABC Television Network; Hiram Norman, SVP, Digital, Warner Bros. TV Worldwide Marketing; and Jonathan Stern, Executive Producer and President, Abominable Pictures.
A spotlight conversation was held with Amy Lemisch, Executive Director of the California Film Commission, Paul Audley, President of FilmL.A., Inc., and actor/director/writer Daniel Stern on the successful rollout of the State’s new film incentives, with information on what comes next.
A host of businesses sponsored the conference. In addition to presenting sponsor Variety, the Luncheon Sponsor was the Hollywood Museum in the Historic Max Factor Building. Breakfast sponsors included: Loews Hollywood Hotel, Paramount Pictures, Sheppard, Mullin, Richter Hampton LLP, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Trailer Park, Inc. and Vin Di Bona Productions/FishBowl Worldwide Media.
Gold level sponsors included: AT&T, Comcast|NBCUniversal, Entertainment Union Coalition, Hollywood Historic Trust, Hudson Pacific Media, Kilroy Realty Corporation, and Raleigh Studios / Hollywood Rentals.
Silver level sponsors included: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Capitol Music Group, CineSky Pictures, LLC, Emerson College Los Angeles, Entertainment Partners, FilmL.A., Inc., Hollywood American Legion Post 43, Meruelo Studios, Millennium Hollywood, Occidental Entertainment Group Holdings, Paramount Contractors & Developers, SAG-AFTRA, Television Academy, W Hollywood Hotel, and The Walt Disney Company.