SeriesFest
A Celebration of Episodic Storytelling
SeriesFest Team
Staff
Randi Kleiner
Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Randi Kleiner is a producer and entrepreneur. Serving as co-Founder and CEO of SeriesFest, her interest and love for episodic storytelling was ignited and developed while working for the Public Theater and later producing events for the Film Society of Lincoln Center, including the renowned 17- day New York Film Festival, New Directors/New Films in collaboration with MoMA, and the prestigious Chaplin Award Gala. Randi also owns Trifecta Studios, an Event Production Agency that works with major brands, including Marc Jacobs, Macallan, WWD, Sephora, Godiva, and Pepsi, to produce experiential events around the world. Utilizing emerging trends, talents, and technologies, Trifecta Studios generates custom marketing campaigns that include creative brand integration and consumer activations. Recently, Randi teamed up with Vulcan Productions, Oceanic Preservation Society, and Obscura Digital to produce the first-ever projection events promoting climate change and endangered species on the Empire State Building and Vatican for the Racing Extinction Campaign. Randi is a graduate of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
Kaily Smith
Co-Founder
Originally from Colorado, Kaily received her BFA in Acting from USC. After graduating, Kaily’s love for storytelling bore life to her production company, Red Ladders Entertainment. Simultaneously with producing films and series, she acted in projects such as The Office, Gilmore Girls, and Broadway’s The Performers, among others. In 2009, Kaily created, wrote, and starred in the award-winning digital series MERRIme.com. Since then she has gone on to star in The Orchard’s, People You May Know, executive produce the Sundance Audience Award winning feature, Burden, and helm the short film, Just Between Us. Kaily is also proud to be the co-founder of SeriesFest, a non-profit organization and festival which champions artists at the forefront of episodic storytelling.
Claire Taylor
Chief Programming Officer
A local to the snowy slopes of Keystone, Colorado, Claire Taylor graduated from University of Northern Colorado with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Studies with an emphasis on Acting and Education. After graduation, she said a teary goodbye to wide open spaces (insert The Chicks lyrics here) and moved to New York City (cue Sopranos theme song) where she focused on applying her passion for storytelling through producing theater and developing television for Triptyk Studios, who are best known for An American In Paris, You're Welcome America, Amelie: The Musical, and Xanadu. Thrilled to be back in her home state after 7 years in the Big Apple, Claire has been a proud member of the SeriesFest team since Season One where she oversees all festival and year-round programming. 
Lauren Grimshaw Sloan
Director of Artist Development
Lauren Grimshaw Sloan is an independent producer and former Deputy Film Commissioner of the Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media where she was responsible for attracting film production to the state and administering Colorado's film incentive program. She worked to bring FURIOUS 7, COP CAR and Quentin Tarantino's THE HATEFUL EIGHT to Colorado along with numerous films. Prior to moving to Denver in 2013, she served as Production Executive at Red Crown Productions, a New York based independent film production company. Lauren’s credits include WHAT MAISIE KNEW (Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgård), GOATS (David Duchovny, Vera Farmiga) and THE ROMANTICS (Katie Holmes, Josh Duhamel), which all debuted at premiere festivals including the Sundance Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival. Originally from Chicago and a graduate of Pennsylvania State University, Lauren enjoys spending time with her husband and two kids.
Jacob Cummings
Marketing Manager
Jacob is a marketer & designer based in Denver, Colorado. Originally from Indiana, he graduated from IUPUI with a BFA focusing on visual communication and photography. In his spare time, he enjoys a healthy balance of binging TV and rolling around in a sunny park with friends and dogs. He has been attending the festival since Season 1, and is thrilled to have been a part of the SeriesFest team since Season 8!
Nicole Barker
Education and Programming Manager
A graduate of the University of Denver with degrees in Film and Environmental Science, Nicole has always been passionate about using media to inspire positive, collective change. She got her start as the Assistant Producer on THE HOLLY, a two-time Emmy Award-winning documentary and novel. Her commitment to showing the world through underrepresented perspectives led her into the worlds of programming and education. Now in her fourth festival year with SeriesFest, she’s thrilled to continue championing impactful storytelling. When she’s not working, you can find her in the mountains with friends, or backpacking solo through a new corner of the world.
Patrick O’Brien
Director of Partnerships
Patrick O’Brien is excited to join SeriesFest after watching it burst onto the scene in 2015 during his tenure as Development Director with Denver Film. Prior to moving to Colorado from Los Angeles in 2009, Patrick led agency teams’ efforts managing activation programs for Miller Brewing Company’s sports and entertainment sponsorships in major markets throughout the Western US, and later securing product placements in television and films for key clients HP, Sony PlayStation, and Allied Domecq. Having studied English and Public Relations at the University of Texas at Austin, he has spent the last seven years programming arts-focused events, which includes directing the Salida Film Festival, for the city of Salida, CO, where he lives with his husband and enjoys both the arts and outdoor recreation the mountain town offers.
Katy King
Director of Festival Operations
Katy is a recent Denver transplant, who moved her husband and daughter from South Carolina to follow her dreams in the entertainment festival world. She started her journey by producing parties and events for Regal Cinemas, making her Operational debut at Sundance in 2023, then moving to Denver to work at venues such as Red Rocks, Empower Field at Mile High Stadium, Fiddlers Green, Ball Arena, and the Chautauqua Auditorium (in Boulder). After returning to Sundance in 2024 as the Operations Manager for the Institute, Katy has decided to concentrate more on the film and television industry and is very excited to join SeriesFest as Operations Manager for its 10th Season!
Brian Brooks
Festival Competition Programmer
Brian Brooks co-produces several programs at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, including its popular year-round talk series with filmmakers and talent, and oversees the organization’s industry outreach and special. He also spearheads specialty box office coverage for Deadline Hollywood with twice weekly columns. Brian has regularly attended film festivals throughout North America, Europe, and Korea since serving in his former position as managing editor of Indiewire, where he wrote daily interviews, news stories, event coverage and photography throughout the 2000s in addition to guiding the daily content of the site. A native of California, Brian spent a year-and-a-half living in Japan following graduation from UCLA in the late '90s. He has served on festival juries at SXSW, Seattle, Denver, Sarasota, Cleveland and Florida film festivals.
Alex Mitchell
Festival Competition Programmer
Alexandra “Alex” Mitchell was born, raised, and found her love of festivals in St. Louis, Missouri. After advancing vertically at Austin Film Festival and contributing across various roles and departments, Alex served as the Short Film Programmer and Interim Film Competition Director. A detour to learn about farming surprisingly landed Alex a position with SeriesFest as the Programming Manager for Season 7 and served as a Programmer for Season 8. Alex is excited to be back again, now as the Storytellers Program Manager to continue her love of the medium and celebrate writers. Outside of SeriesFest, Alex works in Production Management for Animated Films in Los Angeles, CA.
Amy Royce
Festival Events and Sponsorship Specialist
Amy set her compass for Colorado in 2021, fulfilling a lifelong dream. With over a decade of experience in event production and sponsor relations, she's spent her career collaborating with non-profits, outdoor brands, festivals, and creative agencies to curate immaculate experiences. When the event wraps and laptop shuts, you'll find her adventuring off-grid or adding to her ever-growing list of hobbies, including archery, sewing and banjo.
Evan Cannon
Educator
A film and video director / producer, Evan has been working in production in Denver for over ten years. From working as a P.A. to writing to editing and finally directing and producing, Evan has developed a skill set across nearly all areas of creative video. Professionally, Evan has a deep background in educational video producing all kinds of video classes, How-Tos, and even children's educational content. In 2023, Evan co-directed an anthology of short films, "I Will Not Take Care of You," which was recently acquired by Gravitas Ventures and is his first film to receive distribution. Evan is currently in post-production on his first documentary, "Spectacular By Comparison." 
Hanah Chang
Educator
Hanah Chang is a Korean-American actor and writer splitting time between Denver, Colorado, and Chicago, Illinois. Like many other Asian-Americans in the entertainment industry, she hesitated for years before giving herself permission to pursue a non-traditional career. Now, she’s having the time of her life acting, writing, and filmmaking. Hanah played the lead in ‘Don’t Worry About It,’ which screened at Slamdance and Micheaux, and is now streaming on Omeleto. She wrote, directed, and acted in ‘I Wish I Were Pretty,’ which is currently in post-production. Hearing how her appearance in the Netflix karaoke reality show, ‘Sing On!’, influenced a family friend to pursue his own career in film has cemented her goal in increasing representation for Asian-Americans on either side of the camera. For more information, please check out www.hanahchang.com.
Violet Dempsey
Educator
Hi! My name is Violet Dempsey and I have been making films since I was twelve years old. I currently attend CU Denver, and have been a part of almost 50 festivals in my filmmaking journey! I draw a lot of inspiration from classic monster flicks, macabre horror films, and mockumentary comedies!
Alexander Elmore
Educator
An Alabama native, Alexander Elmore is the Head Researcher of the Webby award winning podcast Dark History with Bailey Sarian and Director of Marketing & Film Programming -Features at Denver Documentary Society. He holds a B.F.A. in Film and Television from the University of Colorado Denver as a graduate of the University Honors & Leadership Program. His reporting has appeared in The CU Sentry, Looper, Metromode Magazine and Westword. He has screened work at Denver Film, International Film Series at CU Boulder, Jersey Devil,DracFest, Emerging Filmmakers Project, and internationally with 48 Hour Film Project.
Meah Gilliam
Educator
"I've been a writer for as long as I can remember, and somewhere between late-night essays, dramatic love stories, and binge-watching The Lord of the Rings, I discovered screenwriting as the perfect home for my storytelling. What began as a childhood passion has grown into a budding career in film and television! One fueled by humor, heart, and a lifelong love of story."
Caleb Gillen
Educator
Caleb, a Colorado native, is a graduate of Belmont University’s Motion Pictures Program. Since 2019, he has held a variety of roles across the entertainment and media industry, gaining broad creative and technical experience. He is now the founder and operator of Silverlight Studio Productions, his own independent production company.
Madeleine Lebovic
Educator
Madeleine Lebovic is a Denver-based multimedia creative. She specializes in narrative design and camerawork, having worked with public media, universities, community organizations, poets, students, and novelists to refine and tell stories. She also performs regularly, and holds two Moth StorySlam wins and a number of TV credits as a background actress (The Exorcist, Chicago Med, Electric Dreams, Chicago Fire, Night Sky, Chicago PD, Power Book IV: Force). She has a Master’s in International & Intercultural Communication from the University of Denver and is a member of both the Colorado Film & Video Association (CFVA) and Women in Film and Media Colorado (WIFMCO). Madeleine is also a licensed Wilderness EMT and has spent a few winters driving a Zamboni. https://www.madeleinelebovic.com/ 
Marin Lepore
Educator
Marin is a Denver-based screenwriter, director, and activist who grew up in Colorado, and lived in Beijing from age ten to sixteen. Falling within these groups herself, Marin is passionate about creating inclusive films that celebrate women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ people. She graduated with a BFA in Film & Television from the University of Colorado Denver, where she also sat on the College of Arts and Media’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Task Force. Marin loves her Colorado film community dearly— she previously served as a board member for Women in Film and Media Colorado, she was one of five chosen filmmakers in Cine Fe’s 2022 Fellowship program, and she currently serves on the film committee for the Colorado Dragon Boat Film Festival. Besides film, Marin enjoys juggling, board games, and collecting turtle figurines. For more information, see her website: marinlepore.com 
Martina Maio
Educator
Martina Maio is a documentary producer based in Denver, CO by way of New York City. Martina has worked on projects ranging in subject matter from binge-able true crime series, to educational historical sagas, and investigative cultural exposés for major networks and streamers like A+E, CNN, HBOMax, MTV, NETFIX, Paramount, and PBS. A thoughtful and curious storyteller, she brings emotional depth, creative intuition, and a sense of wonder to every project. Her work is grounded in a lifelong love of learning and a deep respect for the people whose stories she helps shape. For more on Martina’s work visit martina-maio.com.
Davis Mawer
Educator
Davis has vast experience with all areas of video, film, and content creation - with his main focus on the editing and post production process. Davis has been devoted to his passion of story telling through editing since high school, whether it's through narrative projects, documentary stories, or short form social media content. His work has been recognized worldwide - with multiple short films he's worked on being selected into festivals across the globe. He was awarded a Student Production Award from the Heartland Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Beau Ngu
Educator
Robyn Tomiko
Educator
Robyn Tomiko (they/she) is an independent documentarian and narrative filmmaker and a Phd Candidate in Education at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Having devoted most of their career to teaching and supporting under-resourced youth, Robyn appreciates opportunities to foster accessible engagement with storytelling and filmmaking that uplift youth voice. Board of Directors
Betsy LeightonBoard Co-Chair
Producer / Writer, Call to Adventure Media
Robert LeightonBoard Co-Chair
SVP, Liberty Global
Britta EricksonBoard Secretary
Producer, Listen Productions
Steve SwobodaBoard Treasurer
Founder and Former COO/CFO, SpotX
Jonathan Alpert
Partner, Westfield Development Co.
Cheri Barner
Principal, Cheri Barner Management
Jenny Bloom
Founder, Bloomerang PR
Tully Bragg
EVP, Hothouse Media
Tom Cunha
Partner, Brigade Marketing
Yvette Frampton
"Yvette is an award-winning independent filmmaker whose work has screened at SXSW, the Full Frame Documentary Film Festival, the HBO Urbanworld Film Festival, and the New York International Latino Film Festival, among others. She has taught film theory, writing, editing, and production at Hollins University in Roanoke, VA, CU Denver College of Arts and Media, and the Colorado Film Video Institute at the Community College of Aurora.
As a community leader, she has served as a board member for the Denver Health Foundation Board, the Level One Society, the Davidson College Alumni Association Board, and the Documentary Cinema Institute. She currently serves on the Board of Trustees for Davidson College in North Carolina, Graland Country Day School in Denver, CO, the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, the Cuba Study Group, the Cuba Emprende Foundation, and the Advisory Board for the Gates Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, CO. She has also been an active volunteer with Project C.U.R.E. She and her husband, Chris, have three children.
Yvette holds a B.A. in English from Davidson College and an M.F.A. in Film Directing from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts."
Jim Janicek
President & CEO of Janicek Media Creative, Inc.
Jim Janicek, President & CEO of Janicek Media Creative, Inc.
Janicek Media Creative is a Colorado company founded in 1990. The firm has produced over 3500 hours of original programming and promotion for major networks and studios, including Comcast, NBC, Hallmark, Disney, and ABC. Jim is the creative and collaborative force behind five nine-figure brands with five to 18-year runs, including being the creator of ABC’s massive comedy series franchise "TGIF.”
From 1986-1990 At age 24, Jim served as one of the youngest Writer / Producers ever hired at ABC Entertainment Network in Los Angeles. There, he crafted on-air advertising and short-form programming for many of ABC’s favorite primetime shows, including Moonlighting, Full House, Perfect Strangers, Step By Step, Head Of The Class, Spenser: For Hire, and many others.
From 1988 to 2000, while at ABC, Jim became the creator and executive producer of ABC’s $450 million TGIF comedy franchise. Jim then went on to produce ABC Saturday Night Laughs and multiple ABC Primetime Specials. In 1990, at the encouragement of his boss and Bob Iger, Jim started his own production company with a 10-year production deal with ABC Cap Cities. In 2001, after becoming the proud father of twins, he was asked to create 13 new titles for Disney’s newly acquired Baby Einstein series, which helped grow US/UK sales to over $100 million per year.
Jim’s history also includes leading promotional launches of the Hallmark Channel, Starz/Encore, and programming specials for The Muppets, NBC “Must See TV” Primetime, FOX Kids, and Warner Bros. International.
From 2012 to 2020, Jim and his company spotted an opportunity in interactive television utilizing a new technology cable MSOs were experimenting with on addressable set-top boxes. Joining forces with Comcast, Jim’s company developed and produced the Xfinity Latino Channel. The channel broadcasts 24/7 to 23 million homes nationwide on linear cable, web, and mobile. The channel generated a 600% increase in viewer engagement for Comcast’s multicultural brand over a 24-month span from 2016 to 2018.
From 2020 forward, Jim joined producer Myrrha Satow to help her produce the family film Adeline. Together with ABC vet partner Rebecca Daugherty, he produced multiple ABC specials, including the launch of the Academy of Motion Picture Museum with Tom Hanks. In partnership with Brian Bird (Creator of Hallmarks When Calls The Heart), he produced two romantic comedies now streaming worldwide via UpTV and Daro Int’l Entertainment. Jim continues to develop TV series and movies with his next film starting production in January 2025.
In collaboration with the state of Colorado, Jim’s lead production and creative work on multiple video projects including campaigns for Colorado’s dynamic new Quantum Front Range for Governor Polis. In June of 2024, this effort became a key part of Colorado’s effort to successfully land 70M in federal funding, officially designating Colorado a US Quantum Tech Hub.
Finally, Jim has also dedicated time addressing youth mental health and how to stem the tide of suicide that seems to be plaguing our nation. He has worked directly with Colorado Attorney General Phil Wiser, the Office Of Behavioral Health, Safe To Tell, and national mental health experts to understand and engage teens and caregivers with multiple media campaigns aimed at bringing this issue to the forefront.
Jim is a voting member of the DGA (Directors Guild of America) and the WGA (Writers Guild of America). He lives in Denver, CO, and San Clemente, CA.
James Lindsay
Co-Head of LT Growth, Liontree
Mark Lohmann
Senior Banker, Citi Private Bank
Caz Matthews
Philanthropist
Allison Millice
Grant Writer
Bryant Palmer
Founder + Chief Storyteller, Oh Hey Creative
Bryant Palmer is the founder and chief storyteller of Oh Hey Creative, a Denver-based agency that promotes food and beverage businesses and arts organizations through public relations, communications, and community building.
After a career in education in New York City, Bryant moved to Denver in 2015 to help open Stanley Marketplace, where he built a large audience and spearheaded strategic partnerships with the likes of CherryArts and Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Bryant then helped open several other food halls, in Colorado and Minnesota, focusing each time on community building through creative storytelling. Oh Hey Creative grew out of this work.
Today, Oh Hey handles public relations, social media and influencer marketing, email marketing, strategic partnerships, and event production and coordination for a variety of food halls and restaurant groups, hospitality businesses, and arts organizations.
Bryant serves on the board of EatDenver, a nonprofit that supports independently owned restaurants, and Keep RiNo Wild, the charitable arm of the RiNo Art District. He served previously on the board of Denver Art Museum’s CultureHaus. He’s a voracious reader and an avid tennis player, and lives with his husband in Denver, CO, and Davis, CA.
Ken Rothstein
"While a student at Brown University, Ken established film and television as a major and was the first to graduate with that degree. He also studied film production at NYU under Haig Manoogian.
After college, Ken spent several years in film, television and TV commercial production in New York (mostly uncredited) doing location scouting and management for Woody Allen and other production companies. This was followed by two years as an advertising executive for Columbia TriStar Motion Picture Group. Ken served on the host committee for the Grammy Awards in New York, where, as Director of Marketing, he arranged corporate sponsorships for the award show, among other responsibilities. Ken was then recruited by Shorewood, the leading creator and designer of innovative packaging for the entertainment industry, to become their first Director of Marketing, a position he held for over eight years. Among numerous side projects, he was a music consultant on the 23-episode PBS series, “The History of Us.”
As an entrepreneur, Ken created a successful business, The Drop Of A Hat, which provides private/custom concierge consulting services to high-net-worth clients and partners of private banks and wealth management firms.
Ken has been an investor in various Broadway productions, including the hit musical Spamalot. He has done voice-overs for commercials and industrials, and was also a regular stand-up performer at the original Catch A Rising Star in New York for several years.
Ken is currently developing multiple scripted television series and is also a co-producer of a new Broadway musical now in development. He divides his time between Los Angeles and Denver."
Krista Smith
Director, Global Editorial and Publishing, Netflix
Paulette Tate
Paulette Soto Tate is a global executive, entrepreneur, and business owner with over 30 years of experience in business development, operations, and executive management. She has worked in the telecom, energy, and security industries, providing her with unique expertise in responding to rapidly changing technology, market competition, business development, and finding and retaining excellent personnel. Paulette previously served as Chair of the Board of the Colorado Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and continues to serve the Chamber in her current role as Chair of the Board Foundation.
She has served on numerous boards and in an advisory capacity for other organizations nationally and locally. A list of the most current/recent boards is listed below.
She is the owner of a real estate investment business and owns Cantilever, a workforce planning and leadership development company. She has built and sold two national businesses serving the energy industry, and she brings a wealth of experience in business development from her corporate days working in Europe and the UAE for a fortune 500 telecom corporation.
Paulette's extensive experience and exceptional leadership skills have made her an invaluable asset to every organization with whom she has worked. Her ability to navigate challenging situations, inspire teams and strategically scale and grow organizations to achieve their goals has earned her a reputation as a visionary and strategic leader in the global business community.
Natalie West
Of Counsel, Wheeler Trigg O'Donnell LLP
Advisory Board
Roy Ashton
Partner, The Gersh Agency
Roy Ashton is a Partner at The Gersh Agency with offices in Beverly Hills and New York. He has been at Gersh for 11 years, and prior to that spent 14 years at CAA. Specializing in Television, Roy works with writers, directors, producers, and actors in all aspects of the television industry.
Karen Bailey
Executive Vice President of Original Programming, Starz
Karen Bailey is Executive Vice President of Original Programming for Starz.
Based in the company’s Santa Monica office, Bailey oversees creative development and production on a number of programs for the network including the critically-acclaimed “Outlander” and “P-Valley,” and the upcoming series “Dangerous Liaisons” and “The Venery of Samantha Bird.”
Bailey joined Starz in 2006 as an executive producer, overseeing development, production, and post-production for the company’s studio slate of television movies and mini-series. She was promoted to Vice President of Production in 2007, overseeing the physical production for the company’s newly launched original programming department. Bailey spent the next few years building the internal production department and focusing on the networks’ new slate of original series, including fan-favorite “Party Down,” “Crash,” “Boss” and Starz's first international series “Spartacus” and “Camelot.”
In 2011 she transitioned to creative development and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Original Programming in 2012. Since then, she has worked on a number of international co-productions including Golden Globe® and Emmy®-nominated STARZ Original Miniseries “The White Queen” and the critically acclaimed STARZ Original Limited Series “The White Princess.” Golden Globe® and Emmy®-nominated limited series “The Missing” and its sequel; “Howard’s End,” a 4-part TV adaptation written by Academy Award® winner Kenneth Lonergan and Starz’s first movie for television, “The Dresser” starring Ian McKellen and Anthony Hopkins.
Bailey has been a featured panelist at a number of events and international conferences including BAFTA Women Director’s Panel in London, Create and Cultivate Panel in Los Angeles, the College TV Summit at the Television Academy of Arts and Science, C21 London Drama Summit, and most recently has been an invited speaker at both Stanford University and Harvard Business School.
Kyle Castellanet
Vice President, Development and Production, Echo Lake Entertainment
Kyle Castellanet is the VP of Development and Production at Echo Lake Entertainment. Kyle manages Echo Lake’s film and television slate which includes both domestic and international co-productions. A Colorado native, Kyle began his career at Paradigm Talent Agency after receiving his BFA in Film Production from Chapman University. In 2022, Kyle was honored on Coverfly’s Industry Next List for his work to support emerging filmmakers.
Milan Chakraborty
Head of Film, Marginal Mediaworks
Milan Chakraborty, Head of Film at Marginal MediaWorks, oversees the company’s independent, studio, and streaming film & TV efforts. He is an 18-year veteran of the film/tv industry. He has produced and executive produced over 22+ films including ASSASSINATION NATION, MY FRIEND DAHMER, KILLING OF KENNETH CHAMBERLAIN, and FOUR SAMOSAS.
Brent Emery
Partner & Co-Founder, Resonate Entertainment
Mike Falbo
Partner, Pacific Electric Picture Co.
Jeremy Gold
President of Production, Blumhouse Television
Eugene Hernandez
Director, Sundance Film Festival & Public Programming
Alexa Junge
Writer
Credits: Bosch, Grace and Frankie, Big Love, The United States of Tara, West Wing, Sex and the City, Friends and many more. Screenwriter/Lyricist “Lilo & Stitch II,” Lyricist, “Mulan II.”(both with Jeanine Tesori) Writer/Contributor to NPR’s “This American Life” and live performer for TAL’s “What I Learned From Television” tour.
Awards and Honors: Three Emmy and Writers Guild of America Award nominations for “Friends”: (Best Comedy Series (twice) and Best Writing for a Comedy Series; “The One Where Everyone Finds Out.”) Two Emmy and WGA nominations for “The West Wing,” (Best Drama Series and Best Writing for a Drama Series; “Disaster Relief.”) ASCAP Popular Music Award. Her Friends episode “The One with The Prom Video” won a national AOL poll for “all-time favorite episode” and “The One Where Everyone Finds Out” was recently used in a scientific study and cited in Atlantic Magazine as a proven “mood booster.”
Theater: Her plays and musicals have been produced at the American Repertory Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Goodspeed Opera House, Studio Arena Theater, Playwrights Horizons Theater Lab and Depot Theater among others. New work developed at the Goodman Theater, New York Theater Workshop, New York Stage and Film, Hedgebrook Women Playwright’s Festival, the Public Theater Lab/Ars Nova, Djerassi and MacDowell Colonies.
Amanda Krentzman
Principal & Founder, Show Pony Entertainment
Eric Kuhn
Producer / Entrepreneur
Katie Lowes
Actor
Patrick Macmanus
Showrunner
Under his overall deal with UCP (Universal Content Productions), a division of Universal Studio Group, Patrick Macmanus serves as writer, executive producer, and co-showrunner, alongside Liz Hannah, on Hulu’s ‘The Girl From Plainville’ starring Elle Fanning. Macmanus recently served as writer, executive producer, and showrunner on the Critic’s Choice nominated ‘Dr. Death,’ for NBCUniversal’s streaming service Peacock. Macmanus has developed series at AMC, Starz, ABC, Sony Pictures Television, Fox Television Studios, NBC, Tribeca, CBS, Amazon, Netflix, and more. He previously worked on SYFY’s ‘Happy!,’ starring Chris Meloni. In 2021, Macmanus expanded his production company, Littleton Road Productions, and formed Littleton Road Philanthropy with the goal of telling responsible stories and providing a call to action on culturally significant issues.
Macmanus was born in Ohio, raised in New Jersey, and lives in Paris with his wife and two sons.
Chiké Okwonko
Actor / Director
Angela Peluso
Talent, Casting, Producer, Executive
David Person
Producer, Writer
David Person (he/him) co-oversaw IFC TV’s linear originals ("Sherman's Showcase," "Documentary Now!," "Year of the Rabbit," "Baroness Von Sketch," and “The Independent Spirit Awards”) and executive produced for AMC Studios. David produced documentary feature films, including "Beer Wars," several award-winning narrative feature films, and animation projects for Brain Zoo Studios like Microsoft Screensavers and LEGO Star Wars commercials.
Alysia Reiner
Actor
"Alysia Reiner is best known as SAG award winning ""FIG"" on 7 seasons of Orange Is the New Black, and for originating Agent Sadie Deever in 2023 Emmy Award nominated Ms. Marvel. She just finished her 5th season as Sunny on Better Things, her second seasonas Kathryn in STARZ’s Shining Vale starring alongside Courtney Cox and Greg Kinnear, and before that two seasons as KIKI on THE DEUCE. She starred in a slew of films currently making the festival circuit, including: The Feeling That The Time for Doing Something Has Passed (CANNES,TIFF, NYFF 2023), Stampede Ventures' feature film, Going Places (CINEQUEST 2023), & Ramona At Midlife (BFF 2023). A few other filmed adventures include getting married in the Oscar winning film Sideways, getting naked in an Emmy Award winning episode of Broad City, and going head to head against Viola Davis on How To Get Away with Murder, and she just starred in O HORIZON with David Strathairn and Maria Bakalova.
As a producer, Alysia currently has an exciting slate of both film and TV in development. Her past ventures include conceiving of, developing, producing, and starring in the feature film EQUITY - which was bought and distributed worldwide by Sony Pictures Classics at Sundance, and producing/starring in EGG - which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival & is rated 100% FRESH on Rotten Tomatoes ( both now available on iTunes!).
Alysia loves working as a change maker, is on the board of the Geena Davis Institute for Gender in Media and Earth Day Initiative, she is a member of Resistance Revival Chorus, a volunteer firefighter ( yes really), The face & eco-emissary for IZZY ZERO WASTE BEAUTY, and received the Acclaimed Collaborator Award from Women in Arts and Media, a MUSE “MADE IN NY” AWARD from The Mayor’s office and New York Women in Film and Television, SARAH POWELL HUNTINGTON LEADERSHIP AWARD, VOICE OF A WOMAN AWARD, the PIONEER IN FILMMAKING AWARD, and the FOUNDERS AWARD FOR SUPPORT."
Michael Rucker
Executive Producer / Director
Michael Rucker is a Peabody Award-winning Executive Producer and Director in the Unscripted television landscape for over 15 years. Credit highlights include Project Runway, Work of Art, Fast Foodies, 101 Places to Party Before You Die, and heading, developing, and showrunning the most successful and viewed division of Fullscreen's SVOD.
Rhea Seehorn
Actor and Producer
Rhea Seehorn is best known for her role as ‘Kim Wexler’ in AMC’s Emmy nominated series “Better Call Saul.” Seehorn’s portrayal of Kim has deemed the character as one of the current most powerful women on TV and earned her two Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series and three Critics; Choice Award nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Seehorn also earned herself an Emmy nomination for her role in AMC’s Short Form Comedy “Cooper’s Bar” in which she is also a producer.
Seehorn was most recently seen in the latest installment of the Bad Boys franchise, Bad Boys: Ride or Die. Next up, Seehorn will lead the untitled Vince Gilligan Apple TV+ series. Seehorn can be seen in HBO’s series “Veep,” Hulu’s miniseries “The Act,” and the CBS All Access series
“The Twilight Zone.” Other television credits include; ABC’s “I’m With Her,” FOX’s “Head Cases,” NBC’s “Whitney,” TNT’s “Franklin & Bash,” “Trust Me,” “Dollhouse,” “Burn Notice,” “The Closer,” “Starter Wife,” and “House of Lies.”
Seehorn’s film credits include Linoleum, Inside Man: Most Wanted, I Hate Kids, and The Shaggy Dog and Netflix’s Things Heard and Seen. Seehorn also has a significant theatre background with 10 years of experience in Washington D.C and 3 years in New York.
ADAM SHAPIRO
Actor / Writer
Adam Shapiro is a TV/Film and Theatre actor known for his roles in Never Have I Ever, Kingdom, The Affair, in the films She Said, Steve Jobs, and Now You See Me, and in Broadway’s Waitress. Adam is a co-founder of IAMA Theatre Company in Los Angeles and owner of Shappy Pretzel Co. And most importantly husband to Katie Lowes and father to Albee and Vera.
Jocko Sims
Actor / Creator
Jocko Sims is best known as an actor, and stars as Dr. Floyd Reynolds on the NBC drama, “New Amsterdam.” Sims is also a writer, producer and director, and has been hitting the festival circuit with his award winning short film/tv pilot, “Grown” a coming of age story of a young man grappling with the recent loss of his father. “Grown” recently took home the jury prize at SXSW in their annual Independent TV Pilot Competition.
As an actor, Jocko is currently in production in a comedy series for Hulu called “How To Die Alone,” created by and starring Emmy Nominee, Natasha Rothwell.
Through his acting career, Jocko has had roles in numerous film and television projects, including “Dreamgirls,” “Jarhead” and 2014’s summer box office hit “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes.”
On television, Sims had his first lead role opposite Dennis Hopper in the Starz original series, “Crash,” and his following lead role was as Lt. Carlton Burk in the TNT network hit, “The Last Ship,” which lasted for 5 seasons. In between seasons of “The Last Ship,” he portrayed Robert Franklin on the second season of Showtime’s “Masters of Sex.” Other television credits include “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Franklin & Bash,” “Castle,” “NCIS,” “Burn Notice,” “CSI,” “Bones” and Showtime’s “I’m Dying Up Here.”
Erich C. Smith
Sr Talent Agent, TCA MGMT
Erich C. Smith has been in representation going on 20 years. Smith ran the talent department at a boutique agency where he became known for identifying amazing comedic talent as well as diverse character actors. Since being at TCA, Erich has continued the work he was known for while expanding his portfolio to include staffed writers, produced playwrights, and indie film directors.
Erich C. Smith was born and raised in Detroit, MI, lives in Los Angeles with his wife and 2 children, and is an avid contributor to Breast Cancer Research and The Human Rights Campaign.
Valerie Stadler
Producer and Founding Partner, Big Swing Productions
Valerie Stadler is a producer, filmmaker, and executive whose films have
screened at Sundance, SXSW, Tribeca, MOCA and the Whitney Museum.
Driven by a strong sense of storytelling and understanding of the industry,
Valerie navigates the line between business and creative, infusing intention
and strategy into her work.
Valerie is a Co-Founder of Big Swing Productions with longtime friend and
collaborator Kyra Sedgwick and Meredith Bagby. There she has developed a
slate of projects across film and television, with an emphasis on stories with
heart and purpose. Under the Big Swing banner Valerie has produced SPACE
ODDITY, starring Kyle Allen and Alexandra Shipp, and ARISTOTLE AND DANTE
DISCOVER THE SECRETS OF THE UNIVERSE, starring Eugenio Derbez and
Eva Longoria, produced in partnership with Lin-Manuel Miranda, which
screened at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.
Prior to that, Valerie was the head of Production and Development for Fluency, a multi-platform studio under NBC Universal, handling both day-to-day
operations and development of the slate, as well as fostering partnerships
both inside and outside of the studio.
Valerie is a 2019 Sundance Episodic lab fellow, the Co-President of the
Outfest Board of Directors, and currently lives in Los Angeles with her
husband and one too many cats.
Tom Verica
Executive Producer / Director
Tom has an illustrious career that spans thirty years in the entertainment industry. A gifted director, actor, and producer, he is a true multi-hyphenate.
He has helmed over 100 episodes of television which recently include INVENTING ANNA, BRIDGERTON, and THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY. A veteran actor with a distinguished career on stage and screen, he co-starred opposite Viola Davis as her husband, Sam Keating, on the ABC hit, HOW TO GET AWAY WITH MURDER. Shonda Rhimes has brought Tom in-house at Shondaland to serve as the company's head of creative production. In the newly created advisory role, Verica helps to translate Rhimes' creative vision across all Shondaland productions.
Terry Washington
Owner & CEO - Zane Ryder Management
Having grown up in the industry Washington inherently has a passion for music and entertainment. That passion has led him to manage and oversee tours around the world with platinum recording artists like Chris Brown, Eric Benét, and The Fugees. He has produced films in remote locations and managed the legacy of many music artists and the late fashion icon André Leon Talley.
As the industry evolves Washington has expanded his focus to producing original content and curating special projects. He is known for his creative visualization, ability to stay connected to trending media platforms, and a rolodex for which CEOs would pay millions. His skill set has translated into lasting management in the entertainment industry for over 20 years.
Geneva Wasserman
EVP, Head of Film & TV for The Story Lab
Geneva is EVP, Head of Film & TV for The Story Lab with experience spanning over 20 years in roles including intellectual property attorney, creative development, marketing, and all aspects of film and television production and distribution.
Previously, as SVP of Development & Production for Conde Nast Entertainment, Geneva was the Executive in charge of production for 22 films and 9 scripted series in various stages of development and production, including the recent Netflix Original film Spiderhead starring Chris Hemsworth, Jurnee Smollett, and Miles Teller, directed by Joe Kosinski and The Great Chinese Art Heist for Warner Bros to be directed by Jon M. Chu.
Prior to Conde Nast, Geneva led the entry of ad-tech digital media company Optimad into the entertainment space, ran a film financing company (Whitener Entertainment Group), and ran a celebrity-led Hispanic-focused production company (WVE with Wilmer Valderrama).
She holds a B.A. with distinction from UC San Diego and a JD with Honors from UC Hastings College of Law.
Talitha Watkins
President and Head of ColorCreative Management
Talitha Watkins is President and Head of ColorCreative Management – a management and production company. ColorCreative was founded by Issa Rae and Deniese Davis with the mission of delivering women and people-of-color creators best-in-class representation to build career-defining brands through ownership, commercial success, artistic fulfillment, and visibility amongst the multicultural community and industry at large.
Formerly a Motion Picture Agent and Cultural Executive at leading entertainment and sports agency Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Watkins is based in Los Angeles and represents producers, writers, directors and actors. In addition, Watkins helps build out CAA’s multicultural business and capabilities including the multicultural leadership event CAAAmplify.
Previous to CAA, Watkins spent six years as Vice President of Multicultural Marketing at Universal Pictures, where she worked across all marketing divisions, including publicity, media, digital, creative, research, and partnerships, to maximize the studio’s outreach efforts to African American audiences. While at Universal, she worked on numerous films, including the multicultural blockbusters FAST & FURIOUS 6, FURIOUS 7, and the record-breaking STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON. She was also instrumental in supporting the success of African American films, such as the box-office hits THE BEST MAN HOLIDAY and RIDE ALONG.
Prior to Universal Pictures, Watkins was an Assistant General Manager with Telepictures Productions, Inc. and oversaw operations, sales, and marketing for five female-focused digital properties in the Warner Bros. portfolio, including Ellentv.com, Extratv.com, and TyraShow.com, as well as worked in a development capacity for Essence.com.
Watkins is a board member of the WIF, Saturday Morning, and Made in Her Image organizations.
Denzel Whitaker
Actor / Filmmaker
Born in Torrance, California, Denzel Whitaker is best known for his award-winning role in THE GREAT DEBATERS, performing opposite of his two namesakes, Denzel Washington and Forest Whitaker. Numerous film and television shows list Denzel's name including fan favorites: BLACK PANTHER, CUT THROAT CITY, THE PURGE TV series, WARRIOR, U SHOOT VIDEOS?, ALL THAT and TRAINING DAY.
In 2011, Denzel simultaneously began developing his skillset behind the camera as a filmmaker. His latest film '5150', has received two Audience Awards from SeriesFest and the FilmGood Festival, alongside being selected for Tribeca’s Creators Market. Co-written and directed by Denzel, starring Jovan Adepo and executive produced by David Oyelowo, the film is currently being developed into a TV series.
Aaliyah Williams
Manager & Producer
Peabody Award-nominated television & film producer Aaliyah Williams’ credits include the series Gentefied & film Really Love (Netflix). Williams launched Just A Rebel to create signature content that centers Black women and people of color—shifting the culture forward. The company’s first-look deal at CBS Television Studios has been renewed for a third year where Williams has several series in development.
Just A Rebel’s feature film slate includes Tiffany Johnson’s (Mike, Black Monday) feature directorial debut THE LAST CLASS starring Marsai Martin based on the incredible true story of writer Kimberly Nicole Walker’s survival of a very special senior year of high school. Williams is currently in post on BLACK BARBIE: A DOCUMENTARY directed by Lagueria Davis and financed by LinLay Productions.
Separately, Aaliyah is also a founding partner of Adventure Media, a management and production company launched by Chris von Goetz and James Robins Early. Originally from Arkansas and Oklahoma, Williams graduated from Harvard and is a 2023 UCLA School of Law MLS candidate. She is an active alum of Film Independent’s Project:Involve, Sundance, and the Ron Brown Scholar Program.
Kendall Wright
Development Executive
