COFFEE CHAT SEMINARS WITH EXPERTS

These Coffee Chats are open forum discussions that revolve around the Industry’s perception of the role of women in entertainment today and where films are going in the next decade.

We will be hosting experts on the topics listed below. Our hope is that the attendees leave with a more tangible understanding of the different approaches to filmmaking with COMMERCIAL appeal on a global basis. Our experts will be giving strong advice and background on how they have broken through the barriers to film production, financing, and distribution.

TOPIC HEADING OF COFFEE CHATS	DETAIL OF COFFEE CHATS
Story Telling All the gossip with the boring parts cut out! Maria Bravo Independent Producer: (Story Telling) Moderator 9am-11am  Detail: We will be detailing the elements of story telling.	Penelope Spheeris, Director Credits: Black Sheep, The Little Rascals, The Beverly Hillbillies, Wayne’s World. Cynthia Mort, Writer Credits: Rosanne, The Guide Dorothy Kozak - Sr. Script Analyst, Walt Disney Pictures; She currently analyzes books and feature film scripts for the Walt Disney Studios Story Department. She is also highly sought-after by A-list producers and executives for her overnight coverage and analysis of books and scripts. Freelance clients include: Jerry Bruckheimer, Scott Rudin, Ed Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz and Kathleen Kennedy. Ivana Chubbuck , Acting Coach: Founder and Director of the Ivana Chubbuck Studio, she has taught the following actors during her 20-plus year career: Halle Berry, Brad Pitt, Charlize Theron, Elisabeth Shue, Jim Carrey, Jake Gyllenhaal, Carrie-Anne Moss, Djimon Honsou, Garry Shandling, Hank Azaria, Rob Schneider, Matthew Perry, Drew Carey, Pink, David Spade, Jon Voight, Katherine Keener, Amy Brenneman, and Jessica Biel.THE POWER OF THE ACTOR “The Chubbuck Technique: The 12-Step Acting Technique That will Take You from Script to a Living, Breathing, Dynamic Character” Lupe Ontiveros, Actress Credits: Real Women Have Curves, As Good As It Gets, Selena, La Nacha in the Oscar nominated film EL NORTE Pat Quinn, Literary Agent at Innovative Agency Jim Kellem, Literary Agent at JKA Talent Agency Mary Keil, Writer/ Director Credits: Swing Pilar Alessandra, Director of On the Page-Script Consulting Services
Distribution & Marketing: Can a pretty face get the picture sold? And do women buy movie tickets? 11am-1pm Leslie LaPage, Producer: (Distribution & Marketing) Moderator Detail: We will be addressing the realities of ticket sales with female stars attached. In addition is there a new independent filmmaker on the horizon?	David Aion, Foundation Films Distribution (Formerly of Lincoln Media Group, American Film Partners and is currently serving on the Board of Directors of Women in Film) Cristiane Roget, COO Vector International Pictures Philippa Burgess, Partner at Creative Convergence Inc.
	Scott Simons, President of SPG Home Video
lunch break 1pm to 2pm
Entertainment Careers for Women! Do they really exist? I won’t fetch your coffee or take messages! Belle Hernandez, Latin Heat (Entertainment Careers) Moderator 2pm- 4pm Detail: We will be discussing the changing environment in entertainment and the possibilities leading to more women in high powered positions.	Jenny Alonzo Senior Vice President, Production, Promotion Planning and Multicultural Strategies, Lifetime Entertainment Services MO FITZGIBBON , PRODUCER/DIRECTOR Lifetime Television's Intimate Portrait of Gloria Estefan, received a Grammy nomination in "Best Long Form Music" Lynne Whiteford Independent Management Consultant: Former VP Production of Kevin Costner’s Tig Productions; Dances With Wolves, The Bodyguard, JFK, and Message in A Bottle
	Cindy Cowan, former President of Initial Entertainment Group (IEG), Emmy nomination for Rent-A-Kid, starring Leslie Neilson; Emmy, Golden Globe and People’s Choice nominations for If These Walls Could Talk, starring Cher, Sissey Spacek, Anne Heche and Demi Moore, Very Bad Things, starring Cameron Diaz and Christian Slater; and the Robert Altman-directed Dr. T & the Women, starring Richard Gere, Helen Hunt, Kate Hudson and Liv Tyler. Stella Stolper VP of Talent and Creative Development for VHI Lucia Diaz and Gabrielle Kelly, Founders of International Alliance of Women Cinematographers
Film Financing: Where can it be hiding? You mean balancing the checkbook? 4pm-6pm Detail: Our experts will examine different options on film financing and the packaging of films.	Darrien Michele Gipson, Production Coordinator, SAG Indie, Darrien was formerly the Vice President of Production for DEF Pictures, where she sheparded such films as Gridlock'd and How to be a Player Kelly Crean, CREANSPEAK Productions, Credits: "Gagsters!," for WB, “Doctors of Rock,” for HDnet, Documentary “There's a God on the Mic”, “Prey for Rock & Roll” (starring Gina Gershon, Drea De Matteo, Lori Petty, Marc Blucas and Shelly Cole). “False Start” Charlie Minn's debut feature. Gwen Field, Producer, Media Savant THE LAST WALTZ, Sam Peckinpah on CONVOY and Gene Wilder on THE WORLD’S GREATEST LOVER, AMBITION, a psychological thriller released by Miramax, starred Lou Diamond Phillips
	Dahlia Waingort, Producer, Exec. Producer of Elena Films Credits: Live to Ride, Swing, Changing Hearts
Ins and Outs of Pitching: Walk, talk, and chew gum! 6pm-8pm Detail: We will get advice on the best way to pitch scripts to Hollywood with a pitching session to follow.	Glenda Shaw, Producer SiTV, Credits: Montel Williams Show, and Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Sally Champion, Director, Writer, Credits: Family Secrets with Pamela Bellwood, Angela Jones, Tim Redwine, Lisa Amsterdam, Kaye Ballard and Edward Bunker. Gayl Murphy, Author of Interview Tactics! How to Survive in the Media without Getting Clobbered! and veteran Hollywood Correspondent formally of ABC News.
	Rona Edward and Monika Skerbis Co-Authors I Liked it, I Didn’t Love it: Screenplay Development from the Inside Out Heather Kenyon, Director of Development for Original Animation at the Cartoon Network Heather Hale Producer / Writer Credits: The Courage to Love, starring Vanessa Williams, Diahann Carroll, Gil Bellows and Stacy Keach