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INDUSTRY EXPERTS, OUR PANELISTS
Mimi Leder (Director)
Mimi Leder's career can be defined by 'firsts': directing DreamWorks' first theatrical release, "The Peacemaker," starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman; and being the first woman accepted to study cinematography at the American Film Institute. That, however, would not do her stellar achievements in film and television justice.
Currently the Executive Producer/Director of the new HBO series “The Leftovers,” written and created by Damon Lindelof (“Lost”) and Tom Perrotta (“The Leftovers” the novel), she began distinguishing herself as one of television's most versatile and accomplished Producer/Directors before diving into features. Winner of two Emmys and nominated for seven more, she was also nominated three times by the DGA for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in a Dramatic Series as well as an OFTA. In addition to directing series from ER to Shameless, six of the nine pilots she's directed have gone on to series including “The Beast,” “John Doe,” “Johnny Zero” and “Vanished,” all of which she executive produced.
She seamlessly impacted the American vernacular in directing “Pay It Forward” and directed one of 1998's most profitable films, "Deep Impact," which grossed more than $350 million worldwide. Her most recent feature film was “The Code” starring Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas. Her next film, which she co-wrote with Reuben Leder and Stefanie Leder, will be “I Dismember Papa,” a comedy/drama about her father, a 1980’s B-movie maker and his family of filmmakers.
NELL SCOVELL (CO-AUTHOR “LEAN IN”)
Nell Scovell is a journalist, speechwriter, TV writer, producer and director. She created and was the showrunner for the ABC hit, “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” and has directed movies for both Showtime and Lifetime. Other TV writing credits include Late Night with David Letterman, The Simpsons, Murphy Brown, Monk and NCIS.
Nell began her journalism career writing sports for The Boston Globe. She was the first staff writer hired at SPY magazine and has been a contributor to Vanity Fair since 1987. In 2013, Nell co-authored “Lean In” with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. The book spent over four months at the top of The New York Times Best Seller list.
HEATHER RAE (PRODUCER)
Heather Rae has worked as a producer and executive for more than twenty-five years. She has been named one of Variety’s Ten Producers To Watch. She produced Frozen River, which was nominated for two Academy Awards, won two Gotham Awards and was nominated for seven Spirit Awards resulting in a Best Actress win for Melissa Leo and the Piaget Producer Award for Rae. Rae produced award-winning dramas The Dry Land starring America Ferrera, Wilmer Valderrama, Jason Ritter, and Melissa Leo and Magic Valley starring Scott Glenn and Kyle Gallner, which premiered at Tribeca and Rome International. Rae also produced Sundance hit Ass Backwards, written by June Raphael and Casey Wilson (Bride Wars) who star alongside Alicia Silverstone, Vincent D’Onofrio, Brian Geraghty and Jon Cryer; as well as festival darling I Believe in Unicorns from writer/director Leah Meyerhoff. Among Ravens, directed by Randy Redroad and Russell Friedenberg, with Amy Smart, Joshua Leonard, and Will McCormack is her most recent work. Rae also directed award-winning documentary Trudell, about the life of Native American activist John Trudell.. For Six years Rae ran the Native Program at the Sundance Institute and was a programmer for the Sundance Film Festival. She has sat on the Board of Trustees for the Sundance Institute and advised to such organizations as The Rockefeller Foundation, IFP, Film Independent, The Ford Foundation, The Tribeca Institute, and First Americans in the Arts. Rae is Cherokee and the mother of three.
Karyn Kusama wrote and directed her first feature film, “Girlfight”, in 1999. The film won the Director’s Prize and shared the Grand Jury Prize at the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. “Girlfight” was theatrically released by Sony Screen Gems.
In 2004, Karyn directed the science fiction love story “Aeon Flux” for Paramount Pictures. The film starred Charlize Theron, Marton Csokas, and Frances McDormand.
Her third feature was the comedy-horror film “Jennifer’s Body”, written by Diablo Cody, and released by Twentieth Century Fox. She is currently finishing her latest feature, entitled “The Invitation”, a psychological suspense film that stars Logan Marshall-Green, Tammy Blanchard, and Michiel Huisman.
She lives in Los Angeles.
KARYN KUSAMA (DIRECTOR/GAMECHANGER FILMS)
MIRANDA BAILEY (Producer)
Miranda Bailey began her career as an actress in New York, appearing in numerous theatrical productions before moving to Los Angeles. Miranda’s directorial debut was the 2010 SXSW premiere GREENLIT, a documentary examining the difficulties inherent in greening a movie set. In 2012, she gave narrative story a try, directing the comedy short ANOTHER HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, which went on to win “Best Comedy Short” at Cinekink NYC and will next be seen at DC Shorts Festival and Burbank International Film Festival in September.
Over the last 14 years, she has produced over 20 films including the Oscar nominated THE SQUID AND THE WHALE and Sundance premiere AGAINST THE CURRENT as well as documentaries UNRAVELED and SPINNING PLATES - each making quite a splash on the festival circuit. Miranda's company Cold Iron Pictures recently produced TIME OUT OF MIND starring Richard Gere – a 2014 TIFF selection – and the Sundance lab film DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL. She is currently developing a feature script with the Imagine Lab to direct in 2015. She is repped by ICM and Echolake Entertainment for writing and directing.
NEAL DODSON (PRODUCER)
Named the “10 Producers That Will Change Hollywood” by The Wrap and included in the “Mavericks” issue of Details Magazine, Neal Dodson is a formidable jack of all trades. A reformed actor with a multitude of credits spanning from Broadway to Television, Dodson made his mark as an innovative and successful producer.
He won an Independent Spirit Award for the first film he produced writer-director J.C. Chandor’s Margin Call, which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Not only was he the vice president of a Warner Bros-based production company, but last year he produced Chandor's second film, All Is Lost starring Robert Redford, which earned a steady stream of accolades: nominated for a BAFTA, a SAG award, two Golden Globes (winning “Best Score”), four Indie Spirit Awards, and an Academy Award. Dodson and Chandor's third collaboration, A Most Violent Year, starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain is slated to be released by the end of 2014.
In addition to his collaboration with Chandor, this year alone Dodson also releases Anna Martemucci’s first feature Hollidaysburg, Shane Dawson’s comedy Not Cool, and Victor Quinaz’s historical comedy Periods. He has produced many festival bound short films, published two graphic novels: Mr. Murder is Dead and Lucid, and sold television pilots to TNT, The CW, and SyFy.
KATE BRANDT (WRITER/GEENA DAVIS INSTITUTE)
Kate Brandt works at Warner Bros. Home Entertainment and is a board member of Women of Warner and OUT@Warner Bros. She recently participated in the company’s Board Leadership Program. A member of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media Brain Trust, she also volunteers with Girls Who Code and GLAAD, and is a co-chair of the LA LGBT Center’s 2014 Vanguard Awards. A writer, violinist and award- winning filmmaker, she is a member of Outfest Los Angeles’ Alumni Program, serves on the Los Feliz Neighborhood Council, and is a graduate of Bennington College.
SHARON LAWRENCE (ACTRESS)
TV: RIZZOLI&ISLES, CURB YOUR ENTHUASIAM, GREY’S ANATOMY -EMMY nom. MONK, ONE TREE HILL, THE MENTALIST, DESPERATE HOUSWIVES, LAW & ORDER: SVU, DROP DEAD DIVA, WOLF LAKE; LADIES MAN w-Alfred Molina, FIRED UP; NYPD BLUE-3 EMMY Nominations, SAG Award. Numerous MOW’s. UPCOMING- THE AFTER by Chris Carter on AMAZON
Film: MIDDLE OF NOWHERE-Sundance Winner, LITTLE BLACK BOOK -Holly Hunter, THE ONLY THRILL- Sam Sheppard, THE ALIBI-Steve Coogan , SOLACE w/ Anthony Hopkins. UNA VIDA w/ Bill Cobbs & Joaquim Del Amedia, STARVING IN SUBURBIA w/ Laura Slade Wiggins, GRACE w/Annika Marks
Broadway: CHICAGO-Velma; FIDDLER ON THE ROOF –w/Topol; CABARET w/Joel Grey, ZORBA w/Anthony Quinn.
Off-Broadway: LOVE, LOSS & WHAT I WORE, TONGUE OF A BIRD w/Cherry Jones & Melissa Leo
Stage: Mark Taper Forum- POOR BEHAVIOR; Pasadena Playhouse- ORSON’S SHADOW (LA Drama Critics Award – Best Supporting Actress& Ovation Nomination) Noel Coward’s A SONG AT TWILIGHT; Geffen- UNDER THE BLUE SKY , PAINT YOUR WAGON; Regional -Williamstown, Berkley Rep. Bay Street. 2013 Ten Chimney’s Lunt/-Fontaine Fellow
Sharon serves on the Board of Directors of HEAL THE BAY, the Screen Actors Foundation, was former Chair of the Women In Film Foundation and is part owner in AKASHA restaurant in Culver City.
CONCEPCION LARA (LATINO MEDIA PIONEER & EXPERT)
Concepción Lara is an acknowledged expert in the Latino market: she pioneered the multi-channel industry’s foray in the US Latino Market as well the expansion of key digital venues and satellite TV channels into Latin America. She is well versed in multi-platform distribution, which covers television, Internet, mobile phone and other digital distribution vehicles.
While at HBO, Lara proposed and was instrumental in the launch of HBO Ole, one of the first pan-continental, satellite-delivered services in the world—and HBO’s most successful international venture to date. She was also a key force behind the creation of HBO Latino, The Fox Latin American Channel and Fox Kids Latino.
Additionally, Lara has played a key role in the development of the Latin DVD business: As Sr. VP of Ventura Distribution’ Studio Latino, she established the company as the leader in the space by helping key brands such as Univision and Sesame Street launch their Latino home entertainment divisions.
In mid-2013, Lara joined forces with other media and entertainment executives to launch a digital network focusing on a lifestyle of wellness and sustainability. evoxtelevision.com The network is now in front on 60M homes via all digital platforms.
In mid-2012, Lara was named a board of trustee for Women In Film’s Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the non-profit. With over 10,000 members, Women In Film supports the goals and ambitions of women in entertainment. Lara was recently named Chair of the Digital Media Committee for the organization.
A graduate of Stanford University, and a native of Mexico, she has lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Seoul, Korea; and Stuttgart, Germany.
Raquel Lavina (Moderator)
Raquel Lavina has been an activist, facilitator and trainer for over 25 years. She has worked in issues ranging from reproductive rights, domestic violence, human rights and youth empowerment. The iWe Summit is an incredible moment for people to contribute their creativity, passion and brilliance to solutions for positive transformation. The Entertainment Industry influences people's attitudes and behavior and creates the possibility of incredible change that can be made in the larger society when powerful people act and innovate together.
