Media Industry Conversations Podcast

This MIC podcast features a panel about animation in Austin. Guests Carrye Glazer, Brad Graeber, Austin Harper, Evan Narcisse, and Craig Staggs join us to explore career paths, roles, and the state of animation industries in Austin. At the time the podcast was recorded at the UT campus on February 16, 2024, Carrye Glazer was the executive producer for Austin Community College television; she formerly served as producer and head of original content for independent entertainment studio Mighty Coconut. Brad Graeber was the CEO and COO of Powerhouse Animation Studios. Austin Harper was a Supervising Producer at Rooster Teeth. Evan Narcisse was the senior writer of Brass Lion Entertainment, as well as a writer in games, comics, television, and film. Finally, Craig Staggs was CEO, Director, and Producer at Minnow Mountain. The conversation was co-moderated by Alisa Perren, a professor in the department of Radio-Television-Film at UT Austin, and Jordan Levin, a professor of practice in the department of Radio-Television-Film at UT Austin, as well as the former general manager of Rooster Teeth.

This week's MIC podcast features a panel on the anatomy of a production company. Guests Michael Garcia and Maddy Bilder join us to explore the production process and everyday workflows of 26 Keys Productions, a production company based right here in Austin. Michael Garcia, who is the President of 26 Keys, has extensive experience as an executive producer and studio executive, having worked with LucasFilm, Televisia USA, and HBO on projects like Andor, The Sopranos, and The Wire. Maddy Bilder, Project Director at 26 Keys, has a background in producing events and festivals, and has also worked in development at Texas Monthly on titles like Love and Death and Hitman. Michael and Maddy visited the UT Campus on March 25th, 2025 and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren.

Today, we’re bringing you the final episode in our special series about the Texas media industries. This podcast was recorded at the Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium, which took place on September 20th, 2024 at the University of Texas at Austin. The symposium and this podcast were co-produced by the Center for Entertainment and Media Industries and the Department of Radio-Television-Film, and were made possible by the generous support of Wofford Denius. The Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium showcased the breadth of film, TV, music, gaming, and digital media opportunities available in Texas in an all-day event on the UT Campus. We’re wrapping up our five-week series featuring discussions from that day, so check out our previously published episodes on Development, Production, Distribution and Exhibition, and Live Events and Experiential Entertainment. This podcast series is also part of the Center’s larger focus on Texas Media, and will be included in a white paper compiling research on the Texas media industries that will be published later this summer. Keep an eye out for that paper to learn more about what’s happening here in Texas. This episode of the series will feature the fifth and final panel of the symposium, which was a conversation between Elizabeth Avellán, who is a longtime leader in the Texas media landscape and RTF Chair Cindy McCreery. Elizabeth Avellán is Co-Owner and Vice President of Troublemaker Studios and is the president of EYA productions. She has produced such groundbreaking films as Machete, Sin City, and Spy Kids, and is a key figure among the cohort of filmmakers that have built Austin into the movie town it is today.

Today, we’re bringing you the fourth episode in our special series about the Texas media industries. This podcast was recorded at the Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium, which took place on September 20th, 2024 at the University of Texas at Austin. The symposium and this podcast were co-produced by the Center for Entertainment and Media Industries and the Department of Radio-Television-Film, and were made possible by the generous support of Wofford Denius. The Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium showcased the breadth of film, TV, music, gaming, and digital media opportunities available in Texas in an all-day event on the UT Campus. We’re in the middle of our five-week series featuring discussions from that day, so check out our previously published episodes on Development, Production, and Distribution and Exhibition, and tune in next week for our concluding conversation with Elizabeth Avellán, a longtime leader in Texas film. This podcast series is also part of the Center’s larger focus on Texas Media, and will be included in a white paper compiling our research on the Texas media industries that will be published later this summer. Keep an eye out for that paper to learn more about what’s happening here in Texas. This episode of the series will feature the fourth panel of the symposium, which focused on Live Events and Experiential Entertainment. Panelists include Jordy Barksdale (Director of Brand Experience at Magnolia), Lisa Hickey (Strategic Advisor in Media & Entertainment), Louis Messina (CEO of MTG), and Barbara Morgan (CEO of Austin Film Festival). This panel was moderated by Korey Pereira, Assistant Professor of Practice at UT Austin.

Today, we’re bringing you the third episode in our special series about the Texas media industries. This podcast was recorded at the Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium, which took place on September 20th, 2024 at the University of Texas at Austin. The symposium and this podcast were co-produced by the Center for Entertainment and Media Industries and the Department of Radio-Television-Film, and were made possible by the generous support of Wofford Denius. The Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium showcased the breadth of film, TV, music, gaming, and digital media opportunities available in Texas in an all-day event on the UT Campus. For the next several weeks, we’ll be bringing you podcasts from four panel discussions with industry leaders, which focused on Development, Production, Exhibition, and Live Events. Finally, we’ll conclude with our one-on-one with Elizabeth Avellán, a longtime leader in Texas film.   This podcast series is also part of the Center’s larger focus on Texas Media, and will be included in a white paper compiling our research on the Texas media industries that will be published later this summer. Keep an eye out for that paper to learn more about what’s happening here in Texas. This episode of the series will feature the third panel of the symposium, which focused on Distribution and Exhibition. Panelists include AJ Feliciano (General Manager of The Roost Podcast Network), Holly Herrick (Head of Film and Creative Media at Austin Film Society), Francis Román (Senior Film and TV Festival Programming Manager at SXSW), and Adam Zehner (SVP of Acquisitions and Global Content Strategy at Crunchyroll). This Panel was moderated by Caroline Frick, who is Associate Professor at UT Austin.

Today, we’re bringing you the second episode in our special series about the Texas media industries. This podcast was recorded at the Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium, which took place on September 20th, 2024 at the University of Texas at Austin, which was made possible by the generous support of Wofford Denius. The Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium showcased the breadth of film, TV, music, gaming, and digital media opportunities available in Texas in an all-day event on the UT Campus. This podcast series is also part of the Center’s larger focus on Texas Media, and will be included in a white paper compiling our research on the Texas media industries that will be published later this summer. Keep an eye out for that paper to learn more about what’s happening here in Texas! This episode of the series will feature the second panel of the symposium, which focused on the Texas production ecosystem. Panelists include Chip Rives (President of Texas Crew Productions), Red Sanders (President of Red Productions), Steph Swope (President at Minnow Mountain), and Stephanie Whallon (Director of the Texas Film Commission). This panel was moderated by Micah Barber, Associate Professor of Practice at UT Austin.

Today, we’re bringing you the first episode in a special series about the Texas media industries. This podcast was recorded at the Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium, which took place on September 20th, 2024 at the University of Texas at Austin. The symposium and this podcast were co-produced by the Center for Entertainment and Media Industries and the Department of Radio-Television-Film, and were made possible by the generous support of Wofford Denius. The Texas Entertainment and Media Industries Symposium showcased the breadth of film, TV, music, gaming, and digital media opportunities available in Texas in an all-day event on the UT Campus. This podcast series is also part of the Center’s larger focus on Texas Media, and will be included in a white paper compiling our research on the Texas media industries that will be published later this summer. Keep an eye out for that paper to learn more about what’s happening here in Texas. This episode of the series will feature the first panel of the symposium, which focused on Development. Panelists include Megan Creydt (Executive Producer of TV, Film, and Podcasts at Texas Monthly), Michael Garcia (President of 26 Keys Productions), Evan Narcisse (Senior Writer at Brass Lion Entertainment), and Sara Robertson (Chief Content Officer at Austin PBS).

This week's MIC podcast features James Emmanuel Shapiro, who was President of US Distribution at XYZ films at the time of this recording. James Emanuel Shapiro is an entertainment executive veteran of twenty years and has been the COO of both Drafthouse Films and NEON, where he helped build both distribution companies from the ground up. He's worked on several academy award campaigns including Bullhead, The Act of Killing, The Look of Silence, and I, Tonya. He most recently started the analytics department and helped build the booking department at the Alamo Drafthouse. He's also active in the festival world, having worked with both Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest and he occasionally writes about the entertainment industry for Birth, Movies, Death and The Bulwark. James spoke to UT students on December 9, 2024 and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. He discussed the scope of his work as a distribution executive, the methods and strategies that distributors use when acquiring films, and the changing landscape of American exhibition and distribution.

This week's MIC Podcast features a panel on the Screenwriter/Agent relationship with Jim Ehrich, literary agent, and Cindy McCreery, screenwriter and Chair of the Radio-Television-Film Department at UT Austin. Cindy McCreery is Chair of the Department of Radio-Television-Film here at UT Austin, where she teaches screenwriting. Cindy has written many feature and television scripts, and most recently wrote and produced I'll Be There, which premiered at the Austin Film Festival. She also just finished writing a film called Honey Girls for Sony Pictures. Jim Ehrich is a literary agent at Rothman Brecher Ehrich Livingston and represents both writers and directors in film, television, and IP. This Media Industry Conversation focuses on the relationship between a writer and their representation, and on how to navigate the world of professional screenwriting. Jim, and Cindy spoke to UT students on September 16th, 2024, and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. They discussed their experiences breaking into the industry, how to shape a career in screenwriting, and their thoughts on the future of entertainment.

For this week’s MIC Podcast, we’re excited to present our conversation with Mark Shapiro, moderated by Dr. Alisa Perren and James Andrew Miller. For regular listeners of the MIC podcast, this episode will have a unique structure, as James Andrew Miller moderates the first half of the conversation and Alisa Perren moderates the second half. Mark Shapiro is President and Chief Operating Officer of Endeavor and TKO.  Endeavor is a global sports and entertainment company, and the Endeavor network specializes in talent representation through the entertainment agency WME. Prior to joining Endeavor in 2014, Mark Shapiro was CEO of Dick Clark Productions, where he managed its day to day operations while also developing and producing programming for linear and digital media. Shapiro began his career at ESPN, where he earned 16 Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards in his role overseeing the production of sports and entertainment properties. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa. James Andrew Miller, the co-moderator for this podcast, is an award winning journalist, media consultant, and author of five books including Live from New York: An Uncensored History of SNL and Those Guys Have All the Fun: Inside the World of ESPN. He got his start at the Washington Post, and has worked as a Senior Executive Producer of Anderson Cooper 360 and EVP of Original Programming for USA Network, among other positions. He got his bachelor’s from Occidental, a master’s from Oxford, and an MBA from Harvard. Mark Shapiro and James Andrew Miller spoke to UT students on February 10th, 2025. Mark discussed his career trajectory, the scope of his work in sports media, and his insights on building a career in a competitive field.

This week's guest is Elaine Frontain Bryant who is Executive Vice President and Head of Programming at A&E, Lifetime, and LMN. She manages the programming teams for all three networks and is responsible for overseeing the development, creation and execution of all programming.  Elaine has developed lots of groundbreaking unscripted programming, such as Storage Wars and Duck Dynasty, and her work on Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath garnered the show an Emmy.  Elaine previously held positions at the History Channel and Magna Global Entertainment, and she is a graduate of Texas Christian University. Elaine Frontain Bryant spoke to UT students on September 30, 2024 and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. Their conversation focuses on Elaine's career trajectory, the challenges and opportunities that come from working in the industry during a period of contraction, and finding undeniable premises for unscripted shows.

This week's MIC podcast features a panel on Entertainment Law with attorneys PJ Shapiro and Greg Slewett. Both Slewett and Shapiro are founding partners at Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett, and Kole LLP, which was established in 2021 with philanthropy, civic engagement, and inclusion as its core tenants. JSSK LLP represents some of Hollywood's most in-demand talent, including Donald Glover, Florence Pugh, Emma Stone and Adam McKay. PJ earned his Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from UCLA, and Greg graduated from our very own Radio-Television-Film department here at UT. PJ and Greg spoke to UT students on November 4, 2024 and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. They discussed the scope of their work as entertainment lawyers, the evolving structures through which their clients can monetize media, and the impact of new developments in the industry, such as conglomeration and artificial intelligence.

This week’s guest is Colby Gaines, who is the Founder of Back Roads Entertainment. Colby, who produces unscripted series in his home state of Texas after 20 years in NYC, is an Emmy nominated executive producer and one of the top storytellers in unscripted entertainment. He’s well known for having co created cable’s longest-running hit show, Pawn Stars. He’s managed large teams and a variety of C-suite partners and famous personalities, developing, producing and distributing thousands of hours of content for television, brands and fortune 500 companies. Colby Gaines spoke to UT students on October 28th, 2024 and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. They discussed his career trajectory, the nature of unscripted production, and the landscape of the Hollywood marketplace that studios must navigate. This episode of the MIC podcast is part of a series on the media-makers working right here in Texas. We’ll speak with more of the organizations and filmmakers that are creating around the state throughout this semester, so stay tuned for more!

This week's guest is Brent Weinstein, Chief Development Officer of Candle Media. At Candle, Brent oversees brands like Moonbug, Faraway Road Productions, and Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine. Before joining Candle Media, Brent worked at United Talent Agency, one of Hollywood’s largest and most influential agencies, for nearly 20 years. During his time at UTA, Brent served as Partner and Chief Innovation Officer, where he led the company’s entry into the Digital Talent business, and managed its Live Events, Podcasting, Ventures, Heartland and Web3 divisions. Brent graduated with his BA from USC, and earned his Law degree from the University of San Diego. Brent Weinstein visited UT on October 24, 2024 and spoke with students taking Dr. Alisa Perren's Business of Hollywood class. The conversation was hosted by Dr. Perren, and they discussed Brent's career trajectory, the impact of his work at UTA and Candle Media, and his views on the current state of the media industries.

This week's guest is Andrew Wang. Andrew Wang is Head of TV, Development & Production at JuVee Productions, a production company founded by Viola Davis and Julius Tenon that emphasizes artist driven projects from a diverse range of new and established voices. At JuVee, Andrew guides projects through all stages of the development process, seeing a title through from the early days of its conception to its premiere. Before joining the JuVee team in 2016, Andrew introduced scripted programming to the Bravo Network. He additionally worked in development at Alloy Entertainment on projects such as The Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, and Pretty Little Liars. Andrew is a graduate of the RTF department right here at UT Austin. Andrew Wang spoke with students on October 3, 2022, at a time when Hollywood was focused on the high demand for streaming original content, a rise in mergers and acquisitions, and the possible impacts of early AI developments. The conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren, and focused of Andrew's career trajectory, the scope of his work in development at JuVee, and the process involved in guiding a project from script to screen.

This week, we're taking a look back at an MIC session with Elaine Frontain Bryant from Fall 2022. Elaine is Executive Vice President and Head of Programming at A&E Network, where she manages the A&E programming team and is responsible for overseeing the development, creation and execution of all programming for the network. In this role, Elaine won Emmy awards for launching the groundbreaking series Leah Remini: Scientology and the Aftermath, as well as The Day I Picked My Parents. Shortly after this conversation, Elaine added the Lifetime and LMN networks to her purview as well. Elaine previously held positions at the History Channel and Magna Global Entertainment, and she is a graduate of Texas Christian University. Elaine Frontain Bryant spoke to UT students on November 7, 2022 over zoom and was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. In 2022, industry leaders were focused on streaming returns, mergers and acquisition, and were just beginning to consider the possible impacts of AI. This MIC session focuses on Elaine's career trajectory, the scope of her work at A&E, and the trends and issues within the production of unscripted media.

This week's guest is Scot Cru, who works as an independent international television and media consultant and previously served as Executive Vice President of Global Formats and Unscripted Content at MGM Studios. In this role, Scot was responsible for the distribution of MGM formats worldwide and launched MGM UK. Before that, Scot worked as Executive Vice President of International for Mark Burnett Productions for fifteen years. In that time, Scot oversaw distribution and international production of United Artists Media Group shows and formats, including The Apprentice, The Bible, and Are you Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? In this position, Cru was responsible for the creation of international UAMG affiliate production companies, which have included those in France, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Scot Cru visited UT on February 20, 2024 and spoke with students taking a class on unscripted media. The conversation was Co- hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren and Brian Edwards, who worked with Scot at United Artists Media Group and served as co-instructor for the course. They discussed Scot's career trajectory, the nuances of global distribution, and the nature of unscripted media production.

This week's podast features a panel of film festival leaders based right here in Austin. Neha Aziz, Alka Bhanot, David Finkel, Todd Hogan, and Gabriel Ornelas visited UT Austin on March 21st, 2024 to discuss the community-based film festivals that they lead. Neha is Artistic Director for the Austin Asian American Film Festival, as well an independent filmmaker and podcaster. Alka Bhanot is Co-Founder of the Indie Meme film festival showcasing Iranian & South Asian Films, and worked previously in the Indian Television industry and as an independent filmmaker. David Finkel is Director of the Austin Jewish Film Festival, and previously worked in international business management and tech. Todd Hogan is president of the Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival, and works as a media and marketing executive. Gabriel Ornelas is Executive Director at Cine Las Americas and has a long career managing cultural arts programs and events, handling venue coordination, and supporting the performing arts. This week's conversation was hosted by Hannah Wold, and the discussion centered on the panelists' path into the film festival world, the nature of community partnership, and advice for media makers interested in submitting their work to festivals.

We concluded the Fall 2023 semester with a panel featuring five leaders in the media industry right here in Austin. Alfred Gomez is a director of programming and development at Blind Nil Magnolia, an unscripted production company operating here in Texas. Jennifer Hutchins is a freelance producer and founder of All Entertainment Business, and has worked on series such as That Animal Rescue Show. Laura Kincaid is the Director of Operations for ATX, a thriving television festival here in Austin. Attia Rasul is a content hub editor for Atmosphere TV and a recent graduate of UT Austin. Finally, Vince Robinette is a Controller for Amazon Studios and Twentieth Century Fox, and has worked on shows like Friday Night Lights, Alias, and True Lies. Alfred, Jennifer, Laura, Attia, and Vince spoke to UT students on December 4th, 2023 and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. They discussed their career trajectories, the scope of their work, and the Austin media industry landscape.

This week's podcast features a panel on the Screenwriter/Agent relationship with screenwriters Davia Carter and Cindy McCreery and literary agent Jim Ehrich, who visited UT on September 11, 2023. Davia Carter is an alumna of UT Austin's MFA Screenwriting program, and now works as a writer/producer for the Sylvester Stallone-led series, Tulsa King. Davia's other credits include Snowfall, Queen of the South, and Katy Keene. Cindy McCreery is Chair of the department of Radio-Television-Film at UT Austin, where she teaches screenwriting. Cindy recently premiered her independently produced film I'll Be There at 2023's Austin Film Festival and also just finished writing a film called Honey Girls for Sony Pictures. Finally, Jim Ehrich is a literary agent at Rothman Brecher Ehrich Livingston and represents both writers and directors in film, television, and IP, including Cindy and Davia. This panel focuses on the relationship between a writer and their representation, and on how to navigate the world of professional screenwriting. At the time of recording, the unions for both actors and writers working in the Hollywood system were on strike. Davia, Jim, and Cindy spoke with Dr. Alisa Perren about their experiences breaking into the industry, the structure and day to day operations of a writers' room, and their thoughts on where the industry was heading.

This week's guest is Patrick Schumacker, who visited UT on April 1, 2024. Patrick is an Emmy-nominated Creator, Showrunner and Executive Producer at Delicious Non-Sequitur Productions, which he runs with his writing partner Justin Halpern with an overall deal at Warner Bros Television. Patrick is Executive Producer and Co-showrunner on the Emmy Award-winning hit series Abbott Elementary with Quinta Brunson, and also showruns Max’s five-season animated series Harley Quinn. Patrick has also been a writer-producer on TV series such as iZombie, Cougar Town, and How to be a Gentleman. Patrick Schumacker sat down with Dr. Alisa Perren to discuss how he got his start in Hollywood after graduating from UT, the differences between writing for live-action versus animated series, and the nuances of producing for broadcast television.

This week's guest is Amanda Harrell, who visited a UT class on Unscripted Media on April 9th, 2024. Amanda is the former Executive Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs for the Alternative and Specials division of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios. This division of MGM focuses on unscripted content, as well as podcasts and live events. In this role, Amanda was responsible for ensuring the legality of all aspects of a project, seeing productions through from the early stages of development until they aired. Amanda began her career at Mark Burnett's production company, working on projects like EcoChallenge and The Apprentice before she stepped away to earn her law degree. After she passed the California Bar Exam, Amanda returned to Mark Burnett Productions in the Business and Legal affairs department, eventually rising to head of the division. The conversation was Co- hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren and Brian Edwards, who worked with Amanda at Mark Burnett Productions and served as co-instructor for the course. Amanda, Brian, and Alisa discussed Amanda's career trajectory, the details that legal divisions must keep in mind at all stages of a project lifecycle, and the nuances of international distribution.

This week's guest is Jordan Levin, who spoke with UT students on October 10, 2022. At the time of his visit, Jordan was General Manager at Rooster Teeth, an Austin-based media and entertainment company, where he was responsible for leading all aspects of the business including oversight of strategy, creative and operations. Before joining Rooster Teeth in 2019, Levin served as the CEO of Awesomeness, where he oversaw the growth of the company’s leading digital networks. He also managed its world-class film and television studio, which was behind hits like the Netflix feature film, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, and Hulu’s critically acclaimed PEN15. In addition to his work at companies like the NFL and XBox, Jordan notably worked on the founding team of The WB Television Network, now known as the CW, where he built shows like Dawson’s Creek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Felicity, Smallville, Gilmore Girls, and Charmed. At the time of Jordan's visit, Hollywood was focused on the streaming wars, the rise of IP, and a wave of mergers and acquisitions. The conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren, and focused on Jordan's career trajectory, the nuances of building a broadcast network, and the nature of digital content in the current media landscape.

This week's guest is Bob Berney. Bob Berney is an Alum of the RTF program here at UT Austin, and has gone on to become a leader in the field of film distribution. Bob began his career working at art house movie theaters in Houston and Dallas, where he learned the nuances of independent film distribution. He went on to found some of the most influential distribution companies in the industry, including IFC Films, Newmarket Films, and FilmDistrict. In 2005, Bob founded PictureHouse as a joint venture between HBO Films and NewLine Cinema and eventually acquired sole ownership. Throughout his career, Bob has guided many renowned films to box office success, including Pan's Labyrinth, Drive, Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Bick Sick, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and many more. Bob Berney spoke to UT students on November 9th, 2023 and the conversation was hosted by RTF Associate Professor of Practice Micah Barber. They discussed his career trajectory, the scope of his work as the CEO of Picturehouse, and his views on the current state of the media industries.

This week's MIC podcast features a panel on Entertainment Law with attorneys PJ Shapiro and Greg Slewett. Both Slewett and Shapiro are founding partners at Johnson, Shapiro, Slewett, and Kole LLP, which was established in 2021 with philanthropy, civic engagement, and inclusion as its core tenants. JSSK LLP represents some of Hollywood's most in-demend talent, including Donald Glover, Florence Pugh, Emma Stone and Adam McKay. PJ earned his Bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from UCLA, and Greg graduated from our very own Radio-Television-Film department here at UT. PJ and Greg spoke to UT students on November 13, 2023 and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. They discussed their career trajectories, the scope of their work as entertainment lawyers, and their views on the current state of the media industries.

This week's guest is Christopher Casanova. At the time of recording, Christopher was the Vice President of Film and Television at Black Bear Entertainment, where he oversaw production for Dumb Money, starring Seth Rogan and Paul Dano. Other upcoming Black Bear titles that Christopher has developed include horror-thriller Immaculate starring Sydney Sweeney and The Rivals of Amziah King, starring Matthew McConaughey. Christopher is now Head of Content at Princess Pictures in Melbourne, Australia. Christopher is a first generation Cuban-American and a native Texan and earned a Bachelor of Science in Radio-Television-Film from right here at The University of Texas at Austin. Christopher Casanova spoke to UT students on October 23rd, 2023 and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. They discussed his career trajectory, the scope of his work as VP of Film and Television at Black Bear Entertainment and his views on the current state of the media industries.

This week's guest is Neal Moritz. Neal H. Moritz is the founder of Original Film and one of the most prolific producers in Hollywood today. After graduating from UCLA with a Bachelor's in Economics, Moritz earned a graduate degree from the prestigious Peter Stark Producing Program at USC. Moritz's credits include some of the best-known titles in film, including the Fast and Furious franchise, 21 and 22 Jump Street, and teen classics like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions. In television, Moritz has produced such notable series as Amazon's The Boys, Fox's Prison Break, and CBS's SWAT. Neal Moritz spoke to UT students on February 6th, 2023 and the conversation was hosted by RTF Associate Professor of Practice Micah Barber. They discussed his career trajectory, the scope of his work as the Producer and Founder of Original Film, and his views on the current state of the media industries.

Pastor Alvarado spoke to UT students on October 30th, 2023 and the conversation was hosted by Dr. Alisa Perren. They discussed his career trajectory, the scope of his work as Co-Founder and Creative Director at Riverside, and his views on the current state of the media industries.

Dr. Tom Schatz visited on October 2, 2023 and discussed the history of the Hollywood Studio System, the nature of research into historic media industries, and his thoughts on the current state of the industry.

Iger visited Moody earlier this fall—before he announced his return to Disney as its CEO in November 2022—to share his insights on his career trajectory, how the Walt Disney Company evolved under his leadership, and his views on the current state of the media industries. When: Friday, September 9, 2022 - 12 - 1:15 p.m. Where: University of Texas at Austin Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kate Cronin

Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include the role of an entertainment industry lawyer, the process of negotiating contracts, and some significant shifts in media industry business models that have occurred over the past few decades. When: Monday, October 12, 2020 - 5 - 6:15 p.m. Where: Zoom, University of Texas at Austin Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kate Cronin MIC - PJ Shapiro, Entertainment Attorney, Ziffren Brittenham, LLP, October 12, 2020 by RTFMIC is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include Jerren Wright's diverse experiences as a a multimedia/technology businessman and attorney in the entertainment industry. Jerren Wright, Business Affairs Executive, Amazon Studios When: Monday, September 28, 2020 - 5 - 6:15 p.m. Where: Zoom, University of Texas at Austin Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kate Cronin MIC - Jerren Wright, Business Affairs Executive, Amazon Studios, September 28, 2020 by RTFMIC is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Ray Mansfield's (RTF BS, '00)discusses his career trajectory, his roles and responsibilities as Partner for QC Entertainment, and his views on the current state of film financing, production, and distribution. Who: Raymond Mansfield — Partner, QC Entertainment; Executive Producer, Get Out (2017); Producer, BlacKkKlansman (2018) When: Monday, April 23, 2018 - 3-4:15 p.m. Where: BMC 5.208, University of Texas at Austin Host: Micah Barber Producer: Kyle Wrather

We discuss Hall Hood's career trajectory since his time as an RTF major, his roles and responsibilities as studio lead writer at BioWare, and his views on the current state of the video game industry. Who: Hall Hood, Studio Lead Writer, BioWare When: Monday, November 27, 2017 - 6 - 7:15 p.m. Where: CMA 2.306, University of Texas at Austin Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

We discuss Luke Pebler’s career trajectory, his roles and responsibilities as an editor at Detour Films, and his views on the current state of media industries. Luke Pebler, Editor/Post-production at Detour Films When: Monday, November 20, 2017 - 6 - 7:15 p.m. Where: CMA 2.306, University of Texas at Austin Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

We discuss Andrew Wang's career trajectory since his time as an RTF major, his roles and responsibilities as Head of TV Development and Production at JuVee Productions, and his views on the current state of television industry. Andrew Wang, Head of TV, Development and Production, JuVee Productions When: Monday, November 13, 2017 - 6 - 7:15 p.m. Where: CMA 2.306, University of Texas at Austin Host; Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

We discuss Gaylyn Fraiche’s career trajectory since her time as an RTF major, her roles and responsibilities as Vice President for Movies at MarVista Entertainment, and her views on the current state of the film and TV industries. Gaylyn Fraiche, Vice President of Movies, Mar Vista Entertainment When: Monday, November 6, 2017 - 6 - 7:15 p.m. Where: CMA 2.306, University of Texas at Austin, USA Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include Felicia Henderson’s career trajectory from her time as a publicist to her time as a staff writer for shows on The WB up through her present experience as co-creator and Executive Producer for an acclaimed BET series, The Quad; her perspectives on the craft of writing for film, television, comic books, and more; and what it’s like to work in a contemporary writers’ room. Who: Felicia D. Henderson, Producer, Writer, Director, Assistant Professor, UT Austin When: Monday, September 25, 2017 - 6 - 7:15 p.m. Where: CMA 2.306, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas USA Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include Jordan Levin's career trajectory since his time as an RTF major as well as his current roles and responsibilities in his position as CEO of the multi-platform media company, Awesomeness. The conversation will also address the growing role of new media companies and multichannel networks, the new ways media talent is developed and discovered, and how emerging platforms are impacting the larger media landscape. Guest: Jordan Levin, CEO, Awesomeness When: Monday, October 30, 2017 - 6 - 7:15 p.m. Where: CMA 2.306 (Seating is first come, first served.) Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include Noah Hawley's history and career as an executive producer, writer, and showrunner. He will discuss his work on several acclaimed television series including Bones, Legion, and the FX limited series Fargo. He will also address how economics and technology have impacted TV’s production and storytelling practices. Noah Hawley, Television Producer/Writer (FX's Fargo, Legion) When: Monday, October 16, 2017 - 6 - 7:15 p.m. Where: CMA 2.306, The University of Texas at Austin, USA Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include Luis Ribeiro's career trajectory from his time as an RTF major to his current role as Managing Partner/EP for LOBO post-production in New York City. The conversation will address how post-production and design companies like LOBO collaborate with creators for animation, VFX, 3D, and more along with his experiences connecting Brazilian and U.S. advertising companies. Who: Luis Ribeiro, Managing Partner/EP LOBO post-production When: Monday, October 9, 2017 - 6 - 7:15 p.m. Where: CMA 2.306, University of Texas at Austin, USA Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include Hugh Forrest's career trajectory and current role as Chief Programming Officer for South by Southwest (SXSW), an annual gathering of music, technology and media voices and organizations. He will discuss the role of tech and media in Austin, organizing for an internationally-renowned festival and how SXSW has grown and connects to other parts of the media industries. Hugh Forrest is the Chief Programming Officer, SXSW When: Monday, October 2, 2017 - 6 - 7:15 p.m. Where: CMA 2.306 (Seating is first come, first served.) Moderator: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include Caroline Frick’s diverse experiences with media archiving and preservation, film licensing, and television programming for organizations as varied as American Movie Classics, Warner Bros., The George Eastman House, the Library of Congress, and, currently, the Texas Archive of the Moving Image. Caroline Frick, Founder, Texas Archive of the Moving Image, Associate Professor, UT Austin When: Monday, September 18, 2017 - 6 - 7:15 p.m. Where: CMA 2.306, University of Texas at Austin Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

Owen Shiflett, (BS, Radio-TV-Film), VP, Development for Sundance Now and Shudder at AMC Networks When: Thursday, April 27 - 3:30-4:45 p.m. Where: Belo Center for New Media (BMC) 5.208 (Seating is first come, first served.) Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include Owen Shiflett’s career trajectory from his time as a student in RTF at UT-Austin, as well as his experience developing and producing television shows, and managing a streaming platform for AMC. Department of Radio Television and Film, Moody College of Communication, The University of Texas at Austin Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

Jessica Chou (MFA, Screenwriting), TV writer, CW's No Tomorrow Britta Lundin (MFA, Production), TV writer, CW’s Riverdale When: Thursday, March 30 - 3:30-4:45 p.m. Where: Belo Center for New Media (BMC) 5.208 (Seating is first come, first served.) Chou and Lundin will discuss their career trajectories from the time they received their degrees in the Department of Radio-TV-Film at UT-Austin up to their current employment as writers on prime-time television series. They will also share their thoughts on the current state of the media industries and offer advice to students hoping to pursue careers in television. Host: Cindy McCreery Producer: Kyle Wrather

When: Tuesday, February 21 - 3:30-4:45 p.m. Where: Belo Center for New Media (BMC) 5.208 (Seating is first come, first served.) Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include David W. Higgins’s career trajectory from his time as a student in RTF at UT-Austin, his perspectives on the craft and career of writing, as well as his experience producing for film. Host: Micah Barber Producer: Kyle Wrather

When: Thursday, November 10 - 3:30-5 p.m. Where: Belo Center for New Media (BMC) 5.208 (Seating is first come, first served.) Topics of discussion during this Q&A session include Philip Levens' career trajectory, his experiences writing and producing sci-fi and fantasy television, his thoughts on the exponential boom in popularity of superhero and science fiction media, and his perspectives on the changing landscape of television and media. Host: Alisa Perren Producer: Kyle Wrather

Lev Spiro holds a masters degree in film from the Radio-TV-Film Department at the University of Texas at Austin. He's an award winning director of TV and film who has been recognized for his work on celebrated television shows including 'Arrested Development,' 'Modern Family,' 'Weeds,' and many others. He discussed his career path in Hollywood as well as his thoughts on the changing business of making television. The event took place at the University of Texas at Austin on October 10, 2016. Host: Alisa Perren Producer/Editor: Kyle Wrather

Todd Nienkerk, (BS, Radio-TV-Film) and Aaron Staunsh (BS, Advertising) are partners with the Austin, Texas-based web design and publishing company Four Kitchens. Their company has produced websites and interactive online spaces for a wide variety of companies in and around the media industry including Entertainment Weekly, NBC, and TWiT.tv. The event took place at the University of Texas at Austin on November 30, 2015. Host: Alisa Perren Producer/Editor: Kyle Wrather

Jared Hoffman (BS, Radio-TV-Film) is the President of Generate, an online content and talent management company. He worked for years as an agent for CAA and the SVP of Video Programming for Defy Media. Hoffman spoke at the University of Texas at Austin on November 23, 2016 Host: Alisa Perren Producer and Editor: Kyle Wrather