BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Diane P. Cairns Producer, Director, Writer / CAIRNSCO Diane Cairns is a Producer, Director and Writer whose specialties include the nurturing and introduction of new talent into the Hollywood mainstream.  As a former Senior-Vice-President and Head of West Coast Literary of International Creative Management talent agency, she represented writers, directors, producers, actor production companies and authors, spearheading such noteworthy motion pictures as FATAL ATTRACTION, DANGEROUS LIAISONS, POISON IVY, THELMA AND LOUISE, SUPER MARIO BROTHERS, INDECENT PROPOSAL, HONEY I BLEW UP THE BABY, RUDY, SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT, BEYOND RANGOON, THE CRAFT, UNFAITHFUL, and Disney’s Christmas 2006 release, MEET THE ROBINSONS.  Her commitment to excellence resulted in Callie Khouri’s Golden Globe and Academy Awards for Best Original Screenplay; writer/producer/director Garry Marshall’s Writers Guild Valentine Davies Award; authoress Patricia Cornwell’s Golden Dagger Award; Alex Lasker, Bill Rubenstein and John Boorman’s Friday night celebrity premiere in the Cannes Film Festival; and actress/director/producer Christine Lahti’s Academy Award for her short film, LIEBERMAN IN LOVE.  She is a former Senior Vice-President of Production for Universal Pictures, holds an MFA in Cinema-Television and a BS in Business from the University of Southern California, is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and is listed in the Who’s Who in the World leadership directory.

Michael Hauge Screenwriter, Script Consultant, Author Michael Hauge is a script consultant, author and lecturer who works with filmmakers and executives on their screenplays, film projects and development skills. He has coached writers or consulted on projects for Warner Bros., Paramount, Disney, Columbia, New Line, Joel Silver Prods., CBS, Lifetime, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lopez, Val Kilmer, Kirsten Dunst, Robert Downey, Jr. and Julia Roberts. Michael also consults with attorneys, psychologists, corporations and individuals on employing story principles in their projects, their presentations, and their work with clients and patients. Michael’s book Writing Screenplays That Sell, now in its thirtieth printing for HarperCollins, is a definitive reference book for the film and television industries, and his seminar with Chris Vogler, The Hero’s 2 Journeys, is now available on DVD and CD. This fall his new book Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds: The Guaranteed Way to Get Your Screenplay or Novel Read, will be released this September by Michael Wiese Productions. Michael has presented seminars and lectures to more than 30,000 participants throughout the US, Canada and Europe. He is on the Board of Directors of the American Screenwriters Association and the Advisory Board for Scriptwriter Magazine in London. He can be reached through his web site at www.ScreenplayMastery.com.

Nick Filippo Partner, Milestone Wealth Management Nick Fillipo is an Advisory Board Member and Partner of Milestone Wealth Management, a Raleigh, N.C. based investment management firm.  Prior to joining Milestone, Nick was National Sales Manager for a division of SEI Investments, a Philadelphia based diversified financial services company. Before joining SEI, Nick was with PaineWebber in Washington, D.C., and prior to that he was Vice President of the Midwest Region for Providential Corp, a provider of reverse mortgages. Nick Started his professional Career with IBM in Chicago where he held a number of sales, marketing and sales management positions in the large accounts division. Nick has a number of affiliations with not for profit organizations in Philadelphia. He  is a member of the development committee of Philabundance, a Philadelphia based food rescue organization, and is active with Habitat for Humanity in Philadelphia as well. He has also established a scholarship program for high potential students from low income families at Cardinal Dougherty High School. Nick holds a B.A. degree in Mathematics from the University of Chicago, and an MBA from Northwestern University.

John E. Johnson ASA Executive Director John E. Johnson, Executive Director of the American Screenwriters Association, is a screenwriter, producer and director. John began his film and television career when he appeared as a featured extra in the feature film, Simple Justice (John Avery, Andre Braugher, Samuel L. Jackson). He later became a casting assistant for the independent movie, This Train. As a writer John has penned screenplays, stage plays and radio dramas, and has completed a MOW script adaptation of a popular Christmas book, which is under contract negotiations with a cable TV network. He has also signed a deal with an independent publisher to write an autobiography of his experiences with ASA and Hollywood, offering insights for future screenwriting generations. John has overseen the American Screenwriters Association's growth to more than 1,300 members world-wide in 32 different countries on four continents and in 939 cities! ASA is now featured on more than 1000+ web sites around the world and growing! He started the ASA International Screenplay Competition, which receives more than 1,200 entries annually, and during the past few years John has read more than 3,000 scripts as a judge for screenplay competitions. He was invited by the International Bar Association to be a featured speaker at the Festival de Cannes (57th Annual Cannes Film Festival), and has lectured at the Les Journées du scénario à Marseille (“Days of the Scenario in Marseilles”) in Marseille, France, the Baltimore Writer’s Conference, the Midwest Music and Film Conference, the Waterfront Film Festival, the Austin Film Festival, the Marco Island Film Festival, and is a Second Decade Council member of the American Film Institute (AFI). John has appeared on CNN International as a speaker on Racism in Hollywood, and has been featured in various trade publications and newspapers such as Screenwriting Secrets (Writers Digest), Script, the Honolulu Star Bulletin newspaper and Creative Screenwriting. In 2000, he negotiated ASA’s acquisition of the Selling to Hollywood conference, which is the longest running screenwriting conference in the world. In 2001, John successfully led ASA’s efforts to establish the Screenwriting Hall of Fame, recognizing screenwriters and industry professionals who have made significant contributions to the art of screenwriting, the film and television industry, and the world community as a whole through their induction into the Screenwriting Hall of Fame, the presentation of the Breakthrough Screenwriter Award, and the honoring of the David Angell Humanitarian Award.

Ellen Sandler Producer, Everybody Loves Raymond, Coach Ellen Sandler was Co-Executive Producer for the CBS series “Everybody Loves Raymond,” for which she received an Emmy nomination for Best Comedy.  She was also a writer/producer of the ABC series “Coach,” and many other prime time network television comedies.  Her stage play “How’d It Go” starring Emmy winner Megan Mullally recently premiered at The Warner Bros./HBO Workspace and was picked up for pilot development by Oxygen Network. She has created original pilots for ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox Family and is currently developing a pilot for Yellow House Productions at Warner Bros. She teaches Advanced Sitcom Writing for the UCLA Writer’s program and  is available for private consultation for career building and script development through Kohn Communications.

Craig Scott Filmmaker, Rachel's Challenge Speaker  Craig Scott was at the scene of the worst school shooting in U.S. history at Columbine High School. Craig was in the school library where 10 classmates were killed and over twenty wounded. After witnessing two of his friends murdered next to him, Craig led a group of students out of the school. Later that day, he would discover that his sister, Rachel Joy Scott, was the first to be killed. Craig now travels across the country to capture the hearts of students with a new set of values that help to replace rage and violence with acts of kindness and compassion. Craig has been featured on a number of programs such as Oprah, Today Show, Dateline, Good Morning America, 20/20, CNN, MSNBC, John Walsh Show and many others. A highly sought after speaker by high schools and other organizations, Craig has now spoken to over a million people. Craig is also an up and coming filmmaker.  Having people behind him like Kent Philip – Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Turner Broadcasting System, Inc, Katie Couric, Chuck Norris, and Michael Flaherity – President of Walden Media, Scott has a promising career in the film industry in which his ultimate goal is to be a person of influence and positively affect those he works with and those that view his work. He has worked as crew on a number of features including Ron Howard’s “The Missing” and “End of Spear” to be released in 2006. He is attending Colorado Film School with later plans for UCLA.  He desires to own his own production company and produce major motion pictures.

Mark R. Turner Producer, Director, Writer Above the Line Media Mark R. Turner has been involved in film and television since the late 1970s. While most of his work has involved writing, producing and directing documentaries, he has written numerous independent film scripts and served as producer on several independent pictures. In addition, Mark has written, produced and directed shows for cable as well as pilots for network television, and has also been a cinematographer and editor. He spent 15 years teaching scriptwriting and production in college and currently advises the Accrediting Council of Independent Colleges and Schools on their member institutions who offer media related programs. Mark runs Above the Line Media which produces high end corporate media and marketing plans and is currently developing a slate of independent motion pictures.

ADVISORY BOARD

Jon Artigo Writer/Director Jon has been writing and directing projects since 1989 when he and a partner, Chad Meserve, launched Ludicrous Productions in northern California. It wasn't until Jon turned 30 that he really got serious about his career and has since written 6 features ("Rutland, USA", "Freedom Park", "We Got the Beat", "Other People's Lives", "El Tiante", and "The Perfect Scorpio"). With partners Andrea Ajemian and Chad Meserve, Jon came up with a "climb the budget ladder of filmmaking" plan that would give them the opportunity to make a $1,000,000 movie. Jon wrote and produced "Rutland, USA" for $4,000, wrote, directed and produced "Freedom Park" for $100,000 and is now looking to "We Got the Beat", a projected $1,000,000 budget scheduled to shoot in Fall of 2005. He just recently created and directed an improv/comedy television pilot entitled "Door 3 Door" and is meeting with network and cable executives for possible production. Jon studied at Improv Olympic in Chicago with the Godfather of improv, the late Del Close and has numerous years of expereince teaching improv in San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. He currently works with young actors in Hollywood as a comedy/improv coach. Jon has coached such actors as Trevor Morgan ("The Patriot", "The 6th Sense", "Jurassic Park 3") and Mika Boorem ("Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights", "Blue Crush", "The Patriot").

Daniel von Bargen Actor Daniel Von Bargen is a consummate character actor, best known for his roles in Malcolm in the Middle and The West Wing. He has also appeared on The Practice, The X Files, Seinfeld, NYPD Blue,  and Law and Order. As a feature film actor, Daniel was in Silence of the Lambs, Basic Instinct, Six Degree of Separation, Philadelphia, Crimson Tide, Amistad, The Postman, Snow Falling on Cedars, O' Brother Where Art Thou, and The Majestic.  He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and attended Purdue University, majoring in drama. Daniel joined the Trinity Repertory Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island after graduation, and worked with them for many years. A breakthrough role in "Mastergate" by Larry Gelbart launched him onto Broadway stages. He has also starred in off-Broadway productions of "Beggars in the House of Plenty", "Macbeth", "The Cherry Orchard", "Hurlyburly" and "Uncle Vanya".

Eddie Brill Comedian/ Talent Coordinator, Late Night With David Letterman Eddie Brill, for the past nine years and counting, has worked on the Late Show with David Letterman. He is the audience warm-up and Talent Coordinator for the comedians who appear on the show. He started stand-up comedy in the late 70's in college, but moved back to NY and was a copywriter for an advertising agency for a short while. But in July of 1984 he got back into doing stand-up when he started, booked and hosted the very successful Paper Moon Comedy Club in the west village of NYC and hasn't stopped since. Since then he has become an international comedian who can work most anywhere in the world...anywhere in the world where they speak English of course. He has taped more than 100 television shows in six different countries. He is also a 3-time MAC Award Winner (Manhattan Association of Cabaret and Clubs) for Best Male Stand-up Comic in NYC. He has hosted and performed for hundreds of corporate events...including ESPN, Glaxo Welcome. Hyatt Hotels and BMC Software. He performed on some of the greatest stages in the world including The Shrine Auditorium and Radio City Music Hall. He has been the audience warm-up for many shows including the "Dana Carvey Show," "Madigan Men," "This is Your Life" and for a short time....early episodes of "Saved By The Bell." He has appeared in numerous films as an actor...most recently, "30 Years To Life" with Tracy Morgan. He has used his voice talents in many animated series including Comedy Central's "Dr Katz" and ABC's "Science Court." Eddie produces and helps book stand-up talent all over the world. Along with Norman Lear in 1978, he helped create one of the first ever college comedy writing departments in the country at Emerson College in Boston. He also helped create the Emerson Comedy Workshop, about to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Some of the talents emerging from that workshop: Denis Leary, Mario Cantone, Anthony Clark, David Cross, Bill Burr to name a few. He currently teaches a highly acclaimed stand-up comedy workshop worldwide that helps comics young and old take their comedy work to the next level. Starting in April, Eddie will be a consulting editor and humor consultant for Readers' Digest. Promoting the magazine's humor franchise in his travels around the country, at college campuses, on the radio and working to get the humor on Reader's Digest's pages translated into many different media. Eddie performs and helps raise money for many benefits including The Roberto Clemente Foundation (for underprivileged children), Sisters in Survival (women with Breast cancer). Juvenile Diabetes, The American Cancer Association, and, of course, with Reader's Digest and St. Jude on Stand-Up for the Children.

Andy Cohen Producer Andy Cohen is the President of Grade A Entertainment, a production and management company representing writers, directors and authors in publishing, feature films, episodic and long-form television.  Before founding Grade A, Andy spent ten years as both an executive and a producer. In all, Andy has been involved in the development, sale and/or production of over 50 film projects, 11 MOW’s and 7 series. He currently has an eclectic slate of feature film, episodic and long-form television projects set up at the studios, networks and numerous production companies. Andy’s background includes executive positions with Norman Lear’s Act III Productions (“Fried Green Tomatoes”), Permut Presentations (“Dragnet,” “Blind Date,” “Face Off”), and Orr and Cruickshank Productions (“Three Men and a Baby,” “Father of the Bride,” “Sister Act”). His credits include: Associate Producer of the Touchstone Pictures comedy “Captain Ron,” starring Martin Short and Kurt Russell; Co-Producer of the Warner Brothers comedy, “It Takes Two,” starring Steve Guttenberg, Kirstie Alley and Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen; Co-Producer of “Billboard Dad,” a family comedy for Warner Vision and Dualstar Productions starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Executive Producer of Lifetime Television’s Christmas film “A Chance Of Snow,” starring JoBeth Williams, Michael Ontkean and Charles Durning; and Executive Producer of The Disney Channel’s “The Poof Point,” starring Mark Curry, Dawnn Lewis and Tahj Mowry. Upcoming productions include: UNTRACEABLE, a feature film to be shot this Fall; GRANNY a feature film to be shot this Fall; UNION TRANSFER, a feature film to be shot this Winter; MAGIC KINGDOM FOR SALE, a feature film based on Terry Brooks’ best selling series of books that Andy is producing with Steven Sommers (THE MUMMY) for Universal Pictures; and MIDNIGHT VOICES, a feature film based on John Saul’s best selling novel of the same name that Andy will produce with Steven Soderbergh and George Clooney for Warner Brothers.

David D. Coleman Corporate and College Speaker, Author David Coleman is known nationwide as The Dating Doctor. He has been named national Speaker of the Year nine times - 6 times by Campus Activities Magazine and 3 times by The National Association for Campus Activities. He has been nominated for Campus Activities 2004 National Speaker of the Year! He is a highly sought after speaker, entertainer, and retreat facilitator. David received his Bachelor of Science degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology ('83) and his Master of Arts Degree in College Student Personnel Administration ('85) from Bowling Green State University, Ohio. His second book, Date Smart! How to Stop Revolving and Start Evolving in Relationships has been a popular seller. His third book, Leadership's Greatest Hits, is a book of experience, strategies and ideas to expand your leadership potential. His newest book, Making Relationships Matter, was released in late Fall 2003 and his video, Building Blocks to Better Relationships is now available! David has been featured in such fine publications as US Magazine, Glamour, Mademoiselle, Cosmopolitan, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Washington Post and The New York Times. David has appeared on ABC, NBC, CBS, WGN, Fox and CNN as well as hundreds of radio and television stations nationwide. He is a regular guest on 104.5 WSNX in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Star 94 in Atlanta, MIX 105.1 in Orlando and KLITE in Bakersfield, California. From his appearances on radio, TV, live and in print, David has spoken to more than 5,000,000 people in all 50 states and Canada. Audience members at more than 2,500 college campuses, conferences, single's organizations, churches, corporations and marriage encounter groups nationwide have experienced his energetic and entertaining programs.

Lee Ann Daly Advisor/Consultant, ESPN Lee Ann Daly is an advisor and consultant to sports entertainment leader ESPN. To more fully enjoy her two small sons, Daly quit her post as Executive Vice President of Marketing at ESPN in December 2005. In her role as head of marketing at ESPN, Lee Ann was responsible for the development, direction and implementation of all branding, creative services and marketing for ESPN’s growing media businesses, encompassing television, print, radio, broadband and the Internet.  She was also responsible for the company’s synergy efforts, including marketing project management for ESPN-branded business activities supported by The Walt Disney Company, including the ESPN Zones and “ESPN the Weekend” at Walt Disney World.  Daly had served previously as ESPN’s Senior Vice President, Marketing, beginning in May 1999.  She joined the company in 1997 as Vice President, Advertising and Program Marketing. She was a member of ESPN’s President’s executive committee from 2000 to 2005.       Daly and her team developed over 50 marketing campaigns annually, including “This is SportsCenter” and most recently, “Without Sports,” which celebrates the central role of sports in society. Daly and her team provided thebrand and marketing leadership for the launch and growth of many successful ESPN brand extensions including ESPN the Magazine, ESPNZone, ESPN Classic, and ESPNU to name a few.  Daly also played an active role in the development of ESPN’s Original Entertainment programming division.      Prior to her time at ESPN, Daly was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Global New Communications, a division of Interpublic’s  Ammirati Puris Lintas (1996-97) where she was responsible for developing creative and management resources for this brand new division.  Global New Communications employed methods outside traditional advertising media to make distinctive brand statements using techniques such as architecture, design and theater-arts.  Her association with Ammirati & Puris  began in 1987 as an account executive, and later as a senior vice president until 1992. At Ammirati, clients included: United Parcel Service, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Grolsch Beer, Nikon and Aetna Life and Casualty.       In 1992, Daly and a partner founded the comedy-based radio agency “Are These My Shoes?”  In her role as GM and Executive Producer, Daly and her partners created award-winning radio advertising campaigns for agencies and clients, including ESPN. She began her career in 1984 in account management on the P&G business at Grey Advertising in New York. Honors: American Advertising Federation’s (AAF) Hall of Achievement for executives under 40.  WISE Women of the Year  (Women  in Sports and Events)  in 2001 and 2003.  PROMAX & BDA Award for Brand Building (2004) Brandweek’s  “Marketers of the Next Generation”  Ad Age’s “Women to Watch”  Sports Business Journal’s “40 under 40”  Sports Business Journal’s “Female Sports Executives of the Year”(2003, 2004),  Sports Business Journal’s “20 Most Influential Advertisers” (2004) Sports Business Journal’s “20 Most Influential Women in  Sports Business. (2005) The Sporting News listed Daly as one of their “Power 100 in sports” in 2004 Multichannel News’ “Wonder Women.” (2004) Daly is also a member of the Academy of Alumni Fellows of Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. Under Daly’s watch, the Promotional Marketing Association named ESPN  “Promotional Marketer of the Year” In 2000.  Daly’s work has earned recognition from the Art Director’s Club of New York and has received numerous awards including the Cannes Lion, Effie, British D&AD, One Show, Radio Mercury and Clio Awards.  She is immediate past President of the board of directors of the American Marketing Association (New York) and was a member of Mayor Bloomberg’s New York City Sports Commission. Daly believes advertising and marketing’s first priority is to entertain, enlighten and delight people. She also believes that the only brand extensions that work are one’s which recognize a consumer need and provide a relevant connection to meet that need. She believes ESPN’s greatest asset is the community and the relationship it cultivates amongst sports fans everywhere. She is a native of Indianapolis, and earned a B.A. degree in Journalism from Indiana University’s School of Journalism with a minor in Business from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business. She is also a graduate of The French Culinary Institute.

Brenda Feigen Entertainment Attorney Brenda Feigen, a graduate of Harvard Law School and member of the Bars of California, New York and Massachusetts, specializes in entertainment and literary law. At the beginning of her career in entertainment law, Ms. Feigen was associated with Loeb & Loeb where she represented large production company clients.  She then went on to work in business affairs and as an agent in the Motion Picture Literary Department at the William Morris Agency where, among others, she represented writers for film and television projects. Today, she is Of Counsel to Kenoff & Machtinger in an entertainment practice in Los Angeles. Her emphasis is on transactions and negotiations on behalf of talent, mostly writers, and producers with buyers, including studios, broadcast networks and premium cable outlets. In 1990, Ms. Feigen produced a big-budget feature for Orion Pictures, NAVY SEALS, and in 2000 her book, Not One of the Boys: Living Life as a Feminist, was published by Alfred A. Knopf.  Ms. Feigen serves on the boards of directors of Population Media Center and California Lawyers for the Arts.

Sheila Hanahan Producer Sheila Hanahan is a top knotch producer whose credits include Final Destination 2 and Repli-Kate, Buddy List (MGM), Simeon's Code (UNiversal) and Love Thy Neighbor (Warner Bros.). Sheila has also been involved in script development on numerous projects including Cats and Dogs (Waren Bros), American Pie 2 and 3 (Universal) and Westward. She got her start at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre and the play "Wrong Turn at Lungfish" where she landed a writing assistant job with Lowell Ganz and writer/director Garry Marshall.

Lew Hunter Screenwriter, Professor- UCLA, Sorbonne, Crotian Film Academy, Author Lew Hunter has Master degrees from UCLA and Northwestern University, and has worked for Columbia Pictures, Lorimar, Paramount, Disney, NBC, ABC (program executive supervising series like Batman and Bewitched) and CBS as a writer, producer and executive. An internationally renowned screenwriting speaker, Hunter teaches the popular Screenwriting 434 course at UCLA. His Screenwriting 434 book is a best seller and has won acclaims from students, colleagues and industry professionals such as Grant Tinker, Steven Bochco and Aaron Spelling. Considered one of the foremost experts in screenwriting, Hunter continues to travel the world teaching screenwriting and inspiring thousands of students. His feature film credits include Fallen Angel (an Emmy nominated movie), Desperate Lives and Playing with Fire. Hunter remains an active professor at the University of Paris-Sorbonne and at the Croatian Summer Film Academy.

Stephen Schwartz Musician/Lyricist Stephen Schwartz is a multiple Oscar and Grammy winning artist who has contributed music and/or lyrics to GODSPELL, PIPPIN , THE MAGIC SHOW, THE BAKER'S WIFE, WORKING (which he also adapted and directed), PERSONALS, RAGS, CHILDREN OF EDEN and the current Broadway hit, WICKED. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein's MASS and wrote the title song for the play and movie BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE. For children, he has written a one-act musical, CAPTAIN LOUIE. For films, he collaborated with Alan Menkenon the scores for the Disney animated features POCAHONTAS and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and wrote the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. He provided music and lyrics for the original television musical, GEPPETTO, and has released two CDs of new songs entitled RELUCTANT PILGRIM and UNCHARTED TERRITORY. Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he runs musical theatre workshops in New York and Los Angeles, and is also a member of the Council of the Dramatists' Guild. Mr. Schwartz is the recipient of three Academy Awards, three Grammy Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, and a tiny handful of tennis trophies. http://www.stephenschwartz.com

Billy Meshel Songwriter/Recording Artist/Music Publishing Executive Billy Meshel has worked with songwriters, artists and publishing catalogs, such as Henry Mancini, Johnny Mercer, Bob Merrill, Mike Chapman, Exile, The Statler Bros., Eddie Rabbitt, Randy Travis, Merle Haggard, Larry Gatlin, Lobo, Jim Stafford, The Hollies, The Hues Corporation, Air Supply, Alan Parsons Project, The Sex Pistols, Hoagy Carmichael Publishing, Danny Elfman, The Allman Brothers, G.Q., The Eurythmics, Holland-Dozier-Holland, The Platters catalog, Michael Omartian. Compositions written by Billy Meshel include "Do You Ever Think Of Me" by Little Esther Phillips, "L. David Sloane" by Michelle Lee, "Whole Lot Of Lovin'" by various artists, "Dear Mrs. Appleby" by David Garrick, "50 Tears For Every Kiss" by Cliff Richard, "Aye No Digas" by Chris Montez, "Time To Change" by The Brady Bunch. As a Music Publishing Executive Mr. Meshel was Director of Creative Affairs, FAMOUS MUSIC CORP.; Founder, President, ARISTA MUSIC, INC.; President, BMG MUSIC PUBLISHING; President, Partner, ALL NATIONS MUSIC PUBLISHING; and Owner, CEO, MUSIC & MEDIA INTERNATIONAL, INC., Los Angeles

Stephanie Palmer Film Industry Consultant, Former Dir Creative Affairs, MGM Stephanie Palmer is the founder of the consulting firm Good in a Room (www.goodinaroom.com) which teaches screenwriters, directors and producers how to present their projects so they are purchased.  Good in a Room has been featured in the Los Angeles Times, Variety and on National Public Radio.  In addition, Palmer was named one of the "Next Generation: Top 35 Executives Under 35" by The Hollywood Reporter. As the Director of Creative Affairs at MGM Pictures, she acquired screenplays, books, and pitches and supervised their development. Some of her projects include Be Cool, Legally Blonde, Sleepover, Good Boy, A Guy Thing, Agent Cody Banks and Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London. Prior to MGM, she worked in development at Jerry Bruckheimer Films on Con Air, Armageddon and Enemy of the State. Her first job in the business was as an intern on the Academy Award winning Titanic.  She has a B.F.A. from Carnegie Mellon University.

Linda Seger Script Consultant, Author Linda Seger began her script consulting business in 1981 and has consulted on over 2000 projects and over 80 produced films. She has lectured around the world, and is the author of 6 books on screenwriting including Making A Good Script Great; Creating Unforgettable Characters; The Art Of Adaptation; From Script To Screen: The Collaborative Art Of Filmmaking; When Women Call The Shots: The Developing Power And Influence Of Women In Television And Film; and Making A Good Writer Great: A Creativity Workbook For Screenwriters. Linda was also the consultant on the movie adaptations Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, The Never Ending Story II, and Flowers in the Attic.

Richard Walter UCLA Chair/Professor Film & TV Writing Program, Author Richard Walter, Professor and chairman of the UCLA film and television writing program and a member of WGA for 30 years, is a writer of substantial professional experience throughout the media. His novel from St. Martin's Press, Escape from Film School, was a bestseller in hardcover and is now available as a paperback. He is also the author of Screenwriting: The Whole Picture, Strategies for Screenwriting Success in the New Hollywood and Screenwriting--The Art, Craft, and Business of Film and Television Writing. He has written numerous feature assignments for the major studios and has sold material to all three networks. His students dominate national screenwriting competitions and work for all the networks and studios. Their films and TV programs include Armageddon, The Affair of the Necklace, The Panic Room, Men in Black, Mask of Zorro, Disturbing Behavior, Snake Eyes, Fear and  Loathing in Las Vegas, Speed II, Con-Air, Jurassic Park, Mission Impossible, Everybody Loves Raymond,  Malcolm In The Middle, Melrose Place, Beverly Hills 90210 and dozens of others.