Wednesday, October 17, 2018

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Track I: Herscher Hall, 3rd Floor, Room 303-304

The Internet, OTT, Media and the Hollywood Connection

Anthony Layser, VP, Partnerships & Programming, Xumo

Neil Ishibashi, Director of Design Development, Fandango

Evan Weiss, Founding Partner/Head of Talent, Red Sun Entertainment

Damian Pelliccone, CEO, REVRY

Scott Kramer, Director of Digital, Olive Bridge Entertainment

Moderator - David Leibowitz, Managing Partner, CH Potomac

Neil Ishibashi is Senior Director of Design and Development at Fandango, a unit of NBCUniversal. He develops experiences across the life cycle of movies spanning mobile, online, multi-platform video distribution (Apps, Video On Demand, Digital Storefronts).  Ishibashi manages a team that has won multiple Webby Awards for their design and he is also the winner of the Season 2 competition in Comcast/NBCUniversal's "The Idea," an internal contest where employees have the opportunity to pitch Ideas to the top c-level executives. Fandango is the ultimate digital network for all things movies, serving consumers with best-in-class movie information, ticketing to more than 27,000 screens, movie trailers and original video content for movie discovery, and home entertainment.  Its portfolio reaches more than 63 million unique visitors per month, according to comScore, with over 100 million app downloads, and

Damian Pelliccone is the CEO of REVRY, the groundbreaking new LGBTQ digital content streaming service for Apple TV, Chromecast, Roku, Android TV Amazon Fire, Pluto TV, IOS, Android and the Web. REVRY now reaches over 10 million people in over 100 countries across the globe. Previously Damian has worked for top-name brands like Chevrolet and Cadillac to develop new media opportunities for product promotion and marketing. Damian also worked as head of Business Development for Make.TV a German based live streaming technology and represented Make.TV in Dubai, Singapore and all over North America and Europe. Damian also served as adjunct professor for Columbia College Chicago and instructor at YouTube Space LA and NYC. With over 15 years’ experience in the digital and new media world. Damian is a member of the Producer’s Guild of America New Media Council, TV Academy Of Arts and Sciences and is a member of the International Academy of Web TV. A proud member of StartOUT, Damian is passionate about supporting the LGBTQ community in both authentic media representation and entrepreneurship.

Anthony Layser is vice president, partnerships and programming at XUMO, the premium television and video-on-demand service for the digital age. In this role, Layser is responsible for developing strategy and analysis used by the executive team to determine and prioritize content partnerships and potential channel partners. He assists with business development/strategy, acquisition deals, and partner management for XUMO. Layser also works across departments (product, operations, finance, legal, marketing, and advertising teams) to plan and execute KPI driven initiatives. He is tasked with driving business KPI’s through the expansion of current partnerships and the development of new business opportunities. He also leads the development of streamlined tracking documents and instruments that help maintain pipeline of current, new and prospective channel partners, and leads onboarding integrations for new partners. Additionally, Layser provides leadership and support throughout the launch and growth of channels, including program and promotional planning, scheduling and renewals. He analyzes distribution trends and forecast revenue to assist in creation of contract renewal strategy. Prior to joining the XUMO team, Layser served as the North American content vice president at Dailymotion. His role involved implementing video content development strategies and leading partner acquisition efforts. He oversaw content managers in New York City, Santa Monica and Toronto, providing creative leadership and acting as a liaison between content programmers, executives and the sales team. During his tenure, Dailymotion’s US audience grew over 500 percent (per Google Analytics). Preceding his work with Dailymotion, Layser oversaw production on over 500 episodes of the award-winning AOL-Huffington Post daily series, You’ve Got. In this role, he guided booking, creation, development, production, distribution, and social media promotion the series. You’ve Got segment views increased from an average of 10M streams per month to 15M streams per month during his tenure, and You’ve Got videos consistently ranked in the daily top five most-viewed videos on the AOL-Huffington Post network. While under Anthony’s leadership, You’ve Got received a Silver Telly Award in the Social Issues category (Silver is the highest honor). Earlier in his career, Anthony developed the video content strategy for both the men’s and women’s lifestyle networks at AOL. While with the women’s lifestyle group, StyleList.com views increased by at least 500K streams per month and KitchenDaily.com views increased by at least 150K streams per month. While overseeing video strategy for the men’s lifestyle group, video views went from 70K views per month to over 2.6M views per month on a fixed budget over a 13-month period. During this same period, Anthony produced over 300 videos, including segments that featured top-notch comedy talent, including Jonah Hill, Russell Brand, Jon Glaser, Chris Gethard, and Matt Walsh. Anthony has written for VideoInk, Cracked.com, TV Guide and TVGuide.com, Village Voice Media and Anthem magazine.

Scott Kramer, Director of Digital, Olive Bridge Entertainment: Scott S. Kramer is an Emmy and Webby award-winning Television and Digital Content Producer & Digital Strategist with over 20 years of experience. Currently, he is Director of Digital at Olive Bridge Entertainment, where he Executive Produces one-of-a-kind interactive shows for the Eko platform, including the Webby award winner, "That Moment When", and the upcoming "Timeline".  He was the New Media Producer for TBS's "Lopez Tonight" where he managed and produced popular content for the show's online presence as well as social media for George Lopez, himself. During that time, “Lopez Tonight” was one of the top 3 trending late night comedy shows on social media networks and at its peak, lopeztonight.com was the third most visited late night comedy website.  Scott was also key in building the video offering at NBC.com, producing groundbreaking transmedia and added value content for the network's prrogamming.  His most notable highlight at NBC.com was winning an Emmy as part of the “Heroes Digital Experience” team.  Other credits include producing the documentary "Beyond Laughter and Tears" and creating his own viral videos including "Frozen Father" which garnered over 3 million views.  In addition, Scott has worked with multiple brands and television networks includingThe Hershey Company, Microsoft, HP, Pfizer, SyFy, and Bravo.

Evan Weiss, Founding Partner/Head of Talent, Red Sun Entertainment: 2015- Present:  Founder of Red Sun Entertainment: Red Sun Entertainment is a talent management and production company focusing on convergence of traditional media platforms with emerging digital platforms and premium content from high end creative artists. Digital clients include Jesse Ridgway/Mcjuggernuggets, Tanner Braungardt, Dom DeAngelis, Boogie2988, Elliott Morgan, Steve Zaragoza, The Beach House/Pins and Things, Freakin Rad, Hannah Cranston/Think Tank as well as radio superstars Big Boy and Jason Ellis and television showrunners Chuck Tatham and Don Foster and directing superstar Gary Halvorson. Production projects include Streamy Award Winning "Psycho Family" for Complex/go90 and "Bad Influencers" for Fullscreen. RSE is a full service management and production entity with a focus on premium content and creators with cross-platform capabilities. We are keenly aware of the trending of brand marketing toward digital platforms and engaged audiences and maximize opportunities for our clients by facilitating their creativity toward premium entertainment that exceeds the limitations of social media platforms and connecting them with the best and most appropriate brand opportunities and premium content platforms. We pride ourselves on our cutting edge deal making experience and capabilities as we advocate aggressively for our clients. 2008-2015:  Executive Vice President/Studio 71(f/k/a Collective Digital Studio; originally The Collective) Evan utilized over 20 years of television studio and talent representation experience as preparation for the digital age of entertainment. Applying his skills and experience to capitalize on the large scale audience aggregation capabilities of YouTube, Evan was integral to the formation of Collective Digital Studio and its metamorphosis into Studio71. When Evan left to form RSE in 2015, Studio71 was a full-fledged media company accounting for 3.5 billion views per month of premium video content from its exclusive family of creator-partners.  Evan has spearheaded initiatives with major brands such as Estee Lauder, Verizon, MTV, Spike, Universal Records, Conde Nast, and NBCUniversal. Evan was prophetic in  professing that premium broadcasters, brands and publishers should all be heavily invested in building and maintaining relevance through innovative content initiatives on an array of digital social media platforms. At CDS, Evan also managed a diverse roster of clients, including innovative YouTube creators and traditional television writers and directors. Clients include Gary Halvorson, Chuck Tatham, Don Foster, Jon Ross, Frank Lombardi and Big Boy; as well as digital icons Lucas Cruikshank, Elliott Morgan, Steve Zaragoza, Alex and Roi of Wassabi, Jaboody Dubs, E and P Hudson, Paint, Jesse Ridgeway/McJuggerNuggets and Hollywire TV. Evan made  the deal bringing LA radio icon Big Boy to iHeart Media and their Real 92.3 brand in the LA market and Premiere Radio Networks on a national level. When Evan joined the Collective in 2009, with an emphasis on overseeing the company’s television operations and development, he pivoted into the modern age of digital creators by signing a breakthrough deal with internet sensation Lucas Cruikshank, creator and performer of the YouTube character “Fred Figglehorn.” Lucas and “Fred” went on to be the first YouTube channel to reach one million subscribers. Under Evan’s guidance, Lucas and his “Fred” property became the first-ever social media property to pivot into a successful mainstream motion picture franchise, spawning multiple sequels and an innovative series for Nickelodeon, co-financed and produced with Brian Robbins, who went on to form Awesomeness. The emphasis on digital platforms and audience building was a precursor to next phase of business development at The Collective. Evan also packaged and Executive Produced the hit TV series, “Marvin Marvin” for Nickelodeon. 2000-2008- Partner in Handprint Television: Evan founded Handprint TV with Handprint partners Jeff Pollock and Benny Medina; among the projects executive produced by Evan was The Tyra Banks Show, with Telepictures; "Pamela: Girl on the Run" with E!; "The Show: With AJ Calloway" for UPN;  ABC comedy “In The Game” starring Jennifer love Hewitt and Ed O’Neil: "The Crib" motion capture animation series for ABC/Disney, as well as other scripted and reality projects. 1992-2000 Head of Packaging United Talent Agency: Evan founded and ran the Television Packaging Dept. as an agent at UTA from 1992-2000 and worked with clients such as Drew Carey, Ben Stiller, Larry David, Gregory Hines and writers Chuck Tatham, Don Foster, Linwood Boomer, Gordon and Conn, Eddie Gorodetsky, Sam Simon, Jhoni Marchinko, Matt Goldman, Jon Beckerman, Rob Cohen, and Rodney Rothman and director/producers Gary Halvorson and Joel Gallen to name a few. 1986-1992 Vice President of Business Affairs and Production Finance, Walt Disney Television. After joining Disney as an attorney in 1986, Evan quickly rose up business affairs and eventually Vice President, working on deals and policy for the network television studio.  Projects included the hit ABC series Home Improvement. 1985-1986 Head of Business Affairs, The Gersh Agency: Evan ran business affairs department for this rapidly growing talent agency; oversaw all dealmaking across both motion pictures and television under mentor Bob Gersh. Prior to moving to Los Angeles, Evan was an Associate at boutique NYC  entertainment law firm Blumenthal and Lynne working under partner/mentors Michael Lynne and Richard Blumenthal.

David E. Leibowitz is Managing Partner of CH POTOMAC, working at the intersection of entertainment, media and technology and focused on bringing new innovative ways for people to enjoy and experience content.  David brings many years of experience in business, law and policy issues facing the entertainment, new media, CE and IT industries.  Among other activities, David is a Senior Advisor to Gibson Brands (parent company of such iconic brands as Gibson Guitar, Baldwin, Onkyo, Philips Home Entertainment and TEAC); Co-founder and Chairman of Sir Groovy (an award-winning solution for creating enhanced search metadata for musical recordings); Co-Chairman of Golden Shores Enterprises (a marketing and advertising technology firm that utilizes point of sale consumer data to deliver hyper-local digital advertising and lifestyle content across multiple digital platforms); and Chairman of Moonrider (an interactive advertising and content generation company whose platform is used to create engaging “magnetic” HTML5 and iOS experiences for tablets, smartphones, and other interactive devices).  David also serves as a member of the CEO Advisory Board of The Silverfern Group (a merchant bank specializing in buy-side M&A opportunities) and as Chairman of the Advisory Board of FIGHTER Interactive (a transmedia strategy and marketing services company for celebrities and brands).  In recent years, David has served as an Advisor to The SingTel Group (Asia’s leading provider of telecom, data and media services in 25 countries); as a Senior Advisor to Motorola Mobility; as Chairman of EZMO (one of the early cloud-based music social network and storage locker services operating in Europe); as Executive Vice President of Gotuit Media (a leading provider of premium metadata based video tools – since acquired by TiVO via Digitalsmiths); and as an Advisor to others in the content and technology industries.  Earlier in his career, David co-founded and served as Chairman and Co-CEO of Verance (the preeminent audio watermark technology provider used by the motion picture, music, CE and IT industries to protect, manage, and monitor the use of audio and audiovisual content); was Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Recording Industry Association of America; was a partner in the Washington, D.C. law firm Wiley & Rein; served as Policy Planning Advisor to the Register of Copyrights for the U.S. Copyright Office; and as an adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Miami Law School, and at the Communications Law Institute of the Columbus School of Law (Catholic University).