The Globalization of the Entertainment Industry: A Double-Edged Sword?
Friday, November 16, 2012
PANEL #1 – Cross-Border Collaboration: Joint Ventures in Emerging Economies
Emerging economies are opening their arms to Hollywood, making it an exciting time of growth and expansion for the global entertainment industry. What makes for an effective and successful partnership with these fast-growing markets? Studio executives, finance and legal leaders from around the globe discuss the opportunities and risks accompanying Hollywood’s expansion into the emerging markets of China, Russia, Latin America, India and South Africa, with an eye on the cutting-edge business, finance, and legal trends in the international entertainment industry.
Stephen Saltzman (moderator), Partner, Loeb & Loeb Los Angeles
Jason Goldberg, Of Counsel, Covington & Burling Beijing
Bill Yuan, Chairman, Fortress Holdings Group
Elizabeth Powell, VP of Business & Legal Affairs, IM Global
Dan Steinman, Agent, Film Finance Group, Creative Artists Agency
Christopher Spicer, Counsel, Akin Gump Century City
PANEL #2 – Censorship: Controlling Content Across Borders Platforms
Business executives, policy experts, and industry leaders will discuss the business, technological, and legal issues that arise when creative content, from online to traditional media, is controlled indirectly and directly as it crosses borders and platforms around the world.
Jeff Hermes (moderator), Director, Digital Media Law Project, Berkman Center for Internet & Society
Ryan Budish, Director, Herdict Project, Berkman Center for Internet & Society
Ben Sheffner, VP of Legal Affairs, Motion Picture Association of America
Laura Cook, Consultant to Twentieth Century Fox, formerly EVP of Woldwide Legal & Business Affairs
Andrew McDiarmid, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Democracy & Technology
PANEL #3 – New Media: Entertainment’s Digital Future
As the entertainment industry expands its distribution of films, TV, music, and digital media across mobile and Web platforms, this panel examines the cutting-edge legal and business challenges that face creators and distributors of this new media in the entertainment industry.
Jerrold G. Neeff (moderator), Principal, The Bostonian Law Group, and Lecturer of Law in Entertainment Law at Boston University School of Law
Robin Lee Russell, 2012 Harvard University Advanced Leadership Fellow and Entertainment Media Consultant, Former Senior Executive Vice President of Sony Pictures Entertainment
Montrel McKay, Digital Media Manager, Electus Entertainment
Jason Spivak, Executive VP of Worldwide Digital Distribution, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment
KEYNOTE SPEECH – Wayne Levin: The Emergence of Lionsgate in an Increasingly Complex Global Environment
Wayne Levin is General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Corporate Operations for Lionsgate (Hunger Games, Twilight). He is the Company’s senior legal and business affairs executive and is a member of Lionsgate’s senior decision-making team. Mr. Levin has played a key role in Lionsgate’s growth strategy, negotiation and overseeing the acquisitions and subsequent integration of such companies as Artisan Entertainment, Redbus Holdings (subsequently renamed Lionsgate U.K.), Debmar-Mercury and Mandate Pictures as well as Lionsgate’s equity investments in Roadside Attractions and Break.com.
Mr. Levin spoke about the uptick in studio filmmaking and distribution in emerging markets such as China and Russia, as well as Lionsgate’s new place among the major studios following its merger with Summit in 2011.