Click on the Video Below and Sample a Session from a previous Digital Hollywood event. For Additional Video Sessions, Click Here Digital Hollywood, May 4-7, 2009 Tuesday, May 5th 3:50 PM - 5:00 PM Track III: The Hollywood Producer - The Real Deal: Reinventing the Strategy, the Platforms and the Revenue Streams George H. Ruiz, Head of New Media and Senior Vice-President of Business Affairs for International Creative Management Stan Rogow, CEO/Founder Electric Farm Entertainment Ron Qurashi, CEO/Executive Producer, Intelligent Life Productions Paul Kontonis, CEO, For Your Imagination Kim Evey, Producer, THE GUILD James Gunn, Writer, Director, Producer, PG-Porn Zachary Posner, VP, Corporate Development, National Lampoon David Tochterman, President, Versatility Media, Moderator George H. Ruiz is Head of New Media and Senior Vice-President of Business Affairs for International Creative Management. He represents traditional and new media talent and negotiates acting, directing, producing and literary agreements with major studios, distributors and independent production companies as well as making precedent-setting new media content deals with some of the top technology companies in the world, including Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Sony. His clients include Felicia Day (The Guild, Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog), Alex Albrecht (Diggnation, The Totally Rad Show, Project Lore), Xeni Jardin (BoingBoing TV) and Veronica Belmont (Tekzilla, Qore). Mr. Ruiz was formerly a Senior Attorney for Paramount Pictures where he served as production counsel on over a dozen motion pictures, including Face/Off, Clueless, and several movies in the Star Trek franchise. While at Paramount, he also negotiated significant commercial tie-in agreements for various movies including Mission Impossible and Forrest Gump. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Southwestern Law School where he teaches Motion Picture Production Law where he was nominated in 2009 for an Excellence in Teaching Award. Mr. Ruiz currently serves on the Board of Directors for the UCLA School of Law Alumni Association. He is also an avid martial artist and competes in the French kickboxing sport of Savate. Mr. Ruiz received his Juris Doctor degree from the UCLA School of Law in 1992 and graduated from University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1989. He has been a member of the California State Bar since 1992 and began his legal career at the Walt Disney Company. Mr. Ruiz joined ICM in 1997. Joel Wright, Vice President of Interactive Media, Paradigm Talent Agency: As the head of this department Wright is responsible for working with his clients to develop and package new opportunities for them in the Internet, wireless and emerging technology markets. Paradigm and Wright recently made headlines in the Hollywood Reporter for a deal he was instrumental in making with CBS Innertube to create an original online series titled “The Good Life” created by and starring Michael Cera (“Arrested Development”). Wright works with a diverse cross section of buyers in all forms of new media to develop original programming such as Cera’s “The Good Life”. Wright has over twelve years of new media experience dating back to the mid 1990’s. He recently spent over four years at Yahoo!, Inc. one of the world’s largest interactive media companies in a variety of leadership roles. While at Yahoo!, Wright leveraged his experience and expertise in media, advertising, online content development, technology and product marketing to build several key categories for the company. His most recent role was running the advertising solutions category for Yahoo! Entertainment and was responsible for over $150 million in annual advertising revenue. Wright was also instrumental in developing key partnerships with Mark Burnett Productions for “The Apprentice” and “The Contender” and also managed the relationship with Paramount Domestic Television for their “Entertainment Tonight” and “Insider” brands. Prior to that Wright invented Yahoo! AdVision which was awarded “Best of the Net” by Media Magazine and the prestigious Macromedia Max award. Prior to Paradigm Wright raised over $2 million in private equity to found SlingShot Media. SlingShot was a boutique agency focused on assisting content creators, talent and original programming development for exclusive distribution in the interactive marketplace. Stan Rogow, CEO/Founder Electric Farm Entertainment: Stan Rogow, with his production company Electric Farm Entertainment, has emerged as a frontrunner in the digital New Media world. His multi-platform web productions have received much critical acclaim. The three-time Emmy-nominated producer served as director and executive producer of “Gemini Division” produced with NBC/Universal and Sony Pictures International starring Rosario Dawson, roles he first undertook with "Afterworld" (also Sony Pictures), Electric Farm Entertainment's Webby-nominated, post-Apocalyptic epic about a man trapped in a world without technology. Rogow will also executive produce the digital series “Woke up Dead” with Sony Pictures, a comedy-thriller starring Jon Heder, “Valemont”, a teen vampire themed series with MTV, and “Prophet” a sci-fi Rashomon mystery series with Disney. Following his huge success as executive producer of the popular series and feature film "Lizzie McGuire" Rogow was the executive producer of the Discovery/Kids on NBC series "Darcy's Wild Life" and co creature "Flight 29 Down," and THE ABC FAMILY, multiple Humanitas-nominated, STATE OF GRACE. His long list of credits also include NBC's "Shannon's Deal," the critically acclaimed show that was nominated by the Television Critics Association for Best Show of the Year - Tom Shales from the Washington Post called it "an extraordinarily good series." The series "Middle Ages" was given four stars by USA Today and Entertainment Weekly called it "easily one of the most thoughtful, well-written and beautiful acted series of the year." Rogow executive produced and co-created both series. Additional credits include the series "South of Sunset" which he co- created and "Nowhere Man." Rogow's success in the feature film arena includes "The Clan of the Cave Bear," "Men of War," "All I Want for Christmas" and "The Lizzie McGuire Movie." Also on the film side, Rogow has been prolific in the area of made-for-TV movies, including a series of three movies for Showtime based on the acclaimed television show "The Defenders" with E.G. Marshall reprising his Emmy winning role, which won The American Bar Association Silver Gavel Award. As well as "Nowhere to Hide," "Murder in High Places," "Help Wanted: Kids," "Rock 'N Roll Mom," the multiple Emmy Award-winning "Playing for Time" and "Hard Hat & Legs." Ron Qurashi, CEO/Executive Producer, Intelligent Life Productions: Ron Qurashi is the CEO and executive producer of Intelligent Life Productions (ILP), a studio dedicated to developing unique visual experiences and innovative approaches to storytelling for the convergence of brands and evolving media platforms. He focuses on the vision and business model for ILP. Ron has partnered with Diane Charles, Head of Development/Co-Executive Producer of ILP, for over ten years developing documentary and reality projects for The Learning Channel, Discovery and National Geographic with subjects ranging from animal emotions to the events detailed in Black Hawk Down. Currently, they are working with Lexus and Team One as the content providers and executive producers for the L/Studio. Prior to ILP, Ron was a corporate executive working with entertainment properties such as E!, National Geographic, AMC, Bravo, TWC and others overseeing the sales, marketing and programming during start-up phases. From 2002 to 2003, Ron created, developed and directed "Made In America" for Great American Country (GAC) launching a new genre of hosted behind-the-scenes style documentaries. He wrote, produced, shot and edited all 23 episodes starring country music artist Aaron Tippin. Ron holds a B.S. in Marketing and Biology from Bloomsburg University. He has served as a board member and chairperson of the Television Development Committee of the Earth Communications Office. David Tochterman, President, Versatility Media: Through his company Versatility Media, David develops and produces multiplatform and branded content and provides consulting and content business development strategy for media and entertainment companies. Recent projects include the live action series FAT GUY STUCK IN INTERNET for Adult Swim which is the first scripted comedy to move from online to broadcast television, the interactive website and video series DOWN TO BUSINESS for DECA, and GOTHAM BACKSTAGE for MANIA TV. Other recent projects include: Daily Motion, Mindshare, MY Entertainment, DigWorks and the online media company FOR YOUR IMAGINATION for which he is a consultant and advisor. In his seven years as Senior Vice President and Vice President of the independent powerhouse Carsey Werner Company, he played an integral role in the development and production of many top 10 television shows including THAT 70S SHOW, 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN, ROSEANNE, COSBY and GRACE UNDER FIRE for which he was also an Executive Producer. He also served as Executive Vice President for the launch of Will Smith's production company Overbrook Entertainment and led its television division. At Overbrook he was also Executive Producer of the original pilot for the current Comedy Central series KENNY VS SPENNY. In 2006, Mr. Tochterman was recruited to launch CHANNELBLAST, a B2C website featuring live original episodes of interactive branded content. ChannelBlast featured a groundbreaking flash format with live chat rooms allowing viewers to interact with content in real time, as well as integrated sponsorships. David also created and produced all content for the website and brand channels. ChannelBlast amassed over 8 million views at launch and was featured in multiple press articles including the New York Times, Forbes and Broadband Today. Mr. Tochterman has appeared as a moderator and panelist at media conferences including Digital Hollywood, CES, AdTech, OMMA, NYTVF and LATVF. His career began as a director, producer, and casting director for over 200 plays on Broadway, Off Broadway and at theatres across the country. He is a graduate of Syracuse University. Paul Kontonis, CEO, For Your Imagination: Paul is the Chief Executive and a co-founder of For Your Imagination and is a seasoned marketing executive and general manager with 15+ years of experience in building interactive marketing agencies and online media companies, as well as, traditional marketing and sales roles at education and pharmaceutical companies. Paul has a track record of success achieving revenue, profit and business growth objectives within start-ups, established companies and overall dynamic environments and new markets. Paul was the General Manager of Educational Marketing and Corporate Sales for Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions, the leading test preparation provider. Prior to joining Kaplan, Paul was the Chief Marketing Officer of btldesign, a 25-year-old marketing communications agency, specializing in business-to-business marketing communications for Fortune 100 global brands like MasterCard, Samsung, Pfizer, Major League Baseball and the FIFA World Cup. Paul's interactive experience began as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing at SenseNet, a Web application development agency, and as the Director of Business Development for Silver Shock, a boutique interactive agency. He appears in a number of publications, digital media books including the Documentary Filmmakers Handbook, and is a speaker at several industry conferences and seminars annually. Paul is a founding member of The International Academy of Web Television. James Gunn, Writer, Director, Producer, PG-Porn: James Gunn was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri in a large Irish Catholic family. At the age of twelve he began his filmmaking career with an eight-millimeter camera. His first film featured his brother Sean, an actor on the WB’s The Gilmore Girls, being disemboweled by zombies. While attending Columbia University in New York, Gunn applied for a part-time job filing papers at famed B-movie studios Troma Entertainment, and ended up writing the screenplay for the aforementioned movie Tromeo & Juliet instead. He was paid $150 to do so. In 1997, Tromeo became a cult hit, playing in theaters around the world, including over a year of midnight screenings in Los Angeles. Gunn left Troma to write and star (along with Rob Lowe, Thomas Haden-Church, Jamie Kennedy and his own brother, Sean) in the feature film, The Specials, about a group of superheroes on their day off. In the year 2000, literally dozens of people flocked to the theater while it played in LA and NY. However, the film went on to minor-cult status on DVD, and Gunn has twice been accosted by someone dressed as himself in the movie. Gunn wrote the critically acclaimed novel The Toy Collector, released by Bloomsbury Press in 2000. It’s the story of a hospital orderly who sells drugs to finance his escalating toy collecting addiction. He also wrote, with Lloyd Kaufman, the non-fiction book All I Need to Know About Filmmaking I Learned from the Toxic Avenger, which is currently in its fifth printing. In 2002 the live action Scooby-Doo movie was released into theaters. Gunn wrote the screenplay for the film, the first movie he was involved with that he allowed his mother to see. The film has grossed almost $300 million worldwide. In March of 2004 Gunn became the first screenwriter in cinema history to write back-to-back #1-for-the-weekend box office hits, with the critically-acclaimed, “re-imagined” Dawn of the Dead on March 19, 2004 and Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed on March 26, 2004. Gunn’s love for the comedy and horror genres coalesced in the humorous horror film SLiTHER, released by Universal in 2006. Gunn wrote the film, his feature-film directorial debut, which stars Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, and Michael Rooker. The film was critically hailed, and is currently featured on Rotten Tomatoes as one of the “Top Ten All –Time Best Reviewed Horror Films.” It was named “The Best Horror film of 2006” by Rue Morgue Magazine, and James Gunn won a Saturn Award and a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for his work on the film. In 2008 Gunn created Xbox Live’s first ever original content, producing seven comedy shows by horror directors, and creating his own, Sparky & Mikaela. He also wrote PETS for New Regency/Fox and producer Ben Stiller. Gunn is currently writing and directing the web series James Gunn’s PG Porn for Spike.com. PG PORN pairs mainstream actors and porn stars in comedy shorts. It has received well over five million hits online. He lives in Los Angeles with his dog, Dr. Wesley Von Spears. Kim Evey, Founder, Gorgeous Tiny Productions. Over the last two years, Evey has firmly established herself as a pioneering new media creator and producer with over 80 million web-wide views on her various productions. She began her Hollywood career as a professional actress on such TV shows as "ER," "Shark," and "Boston Legal." Her first project, "Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machine Show," a parody of Japanese television, found viral success (the pilot alone has garnered over 2.3 million views), leading to a production and distribution deal with Sony. Buoyed by Gorgeous Tiny's achievements, Kim suggested that a friend retool her half-hour television pilot about online gamers for the web. The resulting series, "The Guild," created by and starring Felicia Day and co-produced by Evey, became a You Tube hit with over 11 million views and was unique in that it was primarily funded through fan donations. For season two, Day made an unprecedented deal with Microsoft, giving them an exclusive distribution window through MSN.com and Xbox Live, yet allowing her to retain all subsequent rights to the show. "The Guild" has since racked up a slew of awards including the Yahoo and You Tube Awards for "Best Series" and the first annual Streamys for "Best Actress" (Felicia Day), "Best Ensemble Cast" & "Best Comedy." In addition, Kim co-created the very popular, extremely politically incorrect web series "Retarded Policeman" (over 35 million web wide views) with her husband Greg Benson of Mediocre Films and the not-as-naughty-as-it-sounds "Two Hot Girs In The Shower (over 11 million views) with actress Julie Wittner.