Top speakers line up for Content LA

Hulu’s Beatrice Springborn will lead the charge at C21’s Content LA conference on May 17, discussing her approach to creativity alongside a leading showrunner working with the platform.

Beatrice Springborn, VP of content development, Hulu
Since joining the Hulu team in 2014, Beatrice has played an integral role in developing and greenlighting straight-to-series orders for Hulu’s acclaimed and award-winning slate of originals, including the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning The Handmaid’s Tale, as well as The Looming Tower, Future Man and Castle Rock. Upcoming Hulu Originals her and her team most recently ushered in to Hulu include Catch-22 from George Clooney and Grant Heslov’s SmokeHouse Pictures, as well as Little Fires Everywhere, the highly anticipated limited series from Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington, based on Celeste Ng’s 2017 bestseller.

The one-day event will also examine the state of remakes and new copro opportunities with an in-depth look at the Israeli shows being adapted for the US and new original projects in development.

This session will examine the creative and commercial models around a raft of hot new shows and partnerships.

It features:

Meghan Lyvers, SVP of coproductions and development, CBS Studios International
Lyvers reports to Armando Nuñez, president and CEO, CBS Studios International, and David Stapf, president, CBS Television Studios.
In this role, Lyvers develops new programming opportunities for CBS Television Studios in both the US and the international market. She acquires new formats, identifies coproduction opportunities and mines the Studios’ deep library as she looks to develop original series with CBS’ broadcast and streaming partners around the world. As part of this process, Lyvers works with the Studio’s extensive roster of writers and producers to create new content for international platforms.

Rachel Kaplan, exec VP scripted, Keshet Studios
Kaplan is exec VP of scripted for Keshet Studios, the LA-based studio which manages Keshet International’s (KI) development, production, packaging, promotion and sales of KI’s programming activity in the US. Kaplan manages the studio’s slate of scripted projects, which includes KI’s catalogue of more than 30 premium scripted formats as well as original developments for the US marketplace and beyond. Kaplan also manages the company’s first-look scripted programming deal with NBC Entertainment, which includes a coproduction pact with NBC’s sibling studio, Universal Television.

Alon Aranya, writer, producer, Paper Plane Productions
Aranya, has set up 40 scripted shows at US and international studios and networks. His shows include Red Widow and Betrayal for ABC and Hostages at CBS. He’s currently in production on Your Honor, starring Brian Cranston, at Showtime with Peter Moffat writing and Robert and Michelle King producing, as well as Until the Wedding at ABC. Aranya struck a two-year first-look deal with CBS Studios International through his newly established company Paper Plane Productions. The company’s first international project, District Y, a coproduction with the writer of Fauda and the public broadcaster in Israel was recently announced.

A line-up of A-list showrunners will also be at the event, discussing their new projects, models and the exchange of ideas and coproduction initiatives between Europe and the US.

The first to be announced is Emma Frost
Frost is an accomplished showrunner, executive producer and screenwriter.
Her Starz limited drama series The Spanish Princess airs in 2019. Frost was showrunner/exec producer alongside her (now) TV showrunning partner, Matthew Graham. The show is a sequel to Frost’s acclaimed series The White Princess, starring Jodie Comer, and her Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated BBC1/Starz coproduction The White Queen, which starred Rebecca Ferguson.

The changing role of agents is also front and centre at Content LA, with a cross-section of views about how to develop new talent relationships in the fast-changing market.

Tracy Christian, president TCA MGMT will join the discussion, along with other leading players, to outline her strategy and how the market is changing.
Christian is a veteran talent agent with more than 20 years in the industry working in both the literary as well as talent space. Past clients include Oscar winners Melissa Leo, Octavia Spencer, Mo’Nique, Emmy and Golden Globe winner Elizabeth Moss. Within the lit space she’s personally responsible for more than 1,000 hours of on air primetime programing.
Seven years ago, she opened TCA Jed Root, a Los Angeles-based boutique talent agency specialising in trained character actors, writers, and producers. The agency features an international client list and clients working mostly on award-winning programming, including Mr Robot, Game of Thrones, House of Cards, Man in the High Castle, Narcos and Stranger Things.

A focus on new producers, approaches and the opportunities presented by next-generation platforms and financiers will include Deniese Davis, producer Issa Rae Productions and COO ColorCreative
Davis got her start in entertainment by producing indie low-budget projects including music videos, short films and digital content. In the web series realm she is best known for producing Issa Rae’s award-winning web series The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl. She is currently a producer on the HBO comedy series Insecure and an executive producer on the upcoming HBO limited series The Dolls while continuing to produce and oversee content for Issa Rae Productions. She also serves as COO of ColorCreative, which provides access and opportunities for diverse and emerging writers and recently sold its first feature film, Love in America, to Universal. Originally from Las Vegas NV, Davis is an alum of CUNY-Brooklyn College and the American Film Institute Conservatory.

Content LA is a one-day networking event and conference designed to uncover future trends, new opportunities and fresh partnerships in the international content business.

Further details about the agenda and more speakers to be announced shortly.

Book your place now and save US$100 on the full rate of US$399 by CLICKING HERE.

You can keep up to date with further speaker announcements and event information by CLICKING HERE.