The Digital Hollywood Experience

Watch Videos From Digital Hollywood

Monday, January 5th, 2015

3:30 - 4:30 PM

Track II – DH6 - Digital Hollywood

Location: LVCC, North Hall, Room N262

YouTube: Unlocking the Power of Programming

YouTube is re-writing television’s future. In the past year, YouTube has evolved from being a massive repository of extraordinary video content to a massive repository of content channels bringing viewers millions of hours of global video production and spontaneity.

Larry Shapiro, Co-President, Big Frame

Rob Donnell, Founder and CEO, Brand Arc

Evan Bregman, Head of Original Content, Portal A

Phil Ranta, VP, Talent Operations, Fullscreen

David Tochterman, President, Versatility Media

Evan Weiss, SVP of Strategic Alliances, Collective Digital Studio

Sun Jen Yung, Managing Director, Headwaters MB, Moderator

Evan Bregman, Head of Original Content, Portal A:  Evan Bregman is the Head of Original Content at Portal A, an independent creative studio based in San Francisco and Los Angeles that develops, produces and distributes video built for the web.  Bregman is an award-winning producer most recently served as Executive Director of Digital Media at Electus prior to Portal A, where he oversaw creative, production and audience development for all of the Electus Digital properties. In this role, Evan was Executive Producer for nearly 100 scripted and non-scripted projects for digital and TV, including YouTube hits K-Town, Massholes, Colibritany and Isla Presidencial, Amazon kids' pilot Maker Shack Agency, and the multi-platform launch of rap battle league Total Slaughter,

in partnership with Eminem's Shady Films. A founding member of the Electus team, Evan previously worked with Electus Founder and Chairman Ben Silverman at NBC. Prior to  that, Bregman was an independent web producer with his production team Half Day Today!, whose creations continue to receive millions of views.

Larry Shapiro is Co-President at Big Frame, an industry leading full-service talent management company that represents both digital and traditional talent. The company was acquired by AwesomenessTV, a subsidiary of DreamWorks Animation, in 2014.  Larry has a 20-year track record of successfully managing innovation in all forms of media, as well as pioneering the convergence between Silicon Valley and Hollywood to form the next generation of content creators.  As Co-President of Big Frame, Larry is responsible for the strategic direction of the management team, growing Big Frame’s client roster and building the careers of tomorrow’s new talent emerging from the digital world.  Prior to Big Frame, Larry was Head of Talent at the Fullscreen and was responsible for growing the multi-channel network’s talent roster.  Larry was also previously President of Oddworld Inhabitants, a leading game developer and a Co-Founder of their spin-off social media start-up, Xmobb. Before XMobb, Larry created and operated the industry’s first and leading games division for Creative Artists Agency (CAA).  During his tenure at CAA, Larry conceived and brokered innovative and successful entertainment deals for, among others, Jerry Bruckheimer, Will Wright, Halo, Epic, Valve and Guitar Hero.  Named by The Wall Street Journal as one of the “Top 25 Powerbrokers in the Games Industry” in 2006, Larry also received an Emmy® Award for the interactive series “Dirty Work” and nomination for producing the documentary “Brian Wilson: I Just Wasn't Made For These Times,” as well as a Grammy® Award nomination for producing “Forever’s a Long Time” with Don Was.

David Tochterman, President, Versatility Media: David is an experienced senior entertainment media executive, with a proven record of driving revenue growth and launching successful media properties on both digital and traditional media platforms. David is President of Versatility Media, a management/consulting company which provides strategic representation of media companies and content creators. Clients include Pemberley Digital, producers of the Emmy Award winning online series and transmedia phenomenon The Lizzie Bennet Diaries. Other clients include Sway Group, a large scale female influencer network, the award winning YouTube channel Whats Trending and PBS Digital Studios. In 2010 David launched Innovative Artists Digital Media, one of the first dedicated talent agency online entertainment divisions. In addition to representing award winning content creators, David focused on content strategy, company formation and financing, multiplatform exploitation of intellectual property and packaging premium and branded content across all platforms. He also specialized in crossover content and set up several digital projects with television networks and studios. Prior to joining Innovative, David became one of the first crossover digital media pioneers when he was recruited to launch the groundbreaking video website CHANNELBLAST, which featured live interactive branded content and was featured in Forbes and the NY Times. He was a consultant for DECA and the IPG Emerging Media Lab, and was Executive Producer of the first live action comedy to move from online to television, the cult hit Adult Swim series Fat Guy Stuck In Internet. Earlier, as Senior Vice President of the television powerhouse Carsey Werner Company, David played an integral role in the development and production of successful hit shows including THAT 70S SHOW, 3RD ROCK FROM THE SUN, and was an Executive Producer of GRACE UNDER FIRE. He also was Executive Vice President for the launch of Will Smith's production company Overbrook Entertainment and led its television division. David has been a speaker at media conferences including SXSW, NATPE, IMedia, Streaming Media West, BBTVCon and Digital Hollywood. He is a member of the ATAS Interactive Peer Group, and the advisory board for the IMedia Video Summit.

Rob Donnell, Founder and CEO, Brand Arc: An award-winning veteran of the advertising industry, Rob Donnell is Founder and CEO of Brand Arc (www.brandarc.com), a Los Angeles-based firm responsible for developing groundbreaking product integrations for Toyota, Lexus and other major brands across TV, film, video games, mobile and digital platforms.  Brand Arc is a three-time winner of Madison & Vine’s “Five Best Integrations of the Year,” a 10-time winner of iTVX’s “Featured Placement of the Week” and a frequent highlight of the ANA’s “Best Practices in Branded Entertainment.” In 2012, the agency was honored with a One Show Entertainment Gold Pencil in the Television Scripted Series category for its Toyota Prius integration on the HBO series “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”  Donnell’s deals for longtime client Toyota include all six seasons of highly visible integration into ABC’s Emmy-winning comedy, “Modern Family,” and eleven consecutive seasons in Bravo’s hit competition show, “Top Chef.” In 2013, he brokered an integration deal with the CBS series “Under the Dome,” in which the Toyota Prius Plug-in played a key “hero” role.  Donnell has found ways to innovate in the branded content space. Brand Arc created the first-ever co-promotion between a pharmaceutical marketer, Roche, and a feature film, Warner Bros.’ blockbuster “Happy Feet” in 2006 when the animated penguins were used in a multimedia campaign for the vaccine Tamiflu and a website offering flu facts.  In other firsts, he helped integrate the Toyota Yaris into five separate sketches on Fox’s late-night comedy, “Mad TV,” created the first brand-financed “mobisodes” with Sprint for the action thriller, “Prison Break,” and initiated the first-ever brand-sponsored DVD prequel for Fox’s hit drama, “24.”  While Donnell launched Brand Arc in 2004 primarily to service Toyota, he has worked with an impressive list of clients including Lexus, AT&T, Roche and GSW. Other Brand Arc services include strategic brand development, creative development, media planning, co-promotion and event marketing.

Evan Weiss, SVP of Strategic Alliances, Collective Digital Studio:  Evan's career has taken some interesting twists and turns, and the common thread has been advocacy for talent and the creative process.  His pivot into digital media started with the representation of creators, while forming partnerships with them to facilitate production and distribution of content on a global level.  Evan looks at audience as a primary asset and resource, and has opened up a marketplace to utilize audience engagement for traditional publishers, broadcasters and consumer brands through digital channel management content and optimization strategies and execution.  As an agent at UTA from 1992-2000, Evan founded and ran the Television Packaging Dept. and worked with clients such as Drew Carey, Ben Stiller, Larry David, Gregory Hines and writers Chuck Tatham, Don Foster, Jhoni Marchinko, Jon Beckerman, Rob Cohen, and Rodney Rothman and director/producers Gary Halvorson and Joel Gallen to name a few.  In 2001, Evan founded Handprint TV with Handprint partners Jeff Pollock and Benny Medina; among projects executive produced by Evan were "The Tyra Banks Show", with Telepictures; "Pamela: Girl on the Run" with E!, "The Show: With AJ Calloway" for UPN as well as other scripted and reality projects.  Evan joined The Collective in 2009, with an emphasis on overseeing the company’s television operations and development. Evan signed internet sensation Lucas Cruikshank in 2009, 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, the “Fred” property turned into a successful motion picture franchise, co-financed and produced by the Collective. 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.  Evan currently manages a diverse roster of clients, including innovative YouTube performers 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, Jaboody Dubs, E and P Hudson, Paint, and Hollywire TV.  Having paved the way for You Tube stars to use their talents and the power of their audience to impact and disrupt traditional entertainment models, Evan's contribution was integral to the launch of Collective Digital Studio. Today, CDS is a full-fledged media company accounting for well over 1 billion views per month of premium video content from its family of creator-partners. As SVP of Strategic Alliances, Evan has spearheaded initiatives that include CDS as provider of digital Channel Services to major brands and broadcasters such as Estee Lauder, National Geographic, Verizon, Spike, and NBCUniversal, specifically, Jimmy Fallon and Meredith Vieira. Evan works at the forefront of CDS outreach;  creating, presenting and executing opportunities for premium publishers to grow audience engagement and independent entertainment destinations designed to build relevancy for their brands with millenials and well into the future.  Evan is a graduate of Scarsdale High School, The George Washington University and hold a JD from Brooklyn Law School.  He was an associate at Blumenthal and Lynne in NYC, Head of Business Affairs for The Gersh Agency in Beverly Hills, and VP of Business Affairs and Production Finance for Walt Disney Television before joining UTA in 1992.  He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Gayle and their children Marisa and Samuel.

Sun Jen Yung, Managing Director, Headwaters MB: Sun Jen Yung, Managing Director, joined Headwaters from Nightwood Capital LLC, a middle-market boutique advisory firm that she founded in 2009. Sun focuses on Digital Media & Internet and Media Growth companies. Her experience of 20 years in investment banking includes corporate finance coverage of Media (cable and entertainment), Digital Media, Internet and Software companies at Oppenheimer, Deutsche Bank , Lehman Brothers and J.P. Morgan. Sun also has experience in Equity Research at Lehman Brothers. She has completed over $38 billion in public (IPOs and follow-ons) and private equity, equity-linked and debt financings and M&A transactions. Sun serves on the Board of Directors for the YWCA of Greenwich (CT). She received B.A. degrees in Economics and International Studies at Macalester College in St. Paul, MN and an M.B.A. of Finance from Columbia Business School in New York.