The Digital Hollywood Experience

The Digital Hollywood Experience

Linda Ong, Chief Culture Officer, Civic Entertainment Group, an omnicultural branding and insights firm. Ong has been at the center of some of the most high-profile brand transformations in the media and entertainment industry over the past 20 years and was most recently named one of Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business for 2014. TruthCo.’s most notable projects include her brand strategy for History Channel and Ellen, the re-launches of Bravo and Animal Planet, and the brand portfolio of Univision Communications Inc. Her influence extends to brands in other creative industries such as Etsy, Gilt City, Food & Wine Magazine, Chefs Club, (RED), Sony Pictures Entertainment and NPR. Ong’s award-winning work and involvement serving on the boards of AIGA/NY and PROMAX/BDA have led her to be a popular industry speaker and cultural commentator for Ad Age, Huffington Post, Cynopsis, TheWrap, Digital Hollywood, The Hollywood Reporter and Entertainment Tonight. Her groundbreaking work on cultural insights related to Hispanics, Millennials and the changing cultural landscape have positioned Ong as a sought-after cultural advisor and speaker for industry organizations such as the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the US Travel Association and the Luxury Marketing Council. Ong was an “Innovation Ambassador” to the 2014 United Nations World Summit on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and was appointed by the White House’s Office of Public Engagement as a founding member of the Creative Alliance for Civic Nation, a non-profit, non-partisan organization that uses organizing, engagement and public awareness to address some of the nation's most pressing challenges. Ong’s culture and brand expertise has been featured in several books including Joel Beckerman's The Sonic Boom: How Sound Transforms the Way We Think, Feel, and Buy; Scott Stowell's Design for People; and Chiqui Cartagena'sLatino Boom II. Prior to founding her own shop, Ong was senior vice president of marketing for Oxygen Media, where she oversaw the multi-platform launch of Oxygen Network. Before that, she was managing director of strategy and creative director for Lee Hunt Associates, a segment producer for Videofashion! Inc., and an art director for McCann-Erickson USA. Ong splits her time between New York and LA as she expands TruthCo’s US presence and patiently waits for her son Paolo to finish college. She is also working on her first book, HUGGING THE CURVE: Learning to Love the Culture of Change.

MIKE RICHARDS, Executive Producer, THE PRICE IS RIGHT/LET'S MAKE A DEAL): Mike Richards started his career hosting, writing and producing a late night comedy talk show called "The Randumb Show" at Pepperdine University. This weekly comedy show won multiple college broadcasting awards. Richards has created, produced and hosted several shows throughout his career.  He's produced talk shows, dating shows, celebrity shows, reality shows, clips shows, primetime specials, awards shows, game shows and cable news. Early on, Richards worked for television legend Dick Clark as his Vice President of Development and Current Programs. During his time with Clark, he produced several awards shows and primetime shows and was a correspondent on "The American Music Awards and "Primetime New Year's Rockin’ Eve." Richards did stand up after graduating from college and that lead to hosting multiple pilots.  He hosted the WB's “High School Reunion,” and later was the host of the reality phenomenon "Beauty and the Geek" for the CW.  During that time he also hosted a movie news show called "Dailes" that launched the Reelz Channel.  In 2008, Richards took over as co-executive producer of "The Price is Right," and became executive producer in 2009, the same year he helped sell the classic game franchise "Let's Make A Deal" to CBS. As the Executive Producer of "Price" and "Deal," Richards produces 365 hours of network programming a year.  In addition, reality powerhouse, Fremantle North America, has teamed up with his company, Empire Avenue, to develop new shows in various genres.   In 2012, Richards was also seen on GSN as the host of the rebooted gameshow "The Pyramid.” He was also heard on two podcasts; “The Randumb Show” where Mike discussed all things “Price” and “Deal,” as well as current pop culture, and “The Gentlemans” where Mike and improv genius Wayne Brady discussed what it means to be a gentleman.  He has been nominated for 10 Daytime Emmy Awards and has won two for his work as Executive Producer on “The Price is Right,” bringing home the award for Outstanding Game Show at both the 2013 and 2016 Daytime Emmy Awards.

Philip Shafran, Director of Content Activation, Brand and Rights Management, Vin Di Bona Productions: Shafran has over 15 years of experience working with brand recognition, retention, audience engagement and social outreach - driving consumer’s consumption of content through multi-channel platforms and traditional media networks. Shafran manages the monetization of television’s largest collection of user-generated (UGC) videos through expanding distribution and forging new partnerships via emerging channels, platforms and markets. He develops and manages off-air marketing initiatives for the Vin Di Bona brand, which includes “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” the highest co-viewed and longest-running primetime entertainment show in the history of the ABC network. Shafran is responsible for creating and extending revenue streams for the company and all its assets through meaningful digital partnerships, strategic planning, technological innovations and creative development.

Lemuel Plummer is a show creator and executive producer who delivers groundbreaking programming to television’s biggest brands like NBC/Universal, Paramount and Viacom. Founder and President of L Plummer Media, a full service production company, Lemuel is creator and executive producer of the Preachers of L.A., Preachers of Detroit, and Preachers of Atlanta franchise on the Oxygen network, as well as, Living With Funny starring Brandon T. Jackson, DeRay Davis and Michael Blackson. Lemuel is executive producer of the popular series #The Westbrooks on BET, and recently delivered the network its most popular new show Music Moguls starring music industry icons Birdman, Snoop Dogg, Jermaine Dupri and Damon Dash. The definition of a Hollywood Wunderkind Lemuel secured a first look deal with BET Networks at age 22, producing several series including the Mo'Nique Show and The Family Crews (Terry Crews), before creating and executive producing the powerful and thought-provoking series Vindicated (Morris Chestnut). He also served as a producer for WETV's Mary Mary and executive produced BET's The Sheards. More than a natural, Lemuel was born into the business and spent all his formative years around television and film productions. His parents owned and operated three television stations in Detroit and New Orleans. This provided Lemuel the perfect environment to nurture his passion for production and hone his skills before departing for Hollywood. Once in Tinsel Town Lemuel landed a job with the Emmy® Award winning series Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.

David Bloom, Columnist, Tubefilter: David Bloom advises on communications strategy, media relations and social media for prominent companies, institutions and individuals in politics, technology, entertainment and business. Bloom previously was associate dean and chief communications officer for the USC Marshall School of Business, and vice president of corporate communications at movie studio MGM Inc. He previously worked 20 years as an award-winning journalist for such publications as Variety, Red Herring, the Los Angeles Daily News and the Dallas Times Herald.  Bloom writes regularly on technology, media, politics and art at the blogs Bloom’s Day and Post Mad Bills; guest lectures at USC, Pepperdine and Chapman University, and is a frequent moderator and panelist at conferences such as Digital Hollywood, Ad:Tech, Produced By, NATPE and OMMA. He is vice president of the Board of Directors of Outpost for Contemporary Art.

Tuesday, October 18th, 2016

3:45 PM - 5:00 PM

Track IV: Guerin A, in Herscher Hall, Live Webcast

The TV/Film/Video - Developing Strategies and Partnerships - Developing Hollywood Content as Brand and Franchise

Allison Wallach, president, Jupiter Entertainment

Mike Richards, Executive Producer, The Price Is Right and Let’s Make A Deal

Lemuel Plummer, president and CEO, L. Plummer Media

Linda Ong, Chief Culture Officer, Civic Entertainment Group

Philip Shafran, Director of Content Activation, Brand and Rights Management, Vin Di Bona Productions

David Bloom, Columnist, Tubefilter, Moderator

Allison Wallach, president, Jupiter Entertainment: Based in Jupiter’s New York office, Allison leads the charge in expanding Jupiter’s content portfolio into new genres and distribution platforms. Previously, Wallach represented Jupiter among other successful production companies as an Agent in UTA’s alternative television department, where she helped grow, develop and expand the agency’s international, talent and cable television businesses. Before UTA, Wallach oversaw scripted and unscripted series for the BBC and Lifetime Television. Her vast and diversified experience in the industry accompanied by her strong relationships within the television landscape are an invaluable asset that will propel Jupiter into new ventures – setting the stage for another 18 years of rapid growth and hit series.