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TheGrill will convene over 300 industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and trailblazers for a day of groundbreaking discussions, strategic networking, and deal-making opportunities. Join industry leaders in exploring the latest trends, strategies and insights in AI, Film, TV, Music, Tech, Sports, Production, Streaming, Content, and M&A.
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Your purchase of a paid General Admission ticket to TheGrill includes complimentary access to AI Creator Day, taking place on September 29.
AI Creator Day Access: Included with paid General Admission tickets only. Sponsor, community partner, Lift Up Pass, media, speaker, staff and complimentary ticket holders may apply separately for admission. Space is limited and acceptance is subject to availability.
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Jason Robins built DraftKings through an FBI inquiry, a dozen state shutdown orders and a global pandemic. Now his company is at the center of the sharpest question in American gaming: when is a bet a bet, and who has the authority to say so? With federal courts split, state regulators pushing back and the industry's future potentially headed to the Supreme Court, Robins and DraftKings Vice Chairman Harry Sloan — the former MGM chief who took the company public in 2020 —sit down for a candid conversation about regulation how betting became one of the most powerful forces shaping how audiences watch, and how much live entertainment is worth.
Some of the biggest decisions facing the entertainment industry right now are being made in courtrooms rather than boardrooms. California AG Rob Bonta's office has been at the center of several of them: the antitrust case against Live Nation/Ticketmaster, AI and likeness rights, the multistate challenge to the Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger. This conversation looks at the role states are playing as federal antitrust enforcement narrows, what continued consolidation means for studios, theaters, distributors and the people who work in film and television, and where regulation of the industry goes from here.
As exhibitors work to keep screens filled year-round, the question of which films get made in the first place has never carried more weight. Viva Pictures founder Victor Elizalde has built a weighted scoring model that grades scripts before a greenlight - and turned it into consistent bookings of 1,200 to 2,000-plus screens for mid-budget family animation from. During this conversation, he'll break down how data-driven development translates directly into theatrical real estate, and where he still overrides the model in favor of instinct.
The movie theater business is having its biggest year since the pandemic, powered by a mix of blockbuster franchises, surprise hits and a new generation of moviegoers rediscovering the communal experience of the big screen. So what comes next? Leaders from the exhibition and studio sides discuss the opportunities and pressures ahead, from release strategies and windows to shifting audience behavior and what the theatrical experience needs to become.
The creator economy has grown into a multi-billion-dollar business ecosystem, where top creators operate as founders, IP owners and vertically integrated media companies. For studios, streamers, platforms and investors, the opportunity is understanding where real enterprise value is being built, how deals are structured across platforms and what it takes to scale creator-led businesses into durable, financeable companies. As Hollywood, tech and finance increasingly converge, insiders will share how they are underwriting risk, defining ownership and building the next generation of media businesses.
As audiences fragment and traditional business models evolve, media companies are finding new ways to turn their brands, content, technology and audiences into growth engines. From launching new platforms and products to expanding into adjacent businesses and creating entirely new consumer experiences, the opportunity is no longer just about creating content -- it’s about building businesses around it. This conversation explores how Versant, one of the industry’s biggest players, is identifying new opportunities, taking established assets into unexpected territory and building what comes next.
AI is reshaping how audience research is conducted and analyzed across the entertainment industry. This conversation will look at a few of the ways research companies are using AI to accelerate analysis, uncover patterns in audience response, deepen qualitative insights, and explore emerging approaches such as AI-powered augmented audiences. It will also consider AI’s limitations, why real audience response still matters, and why human interpretation and judgment remain essential.
Filmmaking is entering a fundamental shift as grey box production, generative AI and hybrid live-action/AI workflows create new ways to develop, shoot and finish ambitious stories. This conversation will explore how filmmakers can combine traditional production, actors, crews and physical performance with emerging tools to expand creative possibilities and bring projects to life that might not otherwise get made, using real-world examples including Artlist and Secret Level’s "Terrarium."
Find your topic. Pull up a chair.
Sit down with the reporters covering the stories during lunch.
Fall Movies - Steve Pond (Executive Editor, Awards)
AI - Roger Cheng, Managing Editor, Business & PRO, TheWrap
Creators - Kayla Cobb (Senior Reporter, TheWrap)
Microdramas - Tess Patton (TV Business Reporter, TheWrap)
Box Office - Jeremy Fuster Box Office/Labor Reporter, TheWrap
Movie Production - Drew Taylor (Film Reporter, TheWrap)
Paramount Skydance's move on Warner Bros. Discovery would combine two of the industry's largest studio and streaming operations into a single company, and the regulatory review that follows will set the terms for every deal after it. This conversation goes inside the transaction with the executive leading its legal strategy — a former head of the Justice Department's antitrust division now arguing the case from the other side of the table. The discussion covers how the deal came together, what the government's scrutiny actually turns on, and what a combined company would mean for studios, streaming and the people who work with them.
Hollywood’s ownership landscape is shifting as studios, streamers, private equity firms, technology companies and strategic investors reshape the business through mergers, acquisitions and new sources of capital. This conversation brings together the dealmakers behind some of the industry’s biggest moves to examine what’s driving the market, how transactions are getting done, and what the next wave of consolidation could mean for Hollywood.
Roughly 40% of SVOD annual subscriber acquisition happens between September and December. In a streaming-first world, this is the New, New Fall Season. In this session, Antenna will share some of the latest insights into why Fall matters more than ever for streamers, studios, rights holders, and brands alike.
From the FIFA World Cup and Olympics to Love Island USA and the road to LA28, the conversation will explore what makes live events, premium content and cultural franchises powerful enough to command attention at scale. It will examine how media companies and brands are turning that attention into lasting value, while AI and emerging technologies reshape advertising and audience engagement — and how NBCUniversal is navigating what comes next.
Short-form scripted series are exploding, turning bite-sized storytelling into a fast-growing entertainment business — and Hollywood is taking notice. As audiences embrace serialized stories designed for the phone, a new generation of creators, platforms and investors is racing to define the format, while former studio executives are entering the space and bringing traditional Hollywood expertise with them. This conversation explores the rise of microdramas, what’s driving their global appeal, how the business model is evolving and whether short-form storytelling could become a major new lane for Hollywood.
Culture moves faster than ever, with emerging trends, conversations and creative movements taking shape across an increasingly fragmented media landscape. AI is creating new ways to make sense of that noise — identifying patterns, surfacing emerging signals and revealing what audiences are responding to before those trends become mainstream. This presentation explores how AI can help decode the cultural zeitgeist and offer a glimpse into what’s capturing attention, where culture is headed and what entertainment companies should be watching next.
Let’s move the industry forward together. We know this is a moment of change for our industry, and access matters. Apply for a chance to attend TheGrill at a special discounted rate. Priced at $199 (80% off), these limited tickets are designed for those experiencing financial hardship, recently laid-off professionals, freelancers, or anyone facing challenges in today’s economy who would benefit from the insights and connections at TheGrill. Apply today at the link below!
Ted Sarandos, Brian Grazer, Bill Maher, José Andrés, Javier Pons Tubio, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Dana Walden, David Nevins, Ynon Kreiz, Irving Azoff, Antoine Fuqua, John Singleton, Mary Parent, Dawn Ostroff, Jeff Weiner, Will Packer, John Landgraf, Julie Bowen, Kara Swisher, Jessie James Decker, Jeff Sagansky, Tony Hale, Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, Sue Kroll, Pamela Adlon, Kevin Mayer, Patrick Whitesell, Brad Bird, Sarah Harden, Ravi Ahuja, Peter Guber, Adam Aron, Anthony Carrigan, Steven Levitan,Warren Littlefield, Phil Spencer, Strauss Zelnick, Josh Goldstine, Ted Schilowitz, Nina Jacobson, Greg Foster, Shelli Taylor, Chris Sacca, John Sloss, Marc Weinstock, Sean Gamble, Josh Sapan, Megan Rapinoe, Ryan Condal, Ryan Kavanaugh, Sue Bird, Byron Allen, Johanna Faries, Andrew Cripps, Ryan Kalil, Michael Barker, Jesse Sisgold, Rachel Ghiazza, Seth MacFarlane, Jane Rosenthal, Maz Jobrani and many more.
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CEO and Editor in Chief, is an award-winning journalist, best-selling author and the founder of TheWrap. She is also the creator of TheGrill business conference on convergence, and the creator of the Power Women series focused on women’s leadership, including the Power Women Summit in 2018.
A leading authority on the entertainment business and media, Waxman was the Hollywood correspondent for The New York Times and a correspondent for eight years for The Washington Post. She started out as a foreign correspondent, covering Europe and the Middle East for a decade. She is the author of two books, including, “Rebels on the Backlot: Six Maverick Directors and How They Conquered the Hollywood Studio System.”
Rob Bonta is using his role as Attorney General of the State of California to make life better for everyone in the Golden State. Be it tackling crime, addressing the rising cost of living, or holding bad actors accountable when they harm Californians, Attorney General Bonta is committed to serving, protecting, and solving problems for the 39 million people who call California home.
Bonta’s passion for justice and service was passed on to him by his parents, who served on the frontlines of some of America's most important social justice movements. Instilling in him the lessons they learned from the United Farm Workers, the civil rights movement, and the People Power Revolution in the Philippines, Bonta's parents lit a fire inside him to stand up for those who are taken advantage of or hurt. It is why he decided to become an attorney — to help right historic wrongs, fight for vulnerable communities, and find real solutions that help everyday people.
Adam M. Aron is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AMC Entertainment and has been its CEO since 2016.
AMC’s approximately 850 global movie theatres typically serve more than 250 million guests annually. On his watch, AMC went from being the second largest movie theater chain in the United States to the largest movie theater chain in the U.S., and the largest in Europe and the largest in the world.
In addition to guiding AMC’s growth, his most notable accomplishments at AMC have been: shepherding AMC through its meme stock saga; expanding AMC’s loyalty program – AMC Stubs – and introducing its subscription program A-List; distributing the Taylor Swift and Beyonce concert movies in a 2023 industry-paradigm changing move; and stewarding AMC through the global pandemic of 2020, which crippled the global movie theatre industry then and for five years since.
AMC is the fifth company Aron has successfully led as CEO since 1993, including also having been the CEO of each of Norwegian Cruise Line, Vail Resorts, the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers (where he also was a co-owner of the team and an Alternate Governor of the NBA) and Starwood Hotels & Resorts.
After marketing roles at Pan American World Airways and Western Airlines, his early career included his being the CMO of both Hyatt Hotels and United Airlines. It was highlighted by Aron’s pioneering loyalty marketing efforts, featuring his creation in the 1980’s of one of the first ever airline frequent flyer programs and hotel frequent guest programs.
Among several other honors, Aron was twice selected by AdAge Magazine as being one of the 100 Best Marketing Executives in the United States; heralded by Variety in six different years to its Variety 500 list, the 500 most consequential figures in the world’s media and entertainment industries; and named by Travel Weekly to its Club 33, the 33 most influential executives globally in travel and tourism.
In 2025, Aron won a Tony Award as Co-Producer of the hit revival on Broadway of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevard. In 2016, Aron was Co-Chairman of AMC’s Open Road Studios, which released the movie Spotlight. Spotlight won the Oscar for Best Picture that year.
Aron has been a prolific communicator on X/Twitter for almost fifteen years, and with a wide following as his tweets have been read more than 400 million times.
Having had an eclectic and fascinating collection of life experiences, among them in 2007 Aron was only the second amateur at that time to ever have conducted the world-renowned New York Philharmonic orchestra in a public performance (before an audience of about 1800 people).
Aron has served continuously since 1988 on a myriad of more than twenty corporate boards in a variety of industries. His non-profit activities have included, among others, Board or advisory positions with the National Park Foundation and the National Forest Foundation. He currently also serves as President of the Pan Am Historical Foundation.
Aron is a cum laude graduate of Harvard College, and received an MBA with Distinction from the Harvard Business School.
Jason Robins is Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of DraftKings, where he leads the company’s strategy, operations, and long-term growth. Since co-founding DraftKings in 2011, Robins has helped build the company into a leading digital sports entertainment and gaming platform in the United States.
Under his leadership, DraftKings has been a pioneer in product innovation and partnerships, expanding its platform across daily fantasy sports, sports betting, iGaming, and prediction markets. Robins has also led the company’s engagement with policymakers and regulators to support smart, consumer-focused legislation governing regulated gaming markets.
He holds a degree in Economics and Computer Science, with a minor in Mathematics, from Duke University.
Harry Sloan, is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of MGM Studios and currently Vice Chairman of the Board of Draft Kings.
He founded, took public and led two other public companies in the entertainment media arena, which were New World Entertainment and SBS Broadcasting. Sloan was also one of the founding investors of Lions Gate Films and served as Lions Gate’s Non-Executive
Chairman from 2004 to 2005.
Sloan is currently Chairman and CEO of Eagle Equity Partners and with his partner, Jeff Sagansky, has raised over $5B in public markets for companies transitioning into the digital era.
Eagle Equity has acquired and taken public, through special purpose acquisition companies(“SPAC”) several media companies including Lionsgate Studios Corp (LION, NASDAQ) and Draft Kings, Inc. (Nasdaq: DKNG).
Sloan has also been at the forefront and evolution of the video gaming industry as one of the founding investors in 1999, and Board Member of Zenimax/Bethesda Game Studios, the award-winning studio acquired by Microsoft in March 2021.
Sloan serves on the Board of Directors for Lionsgate Studios Corp. (NASDAQ: LION) and is Chair of the Strategic Committee. Sloan is Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Transaction Committee of DraftKings.
Adam Fogelson was named chair of the Lionsgate MPG in January 2024. He is responsible for the studio’s worldwide motion picture operations, leading the strategic planning and execution of the studio’s slate of new theatrical, multiplatform and direct-to-consumer releases across creative, marketing, and distribution; the worldwide licensing of films from its 20,000+-title film & TV library; the continued growth and expansion of new and iconic franchises including The Hunger Games, The Housemaid, John Wick, Saw, Blair Witch, Dirty Dancing, Rambo and Now You See Me, among others; and the extension of the studio’s branded properties into stage plays, immersive live experiences and interactive video games as part of its Global Products & Experiences Group.
Eduardo Acuna is Chief Executive Officer of Regal Global Entertainment, one of the world’s leading theatrical exhibition companies, operating Regal Cinemas in the United States alongside leading international brands including Cineworld, Picturehouse, Cinema City, and Planet across Europe and Israel.
Since becoming CEO in July 2023, Acuna has led the company through a pivotal period following its emergence from Chapter 11, helping stabilize the business while repositioning Regal Global Entertainment for long-term growth. Under his leadership, the company has focused heavily on strengthening the moviegoing experience through investments in premium formats, projection and sound technology, food and beverage offerings, digital innovation, and theatre modernization.
Before joining Regal Global Entertainment, Acuna spent nearly two decades with Cinépolis, the world's third-largest cinema operator, serving in a range of senior leadership roles. As President of Cinépolis Brazil, he was named International Exhibitor of the Year by ShowEast in 2014.
Acuna has more than 20 years of experience across cinema exhibition, strategy and finance, and has served on the boards of Cinema United and the Global Cinema Federation. Earlier in his career, he held roles with McKinsey & Company, Goldman Sachs, the Mexican Central Bank, and Mexico’s Ministry of Social Development.
He earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, where he attended as a Fulbright Scholar.
Makan Delrahim is the Chief Legal Officer for Paramount, a Skydance Corporation. He oversees all legal, regulatory, compliance and public policy matters for the Company, including oversight of Paramount's Government Relations team.
Prior to joining Paramount, Makan was a Partner at Latham & Watkins LLP, where he advised clients navigating complex mergers and transactions, government investigations, and high-stakes crisis situations.
As a Managing Director and Head of YouTube’s Creator and Gaming team, Kim is responsible for managing the growth of the largest, most influential creators on the platform. In her previous roles at Google, she launched the Google BrandLab, an immersive strategy experience designed for top advertisers to develop their YouTube strategy. She went on to manage the global brand services function which included creative effectiveness, media measurement, and consumer insights. Her team pioneered the use of machine learning to build data-driven creative best practices for YouTube ads.
Kim joined Google in 2012 with 20+ years experience leading marketing teams at the intersection of technology and brand at Nike, Jamba Juice, and Prophet. Kim holds a BS in Neuroscience from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Virginia. Kim serves on the Creator Board for the IAB, on the Advisory Board for Women in Games International, is an Executive Member and judge for the Webbys as part of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (IADAS) and previously served on the Board of Directors for the Effies.
Mark Marshall serves as Chairman, Global Advertising & Partnerships, NBCUniversal, where he leads one of the industry’s largest and most influential advertising businesses, spanning NBCUniversal and VERSANT and reaching more than 286 million people each month. He oversees the company’s global sales portfolio across linear, streaming and digital platforms, including partnerships, client relationships, and advertising technology. He reports to Matt Strauss, Chairman, NBCUniversal Media Group.
Over the past decade, Marshall has positioned NBCUniversal at the forefront of advertising innovation and cultural impact. He has driven some of the company’s most significant business outcomes, including securing NBCUniversal’s largest Upfront for the 2025-26 season and generating record advertising revenue across both Summer and Winter Olympic Games for Paris 2024 and Milan-Cortina 2026. He pioneered highly customized client experiences for Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary and BravoCon, establishing a new industry standard for in-person fan engagement. In parallel, Marshall has delivered measurable, cross-category impact for marketers through industry-leading measurement and targeting capabilities, including Live Total Impact and Performance Insights Hub. He has expanded the company’s client roster sevenfold in six years while broadening access to NBCUniversal’s premium inventory for advertisers of all sizes.
As Co-CEO, Jo oversees Whalar’s global agency business, driving growth across North America and leading a team of 90+ diverse voices. She has forged game-changing partnerships with iconic brands like Amazon, EA, NFL, Spotify, and Waymo, as well as leading platforms including LinkedIn, Meta, TikTok, and YouTube.
A recognized authority in the Creator Economy, Jo has shared her expertise at VidCon, Tribeca X, and Sundance, and has served as a judge for prestigious honors such as The One Show and Cannes Lions. Her industry impact is further reflected in her recognition as one of Ad Age’s Leading Women, Campaign’s 40 Over 40, and Campaign Inspiring Women, alongside her service on the Tribeca X Advisory Council.
In 2023, Jo co-founded Whalar Group’s venture studio, Moby Ventures, and in 2026, she spearheaded the agency through its landmark acquisition by Accenture Song—the largest acquisition in the history of the creator economy.
Jana Winograde is CEO of aTwist, the U.S.-based, AI-native microseries studio and platform focused on quality vertical content, launching later this year. Winograde is the former President of Entertainment, Showtime Networks, where under her leadership, Showtime launched its three biggest streaming series, including the zeitgeist hit Yellowjackets. Prior to that she served as Head of Business and Operations for ABC‘s Network and TV Studio. Winograde's unique blend of creative and business acumen enable her to lead through the full lifecycle of content creation and distribution, bridging creative vision with business execution to drive growth. Winograde has been recognized for her leadership and industry impact by several leading entertainment and media organizations, including The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment List (100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment), Variety’s LA Women’s Impact Report, Cablefax’s Most Powerful Women Report, and the Cablefax 100.
Erik is a Partner at Raine, where he leads the firm’s Los Angeles office and its efforts in Entertainment and Media. With over 20 years of experience in the entertainment and media industry, Erik has played a key role in several of Raine’s major investments and advisory transactions. His high-profile transactions include work with clients such as Paramount, Skydance, Endeavor, Universal, Warner Bros., Disney, Legendary Entertainment, Mediawan, Fifth Season, Park County, Candle Media, and Weta Digital.
Erik currently serves on the board of directors for Imagine Entertainment, Propagate Content, VideoAmp, and Mediawan, all Raine portfolio companies. Prior to joining Raine, Erik built a career in the entertainment industry and has been recognized as one of Hollywood’s Top 20 Dealmakers by The Hollywood Reporter, in addition to being featured in Variety’s annual Dealmakers Impact Report.
Erik holds a B.A. from Georgetown University
and an M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Olivia Ferney, widely known as @travelwithlivii, is on every billionaire's speed-dial list. As a luxury travel agent and co-owner of Top Tier Travel, she built a global audience of millions through viral content showcasing elite hospitality experiences, behind-the-scenes moments, and outrageous client requests. Known for curating top-tier experiences, Olivia gives her audience rare insider access into the world of luxury travel, lifestyle, and hospitality.
Blending storytelling, humor, and aspirational access, Olivia has become a trusted voice for Gen Z and millennial audiences looking to travel smarter while still experiencing elevated lifestyles. Her audience trusts her recommendations not only in travel and luxury lifestyle, but entrepreneurship and mentorship. She recently sold out a seminar where she coached hundreds of followers on how to scale their businesses through social media and content strategy. Olivia also frequently speaks at universities, supports community-focused initiatives, and founded Passport, an upcoming travel membership community.
Her work has been featured in major publications including The New York Times, CNN, Newsweek, and The Hollywood Reporter, while brands such as DoorDash, Wynn Las Vegas, Netflix, and Uber have partnered with her. A scripted television series inspired by her life and business is currently in development with Fifth Season.
Erik is a Partner at Raine, where he leads the firm’s Los Angeles office and its efforts in Entertainment and Media. With over 20 years of experience in the entertainment and media industry, Erik has played a key role in several of Raine’s major investments and advisory transactions. His high-profile transactions include work with clients such as Paramount, Skydance, Endeavor, Universal, Warner Bros., Disney, Legendary Entertainment, Mediawan, Fifth Season, Park County, Candle Media, and Weta Digital.
Erik currently serves on the board of directors for Imagine Entertainment, Propagate Content, VideoAmp, and Mediawan, all Raine portfolio companies. Prior to joining Raine, Erik built a career in the entertainment industry and has been recognized as one of Hollywood’s Top 20 Dealmakers by The Hollywood Reporter, in addition to being featured in Variety’s annual Dealmakers Impact Report.
Erik holds a B.A. from Georgetown University
and an M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.
Kevin Goetz is the founder and CEO of Screen Engine, a global leader in entertainment research and strategy, serving all the major film studios, television networks, and streaming services. Throughout his career, he has been at the forefront of Hollywood, having personally tested over 5,000 film titles, where his work significantly impacts how movies are made, marketed, and released.
In 2024, Kevin received American Cinematheque's prestigious Power of Cinema Award for his contributions to the film industry. He is the author of two bestselling books: Audience•ology (Simon & Schuster, 2021), offering an inside look at the power of audience pre-release movie test screenings, and How to Score in Hollywood (Simon & Schuster, November 2025), exploring the secrets to success in the movie business. Kevin brings his expertise to life as the host of the popular podcast, Don’t Kill the Messenger (Apple Top 100), and continues educating the filmmaking community through keynote speeches and global presentations. He has produced twelve TV movies, including the Emmy-winning Wild Iris, and the upcoming 2026 documentary Ash & Crayons, a story of innocence and resilience in the shadow of war.
A member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Television Academy, and the Producers Guild of America, Kevin also serves on the boards of six nonprofit organizations. He currently resides in Beverly Hills with his husband, Neil, a producer and former creative advertising executive, and their labradoodle, Kasha.
Yves is an AI researcher and for the past 10 years has been the director of the “AI and Neuroscience in Media” Project at USC’s Entertainment Technology Center. ETC is a think tank and research center funded by all the Hollywood studios, as well as large technology companies such as Google, Microsoft, and AWS. At the Center, Yves and his team use neural-symbolic AI methods to build agentic AI workflows and narrative intelligence solutions for the media industry. He is also the co-founder & CEO of Corto, an AI startup helping global brands and media companies understand and predict digital culture across millions of segments in 97 countries. Yves is a member of the Digital Storytelling Lab at Columbia University, and a member of the Generative AI Working Group at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences.
Shira Lazar is an Emmy-nominated digital culture expert, Adweek AI Trailblazer, and 2026 TIME100 Creator. As founder of What's Trending and host of The AI Download podcast, she has shaped the creator economy, social media, and AI conversation for more than two decades, reaching over 4 million followers across platforms.
Ross is the Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Gerber Kawasaki Wealth and Investment Management, where he leads the company's corporate and investment management operations while also providing personalized financial guidance to individual clients. Renowned as one of the most influential investors across social and traditional media platforms, Ross regularly shares his investment insights and advice, earning him a prominent presence on global business news networks and popular investment podcasts. With appearances on leading media outlets such as Bloomberg, Reuters, Fox Business, and CNBC, Ross has established himself as a trusted voice in the finance industry.
Outside of his professional endeavors, Ross remains deeply engaged in music and is contributing to the industry as a co-creator and managing member of Cocoon Music – Malibu. He also invests in and advises NoCap Shows/Cold Canyon Club, a video and live event music company, and serves on the executive board of the Guardians of the LA Jewish Heath Organization in Los Angeles. Additionally, Ross is actively involved in philanthropic initiatives, supporting various causes in the local community and beyond. With his multifaceted expertise and unwavering dedication to client success, Ross continues to make a significant impact in both the financial and music realms.
John Kulback is an industry-leading dealmaker and trusted advisor to clients at the convergence of entertainment, media and technology.
Recognized among Variety’s 2025 “Top Dealmakers,” John brings nearly two decades of experience in high-profile positions—ranging from outside counsel to executive to operator—to deliver transformative deals and strategic counsel for clients, particularly as market dynamics evolve and new strategic initiatives emerge.
John’s clients include publicly traded media, gaming and technology companies, major studios, private equity funds, film financiers, production companies and digital content creators across all aspects of content development, production, financing and distribution. John is also a strategic business and legal advisor representing numerous emerging companies in artificial intelligence, creator economy and celebrity-backed consumer products as they scale from early-stage ventures into sophisticated corporate and commercial partnerships.
As the founder of several long-running industry working groups, John maintains a broad network of business leaders, executives, creatives and entrepreneurs with a focus on building bridges between storytelling and technology.
Rameez Tase is Co-Founder & President of Antenna, the leading provider of data and analytics for subscription media services in the U.S. Tase has worked at the intersection of marketing, data, and product for over a decade, pioneering growth and retention tactics now standard across digital media. He helped scale Axios beyond 2 million subscribers and Mic beyond 400 million video views. Earlier in his career, Tase spent several years in private equity and investment banking.
Adam Chitwood joined TheWrap in 2021 as Assistant Managing Editor for Audience after working for over a decade at Collider, where he spent five years as Managing Editor after previously serving as Deputy Editor at the entertainment website where he helped build and manage the site’s content strategy. As Assistant Managing Editor for Audience, Adam oversaw TheWrap’s consumer-facing content strategy. He became Executive Editor in January 2023, overseeing TheWrap’s newsroom.
Roger Cheng is the managing editor of PRO and business for TheWrap. He's covered the intersection of tech and media on consumers as a beat reporter and then editor for more than a quarter of a decade. He previously ran CNET News and worked as a senior reporter for the Wall Street Journal and Dow Jones Newswires, and got his start as a page designer at the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.
Marie-Josée Cantin Johnson is SVP of Strategy at City National Bank, an RBC company, where she leads strategy across fintechs and the Creator Economy vertical for the Entertainment & Sports Banking group. A lawyer by training, she practiced entertainment litigation at Proskauer Rose and has built her career at the seam of media, technology, and finance, with earlier roles including VP of Intellectual Property Licensing at Technicolor, and Media & Entertainment Advisor at Act One Ventures.
Shira Lazar is an Emmy-nominated digital culture expert, Adweek AI Trailblazer, and 2026 TIME100 Creator. As founder of What's Trending and host of The AI Download podcast, she has shaped the creator economy, social media, and AI conversation for more than two decades, reaching over 4 million followers across platforms.
Victor Elizalde is Founder and Managing Partner of Viva Pictures Distribution, one of the few U.S. distributors singularly focused on family-friendly animated features for theatrical release. Under his leadership, Viva produces 2 to 3 original animated features annually and distributes 5 to 10 films in cinemas nationwide. Through an ownership stake in 3 Doubles Animation Studio in the Canary Islands, Victor has built a direct bridge between European production and North American theatrical release.
A vocal advocate for fairer distribution economics, Victor pioneered a gross royalty participation model that prioritizes transparency and creator alignment over traditional industry waterfalls—earning Viva a reputation as one of the most trusted partners in independent animation.
Before founding Viva, he held senior roles at Sony Pictures Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros., and Technicolor. Victor holds a Master's in Applied Economics from the University of Michigan and a Bachelor's from the University of Colorado, and divides his time between Austin, Los Angeles, and Spain.
Will McIntosh serves as President of Digital Platforms and Ventures, a role he held at NBCUniversal. In this position, he leads the company’s portfolio of direct-to-consumer digital businesses in entertainment and sports, which develops innovative transactional and content technologies that enhance leisure and recreational time for millions of consumers each month and helps drive business and efficiencies for partners. McIntosh oversees leading entertainment brands: Fandango, the nation’s top movie ticketer and premium on-demand streaming service and Rotten Tomatoes, the world-renowned movie and TV recommendations destination. The sports brands under his purview include golf tee-time booking and course technology platform GolfNow; golf membership and video content platform, GolfPass; and Full Swing, the leading sports technology company whose patented hardware and integrated software are used by consumers, coaches, competitive athletes, and commercial venues.
McIntosh was elevated to the position of President in June 2022, adding digital entertainment to his existing responsibilities as head of NBC Sports Next, a division of NBC Sports and home to a portfolio of digital platforms in golf and youth and recreational sports.
Prior, McIntosh served as the head of digital for NBC Sports’ golf businesses. During his tenure, McIntosh was the primary driver of more than 15 mergers and acquisitions that have proliferated company growth. Since 2009, McIntosh has driven the strategy and growth for GolfNow, now the golf industry’s No. 1 technology and services company. In 2016, McIntosh led NBC Sports’ entry into youth sports via the acquisition of Minneapolis-based Sport Ngin – rebranded as SportsEngine – the leading provider of sport-life management software and mobile applications for sports organizations, coaches, parents and youth athletes.
Kayla is a senior reporter at TheWrap, covering the business and content of the creator ecosystem as well as streaming and linear television. Before joining TheWrap in 2023, she was the Senior TV Reporter at Decider, the New York Post’s entertainment vertical that focuses on the streaming industry. Kayla is also a member of the Television Critics Association.
David Oyelowo, a multiple Golden Globe, BAFTA, and Emmy-nominated actor and producer, is one of Hollywood’s most sought-after talents. Oyelowo made his directorial debut with the critically-acclaimed film, THE WATER MAN, which he produced under his Yoruba Saxon production banner. Film and television projects available to stream include BASS REEVES (Paramount+), SILO (Apple TV+), ROLE PLAY (Prime Video), and GOVERNMENT CHEESE (Apple TV+). Additionally, Oyelowo co-founded MANSA, the free streaming platform for curated global Black cultural content. In 2015, in association with The Geanco Foundation, Oyelowo established a Leadership Scholarship to fully fund the education and rehabilitation of girls who have been directly affected by terrorism in Nigeria.
Todd Terrazas is the co-founder of AI on the Lot, the world’s largest AI media and entertainment conference, and FBRC.ai, where he advises major studios including FOX and independent filmmakers such as Gossip Goblin. As a global community builder and professional “nerd herder,” he approaches every project through a community lens, focusing on URL-to-IRL strategies that help digital IP expand into the physical world.
Tess Patton is a TV business reporter for TheWrap, covering the creator economy, microseries, podcasting and AI. She joined TheWrap as the company’s first reporting fellow in 2024. She has covered a range of beats from Los Angeles wildfire recovery to carpet coverage at the Emmys and the Academy Awards. Tess has received awards for her journalism on the business of creators, winning first place alongside Kayla Cobb.
Prior to joining TheWrap, Tess worked at CNN and served as the executive editor of Annenberg Media. Tess has a Bachelor of Arts in both Journalism and Theatre from the University of Southern California. She is originally from Birmingham, Alabama.
Jeremy Fuster, Box Office/Labor Reporter, joined TheWrap in 2016. He graduated from the USC Annenberg School of Journalism, where he received an L.A. Press Club Award in 2014 as part of the student news website Neon Tommy. He has received three additional LAPC Awards during his tenure at TheWrap and was nominated in 2024 for the Entertainment Reporter of the Year Award.
McNitt is a writer and director. A pioneer of fusing storytelling and emerging technology, she is an Emmy Awards Finalist and recipient of the VR Grand Prize at The Venice Film Festival. From astronauts to astrophysics, McNitt explores the cosmic collision of science and art. She is the creator of SPHERES, a VR journey through the hidden songs of the Universe, Executive Produced by Darren Aronofsky and starring Millie Bobby Brown, Jessica Chastain, and Patti Smith. SPHERES made history as the first VR acquisition out of Sundance. Her latest short film, ANCESTRA, is a groundbreaking collaboration with Darren Aronofsky’s newest venture Primordial Soup and Google DeepMind — combining live-action and generative AI to tell a story of an expectant mother who draws on the strength of all that came before—past matriarchs to dying stars—to transform her love into a cosmic force to save her daughter’s life. McNitt’s work has appeared at Sundance, SXSW, AFI Fest, Cannes, CPH:DOX, Tribeca, Telluride, and Venice.
Nate Parker, a two-time founder and 20+ year veteran of the entertainment media industry, co-founded Mansa alongside longtime friend and collaborator David Oyelowo, bringing curated Black culture to a global streaming audience. Together, Parker and Oyelowo are redefining the streaming landscape with a platform that gives Black culture–inspired creators a space to showcase their work without the barriers of traditional gatekeepers. Mansa's mission is to connect these creators with engaged, culturally connected audiences worldwide, while offering brands and advertisers a meaningful way to reach that audience through authentic content partnerships. The platform is backed by a team of proven executives and prominent investors, including Robert Smith (Vista Equity Partners), Jeffrey Katzenberg (WndrCo), Marlon Nichols (MaC Ventures), and Mike Novogratz (Galaxy Digital). Under Parker's leadership, Mansa continues to expand its reach and push the boundaries of what a culturally driven streaming platform can be.
Susan Rovner is Founder and Chief Creative Officer of aTwist, the U.S.-based, AI-native microseries studio and platform focused on quality vertical content, as well as Founder and CEO of AHA Studios, an independent production company. Rovner is the former Chairman of Entertainment Content, TV and Streaming at NBCUniversal and former President of Warner Brothers Television and Warner Horizon Television. Across three decades of creating hit scripted and unscripted series for broadcast, cable and streaming, Rovner had 18 series that reached the 100 episode milestone and under her leadership, led NBCUniversal through a period of renewed ratings strength and cross-platform growth. Rovner is widely regarded as one of television’s leading creative executives and has been recognized for her creative vision and industry impact by several leading entertainment and media organizations, including The Hollywood Reporter Women in Entertainment list (100 Most Powerful Women in Entertainment), Variety’s Power of Women, and the Variety 500.
Susan Sprung is the CEO of the Producers Guild of America, a nonprofit trade group that represents over 8400 producers working in film, television, and new media. Ms. Sprung has been with the PGA since 2012, where she began as Associate National Executive Director and COO. In her current position, she carries out the strategic goals of the Board and runs the day-to-day operations of the Guild. On behalf of the PGA, she sits on the Hollywood Commission Leadership Council, the California Film & Television Production Alliance, the Western Council of the Actors Fund, the NAACP Entertainment Advocacy Council, the FilmLA Government Affairs Committee, and formerly served on the AMPAS Members at Large Executive Committee.
Ms. Sprung previously served as Special Counsel at the law firm of O'Melveny and Myers in Los Angeles, where she specialized in general corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, large bank financings, private placements, and public offerings. Prior to that, she was an associate at Barrett Smith Shapiro Simon and Armstrong in New York. She also served as Corporate Counsel to TrizecHahn Corporation during the completion of the Hollywood and Highland project.
Ms. Sprung chaired the Board of Directors of the I Have a Dream Foundation, Los Angeles, on whose board she still sits. She served on the Board of Trustees of University Synagogue and the Advisory Board of the Got Your Six Campaign.
She graduated from the State University of New York at Albany, magna cum laude and from Boston University School of Law.
Scott Mann is a filmmaker, entrepreneur and technology innovator whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, artificial intelligence and human creativity. He is known for films including Final Score, Heist starring Robert De Niro and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, The Tournament, and Fall.
As Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Flawless, Mann has helped pioneer a new generation of assistive AI technologies designed to increase the value of human creativity rather than replace it. Flawless has become one of the world’s leading companies developing AI systems for film and television, creating technologies that help artists, performers and studios expand the reach of storytelling while preserving creative intent, consent and artistic control.
Mann’s work spans filmmaking, invention and public policy. He has contributed to more than 50 patents across artificial intelligence, creative technologies and rights frameworks, and advises Hollywood studios, guilds, governments, policymakers and academic institutions to help shape a human-centered future for AI. He is a Fellow of Imperial College London and a Strategic Research Partner at Max Planck Institute, and was recognized on The Observer’s Global AI Power List for his contributions to the future of AI and creativity.
A long-standing advocate for human agency in the age of AI, Mann believes that human performance, creativity and expression are among the most valuable forms of intellectual property in the world. His work focuses on ensuring that advances in artificial intelligence empower creators, strengthen culture and expand opportunity, while keeping human beings at the center of technological progress.
Rachel O’Connor is the President of Film and Television at Pascal Pictures, a production company based at Amazon Studios. O'Connor is a Producer on the recent film Spider-Man: Brand New Day, as well as a Producer on the recent Project Hail Mary (Directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller and starring Ryan Gosling). Additionally, she is a Producer on Luca Guadagnino's Challengers, an Executive Producer on Spider-Man: No Way Home, Spider-Man: Far From Home, and a Co-Producer on Spider-Man: Homecoming.
O’Connor was a Co-Producer on Steven Spielberg’s Golden Globe and Academy Award-nominated The Post and was an Executive Producer of Greta Gerwig’s reimagining of the beloved American classic, Little Women. Before making the move to Pascal Pictures, O’Connor worked as an executive for Sony for over 15 years and currently sits on the Board of the Vidiots Foundation. O’Connor was raised in Los Angeles where she currently resides with her husband and son.