Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts Announces the 20th Women in Focus Conference

Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts, recognized as one of the premier film schools in the United States, will explore the purpose, passion, and perspective of influential women in the entertainment industry at its milestone 20th Women in Focus Conference. Taking place on Friday, March 29, Chapman's signature Women in Focus Conference will feature an alluring panel of acclaimed female producers and executives who have been behind some of the most commercially and critically successful movies of the last 25 years. Panelists include Janice Chua, VP, International Development and Production at Imagine Entertainment & Television and associate producer ("Crazy Rich Asians"); Producer Bonnie Curtis ("Saving Private Ryan," "The Lost World: Jurassic Park," "Minority Report, ""Albert Nobbs," and"Dietland"); content producer, computer scientist, former co-president of PGA, CEO of Revelations Entertainment and executive producer, Lori McCreary ("Madam Secretary,""The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman," "The Story of God with Morgan Freeman"); and Vanessa Morrison, President of FOX Family ("Ferdinand," "Rio," "Book of Life" and "Ice Age" franchise).

The panel discussion will be moderated by entertainment marketing executive, and former President of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Cheryl Boone Isaacs. Discussion will focus on the paths these women have taken and the challenges they face in the industry as it continues to change today.

Open to the public, Chapman's Women in Focus event has built a meaningful and on-going dialogue among emerging and established women in the film and TV industry. The conference will begin at 1:30 pm., with participants discussing their individual paths and journeys to success in the entertainment industry, while addressing the challenges and obstacles they, and other women experience.

Past Women in Focus conference panelists include Oscar® winning writer Diablo Cody, Warner Bros. Pictures' President of Worldwide Marketing and International DistributionSue Kroll, CBS Films' Co-President Terry Press, Oscar® nominated producer JoAnne Sellar, Academy Award® nominated director Niki Caro, Primetime Emmy® nominated producer/writer Kerry Ehrin, Primetime Emmy® nominated producer Deena Katz, Primetime Emmy® nominated producer Debra Martin Chase, Primetime Emmy® producer/director Michelle MacLaren, producer Erica Huggins, Universal Pictures Co-Chairman Donna Langley, Academy Award®-nominated director/screenwriter Nancy Meyers, actress Maya Rudolph, director Penelope Spheeris, director/choreographer Anne Fletcher, producer and former Walt Disney Motion Picture Group SVP of Television Development at Super Deluxe Winnie Kemp, President Nina Jacobson, Dreamworks Studios Co-Chairman and CEO Stacey Snider, writer/producer Leslie Dixon, Academy Award®-nominated director Jennifer Yuh Nelson, acclaimed producer Debra Martin Chase, writer/director Shana Feste, Head of Network for AWESOMENESSTV Bonnie Pa,producer Susan Cartsonis, director Mary Lambert, Academy Award®-winning producer and President of Mandalay Pictures Cathy Schulman, FOX Searchlight Pictures President Nancy Utley, director Sydney Freeland, award-winning screenwriter and director, Kelly Fremon Craig, critically-acclaimed director, Catherine Hardwicke, the first female Saudi Arabian filmmaker Haifaa Al-Mansour, Scripted Current and Development Executive for YouTubeOriginals, Amanda Barclay and producer and Los Angeles Film Festival Director Rebecca Yeldham, to name a few.

The 2019 Women in Focus Conference is sponsored by Twyla Reed Martin, Sally Crockett, and Norm Miller.

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