Geoffrey D. Calhoun
Geoffrey is a screenwriter, author, podcaster, film fest director, and narrator. He is known for penning the bestselling, how-to book The Guide for Every Screenwriter (2019) and for writing/co-writing various films, such as domestic abuse docu-drama FINDING NICOLE and Darcy Weir’s CROP CIRCLE REALITIES. Calhoun established WeFixYourScript.com, an entertainment consultancy, which has collaborated with noteworthy filmmakers, such as Jay Mohr. Geoffrey is also founder/director of Script Summit, an annual screenwriting contest. He helms and hosts THE SUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITER podcast, and he has written for multiple industry publications, such as SCRIPT MAGAZINE.
Jinko Gotoh
Jinko Gotoh is an Oscar-nominated producer and consultant. Alongside director Mark Osborne, she is in production on her second Netflix animated feature. Her noteworthy screen credits include 2020 BAFTA winner and Oscar-nominated KLAUS; THE LEGO MOVIE 2: THE SECOND PART; THE LITTLE PRINCE; THE ILLUSIONIST; and FINDING NEMO. She serves as Vice President for Women in Animation and is a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences (AMPAS) in which she represents diversity and inclusion on various committees. She also co-chairs the Producers Guild of America (PGA) Animation and VFX committee. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in applied math, and an MFA in film from Columbia University.
Vincent Imaoka
Vincent Imaoka is Senior Manager of Business Development, Consumer Products at VIZ Media. Prior to VIZ, Vincent was a Netflix Japan staff producer of anime. He also served as head of toy acquisitions at Hasbro, Inc. During his Hasbro days, Vincent worked on all story brands, including first-party properties, such as TRANSFORMERS, MY LITTLE PONY, and POWER RANGERS, plus partner brands like Marvel, STAR WARS, and Disney Princesses.
Kevin Iwashina
Kevin Iwashina is Head of FIFTH SEASON Documentary, a global leader in the production, distribution, financing and sales of premium film, television, and audio content. In his role, Iwashina identifies financing opportunities, handles sales and provides advisory services for media companies, global corporations and content creators in the premium non-scripted space.
Leslie La Page
Leslie’s magnum opus is LA Femme International Film Festival: one of the most prestigious women’s big screen confabs in the industry. She is founder and executive director of this long-running, female-driven cinematic celebration. In its 18th year of programming, the fest’s focus is to empower women in entertainment. Additionally, Leslie has produced and directed for film, TV, music videos, commercials and theatrical productions worldwide and in both indie and commercial markets. She has worked for such companies as Black Entertainment Television (BET), HBO, MTV, and Paramount.
Valerie McCaffrey
Valerie is former VP of Casting for New Line/Fine Line Cinema (a Warner Brothers company), home of epic movie franchises, such as Jeffrey Reddick’s FINAL DESTINATION and Peter Jackson’s LORD OF THE RINGS. For the last 20 or so years, Valerie has focused on independent casting, and most recently, on writing and producing. Noteworthy creative credits include her award-winning short film DIRTY BOMB and the feature length film script adaptation of short film THE SPACE BETWEEN MEN.
Alan Ng
Alan Ng is the editor-in-chief of Film Threat. Alan has reviewed films and interviewed independent filmmakers since 2013. Alan regularly covered film festivals including the Los Angeles Film Festival, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival, and San Francisco Film Festival, and a member of the Critics Choice Association.
Kevin Nicklaus
Kevin Nicklaus spent the past year as Head of Film & TV for Tapas Entertainment, a web comic publishing subsidiary of Kakao Entertainment. He leads a team of executives who package Tapas' various IP libraries for studio and streaming features, TV series, and podcasts. Prior to his Tapas tenure, Kevin spent over a decade as SVP of The Wolper Organization, a production pod at Warner Brothers. At Wolper, he contributed to the Emmy-nominated ROOTS re-envisioning (History Channel), BATES MOTEL (A&E), THE MISTS OF AVALON (TNT), and other noteworthy titles.
Jeffrey Reddick
Jeffrey is best known as the mastermind behind the FINAL DESTINATION film series. With FINAL DESTINATION, Jeffrey solidified his place in Hollywood history. He is the first person of color to create a major studio (New Line/Warner Brothers) horror franchise. His other produced credits include Lionsgate’s thriller TAMARA; the remake of George Romero’s classic DAY OF THE DEAD; and THE CALL, starring Lin Shaye and Tobin Bell. He recently wrote for 2 Netflix animated series: SAMURAI RABBIT: USAGI CHRONICLES and A TALE DARK AND GRIMM. Jeffrey also penned - and is executive producer on - the animated YOUNG CAPTAIN NEMO film trilogy for Rainshine Entertainment.
Marlene Sharp
Marlene is top dawg at Pink Poodle Productions and Head of IP Strategy and Acquisitions for Rainshine Entertainment. Prior to the aforementioned, Marlene served as Director, Production at LEVEL-5 abby, home of YO-KAI WATCH and other Japanese hit video game-based franchises. Marlene humbly boasts a dense CV, including work as producer on Sega’s various, recent SONIC THE HEDGEHOG screen offerings, and as content developer for many iconic merchandise-driven brands, such as POSTMAN PAT, PINK PANTHER, POWER RANGERS, and Paul McCartney. Entertainment journalism, show tunes, and dogs are a few of her favorite things. Also a performer, she has a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University.
Jennie Lew Tugend
Jennie has produced some of the industry’s most memorable franchises: FREE WILLY (1, 2, & 3); LETHAL WEAPON (1, 2, & 3); and HBO’s TALES FROM THE CRYPT. Additional producer credits include THE GOONIES; ONE MISSED CALL; SCROOGED; THE LOST BOYS; and RADIO FLYER. Jennie is a member of the producers’ branch of the Academy of Motion Pictures and Sciences (AMPAS) and the Producers Guild of America (PGA). She teaches at UCLA Extension, is an AFI senior creative thesis mentor, and serves as an advisor in the Sundance Collab program.
Geneva Wasserman
A 20-year entertainment industry veteran, Geneva is EVP/Head of Film & TV Development and Production for dentsu's The Story Lab. Previously, as SVP of Development & Production for Conde Nast Entertainment, Geneva was the Executive in Charge of Production for 22 films and 9 scripted series, including the Netflix feature SPIDERHEAD (starring Chris Hemsworth, Jurnee Smollett and Miles Teller) and THE GREAT CHINESE ART HEIST for Warner Bros (to be directed by Jon M. Chu). She holds a B.A. with distinction from UC San Diego, and a JD with Honors from UC Hastings College of Law.
Chuck Williams
A longtime Disney Feature Animation alum, Chuck has served as a development executive, writer, editor, and producer on many franchises. During his early years at Disney, he worked on BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, LION KING, ALADDIN, and more. He also wrote the approach to - and produced - the Oscar-nominated BROTHER BEAR. More recently, Chuck was a producer on the hit film SONIC THE HEDGEHOG. He is founder and head of LIGHTBEAM ENTERTAINMENT. Some of his current partnerships include Toei Animation, Bandai-Namco, SEGA, Konami, and Kadokowa.
