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Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Announces Fall Lineup of "Made in NY" Talks

Free panels will feature industry leaders providing insider guidance on careers in journalism, virtual reality, television, film, podcasting, and web series production


NEW YORK — The Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) today announced its fall line-up of nine new "Made in NY" Talks, offered to New Yorkers seeking work in television, film, media, and digital production. Presented in partnership with local media organizations and educational institutions, the free event series will provide aspiring creators with rare access to top executives, producers, and journalists, who will share their valuable experience.

Made in NY Talks

Building on a successful collaboration that presented panels throughout the City last year, MOME will once again partner with the Center for Communication on five events this season. Both organizations remain committed to fostering inclusivity in the media and entertainment industries. Annually, 4,500 students from over 185 colleges and universities in the tristate area attend Center for Communication panels and on-location seminars. The industry panels presented with Center for Communication will be filmed for broadcast on NYC Media. Previously recorded "Made in NY" Talks can be viewed on the NYC Media website.

"Our city's creative industries have never been more vibrant – and opportunities for New Yorkers to launch careers in these fields continue to grow," said Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin. "Our upcoming season of 'Made in NY' Talks features top talent in a variety of fields discussing how they made careers out of their passions – and how to leverage all that our city's media and entertainment world has to offer. These discussions are all free and open to the public, and I encourage New Yorkers to join us and hear first-hand advice from industry veterans."

Three of the fall "Made in NY" Talks will be presented as part of MOME's long-standing partnership with the Made in NY Media Center by IFP. The Center was developed through a unique partnership between Independent Filmmaker Project (IFP), the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to encourage storytellers from multiple disciplines, industries, and platforms to create, collaborate, and connect. Since opening its doors, the Media Center has held more than 100 classes and 300 events.

This season, the Virtual & Augmented Reality Academy and Development Lab at Lehman College/CUNY in the Bronx will also host a "Made in NY" Talk, titled "Breaking into VR/AR." As MOME announced with EDC earlier this year, The Lab at Lehman College will be the site of a workforce development center in support of the first publicly-funded virtual reality and augmented reality facility in the country.

All "Made in NY" Talks are presented free of cost. More information, including panelists, times, and registration details, will be shared as it becomes available on MOME's website.

The industry panel series includes the following events:

Women Behind Series TV: Getting Your Show Greenlit
Presented in partnership with the Made in NY Media Center by IFP
Monday, September 25
6:30 to 9:00 pm
Made in NY Media Center by IFP, 30 John St., Brooklyn

Leading women television executives will explain scripted and unscripted series development and give tips on pitching your show idea. The 90-minute conversation will be followed by networking reception. Expected panelists include:

  • Sarah Condon, Executive Producer, HBO (Sex and the City, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage)
  • Christina Wayne, CEO of Assembly Entertainment (Breaking Bad, Mad Men)
  • Tracey Scott Wilson, Supervising Producer, FX (The Americans)
  • Shari Levine, EVP, Bravo Media (Shahs of Sunset, Vanderpump Rules, and Below Deck)


Where the Jobs Are: The Brave New World of Journalism
Presented in partnership with the Center for Communication
Thursday, October 12
6:30 to 8:00 pm
The New School, 55 West 13th St., Manhattan

Established news outlets and reporters face myriad challenges and opportunities as they cover the Trump administration in these turbulent times of fake news and distrust. With the current political climate, the pursuit of truth has become even more critical for journalists. Find out what skills and knowledge America's major newsrooms are looking for when recruiting new talent. Presented with the Center for Communication and The School of Media Studies at The New School. Expected panelists include:

  • Jim Rich, Executive Editor, The Huffington Post
  • Chandler Goldberg, Recruiter, Vox Media, Inc.
  • Al Mayers, Station Manager, Bloomberg LP
  • Moderator: Jenni Maier, Editor-in-Chief, The Muse


Create Your Own Web Series
Presented in partnership with the Center for Communication
Thursday, October 19
6:30 to 8:00 pm
Kumble Theater, LIU Brooklyn,1 University Plaza, Brooklyn

Some of our favorite shows from "Broad City" to "High Maintenance" to "Insecure" got their start as a web series. Hear from the creative minds behind the explosion of great series produced for the web. These innovators share how they write, produce and distribute webisodes. Discover what's next for web video and learn how you can create your own series leaders. Presented with the Center for Communication and the Kumble Theater. Panelists include:

  • Steven Hajar, creator, "Affordable NYC" 
  • Christine Ng and Leyla Perez, co-creators, "The Better Half"
  • Michael J. Wolf, creator "The Triplets of Kings County"
  • Moderated by: Sam Corbin, playwright, actor, comedian, and freelance writer


How to Start Your Own News Organization
Presented in partnership with the Center for Communication
Tuesday, October 24
6:30 to 8:00 pm
NYU Steinhardt, 239 Greene St., 8th Fl., Manhattan

Want to be the next media mogul? Hear from entrepreneurs and innovators on everything you need to know about raising money, creating a compelling quality platform and putting a team together to make it all work. Presented with the Center for Communication and NYU Steinhardt. Expected panelists include:

  • Elizabeth Spiers, Founder, The Insurrection
  • Rafat Ali, CEO and Founder, Skift
  • Jenna Weiss-Berman, Co-Founder, Pineapple Street Media
  • Moderator: J. Max Robins, Executive Director, Center for Communication


Film Financing Sources Workshop
Presented in partnership with the Made in NY Media Center by IFP
Wednesday, October 25
6:00 to 9:00 pm
Made in NY Media Center by IFP, 30 John St., Brooklyn

Industry leaders explain how to finance your film from development through production. A 60-minute conversation will be followed by small breakout sessions and a networking reception.

Panelists TBA


The Future of Publishing is Audio
Presented in partnership with the Center for Communication
Thursday, November 9
6:30 to 8:00 pm
The New School, 55 West 13th St., Manhattan

With mobile allowing audiences to consume content on demand anywhere, anytime, audio storytelling is more popular than ever. The folks at the forefront of this revolution reveal how audio is transforming the publishing industry and creating new career opportunities. Presented with the Center for Communication and The School of Media Studies at The New School. Expected panelists include:

  • Molly Barton, Founder, Serial Box
  • David Blum, Editor, Audible Original Publishing
  • Moderator: Jon Fine, Principal, Jon Fine Law & Media; former director, author & publishing relations, Amazon


Making Movies That Change Lives
Presented in partnership with Center for Communication and St. Francis College
Monday, November 13
6:30 to 8:00 pm
St. Francis College, Founders Hall, 182 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights

With great storytelling and a marketing strategy to match, documentaries and feature films can raise awareness of the most pressing issues of our time, and even initiate major change. Advocacy filmmakers share what drives them, how they get films with a call-to-action made.

  • Erin Lee Carr, Writer/Director, HBO's Thought Crimes and Mommy Dead and Dearest
  • Andrew Rossi, Filmmaker, Ivory Tower and Bronx Gothic
  • Kahane Cooperman, Director/Producer, Joe's Violin; Executive Producer and Showrunner, The New Yorker Presents (invited)
  • Moderator: Steven Rosenbaum, Senior Advisor, Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips

 

Breaking Into the VR/AR Industry
Presented in partnership with CUNY Lehman College
Tuesday, December 5
4:00 to 5:30 pm
Lehman College/CUNY, 2501 Grand Concourse, 3rd Floor, Bronx

The field of augmented and virtual reality is projected to grow from $7 billion industry today to over $100 billion over the next 5 years. Have you ever thought about using your storytelling ability to create content in this rapidly-growing industry? Learn how from leaders in the industry and the team at the new Lehman College Virtual Reality Training Academy and Development Lab.