HRTS Advisory Council

Mr. Acosta and his team of nearly a dozen colleagues are responsible for sourcing and structuring single- and multiple-picture film financings, financing for television productions, and financings for sports teams and other media businesses.

Mr. Acosta has more than a decade of experience in the entertainment and media financing business. Prior to his current role, he served as a senior vice president and team leader at City National Bank and senior vice president, head of the entertainment, sports and syndicated finance group, and head of mid-corporate banking for Israel Discount Bank of New York.

Mr. Acosta earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Columbia University in New York.

Among her powerful clients are on-camera talent such as John Oliver, Conan O’Brien, Jenny McCarthy, Mel Gibson,  Rob Delaney (Catastrophe), Iliza Shlesinger (Last Comic Standing), Jamie Lee (Crashing),  Julian McMahon (FBI Most Wanted); award-winning writers and directors such as Jon Cassar  (24), Anne Kenney (Outlander), Martha Williamson (Touched by an Angel), Brent Friedman  (Mortal Kombat II, Tomb Raider, Afterworld ), and production companies such as Davis  Entertainment Television (Blacklist), Plan B Television (the OA, Sweetbitter, Americanah, Third  Day), Serendipity Point Films (Barney’s Version, Eastern Promises, Being Julia, The Statement,  The Sweet Hereafter), Conaco (Final Space, People of Earth, Conan, The Pete Holmes Show), Atmosphere Entertainment (Power) and Avalon Television (Catastrophe, Last Week Tonight,  Workaholics, Taskmaster).  

Leigh began her California legal career serving five years at O’Melveny & Meyers. After a short stint out of private practice as VP of Business Affairs for NBC Entertainment, she joined  Bloom, Dekom, Hergott as head of the television department. At the beginning of 2020 after the retirement of Jake Bloom and Alan Hergott, she started a new firm with some of her partners called Brecheen, Feldman, Breimer, Silver & Thompson. 

Born and raised in Arizona, Leigh received her B.A. from Mills College and graduated  Cum Laude from The Sandra O’Conner College of Law (ASU) where she served on the Law Review as a writer and topics editor. She is a member of the Arizona, New York, and California  State Bars and was recently profiled in The Hollywood Reporter’s Power Lawyers 2019 and  2020 issues, as well as in Variety’s 2017 and 2020 Dealmakers Impact Report. She has also been featured in the Los Angeles Business Journal in their “Who’s Who in L.A. Law” Special  Report, in Elle Magazine’s “The PowerList: The Mad Women, the Twilighters, and TeamConan” and has repeatedly been elected as one of Southern California’s Super Lawyers by Los Angeles  Magazine. She has also been chosen as a Who’s Who of American Women and a Who’s Who of  American Lawyers and is currently on the board of the Hollywood Radio and Television Society. She served a 4-year term as the Chair of the Motion Picture, Television, Cable and  Radio Division of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports and is an emeritus board member of the UCLA Entertainment Symposium which she also chaired for two years. A member of the Women in Film and Television, the Hollywood Radio and Television  Society, she is a frequent lecturer and has authored various articles on television and related businesses. Leigh is active in civic and charitable causes. 

Married and the mother of two children, Leigh is also an avid polo player.

Mr. Davis oversaw Allspark Pictures, the live-action division; Allspark Animation, which develops animated content; Allspark Distribution for content distribution; Boulder Media, Hasbro’s wholly-owned, Dublin-based animation studio; and Cake Mix Studios, the in-house commercial production arm. He was also involved in managing Hasbro’s interest in the Discovery Family Network. In 2016, Hasbro was ranked No. 3 on Fast Company’s list of “Most Innovative Companies in Hollywood.” In January 2017, Mr. Davis was ranked among Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business.”

Under Mr. Davis’ guidance, Hasbro’s TV and film capabilities have expanded dramatically. Content featuring Hasbro brands can be seen in over 190 territories around the world and have been nominated for numerous awards, including nine Daytime Emmys. Under its Allspark Pictures film label, Hasbro has produced BUMBLEBEE (PARAMOUNT, premieres December 2018), TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT (PARAMOUNT); OUIJA 1 & 2 (UNIVERSAL); and JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS (UNIVERSAL) among others, in partnership with the major Hollywood studios. In 2017, Hasbro premiered its first animated feature film, MY LITTLE PONY: THE MOVIE (LIONSGATE).

Prior to joining Hasbro, he was CEO of Family Entertainment Group LLC, which, under his direction, was engaged in the development, production, revitalization, and distribution of family-oriented entertainment content. He joined the company from his post as President of Mobile and Online Media at the NASDAQ-listed digital media company, InfoSpace.

Before that, Mr. Davis served as President of Granada America, a unit of one of Europe’s leading producers and broadcasters of quality television programming. During his tenure at Granada America, the company developed and produced award-winning and highly-rated reality, drama, kids, and factual programming, and became at the time, the largest foreign-owned supplier of programming to the U.S. networks.

Mr. Davis took on his role at Granada America after serving as CEO and President of his two previous companies; Hamdon Entertainment and Carlton America respectively. Mr. Davis is a member of the Board of Directors of Discovery Family Network; the Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS); the International Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; and Stuart House, a program of the Rape Treatment Center at UCLA Medical Center. He is also a member of the Los Angeles Board of Governors of the Paley Center for Media. Mr. Davis is a Trustee of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and of Wilshire Boulevard Temple.

Andy is currently on the Board of Councilors of The USC Shoah Foundation and is a past President and current board member of The Saban Community Clinic and the Hollywood Radio & Television Society. He has taught as an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the USC School of
Cinematic Arts.

He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, actress Pat Crowley, and their family.

Previously, she was Vice-President, Original Programming at ABC Family (now Freeform), overseeing the current programming department. Goode began her executive career at Columbia Pictures Television and then moved on to CBS Entertainment, as an executive in the comedy development department and as Vice-President, CBS Productions. Later, she was named Senior Vice President, Programming at Lifetime Television. In addition to her role on the HRTS Advisory Council, Goode is a board member of The I Have A Dream Foundation-Los Angeles and Paulist Productions.

Grad was promoted to this position in May 2019 after previously serving as President, Original Programming for FX Networks and FX Productions since 2013. In that period he developed the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning limited series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, and Fargo, as well as the award-winning American Horror Story franchise, FEUD: Bette and Joan, Fosse/Verdon and the upcoming limited series Devs, Shōgun, Mrs. America and A Teacher; the drama series Taboo, Legion, The Strain, Tyrant, Snowfall, Trust, Pose, Mayans M.C., Mr. Inbetween, and the upcoming Y; the comedy series Atlanta, Better Things, Baskets, What We Do in the Shadows, You’re the Worst, Married, Man Seeking Woman, Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and the upcoming Breeders; a slate of docuseries and documentary features, including The Weekly with The New York Times.

Prior to that, Grad served as Executive Vice President of Original Programming and Development since 2005, during which he developed the Emmy-nominated drama series The Americans, the Golden Globe-winning drama series Damages, the Emmy winning Justified, the hit drama Sons of Anarchy, the drama series Terriers and The Bridge, as well as overseeing FX’s growth in comedy with the Emmy winning comedy Archer, The League, and Wilfred.

Grad joined FX as Vice President of Series Development in May of 2002 and was promoted to Senior Vice President of Drama and Comedy Series Development in 2004. During that period, he helped develop the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning dramas The Shield and Nip/Tuck, the Emmy winning drama Rescue Me, the drama series Thief and Over There, and the acclaimed comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

Grad was named one of Broadcasting & Cable’s Next Wave of Leaders in 2011 and to the Adweek 50 – the Most Indispensable Executives in Marketing, Media, and Tech – in 2016. In 2018, FX Networks received 50 Emmy® Award nominations, the most of any basic cable network for the fifth consecutive year, and won 12 Emmy Awards, the most of any basic cable network, including Outstanding Limited Series for The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

Prior to joining FX, Grad worked for Columbia TriStar Television from 1995-2002, rising to the position of Vice President of Comedy Development in 1999. At Columbia TriStar, he developed The King of Queens for CBS, and Action and The Tick for FOX. He began his career in programming at FOX in 1992.

Grad is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

Marenzi’s clients have included Legendary Entertainment, Gaumont Television, The Seelig Group, Uninterrupted, ITV, Tomorrow Studios, Anonymous Content,  Blumhouse Television, T-Street Productions, ABS-CBN Philippines, Deepdub.ai, FTI Consulting, Starz Media, STX Entertainment, BRON Studios, Dreamworks Animation, Lucasfilm Ltd, Media Rights Capital, The Chernin Group, The North Road Company, Leonine Studios, Sipur, New Regency Productions, IMAX Corporation, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Content Partners, Defy Media, Constantin Film, IM Global, Ed Pressman Films, Shaftesbury Entertainment, The Blade Runner Partnership, ProSieben/Sat1, TV 4 Sweden, TV 2 Norway, TV 2 Denmark, TeleFilms Argentina and Amedia Russia. Notable successes include:

• Closing a rare global sale of a completed TV series (“Drops of God”) to Apple TV+
• Crafting an unprecedented deal to bring award-winning Netflix series NARCOS to Pluto’s free viewing platform
• Creative development and global sales of 53-episode TV series SHADOWHUNTERS
• Serving as chief content officer at StarzPlay Arabia during its start-up phase, and
• Achieving record TV sales for the 30^th anniversary edition of the classic feature film BLADE RUNNER.      

From February 2016 through September 2019, Marenzi served as Head of Entertainment Sales & Partnerships for ENDEAVOR CONTENT (formerly IMG Entertainment), where he created a distribution unit that handled quality scripted and non-scripted entertainment product in global home media markets.  Marenzi collaborated across Endeavor business units and with producers of premium content to develop, acquire and deliver quality programming to broadcasters, digital platforms (e.g., Netflix, Amazon, Apple, Disney+, etc.) and other programming services worldwide.  Based in both Beverly Hills and London, Marenzi supervised entertainment sales activity across 30 regional offices spread throughout the globe.  Notable successes under Marenzi’s tenure include launching global sales for THE NIGHT MANAGER, KILLING EVE, THE LITTLE DRUMMER GIRL and THE AGATHA CHRISTIE MINI-SERIES.  

From 2007 until mid-2011, Marenzi served as President of the Worldwide Television Group for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. (MGM).  His duties there included overseeing the distribution of MGM’s films and television programs to television and digital media outlets, the creative development and production of new television programs (including successful series TEEN WOLF and VIKINGS) and the management of MGM’s television channels worldwide.  He also was a member of MGM’s senior management “Green Light” Committee, which approved all new feature film production.

Previously, Marenzi was President of International Television for Paramount Pictures for seven years. During his tenure with Paramount, Mr. Marenzi generated several billion dollars in license fee revenue for Paramount feature films, TV programming and formats with TV broadcasters and cable channels outside the U.S. He also oversaw Paramount’s TV co-production/co-financing operations that yielded USA Network’s hits, THE DEAD ZONE and THE 4400.

Between 1992 and 1997, Mr. Marenzi recorded his first tour of duty at MGM as President of the MGM Telecommunications Group, where he was responsible for all of MGM’s international television and worldwide pay television business activities. Before MGM, Mr. Marenzi was President of the UIP Pay TV Group based in London for three years. In the early portion of his career, Mr. Marenzi laid a foundation for his experience in television with roles at Skouras Pictures, Inc., The Samuel Goldwyn Company, Warner Home Video, Columbia Pictures, and HBO.

Mr. Marenzi currently serves on the Board of the Hollywood Radio & TV Society (HRTS), and is a past Executive Committee/Board Member of the National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE) and the Executive Committee/Board of the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (IATAS).

Mr. Marenzi received both his BA and MBA from Stanford University.

Newman joined Fox in 1990 to run business affairs at 20th Century Fox Television, ultimately rising to Executive Vice President and the company’s top-ranking business officer before being appointed President of the studio in 1999. During his tenure, 20th became a leading supplier to multiple networks and platforms, dominating awards races and serving as a significant profit driver to Fox Filmed Entertainment. Some of the long-running hits he is responsible for include the global blockbuster “24;” the cultural phenomenons “Glee” and “Ally McBeal;” the animated hits “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy;” the current No. 1 broadcast drama “This Is Us”; the multiple Emmy Award winner “Modern Family”; the cable sensation “American Horror Story” and the Emmy Award and Golden Globe-winning drama “Homeland.” Under Newman’s leadership, Fox established what has become the industry’s leading cable and streaming production company Fox 21 Television Studios, which in addition to “Homeland,” produces the Emmy Award-winning anthology series “American Crime Story,” and delivered such noteworthy programs as “Pose,” “The Americans” and “Sons of Anarchy,” among many others. The studio’s content now reaches more than a billion people every day across the world; in as many as 180 countries, across six continents, in 30 different languages.

In 2014, Newman added supervision of the Fox Broadcasting Company to his portfolio, and under his tenure, the network has launched hit series such as 9-1-1, EMPIRE, THE GIFTED, THE ORVILLE, LETHAL WEAPON, STAR, GOTHAM, and GORDON RAMSAY’S 24 HOURS TO HELL AND BACK. Last season, FOX had more Top 20 new series than any other network (7 of the Top 20) and three of the season’s Top Five new dramas – 9-1-1, THE ORVILLE, and THE GIFTED (also more than any other network).

In January 2017, Newman received NATPE’s Brandon Tartikoff Legacy Award for his contribution to the industry. In October 2015, Newman was named MIPCOM’s “Personality of the Year,” in honor of the global impact of his programming. He was inducted into Broadcasting & Cable’s Television Hall of Fame and was named “Showman of the Year” by Variety and “Television Showman of the Year” by the Publicists of the International Cinematographers Guild.

Newman is a member of the Los Angeles Board of Governors of the Paley Center for Media, the Entertainment Industry Board of Advisors of the NAACP, and the Advisory Council of the Hollywood Radio & Television Society, and currently serves on the boards of the Alliance for Children’s Rights, Chrysalis and UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Newman got his start as an attorney with Lillick, McHose & Charles, and worked at Columbia Pictures Television and NBC in legal and business affairs roles before joining Fox. He graduated with a B.A. from Yale University and a J.D. from the University of Southern California.

Newman lives in Santa Monica with his wife, entertainment attorney Jeanne Newman, a partner at Hansen, Jacobson, Teller, Hoberman, Newman, Warren, Richman, Rush, Kaller & Gellman, LLP.

In 2020, Orsi’s role was expanded to include oversight of HBO Films, and in August of 2022, Francesca’s title was updated to EVP, HBO Programming, Head of HBO Drama Series and Films. Over the past six years, Orsi has shepherded a string of award-winning and culturally impactful series, which also have helped get HBO Max off the ground, including the GAME OF THRONES’ prequel HOUSE OF THE DRAGON, SUCCESSION, THE WHITE LOTUS, EUPHORIA, WINNING TIME, THE GILDED AGE, PERRY MASON, INDUSTRY, WESTWORLD, HIS DARK MATERIALS, THE NEVERS, IRMA VEP, and MY BRILLIANT FRIEND aka THE NEAPOLITAN NOVELS by Elena Ferrante. Currently, she is overseeing the development and production of HBO’s high-profile new drama series THE IDOL, WHITE HOUSE PLUMBERS, THE PALACE, THE SYMPATHIZER, and THE LAST OF US. While overseeing the department Francesca has collaborated with a team of people who have produced MARE OF EASTTOWN, WATCHMEN, WE OWN THIS CITY, LOVECRAFT COUNTRY, BIG LITTLE LIES, THE UNDOING, WE ARE WHO WE ARE, THE OUTSIDER, SHARP OBJECTS, SCENES FROM A MARRIAGE, GENTLEMAN JACK and the reboot of IN TREATMENT. Earlier in her career as an executive, she oversaw dramas including GAME OF THRONES, THE LEFTOVERS, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, TRUE BLOOD and BIG LOVE, as well as the comedy, GETTING ON.

On the film side, Orsi recently oversaw the Emmy-nominated THE SURVIVOR and OSLO. Francesca first joined HBO in 2003 as an executive assistant to the head of drama at the time and rose through the ranks to herself be named HBO head of drama a decade and a half later Prior to HBO, she worked as an agent trainee at Paradigm and the William Morris Agency.

She earned a M.F.A. in Film & Teleplay Writing at the University of Southern California.

He founded Pilgrim Films & Television – now Pilgrim Media Group – in 1997, subsequently creating several of television’s most groundbreaking and enduring reality series for U.S. and international air.  “American Chopper,” three-time Emmy® nominated “Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe,” “Fast N’ Loud,” “The Ultimate Fighter,” and the “David Tutera,” “Wicked Tuna” “Street Outlaws,” and “Ghost Hunters” franchises are among his broad list of credits.  Piligian has also expanded into producing award-winning documentary series and features; celebrity talk shows; scripted content; and sports and eSports projects.

A testament to Piligian’s impact and ingenuity in the unscripted space, he has consistently ranked among the top 10 producers featured in The Hollywood Reporter’s annual Reality Power List and Variety’s annual Reality Impact Report. Realscreen has honored him with its Producer Extraordinaire award and inducted him into its Hall of Fame.  Piligian was Broadcasting & Cable magazine’s first-ever Producer of the Year and was also recognized by Next TV Summit as Innovator of the Year.  In 2015, Lionsgate acquired a majority interest in Pilgrim Media Group.

Schrier was promoted to President, FX Entertainment, in May 2019 after previously serving as President of Original Programming since 2013. During that period he developed the Emmy® and Golden Globe®-winning limited series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story and Fargo, as well as the award-winning American Horror Story franchise, FEUD: Bette and Joan, Fosse/Verdon and the upcoming limited series Devs, Shōgun, Mrs. America and A Teacher; the drama series Taboo, Legion, The Strain, Tyrant, Snowfall, Trust, Pose, Mayans M.C., Mr. Inbetween, and the upcoming Y; the comedy series Atlanta, Better Things, Baskets, What We Do in the Shadows, You’re the Worst, Married, Man Seeking Woman, Sex&Drugs&Rock&Roll and the upcoming Breeders; a slate of docuseries and documentary features, including The Weekly with The New York Times.

Prior to that, Schrier served as Executive Vice President, FX Productions, and Head of Series Development, during which he developed the critically-acclaimed drama series The Americans and The Bridge. In June 2008 he was named Senior Vice President, Series Development, FX Networks, and Executive Vice President, FX Productions, and was instrumental in developing the Emmy winning Justified, the drama series Sons of Anarchy and Terriers, as well as overseeing FX’s growth in comedy with The League and the Emmy winning Archer.

Schrier helped develop the Golden Globe-winning drama series Damages and the comedy Wilfred after being named Senior Vice President, Original Programming in December 2005. Prior to that, as Vice President, Current Programming and Alternative Development, he developed the acclaimed comedy series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and 30 Days.

Schrier joined FX in 2000 and was promoted to Manager of Current Series in July of 2001. A year later became Director of Current Series. During this period, he helped develop the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning dramas The Shield and Nip/Tuck and the Emmy-winning drama Rescue Me.

Schrier was named to the Adweek 50 – the Most Indispensable Executives in Marketing, Media, and Tech – in 2016. In 2018, FX Networks received 50 Emmy® Award nominations, the most of any basic cable network for the fifth consecutive year, and won 12 Emmy Awards, the most of any basic cable network, including Outstanding Limited Series for The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.

Schrier also played an integral role in the growth of FX Productions, managing day-to-day operations for the studio since its formation. In addition to managing the studio’s interest in foreign sales, home entertainment, syndication, and new media opportunities, he initiated product merchandise for all FX original series under the FX Productions banner. He was a key player in the inception and launch of FX Canada, the joint venture network of FX Networks and Rogers Media.

Schrier began his career as an assistant at CAA and then Brillstein-Grey Entertainment before landing at FX. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California School of Cinema-Television.

Led by Springborn, UCP is known for genre-defying, ground-breaking and intentional storytelling with a sense of discovery. This best-in-class studio collaborates with visionary storytellers, including Nick Antosca, Brian Chamberlayne, Sam Esmail, Selwyn Seyfu Hinds, Soo Hugh, Seth MacFarlane, Elliot Page and Tanya Saracho. The studio’s top titles include “Chucky,” “Based On A True Story” and “Resident Alien”; the Emmy® Award-winning series “The Umbrella Academy,” “Monk” and “Mr. Robot”; Emmy-nominated series “Candy” and “Gaslit”; as well as acclaimed dramas “Dr. Death,” “A Friend of the Family” and “The Girl From Plainville.”

Universal International Studios (UIS) partners with storytellers from around the globe to create bold and distinctive shows with universal resonance. Based in London, the business’ in-house production companies include Carnival Films, Monkey, Matchbox Pictures, Working Title Television and Heyday Television. UIS productions include the Netflix global hit “Clickbait,” Peabody Award-winning music comedy “We Are Lady Parts,” BAFTA-winning reality show “Made in Chelsea,” Emmy Award-nominated series “Hanna,” worldwide TV phenomenon “Downton Abbey,” as well as “Apples Never Fall” for Peacock and “The Day of the Jackal” for Peacock and Sky.

Springborn joined the studio group in 2020 following a six-year run at Hulu, where she led comedy and drama development, co-productions and casting across the streamer’s acclaimed and award-winning slate of originals. She is known for implementing the creative strategy on strong book-based IP, such as the Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Normal People,” “Little Fires Everywhere,” “High Fidelity,” “The Looming Tower,” “Nine Perfect Strangers,” “Shrill” and “Conversations with Friends.” Her slate also included “The Great,” “Ramy,” “Castle Rock,” “Future Man,” “Pen15,” “Dollface,” “Casual,” “Wu Tang: An American Saga,” “Harlots,” “The First” and the animated series “Crossing Swords” and “Solar Opposites.”

Prior to her time at the studios, Springborn was no stranger to Universal Studio Group, having overseen UCP’s “The Act” and the Julie Klausner/Billy Eichner comedy “Difficult People,” along with Universal Television’s “The Mindy Project,” “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “The Path.” Before joining Hulu, she was Head of Television for Craig Zadan and Neil Meron’s Storyline Entertainment, which had deals with Universal Television and NBCUniversal International Studios (renamed Universal International Studios). Springborn has also served as Senior Vice President for Caryn Mandabach Productions (“Peaky Blinders”), Executive Vice President of Television/Film Production and Development at Valhalla (“The Walking Dead”) and Vice President of Production and Development at FilmNation Entertainment. She started her executive career in development at Pixar, where she worked on films including “Ratatouille” and “Finding Nemo.”

Springborn currently serves on the Advisory Council for the Hollywood Radio & Television Society. She is based in Los Angeles and has an MFA from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film and Television.

Von Goetz’s clients have been involved with many successful series including The Handmaid’s Tale, Better Call Saul, Star Trek: Discovery, Black Lightning, Star, and the upcoming Untitled Star Wars “Rogue One”, Emergence, and Mixed-ish series.

Von Goetz joined the Broder Webb Kurland Webb and Uffner Agency (later renamed Broder Webb Silbermann Chervin Agency) as a television literary agent in 1997.  BWCS Agency was acquired by International Creative Management in 2006, and in 2008, von Goetz became the co-head of the television literary department.  In 2012, von Goetz and a group of partners were instrumental in leading the management buyout of International Creative Management which was renamed ICM Partners that year.  Von Goetz serves on the board of directors.