HOLLYWOOD RADIO AND TELEVISION SOCIETY AND THE NEW YORK TELEVISION FESTIVAL PARTNER TO FORM NEXT GENERATION COMMITTEE
Partnership focused on bridging emerging creative talent with rising television industry decision makers
[New York, NY, May 2011] The Hollywood Radio and Television Society (HRTS) and the New York Television Festival (NYTVF) have partnered to launch the Next Generation Committee, comprised of promising young leaders from the across the industry. The committee members will serve as Jury Members for the Festival’s Independent Pilot Competition (IPC) awards as well as act as honorary hosts for joint HRTS/NYTVF events and ambassadors for Festival initiatives. The announcement was jointly made today by Dave Ferrara, Executive Director, HRTS and Terence Gray, Founder, NYTVF.
“The ongoing career development of our junior membership represents an important part of HRTS’ overall strategic vision,” said HRTS’s Mr. Ferrara. “This partnership with the New York TV Festival provides our next generation of industry leaders a unique opportunity to participate in the process of identifying and acknowledging new industry talent. HRTS congratulates all of our junior members who have been selected to participate in this initiative.”
The Next Generation Committee members were selected from applicants within HRTS’s junior membership division, the Junior Hollywood Radio and Television Society. The seventeen-member committee counts members from networks, studios, production companies and agencies in both Los Angeles and New York.
“This committee represents the wide-ranging scope of the television industry on both coasts and includes some really talented and passionate young professionals,” said NYTVF’s Mr. Gray. “The goal of the NYTVF is to equally serve both independent artists as well as the industry, and we believe this committee will act as a catalyst on both sides. We’re truly honored to work with HRTS on this endeavor and congratulate the inaugural members.”
The 2011 HRTS-NYTVF Next Generation Committee:
- David Boorstein, Dare to Pass (Director of Development)
- Kate Bowen, Imagine Television (Coordinator)
- Kristin Brutout, Leftfield Pictures (Development Assistant)
- Saleda Bryant, Left Right Inc. (Assistant to the Co-Founder/Co-President)
- Steve Cousineau, The Chernin Group/ Chernin Entertainment (Analyst)
- Jason Gold, AMC (Manager, Original Series Production)
- Jonny Gutman, William Morris Endeavor (Scripted Television Assistant)
- Lauren McGrath, Creative Artists Agency (Assistant)
- Dahlia Metchis, Twentieth Century Fox Television (Executive Assistant)
- Danny Samit, FOX Networks Group (Executive Assistant)
- Eric Scott, United Talent Agency (Talent Agent Trainee)
- Angela Silak, TheWrap News (Assistant to the CEO/Editor-in-Chief)
- Matt Snow, Bernero Productions (Assistant)
- Becca Tesarfreund, 3 Arts Entertainment (Assistant)
- Kenny Tsai, Michaels Goldwyn Productions (Development Assistant)
- Marisa Weinstein, DiGa Vision LLC (Executive Assistant)
- Sonja Wright, Katalyst (Assistant)
About HRTS
Since 1947, the Hollywood Radio & television Society (HRTS) has been recognized as the entertainment industry’s premier information and networking forum. HRTS membership includes top executives and companies representing broadcast and cable networks, studios, talent and management agencies, law firms, PR companies, new media, production companies and other related fields. Through its signature Newsmaker Luncheon Series and other year round events, HRTS allows industry leaders to stay informed on the latest trends affecting our business, as well as stay connected to the key people who make the business of media happen. For more information on HRTS visit www.hrts.org.
About NYTVF
Established in 2005, the NYTVF is a pioneer of the independent television movement, constructing new and innovative paths of development and talent identification, while simultaneously complementing the traditional television development model. Its annual New York Television Festival held each fall in New York City is recognized as the industry’s first independent television festival which provides a platform to elevate the work of artists creating for the small screen. Through the Festival and other year-round activities, NYTVF’s mission is to connect its community of over 8,500 independent creative artists with leading networks, studios and brands by cultivating relationships that lead to new opportunities.
Thus far in 2011, NYTVF has announced a new partnership with FX, as well as the continuation of partnerships with IFC and MTV, with each of the three networks committing to award development deals to selections from NYTVF’s annual Independent Pilot Competition. Additionally, NYTVF and FOX have partnered for the fourth consecutive year to create a Comedy Script Contest, providing aspiring writers the opportunity to win $25,000 and a development deal with FOX. For more information on NYTVF, the annual Festival and these competitions, visit www.nytvf.com.