An Initimate Conversation with Nina Tassler
JHRTS ended 2014 with a jam-packed November and December. Members enjoyed an intimate conversation with Nina Tassler of CBS moderated by Bela Bajaria of Universal Television; an informative and interactive Human Resources Q&A and mixer; the annual Next Generation Panel with The Hollywood Reporter; and an explosive Holiday Party hosted at 1oak in West Hollywood.
Without missing a beat, JHRTS kicked 2015 off with a bang hosting members at an intimate roundtable with Eric Schrier, President of Original Programming, FX Networks & Productions in mid-January on the Fox lot, followed by a New Year New Mixer at Next Door Lounge the next week with both members and non-members. At the end of January, JHRTS members had the opportunity to attend at a discounted rate the Writers Guild Foundation event Life of Crime: Writing The Procedural Drama, featuring panelists including Erica Messer and Graham Yost at the WGA headquarters.
The end of January was an especially exciting time for JHRTS as we announced our Pilot Script Competition initiative. Beginning March 3rd, JHRTS members have the opportunity to submit original pilot scripts of both comedy and drama genres for the chance to win the title of JHRTS Pilot Script Competition Winner and be named one of the New York Television Festival’s Official Artists. This title comes with the exclusive opportunity to participate in NYTVF Connect, which includes admission to such events as NYTVF Development Day, Digital Day, and certain artist-only events. More can be found on both the competition and NYTVF on the competition’s website: https://hrts.org/JHRTS-pilot-competition.aspx
The annual HRTS/JHRTS Mentorship Program will begin with JHRTS members meeting their HRTS mentors at a mixer this February at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. This year, the program’s sixth cycle, boasted over eighty pairings of junior Hollywood executives with HRTS mentors. The program will last until the end of October, during which time mentees are encouraged to meet with their mentors for career advice a total of three instances. While there is a formal deadline, past participants have enjoyed a relationship with their mentor that lasts well beyond the end of that year’s program.
For philanthropy, 2015 marks the year JHRTS and Make-A-Wish formed a partnership to allow both JHRTS members and non-members the chance to volunteer with the foundation. Interested participants gathered at UTA to hear more about volunteering opportunities open to them and how to get involved, including both longterm programs and one-off events, such as the fundraising Walk For Wishes on April 18th.
Additionally, JHRTS members can look forward to an exciting series of diverse panels this year, focusing on alternative television, online journalism, and how to successfully apply to different networks’ writers programs. Monthly mixers will continue with the Skybar mixer on February 25th and a Speed Networking event for JHRTS Members only coming in March.
For all these reasons and more, we look forward to what 2015 has in store for JHRTS members.
Meredith Willis & Katie La Bouff
JHRTS LA Co-Presidents
JHRTS Holiday Party 2015
JHRTS Holiday Party 2015
JHRTS Holiday Party 2015