TheGrill is pleased to announce a new set of speakers for this year’s conference taking place October 1-2 in Los Angeles, with the entertainment and media industry’s thought leaders addressing what’s on everyone’s mind: industry consolidation, the state of digital video, artificial intelligence – and Moviepass!
As the schedule for this year’s conference comes together, TheGrill welcomes these thought leaders:
* Dolby Chief Scientist Poppy Crum on the rise of Man V. Machines
* Ted Farnsworth, Chairman & CEO, Helios & Matheson on the state of Moviepass and the emerging movie subscription model
* Josh Sapan, President and CEO, AMC Networks, on media mega-mergers and the shifting entertainment landscape
* Ben Lerer, CEO of Group Nine Media on digital media in the age of Facebook and Snap.
They join a stellar lineup of industry leaders including Leslie Moonves, the CEO of CBS, and star producer Will Packer, at TheGrill.TheGrill leads the conversation on convergence between entertainment, media and technology, bringing together newsmakers to debate the challenges and opportunities facing content in the digital age. Diverse programming anchored by versatile talent and supported by big brands has always been the hallmark of Hollywood.
Joshua W. Sapan, President and Chief Executive Officer, AMC Networks
One of the entertainment industry’s most innovative and visionary executives, Josh Sapan is responsible for the overall management of AMC Networks, overseeing several leading entertainment brands including national television networks AMC, BBC AMERICA (operated through a joint venture with BBC Worldwide), IFC, SundanceTV, and WE tv; film distribution and production division IFC Films and Sundance Selects; premium streaming video services Sundance Now and Shudder; in-house studio and production operation AMC Studios; and AMC Networks International, the company’s international programming and distribution division.
Lauded by Fast Company magazine as one of the “100 Most Creative People in Business,” under Sapan’s leadership AMC Networks has created some of the most popular, acclaimed, and awarded television series and films, including AMC’s “The Walking Dead,” “Fear the Walking Dead,” “Dietland,” “Preacher,” “The Terror,” “Mad Men,” “Breaking Bad,” and “Better Call Saul;” BBC AMERICA’s “Killing Eve,” “Orphan Black,” “Planet Earth II,” and “Planet Earth: Blue Planet II;” IFC’s “Portlandia;” SundanceTV’s “Rectify,” “The Honorable Woman,” and “Top of the Lake;” WE tv’s “Braxton Family Values;” and IFC Films’ “Boyhood” and “Personal Shopper.” Vanity Fair has recognized him in its New Establishment Issue and as one of the “Impresarios of Cable’s Golden Age.”
Poppy Crum, Chief Scientist, Dolby Laboratories
Dr. Poppy Crum is Chief Scientist at Dolby Laboratories. She is also an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University in the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics and the Program in Symbolic Systems. At Dolby, Poppy directs the growth of internal science. She is responsible for integrating neuroscience and sensory data science into algorithm design, technological development, and technology strategy. At Stanford, her work focuses on the impact and feedback potential of new technologies including gaming and immersive environments such as Augmented and Virtual Reality on neuroplasticity and learning.
Ben Lerer, Founder & CEO, Group Nine Media
Ben Lerer is the founding CEO of Group Nine Media – a leading digital publisher and parent of NowThis, The Dodo, Seeker and Thrillist. Prior to the merging of the four powerful digital brands in 2016, Lerer was the CEO and Co-Founder of Thrillist. Lerer is also the co-founder and Managing Director of Lerer Hippeau Ventures, among New York’s most successful technology investment funds.
Ted Farnsworth, Chairman & CEO, Helios & Matheson
Ted Farnsworth has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and as the Chief Executive Officer of Helios and Matheson Analytics, Inc. (NASDAQ:HMNY) since January 20, 2017, the parent company of Moviepass. He also serves as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of their wholly-owned subsidiary, Zone Technologies, Inc., since November 9, 2016. An expert in strategic development, marketing and consumer relations, has owned and operated numerous companies with proprietary products with recognized brand names that he actively helped to develop. Currently, he is Chairman and Founder of the Highlander Companies, Millennial Hotel Group and iCrowd Hotels.
As technology brings new models to the fore – in production, distribution, display and monetization – TheGrill is a platform for the leaders, the deciders and the disrupters to explore this reconfigured landscape as it continues to transforms around us.
TheGrill returns with two days packed with hard-hitting conversations, high level networking & Industry icons discussing the edge of content and tech. Silicon Valley meets Hollywood only at TheGrill 2018 Conference, October 1-2, Los Angeles.
Tickets: Register By Friday, August 10th at midnight and Take Advantage of Our Early Bird Rate of $1,495.
