The Producers Guild of America announced additional speakers, including Blumhouse founder and CEO Jason Blum and “Empire” executive producer Francie Calfo, for its 7th annual Produced By Conference on Wednesday.
Producers from shows such as “Black-ish,” “30 Rock,” and “Dancing with the Stars” will also be on hand. Blum and his production company will also be the subject of a “360 Profile,” detailing how he has established a new model of genre filmmaking.
They join previously announced speakers including Eva Longoria; Reese Witherspoon and her Pacific Standard producing partner Bruna Papandrea; and Calfo’s fellow “Empire” EPs Lee Daniels, Brian Grazer, Ilene Chaikin and Danny Strong.
Blumhouse has produced a number of low-budget horror films which have gone on to generate substantial profits at the box office. The 2009 film “Paranormal Activity,” for example, cost only $15,000 to make and grossed almost $200 million globally.
The Produced By Conference takes place May 30th to 31st at the Paramount Studios lot.
Speakers added to the lineup include:
· Stephanie Allain – Principal, Homegrown Pictures, Inc. (“Dear White People,” Hustle & Flow)
· Norberto Barba – (“Grimm”)
· Kenya Barris – (“black-ish,” “America’s Next Top Model”)
· Jason Blum – Founder and CEO, Blumhouse Productions
· Jeanette Brill – Head of Production, Blumhouse Productions
· Francie Calfo – President, Imagine Television; (“Empire,” “Those Who Kill”)
· Kay Cannon – (“Pitch Perfect” movies, “30 Rock”)
· Susanne Daniels – President, Programming, MTV
· Phillip Dawe — Head of Post Production, Blumhouse Productions
· Jonathan Deckter – President & COO, Voltage Pictures
· Michael Donaldson – Partner, Donaldson Callif
· Jennifer Fox – “Nightcrawler,” “The Bourne Legacy”
· David Friendly – Principal, Friendly Films (“Sneakerheadz,” “Little Miss Sunshine”)
· Carolyn Giardina – Contributing Editor, Tech, The Hollywood Reporter
· Howard Gordon – Executive Producer, Teakwood Lane Productions (“24,” “Homeland”)
· John Heinsen – CEO and Executive Producer, Bunnygraph Entertainment
· Glenn Kennel – President and CEO, ARRI, Inc.
· Christie Mattull – Managing Director, HUB Entertainment Insurance
· Jade McQueen – Managing Director, Media & Entertainment, Box
· Hanny Patel – Senior Director, Digital & Emerging Markets, DIRECTV
· Christopher Perez – Partner, Donaldson Callif
· John Ramsey – EP/Partner, Therapy Content (“Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways,” “Sound City”)
· Jessica Rhoades – Head of Television, Blumhouse Productions
· Jay Roewe – SVP, West Coast Productions, HBO
· Jim Rota – EP/Partner, Therapy Content (“Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways,” “Sound City”)
· Hal Sadoff – (“The Nice Guys,” “Hotel Rwanda”)
· Russell Schwartz – President, Pandemic Marketing
· Sanjay Sharma – President and Chief Operating Officer, All Def Digital
· Joe Sungkur – (“Dancing with the Stars”)
· Sarah Timberman – Partner, Timberman/Beverly Productions (“Masters of Sex,” “Justified”)