Variety has planned its second annual gathering dedicated to the growth of family entertainment and faith-based programming. PURPOSE: The Family Entertainment & Faith-Based Summit is scheduled for June 25, 2015. The event will feature leaders from Hollywood and around the country from studios, networks, and digital media. In addition, representatives of many successful brands in family and faith-based entertainment will participate. Storytelling innovators are scheduled to share what content is best connecting with today’s audiences.
Attendees will be able to pitch ideas to these primary gatekeepers, and editors will select the most promising submissions. A judging panel will include studio execs, talent agents, and other creative gatekeepers. They will critique a selection of synopses onstage. Those who have submitted will be able to ask the judges questions during the event. Rules for submission are available online.
The team of Downey and Burnett will appear at PURPOSE this year; Photo Courtesy of Michael Grecco).
Variety’s Summit brings together Hollywood’s top family and faith entertainers, including Mark Burnett, Roma Downey, Selma star David Oyelowo, the Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures, and Movieguide® Dr. Ted Baehr.
Dr. Baehr will be speaking on “HOW TO SUCCEED IN FAITH DRIVEN MOVIES (WITHOUT LOSING YOUR MONEY)” at the Four Seasons in L.A. at 3:20pm. “Production companies and TV networks are releasing Bible-based content more now than ever!” says Dr. Baehr. “That is why NOW is the time to discuss and encourage this content with Hollywood’s top filmmakers, so that it continues to thrive! I am thankful that Variety is hosting such an event.”
Dr. Ted Baehr is one of the key panelists at Variety’s upcoming summit; Photo Courtesy of Movieguide.
Philadelphia’s Inspiration Station has announced that Dr. Holly Carter, CEO and founder of Relevé Entertainment, a company that intersects mainstream media and faith, is scheduled as a signature panelist for this summit.
According to Backstage, the Christian advocacy organization Faith Driven Consumer will also participate in a panel for this event. The panel is entitled “Winning the Pastor and the Pew: How to Get the Must-Reach Faith Driven Consumer™ Audience to Endorse and Support Your Project” and is moderated by FDC’s founder Chris Stone. It is scheduled to include prominent industry professionals like Lord of the Rings producer Mark Ordesky of Court Five Entertainment, Mpower Pictures president John Shepherd, and executive vice president of TD Jakes Enterprises Derrick Williams.
FDC’s Stone says, “In understanding the power of the Faith Driven Consumer, the entertainment industry is at the tip of the spear, ahead of corporate retail brands in the race to attract this customer base … Hollywood has had some big hits, and some big misses, but the industry is working hard to get it right. That’s why we are excited to participate in this summit and engage entertainment professionals—helping them deliver the content that Faith Driven Consumers want.”
Written by Diane Howard, Ph.D. (Performance Studies) – dianehoward.com
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