Warner Bros, Batman, Oscars, Hulu
Former president of Warner Brothers, producer of Batman Returns, two-time Oscar-winning director and head of content and distribution at Hulu—what do they have in common?
Each was kind enough to speak at a panel on Film, Television and Video I co-chaired at Stanford’s Future of Media Conference, which got written up in Forbes this month.
Some of my key takeaways:
- If a movie doesn’t make you cry, laugh or be afraid, it’s not a good movie
- You can’t predict which projects will succeed, you have to make your bets
- 3D is coming. Not sure if it’ll be as big as “color”, bit it’s coming for sure.
Okay, now for the really nerdy part of this article:
Like most MBA students, I’ve organized an array of talks in the past, and given a few myself.
What perhaps sets me apart is a near-fanatical need to have a briefing document.
Nothing fancy, it’s just a simple document with a session synopsis, schedule, suggested discussion topics, bios, contact info, and directions.
Why are briefing documents so important?
Because all that information is necessary anyway. Why not have it available early and avoid needless back and forth—i.e. the notes save more work than they create.
Plus, they make busy people want to work with you, because obviously you know how to save time for everyone involved.
Below is an example template. Feel free to use if you like. I know I will 
Enjoy responsibly:
Future of Media Conference – WATCH Panel
Speaker and Moderator Brief
PANEL SYNPOSIS:
What, how and where will we watch in the future? On the content side, how are the pressures facing media corporations driving what content is created? Will the success of Avatar bring about a wave of mega budget movies, or will studios try to replicate the outsize success of niche films like Slumdog Millionaire? How will new technology define what we watch content on? Will changes in technology allow us to see anything on any device – and if so what does this mean for the business? What changes will define whether we watch movies in multiplex theaters or home theaters? The watch panel will include executives who are responsible for creating and delivering content in all mediums.
SCHEDULE:
11:05am: Panel moderator and speakers arrive
11:15am: Panel begins – Brief welcome by Erik Hodge. Moderator introduces panel
11:20am: Moderator leads panel discussion
12:00pm: Panel addresses audience questions
12:15pm: Panel ends
SPEAKER BIOS:
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Terry Semel Chairman and CEO of Windsor Media
Terry Semel is the Chairman and CEO of Windsor Media. Previously, Semel served as the Chairman and CEO of Yahoo! Inc. from 2001-2007 and was responsible for increasing the company’s revenue nearly nine-fold as well as creating $30 billion in shareholder value during his tenure. Prior to Yahoo! Inc., Semel was Chairman and Co-CEO of Warner Bros. where, in two decades, he and his partner, Robert Daly, built Warner Bros. into one of the world’s largest and most creative media and entertainment enterprises, increasing revenues from less than $1 billion to nearly $11 billion. |
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Denise Di Novi Denise Di Novi is a Warner Bros. based film producer who has made such films as MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, PRACTICAL MAGIC, A WALK TO REMEMBER, SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS, and NIGHTS IN RODANTHE. Denise was previously partnered with director Tim Burton where she produced an array of films including EDWARD SCISSORHANDS, BATMAN RETURNS, THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, and ED WOOD. Denise is currently developing a live action version of THE JETSONS and an adaptation of Ray Bradbury’s THE ILLUSTRATED MAN with director Zack Snyder. She has two sons, Mac and Nicholas, and is married to film director, Christopher Taylor. |
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Bill Guttentag (MODERATOR) Bill Guttentag is a two-time Oscar-winning documentary and feature film writer-producer-director. His films include Live!, a dramatic feature he wrote and directed starring Eva Mendes and Andre Braugher (Mosaic Media Group/Weinstein Company); Nanking (THINKFilm) a documentary feature which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival; and Soundtrack for a Revolution (Wild Bunch) which had its international premiere at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and will be released later this year. In 2003 he won an Oscar for the film "Twin Towers" (Universal). Other awards include a second Oscar, three additional Oscar nominations, a Peabody Award, three Emmy Awards, and two WGA Award nominations. He created and executive produced (along with Dick Wolf) the NBC series Law & Order: Crime & Punishment, which ran for three seasons (2002-2004). His first novel, Boulevard, will be published by Pegasus Books/W.W. Norton in February 2010. Since 2001 he has been teaching a class on the film and television business at the Graduate School of Business at Stanford University. |
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Andy Forssell SVP Content Acquisition & Distribution, Hulu Andy Forssell joined Hulu as Senior Vice President of Content Acquisition and Distribution, where he leads all business strategy and development for content and distribution partnerships. Prior to Hulu, Andy had nearly a decade of experience at Siebel Systems, where he last served as Vice President, CRM On Demand Operations and Business Development, responsible for strategic business planning, datacenter operations, applications management, and customer care. Following Oracle’s acquisition of Siebel, he led Oracle’s CRM On Demand Hosting Operations as Vice President and was responsible for all aspects of delivery for hosted multi-tenant CRM applications. Andy’s career began in the US Army where he achieved the rank of Captain. He earned a Bachelors of Science with Honors in Electrical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, a Bachelors of Science at the West Point Military Academy, and received an M.B.A. from the Harvard Business School. |
SUGGESTED DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Content Consumption
- Apple recently made a bold announcement that it considers itself the world’s largest mobile devices company by revenue. It’s made over 50 billion dollars selling laptops, iPhones and plans to grow with the addition of iPads. How do you think about these categories of devices as consumption experiences for media today and in the future?
- On the opposite end of Apple, we have 3D and IMAX experiences that are drawing in more viewers and raising tickets prices at theatres. How pervasive do you think this format will become?
- To what extent do you feel the effects improve the storytelling experience versus being just a pleasant bonus?
- Finally in terms of consumption of media in the home, we have watched everything from Tivo, Hulu, AppleTV, and Netflix streaming to homes carve out loyal niche markets. How broad do you think these patterns will become?
- At what point, if ever do you feel the rise of 3D TV and Internet TVs will play a significant role in the market?
Content Delivery
- How do you think about future market places for media content, specifically do you think there will be convergence into a few big platforms, or do you see a broad range of independent players made possible by low cost technology?
- What companies or models do you think are in the lead for defining the next generation of content delivery?
Content Creation
- How do you see the impact of new media outlet affecting artists in the creative process?
- What are your thoughts on investing in projects across the different consumption experiences—from mobile to 3D IMAX content—in future?
CONTACT INFO:
Panel Co-chairs:
- Erik Hodge: [phone number]
- Ian Tien: [phone number]
- Nick Shalek: [phone number]
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
When should I arrive?
8:30am to 9:00am is registration, with breakfast provided. Please bring your confirmation slip (and Stanford ID if applicable).
What is the address?
Stanford University Graduate School of Business
518 Memorial Way Stanford, CA 94305 (map)
From San Francisco Airport
Allow 60 minutes of travel time. Drive south on 101 (Bayshore Freeway). Take the exit marked Embarcadero Road West. Continue on Embarcadero Road for about two miles. Once you cross the intersection at El Camino Real, Embarcadero becomes Galvez. Turn right off Galvez onto Memorial Way. The School is at the end of Memorial Way.
From San Jose Airport
Allow 60 minutes of travel time. Take 101 (Bayshore Freeway) north and exit at Embarcadero Road West. Then follow the same directions as above.
Where can I park?
We have reserved Galvez Field (map) for conference parking. Galvez Field is at the corner of Galvez St. and Campus Drive East. Please turn right off Galvez onto Campus Drive East to enter the lot. From there, walk down Galvez and turn right onto Memorial Way.
We honor any state’s disabled parking placards in almost all marked parking spaces on campus, excluding Special Permit Only parking. ADA parking and pathways are conveniently located throughout the campus. The list of spaces that allow disabled placard parking includes: metered, Service Vehicle, commuter (A or C), and Resident Student parking stalls.
