SoCin NYC

Brian August, Watchitoo, Director of Media and Content

Brian August is the Director of Media and Content at Watchitoo, a two way multiple live streaming platform that allows users to collaborate in real time, while viewing a broad array of rich media content. Previously, Brian was the President of Webster Hall Digital Media and the creator of Event Horizons, a unique conference that explored the frontier of how video, mobile and social tools can be seamlessly integrated into live events. Brian also co-founded Plentitube, an online agency that connects television networks with the best original content on the web, creating an agile and innovative new programming paradigm. A digital media attorney with more then 20 years of experience, Brian has had a array of legal and strategic business roles with numerous internet technology start-ups.

Eric Berger, EVP, Sony Crackle
Eric Berger is the senior vice president of digital networks at Sony Pictures Television where he oversees Crackle, Sony Pictures Entertainment’s premium online video network. Mr. Berger joined the company in 2006 as vice president, mobile entertainment. He guided SPT’s mobile games division from 17th to 5th place in the market, and he successfully launched video services on all available mobile operators including Verizon, Sprint and AT&T. Prior to Sony Pictures, Mr. Berger was Vice President of Strategic Planning at Time Warner Inc. (AOL, HBO, Turner Broadcasting, Time Inc., Time Warner Cable, and Warner Bros.) where he was responsible for wireless initiatives and the creation of new digital growth businesses. His efforts included shaping the company’s overall mobile strategy, including driving investment, acquisition and business development.

Crackle, Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, is a multi-platform next-generation video entertainment network that distributes digital content including original short form series and full-length traditional programming from Sony Pictures’ vast library of television series and feature films. Crackle is one of the fastest growing entertainment destinations on the Internet today, offering audiences quality programming in a variety of genres, including comedy, action, sci-fi, horror, music and reality. Crackle reaches a global audience through its impressive online and mobile distribution network.

Adam Broitman, Circ.us, Partner, Chief Ringleader

Adam Broitman is Partner and Chief Ringleader at Circ.us, an NYC based creative communications firm that helps brands and their agencies tell stories through innovation and participation. Adam is a recognized expert in all aspects of the ever-changing digital media+marketing and advertising landscape. A thought leader in the marketing industry, Adam is known for devising cutting edge marketing strategies for clients ranging from Kraft, Cisco, The New York Times and Panasonic to LVMH, The Energy Project and A&E.

Itzic Cohen, CEO, ClipSync

Itzik Cohen is the Founder and CEO of ClipSync. Based in Silicon Valley, California, ClipSync was co-founded by former WebEx veteran Itzik Cohen to research, create, and implement a Social TV platform that makes TV viewing and advertising content highly interactive, engaging and more fun. Mr. Cohen was centrally involved with funding and IPO at WebEx Communications, the Web Meeting Applications Company Acquired by Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO). Prior to WebEx, he was Director of Business Development at NetManage Inc., where he led the Advanced Technology team focusing on collaborative technologies.

ClipSync is leading the re-emergence of TV as a social activity – the Social TV revolution. Viewers can create, share, comment and react to content in real time, only in a time and place of their choosing. Viewers now have control of their content and the benefit of social interaction. This phenomenon is connecting people, content and advertisers like never before, with ClipSync leading the revolution. The ClipSync Interaction Platform lets publishers leverage their content and viewers by providing innovative real-time social applications with rich media advertising. ClipSync provides a suite of rich media ad products to expand publishers’ offerings and to address marketers’ needs for ad products with greater viewer engagement.

Lin Dai, VP, Programming and Production/Alloy Digital

As VP, Programming and Production for Alloy Digital, a division of Alloy Media + Marketing, Lin oversees and guides programming strategy, original content development and distribution for AlloyTV, a premium, multi-platform digital entertainment network, featuring webisodic programming and exclusive video content. He is also responsible for strategic marketing initiatives for the top ranked Alloy Digital Network, which reaches a robust audience of fifty million millennials and for Alloy\s entertainment properties, that include such popular teen books, TV shows, film, and web programs as Gossip Girl, Vampire Diaries, Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and Private.

Lin’s digital expertise spans more than a decade. In 1999, he founded Kiwibox.com, the first social networking destination and online magazine for teens. Leading business development and marketing, he grew the website to more than two million members worldwide, and was successfully acquired in 2007. His career also includes experience managing entertainment and production projects for such companies such as Bad Boy Records, Universal Records, MTV, and Fuse.

Lin Dai graduated with honors from the prestigious School of Industrial Management, now Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. His pioneering work on Intel’s Planning and Logistics Intranet project eventually led to the launch of Unique Net Solutions, Inc. The company’s revolutionary work was recognized when Lin Dai was awarded the Entrepreneur of the Year award by Carnegie Mellon University.

Mark Friedlander, SAG, Head of Emerging Media

Mark Friedlander is the National Director of New Media for Screen Actors Guild, the nation’s largest labor union representing working actors. As head of the National New Media Department, he advises senior staff regarding the Guild’s Interactive and New Media contracts, and provides guidance on all issues relating to new media. Friedlander also serves as consultant to the member-led Interactive, New Technology and New Media Committes, and oversees the Guild’s ongoing efforts to monitor emerging technology trends in the entertainment industry. Mr. Friedlander earned a BA in Political Science from USC, A JD from California Western School of Law, as well as a Masters of Laws in Entertainment and Media Law from Southwestern University. He also attended Donald E. Bierderman Entertainment and Media Law Institute at Cambridge University.

Bill Hartnett, Senior Vice President, NBC News Marketing

Bill Hartnett is the Senior Vice President of NBC News Marketing. Hartnett oversees brand strategy, creative services and digital marketing for all NBC News properties, including“Today,”“NBC Nightly News,”“Dateline NBC,” and “Meet the Press”

Previously, Hartnett served as Senior Vice President of The NBC Agency, East Coast. In this capacity he managed the daily operation of both NBC News & MSNBC marketing and on-air promotion. He also supervised promotion for “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” for NBC Entertainment.

Christopher Horton, Cinematic Media, Head of Acquisitions

Christopher Horton currently serves as the head of acquisitions for Cinetic Rights Management, and has been with its sister company Cinetic Media in various roles since 2002. CRM was formed in late 2007 with a focus on licensing digital rights for filmed content. Through the CRM’s FilmBuff brand, the company has quickly become one of the leading film distributors on cable VOD and broadband portals, domestically and abroad. New releases in 2010 include titles such as Chris Smith’s “Collapse”, Werner Herzog’s “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans” and SXSW day-and-date releases “Erasing David” and “Crying with Laughter”. Prior to joining Cinetic, Mr. Horton worked in the Business Affairs department of Miramax Films. He received degrees in film studies and psychology from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Lloyd Kaufman, Tromo Studios, Acclaimed Producer, Director

“Without Lloyd Kaufman, there probably never would have been There’s Something About Mary or Deuce Bigalow, Male Gigolo.” – Michael H. Klienschrodt, film critic – New Orleans Times

Whether or not he would accept the fame (or blame) for these raunchy, mainstream blockbusters, there can be no doubt that what Kaufman has achieved is enormous. In 30 years, Kaufman, along with Yale friend and partner Michael Herz, has built Troma Studios up from a young company struggling to find its voice in a field crowded with competitors to legendary status as a lone survivor, a bastion of true independence, and the world’s greatest concentration of camp. Among Troma Entertainment’s library of over 1,000 movies are the early performances of such stars as Kevin Costner, Billy Bob Thornton, Samuel L. Jackson, Robert DeNiro, Dennis Hopper, Dustin Hoffman, Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) and countless others! As a filmmaker, Lloyd Kaufman has accumulated a remarkable list of credits, as well as a more extraordinary list of debits to loan sharks and pawn shops across New York.

Mark Lipsky, Founder, Insight Cinema

“The 21st century meltdown of old media strategies presents compelling opportunities for those of us willing to embrace new technology. The internet affords us the reach and revenue prospects of any network or cable channel and the sooner we recognize and rally around that fact, the sooner we’ll emerge from the debilitating funk that threatens to envelop us. The outlook for world cinema in the US marketplace is especially bright. There’s so much to be excited about.” – Mark Lipsky

Mr. Lipsky is following this vision in creating Insight Cinema. It is dedicated toward inciting, enabling and empowering filmmakers around the globe. IC’s blog proclaims “[t]he future for independent filmmaking, like the future for virtually everything else, lies in the power and reach of the internet. There will always be a place for brick-and-mortar cinemas and for off-line film festivals. But – and I can’t stress this point passionately enough – the audience and the tools to reach them are online. Period. Live with it. Embrace it and the world is virtually at your beck and call. Reject or fear it at your peril.”

Ryan Osborn, Producer, NBC’s Today Show

Ryan Osborn is a producer at NBC’s Today Show, and he gets social media. As he works in a broadcast newsroom, Ryan faces a completely different set of challenges than what most newspaper folks face.

Frank Radice, Definition 6

Frank J. Radice presently serves as the Expert in Residence at Definition 6, and the Creative Advisor for Thought Development and ON-AIR Pro™. He is also the Managing Partner of the Promotion, Marketing, Media, and consulting firm, VIDA F.R. Company in New York, Los Angeles, and London. Frank is the former President and Chief Marketing Officer of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS). He serves on the Board of Governors of the New York Festivals, and on the advisory boards of World Wide Fan Clubs and The Broadway Walk of Stars. Most recently Frank oversaw the deal between NATAS and Associated Television International which brought the Daytime Emmy Awards to the CW Network.

He was the Executive Vice President of Advertising and Promotion for The NBC Agencyin New York from 2002 to 2008, responsible for promoting a wide variety of NBC Universal content including all NBC News and MSNBC cable programs, “Saturday Night Live,” “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” “Last Call with Carson Daly,” and a number of Universal Media syndicated programs and NBC Universal specials. Frank was also the co-executive producer of “NBC In-Flight,” and “NBC on TED” for United Airlines. He received the TV Week Magazine/PROMAX “Campaign of Distinction” award in 2007, he was inducted into the PROMAX “Hall of Fame” in 2004, and named a “Brand Builder of the Year” by Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News Magazines in 2003. Frank is also named in the 60th Diamond Anniversary Edition of “Who’s Who in America,” and is a Daytime Emmy nominee for 2006, 2007 and 2008 in the category of Original Song Composition, as well as an Emmy Nominee in 2008 in the category of News Promotional Announcement. He has 38 years experience in media, marketing, promotion, and production.

Fred Sibert, Frederator Studios, Next New Networks

Fred Seibert makes original cartoons and television networks. In 1998 former Hanna-Barbera Cartoons president Fred Seibert formed Frederator Studios, an independent television production company. He is the executive producer of six animated series on Nickelodeon’s networks including The Fairly Oddparents, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, and Random! Cartoons and is developing animated feature films at Sony Pictures Animation and Paramount Pictures. He is the founder of Channel Frederator, Cartoon Central on the Internet, and the Creative Director of Next New Networks.