Video: 2017 Courier 12 Screenwriters Conference

Five panels covering streaming, web series, TV, screenwriting, and Pixar.

The DePaul University School of Cinematic Arts as part of its ongoing Visiting Artists Series hosted its annual Courier 12 Screenwriting Conference yesterday and the conversations with panelists covered just about every aspect of visual storytelling in the digital age.

You can watch the video for the next few days before it’s taken off-line for editing. Below is the schedule with approximate start and stop time codes for each session:

THE STATE OF STREAMING MEDIA with Emmy-nominated producer, David Tochterman, moderated by SCA faculty member, Chris Parrish. Mr. Tochterman is the co-founder of Canvas Media, and previously served as Executive Vice President of the Carsey Werner Company, where he played an integral role in hit shows including That 70’s Show, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and was an Executive Producer of Grace Under Fire. [41:20–1:29:00]

BROWN GIRLS: FROM THE WEB TO HBO featuring Sam Bailey, who produced and directed the ground-breaking webseries, Brown Girls, and Minita Gandhi who is a cast member in the show. Brown Girls presents the intimate stories of two young women of color, and is now currently in development with HBO. SCA faculty member Anna Maria Hozian will moderate. [2:01:50–3:05:10]

ON THE BLACK LIST welcomes home DePaul alumnus Tom Dean, whose feature screenplay The Time Traveler’s La Ronde was selected in 2016 for the prestigious annual Black List, which ranks Hollywood’s best unproduced screenplays. Tom will discuss his Black List experience and writing features with SCA faculty member, Matt Quinn. [3:29:30–4:31:40]

ON STAFF AND WORKING THE ROOM includes three talented writers from popular television shows who will discuss what it takes to get staffed and work in a writers’ room. Jalysa Conway’s credits include Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, Jenna Richman is a producer on the Dynasty reboot and previously worked on Designated Survivor, Limitless, Allegiance, and Mistresses, and Sarah Tarkoff is currently a writer on Arrow, and has published her debut YA novel, Sinless, which is the first in a trilogy. SCA faculty member Brad Riddell will moderate. [4:59:20–6:05:10]

STORYTELLING IN THE DIGITAL ERA brings Mary Coleman, Head of Creative Development at Pixar Animation Studios, to Chicago. The growth of digital technologies has had an enormous impact on the entertainment business. In this discussion, Ms. Coleman and SCA faculty member Scott Myers will explore how Pixar has been at the forefront of storytelling in the digital era. [6:30:00–7:30:00]

For more information about the film and TV studies programs at DePaul University’s School of Cinematic Arts (B.A., B.F.A., M.A., M.F.A.), go here.