Sponsored by GLAWS (The Greater Los Angeles Writer's Society)

How do you write not only a masterpiece, but something that will ultimately hit a wide audience and possibly be purchased by a major Network or Studio?  These are the industry professionals that know. Held at CAA, this promises to be an amazing panel.

Moderator: Ace Hall (VP of GLAWS, Actor, Novelist)

Jennifer Grisanti - Jen Grisanti is a Story/Career Consultant, Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, Blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the new books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells.  Grisanti started her career as an assistant to Aaron Spelling 18 years ago. Aaron was her mentor for the next 12 years as she climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Jen was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered shows including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends. While at CBS/Paramount, she served as a mentor in the CBS Diversity Program, which seeks out and nurtures young writers and directors. In January 2008, Jen launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry.

Dan Watanabe - For sixteen years worked at the company ultimately known as FremantleMedia, handling "current programming" duties on a number of first run syndication television series (including BAYWATCH), movies of the week, and reality/game shows. Currently grant director of the Entertainment Industry Training Collaborative (EITC), which provides matching funds to employers for incumbent worker high tech training. Additionally, teach a variety of classes at LA Valley College, including screenwriting, the production process and the history of television.

The Fine Brothers - Youtube celebrity filmmakers- Award winning filmmakers and new media pioneers, The Fine Bros. are leading up and coming transmedia comedy writer/directors. They are and are currently in development on a TV show with Happy Madison & Sony and have created original content online for the likes of Comedy Central, BBCAmerica, Warner Brothers and Just For Laughs, Former Brooklyn Orthodox Jews and sons of a Rabbi (no wonder they're so messed up), Benny & Rafi Fine produce, direct, write, shoot and edit all of their films and average more than 10 million views across their library of content online each month. Rafi is an honors Film
graduate from Hunter College in New York City, has worked for major television and film companies, and is currently on a house team at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.  Benny is a feature film director who has won various awards including "Best Young Filmmaker" at the NY Film & Video Festival, along with also being a Walt Disney World Manager in his past (again, no wonder they're so messed up).

Deborah Pratt  -She was a co-executive producer and a writer on the Quantum Leap TV series which was created by her then-husband, Donald Bellisario, and acted in television series including Quantum Leap, Magnum, P.I. and Airwolf. In 2000, she directed Cora Unashamed for Masterpiece Theatre's The American Collection. In 2006 she began to publish a series of novels with a spiritual science-fantasy theme and an accompanying Web presence, The Vision Quest. The press kit for the novel and website describe The Vision Quest as a "multi-platform entertainment project," including a trilogy of novels leading to a feature film. Pratt is a recipient of The Lillian Gish Award from Women in Film, The Angel Award, The Golden Block Award, and Six B.E.N. Awards.

Yuri Baranovsky - One of the founders of Happy Little Guillotine Films (www.hlgfilms.com) -- a production company on the forefront of online entertainment. HLG Films is responsible for not only creating one of the first, original web series, the groundbreaking BREAK A LEG (www.breakaleg.tv), but also for creating and producing some of the web's biggest branded campaigns, like the 7-11 Road Trip (www.711roadtrip.com) and Leap Year (www.leapyear.tv) -- all of which Yuri directed and co-wrote (aside from the 7-11 Road Trip, as Yuri cannot write reality TV. Yet.). Aside from his work at HLG Films, Yuri has also written for several popular web series (SUITE 7, TEMP LIFE) and was the Head Writer of the MOJO HD's TV and internet series, THE CIRCUIT. Finally, Yuri is a thrice-published, internationally produced playwright -- a fact that he likes to share quietly, in dark places, where theater still matters and the names of Neil Simon, David Ives and Tom Stoppard still bring with them a God-like reverence.  Above all else, Yuri loves telling stories and hopes to continue doing so until he is put on a raft and shot with burning arrows.

Held at CAA - 'Free parking' at an unauthorized venue across the street

Panelists Subject to Change