GEMA TALKS with Rich Battista

In this latest installment of GEMA TALKS, we visit with Jen Neal (B '95), Executive Vice President, Entertainment Live Events, Specials & E! News, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. Jen has had a prolific career in entertainment and media, largely in the world of marketing and more recently also in the area of live events. In our conversation, we discuss her upbringing and experiences at Georgetown where she was a member of the Varsity Basketball team (which went to the Sweet 16 her sophomore  year), including serving as Captain her senior year. Jen shares her career journey with us, including her last 10+ years at NBCUniversal expanding E! and her dynamic new role overseeing entertainment live events and specials for the whole company. We also discuss some of the key trends in the business and how they are impacting and influencing her job. Finally, she shares career advice.

In this installment of GEMA TALKS, we are joined by Charlie Andrews (C '04), Executive Vice President, Development, Programming and Event Series at Fox Entertainment (update: Charlie is now at Disney Branded Television).  Charlie has had an accomplished 15+ year career as a TV network and studio executive, developing and overseeing programming primarily at Fox, NBC and also at Netflix.  In this episode, we discuss Charlie's lifelong passion for television - and how he broke into the business right after Georgetown, starting out in the NBC Page program, and then his career path from there. Charlie offers details on what the role entails of a creative executive at a TV network and TV studio - and the differences between the two.  We also discuss the state of TV programming today, particularly the intense competition for broadcasters with the streaming platforms such as Netflix, Hulu, etc. and the pros and cons to each for a creator. He also shares which of his new shows this season he is most excited about and if he could pick any show on another network to air on Fox, what would it be.  Finally, Charlie offers excellent advice to those wanting to break into the creative side of television.

GEMA TALKS welcomes Patrick Steel (MBA '00), Former CEO of Politico as our latest guest. Patrick joined Politico as CEO in 2017 having never worked in media previously. In 4 1/2 years, he oversaw the significant growth of the company, turning it into one of the most valuable news media brands, and led the highly successful sale of the company in late 2017. Patrick discusses the key steps he took to transform and build the company and what it was like joining the company as an outsider to media. He also shares his principles of leadership.

Overall, Patrick has enjoyed a fascinating and unique career in that he has had successful and long-term experiences in three totally separate fields: government, corporate finance and media.  We discuss what he believes have been the secrets of his success and versatility throughout his career.

He also shares his thoughts on the value of his Georgetown MBA and provides valuable career advice, particularly around the importance of risk-taking.

In this installment of GEMA TALKS, we speak with top Hollywood attorney Gordon Bobb (C '93) of Del Shaw Moonves, who represents top talent in the entertainment industry including actors, directors, writers and producers. Gordon speaks to us about how he developed his practice over a 20+ year period and some of the keys to his success and important attributes necessary to being an effective attorney and partner to his clients. He also discusses the importance for him of representing diverse voices in Hollywood. Gordon also discusses his upbringing in Brooklyn and his time at Georgetown, and his key influences including the film "Do The Right Thing" which ignited a "pilot light inside of me" and working as the manager of the basketball team under famed Coach John Thompson. He also dispenses advice to those looking to build their careers in the entertainment and media law profession.

In this episode of GEMA TALKS with Rich Battista, we are joined by Marci Wiseman. Marci discusses the unique production model for Blumhouse TV, a leading independent TV production company; she also discusses what it has been like navigating through the COVID crisis including innovative new ways of producing remotely and what the future may look like for TV production. She also shares her fascinating career journey from initially pursuing a career in international affairs to graduating law school to holding senior roles in Hollywood including at AMC Networks and working on such landmark shows as American Idol, and Walking Dead. She also shares valuable career advice, especially for those considering a career in entertainment who may want to pursue a law school degree.

In this installment of GEMA TALKS with Rich Battista, we are joined by Diana Williams, Producer of Content and Franchise Strategy at Madison Wells Media, a leading independent film & TV production company. Diana has had a prolific career as a producer and executive across a number of areas including scripted film, scripted and unscripted television, documentary film, VR, animation and comic books. She shares her interesting and diverse career from initially wanting to be a Wall Street entertainment industry analyst after Georgetown, to being accepted in the prestigious DGA Trainee program, from producing independent film to developing content and franchise strategy at Lucas Film and its Star Wars franchise. She also discusses trends in franchise strategy and development, shares her thoughts on Hollywood's need to expand its diverse voices and images on and behind the screen and offers valuable career advice to those breaking into the industry.

In this episode of GEMA TALKS with Rich Battista, the renowned entertainment executive Tony Thomopoulos (F '59) joins us to talk about his acclaimed and storied career as a senior executive in Hollywood over six decades including as President of ABC Entertainment, President of ABC Broadcast Group, Chairman of United Artist Pictures, President of Steven Spielberg's Amblin Television, among others.  Tony is now Chairman of Flourish BMS, a line of organic food products. Tony tells us terrific stories starting from his humble roots in The Bronx, applying to and attending Georgetown, and breaking into and working within the entertainment industry. He also discusses the genesis of several celebrated TV series and films he was associated with throughout his career including the great ABC TV series and mini-series of the 1970's and 80's like Taxi and Roots, the film Rainman and the TV series ER. He also compares and contrasts what the business was like several decades ago vs today and the profound changes that have occurred over that time. And he concludes with some valuable career and work advice for those in the industry or looking to break into it.

In this episode of GEMA TALKS, Mary Ann Halford (C '80) interviews Derick Stace-Naughton, SVP, Strategy & Business Operations of Quixote Studios, a leading studio and equipment rental company in the entertainment industry. Derick discusses the state of film and TV production today during COVID and how Quixote has navigated with its clients through the pandemic. He also shares his thoughts on growth trends in the industry and the robust technology innovation happening in the world of production, particularly virtual production. He also discusses what it was like being hired for his role during a pandemic.

GEMA TALKS with Rich Battista is joined by Molly Solomon on this episode. As the head of NBC's entire Olympics production and as the head of all of Golf Channel's production, Molly has been deep into the challenges of navigating through the COVID-19 crisis and she shares here what that experience has been like and what the future holds.  She also talks about her career from graduating from SFS to her 30-year career at NBC and also imparts valuable advice to those looking to break into the sports industry.

In this installment of GEMA TALKS, we are joined by Dasha Smith (B '95), Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer of the NFL. In our talk, Dasha describes what her role at the NFL entails, including the areas of technology/innovation and social responsibility/DEI. She also shares what the key factors were in executing on a successful 2020 season during COVID. Dasha also recounts her career journey including her roles at some of the most iconic media companies in history including Time Inc (and the challenges the company faced amidst the digital revolution) and Sony Music and now the NFL. She shares how she transitioned from an attorney to the areas of human resources and administration and also shares the one piece of career advice she would give her younger self, while also sharing  insightful carer advice to those breaking in and advancing their careers in media and entertainment.