WomenfortheWin.jpg

"DIVERSITY" AND "ACTION" KEY BUZZWORDS AS C3 HIGHLIGHTS FESTIVAL WEEKEND

The sixth edition of C3: Conference for Creative Content demonstrated the call for diversity and inclusion in all sectors of the entertainment industry, as seen through the wide range and experiences of both participants and audience members. C3, held April 23-24, 2016 at the Japanese American National Museum’s Aratani Central Hall as part of the 32nd Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, was conceived in 1991 by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts organization. C3 serves as a vehicle to bring together foremost media professionals in film, television, cable, digital, and transmedia to create a dialogue on the ever-changing media industry, share best practices, network, celebrate and build a collective vision for our community.

Beginning with the opening panel “The Great Equalizer: How New Media Gets You Noticed” through to the final panel of the conference, “The New Indie Cinema: Opportunities for Diverse Filmmakers in the Digital World,” this year’s C3 brought together over 40 professionals representing directing, producing, writing, and various technical aspects of the motion picture and television industry. A large, attentive audience of fellow media professionals, entertainment guild members, and Festival Week goers gained considerable insight into the craft, business, and even politics of creative content making as seen through the inclusion of panelists including producers Effie Brown (PROJECT GREENLIGHT) and Janet Yang (THE JOY LUCK CLUB), Academy Award-nominated screenwriter Iris Yamashita (LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA), actors Danny Pudi (COMMUNITY) and George Takei (STAR TREK), and Oscar-winning film editor Richard Chu (STAR WARS, EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE).

Among the highlights of the 2016 C3 was a politically-charged townhall panel, “Yellow Nerds and Dongs @ The Oscars or Can’t You Take a Joke? The Serious Business of Diversity in Hollywood,” which came on the heels of the revitalization of the #OscarsSoWhite campaign and the recent controversies on this year’s Oscars telecast in which Asians were targeted as the butt of stereotypical jokes. Organized by Asian Pacific American members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and sponsored by Asia Society Southern California and the IW Group, the townhall brought together Asian Pacific American Academy members and media activists as a means of catalyzing long-term, sustained actions for substantial change in the entertainment industry.

The 2016 C3: Conference for Creative Content was presented by Sony Pictures Entertainment. C3 Conference Sponsors included: Sony Pictures Entertainment, SAG-Producers Industry Advancement Cooperative Fund, Nielsen, Writers Guild of America/west, Directors Guild of America, Motion Pictures Editors Guild, Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Asia Society Southern California, and IW+Group.

 

C3 Sponsors

SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 2016

12:00 PM - SCREEN ACTORS GUILD-AMERICAN FEDERATION OF TELEVISION AND RADIO ARTISTS (SAG-AFTRA): The Great Equalizer: How New Media Gets You Noticed  

Whether you're a filmmaker still trying to get a studio meeting or a working actor looking to showcase your talent and boost your career to the next level, what better way to do so than to create your own web-series or New Media content? Join our panel of actors, writers, casting directors and distributors who are leaders in New Media. After the panel, stay for an interactive Q&A where you'll get the opportunity to pitch your idea for input and guidance from our experts.
 
Sheri Bryant | Head of Creator Talent and Partnerships, PATREON
Tim Chiou | Actor, iZOMBIE, CRUSH THE SKULL, JOHN HUGHES RUINED MY LIFE
Sujata Day | Actor/Writer/Producer/Musician, LARRY & LUCY, NAKED HIPSTER PROJECT
Brad Gilmore | Casting Director, BURYING THE EX, EVERYTHING BEFORE US
Danny Pudi | Actor/Writer/Director/Producer, COMMUNITY, THE BOOK CLUB, THE TIGER HUNTER
Jenny Yang (moderator) | Actor/Writer/Comedian, DIS/ORIENT/ED COMEDY, BUZZFEED

2:00 PM - F This Weekly Podcast: Women for the Win: Transcending the Inclusion Crisis and Gender Gap in Hollywood

Women filmmakers, producers, and executives team up to discuss their careers and solutions to issues faced by Asian American women and other women of color working in Hollywood. Join the conversation on Twitter using #WomenFTW!

Effie Brown | Producer/EVP Development & Production, LEE DANIELS ENTERTAINMENT, PROJECT GREENLIGHT
Lena Khan | Writer/Director/Producer, THE TIGER HUNTER
Pamela Tom | Director/Producer, TYRUS
Janet Yang | Managing Director of Creative Content, TANG MEDIA PARTNERS; Producer, THE JOY LUCK CLUB, SHANGHAI CALLING
Paola Mardo (Moderator) | Podcaster/Writer/Film Marketer, F THIS WEEKLY PODCAST, ANNAPURNA PICTURES

3:30 PM - WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA, WEST (WGAW): Writing for Diverse Voices in TV and Film

WGA Writers from film and television will share their personal experiences, as well as discuss the broader topic/issues/questions relating to diversity in the industry and in the characters they create.

Cindy Fang | Writer, GIRL MEETS WORLD, RUSH HOUR
Sameer Gardezi | Writer, MODERN FAMILY, THE TIGER HUNTER
Michael Golamco | Writer, PLEASE STAND BY, GRIMM
Peter Saji | Writer, COUGAR TOWN, BLACKISH
Iris Yamashita | Writer, LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, TOKYO DISNEYSEA
Neil Sadhu (Moderator) | Asian American Committee Chair, WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA, WEST

 

5:00 PM - YELLOW NERDS AND DONGS @ THE OSCARS OR CAN'T YOU TAKE A JOKE?: The Serious Business of Diversity in Hollywood 

Amid the discussion on greater racial sensitivity, the Oscars broadcast itself targeted Asians as the butt of stereotypical jokes. Two dozen Academy members of Asian descent promptly wrote a letter to Academy leaders expressing their dismay. The Academy organized a meeting, and discussions are ongoing. VC and Asia Society Southern California are pleased to present this event, designed to be a discussion that not only analyzes the issues, but focuses on potential solutions. 
 
George Takei | a path-breaking actor and prominent advocate for inclusiveness
Janet Yang and Arthur Dong | two of the Academy members who helped spearhead the letter campaign and are in current talks with Academy leaders
Daniel Mayeda | Co-Chair of the Asian Pacific American Media Coalition
Marc Bernardin | LA Times
Emerlynn Lampitoc | Manager, Creative Talent Development & Inclusion, Disney | ABC Television Group’s (DATG) Talent Development & Diversity
Kiko Washington | Executive Vice President, Worldwide Human Resources, Warner Brothers Entertainment
Phil Yu (Moderator) | Angry Asian Man

Organizers:
Janet Yang | Film Producer - Asia Society Southern California – Board of Directors
Jonathan Karp | Executive Director – Asia Society Southern California
David Magdael | Co-Director – Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival

Panel Sponsor:
IW Group

SUNDAY, APRIL 24, 2016

12:30 PM - MOTION PICTURE EDITORS GUILD (MPEG): Editing - The Last Rewrite

From sound to visuals, award-winning narrative and documentary Hollywood film and sound editors discuss how your story can drastically change in the cutting room.

Bobbi Banks | Sound Editor, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON
Lillian Benson | Documentary Editor, GREENLEAF, AND STILL I RISE
Richard Chew | Editor, STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE, SHANGHAI NOON, THE RUNAWAYS
Tom Cross | Editor, CRAZY HEART, WHIPLASH
William Hoy | Editor, 300, WATCHMEN, DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
Gail Yasunaga | Documentary Editor, SEARCHING FOR DEBRA WINGER, CHANGING OUR MINDS
Maysie Hoy (moderator) | Editor, THE JOY LUCK CLUB, WHAT DREAMS MAY COME

2:00 PM - DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA (DGA): Utilizing Emerging Technology to Enhance Your Storytelling

Renowned directors of blockbuster television series and feature films bring their years of experience in discussing how they utilized tech and the future of storytelling.

Brian Metcalf | Producer/Director/Visual Effects, THE LOST TREE, FEIG
Philip Tan | Stunt Coordinator/Director, INCEPTION, TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION
Ian Truitner | Director/Writer, CUTTING ROOM, F8, TELEIOS
Kevin Berlandi (moderator) | Asian American Committee Chair, DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA   

 

 

3:30 PM - YOU OFFEND ME YOU OFFEND MY FAMILY (YOMYOMF): The New Indie Cinema - Opportunities for Diverse Filmmakers in the Digital World.

Created by Justin Lin and other collaborators to be an online source for content, You Offend Me You Offend My Family (YOMYOMF) are bringing together studio executives, distributors, agents, and artists all working in the digital space to discuss the opportunities and landscape for filmmakers in this exponentially growing field.

Joey De La Rosa | Director of Content Development, FULLSCREEN
Karen Horne | SVP, Programming Talent Development and Inclusion, NBC ENTERTAINMENT and UNIVERSAL TELEVISION STUDIOS
Diana Mogollón | Senior Vice President and General Manager of Projext MIX, WARNER BROS. TELEVISION GROUP (DIGITAL)
Viet Nguyen | Director/Writer, iZOMBIE, PLAY IT AGAIN, DICK, CRUSH THE SKULL
Philip Chung (moderator) | Writer/Producer, YOU OFFEND ME YOU OFFEND MY FAMILY

 

Click here for the 2016 C3 Program Guide.

Click here to view other editions of C3.