EVENT: How has disruption – from the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath to the acceleration of artificial intelligence – impacted the entertainment industry and what disruptors are waiting in the wings?

“The Disrupters, the Disrupted, and the Disrupted Disrupters” is the theme of UCLA School of Law’s 47th Annual Entertainment Symposium, led by the Ziffren Institute for Media, Entertainment, Technology and Sports Law.

The annual state of the union for the entertainment industry, this year’s hybrid Entertainment Symposium aims to address the ongoing transformation of the entertainment industry in the face of unprecedented challenges, technological advancements, and shifting market dynamics. The Symposium is keynoted by Bela Bajaria, chief content officer at Netflix, and spans three days, virtual and in person.

WHEN/WHERE:

• Wed., May 31 – Webinar, 5-7 p.m. PT
• Wed., June 7 – Webinar, 5-7 p.m. PT
• Fri., June 9 – In-person at Schoenberg Hall on at the UCLA campus, 2-6 p.m. PT (no livestream)
• Recordings of all three sessions will be available on-demand after their initial broadcast until Fri., Sept 1.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• May 31 at 5:05 p.m. – “After Covid: The Industry Resets” with Tom Wolzien, chairman of Wolzien, LLC. This opening session sets the stage with the symposium’s annual status report exploring box office recovery, streaming slowing, and digitally driven advertising.
• June 7 at 6:10 p.m. – “New Frontiers in Entertainment: From AI to Virtual Production and Beyond,” moderated by Nathaniel Bach, Entertainment Litigation Partner, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.
• June 9 at 3:30 p.m. – “Whose IP Is It Anyway?  Source Material and Underlying Rights in Film and TV,” moderated by Matt Belloni, founding partner, Puck.
• June 9 at 4:50 p.m. – Keynote Bela Bajaria, chief content officer at Netflix, in conversation with Ken Ziffren, partner at Ziffren Brittenham LLP.

A full schedule of panels and speakers can be accessed via this link: law.ucla.edu/entertainmentsymposium.

BACKGROUND:

The Annual Entertainment Symposium is a flagship event for the entertainment industry, bringing leading executives, lawyers, agents, managers and producers, together with students for candid discussions on subjects at the forefront of the industry. Conversations during this three-day conference have ranged from lively debate over the changing landscape of the entertainment business, to shared insights on planning for the success of original content in a vast digital landscape, and perspectives on filmmaking in newly developing markets. Panelists regularly include top entertainment lawyers and key executives from studios and production companies, along with leaders from digital and independent companies.

MEDIA REGISTRATION: Media planning to attend the virtual or in-person events must RSVP to Annabel Adams at adams@law.ucla.edu for event credentials. Attendance and parking are complimentary for media who RSVP in advance.