On August 21, the DGA joined the Viacom Music Group for a diversity networking mixer. Held in the Atrium of DGA headquarters in Los Angeles, this event provided DGA ethnic minority and women members in all categories with the opportunity to make connections and establish relationships with executives from MTV, VH1, CMT and LOGO, who are in positions to hire them.
The evening kicked off with a welcome and introductions from DGA Associate National Executive Director/Western Executive Director G. Bryan Unger and Viacom Media Networks, Music Group Executive Vice President Business Affairs and General Counsel, Keyes Hill-Edgar, who spoke about Viacom’s new Spectrum Director Diversity Program, a new initiative which will provide training for diverse candidates interested in gaining experience in both scripted and reality programming. Afterward, the attending DGA members were able to mingle during an informal cocktail reception with the following Viacom Music Group executives:
- Dana Gotlieb-Carter, Director of Scripted Series, MTV
- James DeSimas, Director of Series Development, MTV
- Jayson Dinsmore, Executive Vice President of Development, CMT
- Lauren Dolgen, Executive Vice President of West Coast Reality, MTV
- Kristina Edwards, Senior Director of Series Development, MTV
- Brad Hazzard, Senior Vice President Business & Legal Affairs, Music Group
- Keyes Hill-Edgar, Executive Vice President Business Affairs and General Counsel, Viacom Media Networks, Music Group
- Jill Holmes, Senior Vice President, West Coast Production & Development, VH1
- Bahareh Kamali, Vice President of Strategic Development, MTV 360
- Brian Lazarus, Senior Vice President Business and Legal Affairs, MTV
- Mina Lefevre, Senior Vice President and Head of Scripted Programming, MTV
- Susan Levison, Executive Vice President Original Programming & Production, VH-1
- Lance McPherson, Senior Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs, MTV
- Jennifer Ortega, Senior Vice President Business Affairs & Deputy General Counsel, Viacom Media Networks
- Dave Osper, Vice President of Series Development, MTV
- Tim Palazzola, Executive Producer, LOGO
- Taj Paxton, Executive Producer, LOGO
- Pamela Post, Vice President of Original Programming, LOGO
- Chris Schmidt, Director of Business & Legal Affairs Administration, MTV Music Group
This event was another mixer held by the Guild in furtherance of its aims to increase and support diversity in the entertainment community. The previous mixers led to job opportunities for female and minority DGA members.
- Click here for more information on the Viacom Media Networks’ Spectrum Director Diversity Program