The Crowd: Women of television lead Chapman panel
Television is the media kingpin of information, like it or not. Today the video images may be delivered via multiple devices but make no mistake, as Marshall McLuhan famously stated long ago, “The medium is the message.”
Recently, Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film and Media Arts hosted its annual “Women In Focus” luncheon and seminar inviting six influential women in the television media to share insights into present day policy as well as to peer into the crystal ball of future trends.
“Those who understand that film (video) is the literature of this century will be those students who have mastered the art of storytelling using the media arts,” said Dodge College Dean Robert Bassett. To that end, he said, the purpose of the annual event is to “build a dialogue between emerging and established women in the industry.”
Behind this goal are some of the O.C.’s accomplished women, including sponsors Twyla Reed Martin, Eve Kornyei Ruffatto, Harriet Sandhu, Diana Martin, Bonnie Schumacher and Sally Crockett.
This was the 16th annual conference produced at Chapman and this season’s emphasis was television. The panel of guest experts included Kerry Ehrin (“Parenthood”); Deena Katz (“Dancing With The Stars”); Debra Martin Chase (“1-800-Missing”); Robin Schiff (“Party of Five”) and Janine Sherman Barrois (“Criminal Minds”). Dawn Taubin, a marketing executive for Warner Bros. and DreamWorks and a former Chapman professor, served as moderator of the panel discussion.
The afternoon began with lunch served on the Paul and Daranne Folino sound stage in the Marion Knott Studios at Dodge College.
Ehrin, best known for her work as a writer-producer on such shows as “Parenthood” and “Friday Night Lights,” shared views on expanding creative limits and breaking uncharted ground. She brought her teenage daughter along.
Schiff, a 20-year veteran of the Hollywood shuffle, has been a writer-producer, with many credits. Schiff has been an activist with the Writers Guild of America and is working on a musical version of the cult hit “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” which starred Lisa Kudrow and Mira Sorvino.
One of the most successful female producers, Katz, co-executive producer on the long running ABC-TV show “Dancing With The Stars,” discussed the role of reality TV and the function of awards shows and specials.
The first African American woman to have a major studio deal, Martin Chase has been affiliated with Disney and ABC since 2001. Joining her was Sherman Barrois, executive producer on the CBS-TV drama “Criminal Minds” with former credits including “ER,” “Third Watch” and “The Jamie Foxx Show.”
Participating in the event were Dona Constantine; major Chapman alumni booster Missy Hauser; Donna Bianchi, president of Women of Chapman; Susan Spagnoli; Pat Steinman; Janeen Hirson; and local PBS TV host Rick Reiff. Major underwriters for the confab came from the Zonta Club of Newport Harbor, Entertainment Partners, and Women In Film Los Angeles.
THE CROWD runs Fridays and Saturdays. B.W. Cook is editor of the Bay Window, the official publication of the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach.
