For every Hollywood success story, there are 100 tales of trudging unsuccessfully through the trenches.  Join us for a spirited evening of stories from the front lines as Cornellians reveal some of their biggest challenges and successes in getting their film projects made.

Panelist will include:

Dan Cohen ’05 was born and raised in San Diego and received his BA in Psychology from Cornell, where he was a member of the Men’s Lightweight Rowing team. He began his career as an assistant at The Firm in 2005 and then worked at Sidney Kimmel Entertainment as a creative executive before joining Shawn Levy’s 21 Laps in 2010, where he currently serves as Senior Vice President. His producing credits include the 2013 Sundance award-winning THE SPECTACULAR NOW, CUT BANK and the Netflix series STRANGER THINGS, which was just released. He has 3 movies in post-production that will be coming out late 2016 and early 2017: STORY OF YOUR LIFE (Paramount, Dir: Denis Villeneuve), TABLE 19 (Fox Searchlight, Dir: Jeff Blitz) and FIST FIGHT (New Line, Dir: Richie Keen). Dan was a member of the 2014 Hollywood Reporter’s Next Gen class.

Craig Dewey ’06 moved to LA in 2006, landed his first job as a post PA on Michael Mann’s MIAMI VICE and wrote his first screenplay by hand since he didn’t have a computer. He has since worked in editorial on a dozen films and a few TV shows, including this year’s PETE’S DRAGON as the First Assistant Editor. As a writer, Craig has 20 screenplays (one of which almost sold after a year of development, hence the inspiration for this panel title), two unfinished novels (someday!), and a handful of pilots. He continues to write when he can pry himself away from an Avid!

Mika Pryce ’06 worked in physical production before moving to Los Angeles to attend the Peter Stark Producing Program at USC. During her studies she worked at CAA’s investment bank, Evolution Media Capital, before going on to work in international sales at Lionsgate Entertainment.  She has since worked at Langley Park Pictures, a Warner Bros based production company, and at the production company and financier, Red Granite Pictures.  She is currently a Creative Executive at Universal Pictures.

Trevor White ’07 is a founder and managing partner of Star Thrower Entertainment. He co-wrote and directed JAMESY BOY, starring James Woods, Mary-Louise Parker, Ving Rhames and Taissa Farmiga, which premiered in 2014, and he is currently in pre-production on his next directorial effort. Trevor is currently producing Rob Reiner’s LBJ starring Woody Harrelson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Richard Jenkins and executive producing Taylor Sheridan’s WIND RIVER with Jeremy Renner and Elizabeth Olsen. He produced Kasra Farahani’s THE WAITING, which had its premiere at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival. He currently has many other film and television projects in various stages of development and production, including a television series at HBO.  Trevor will join us if his schedule permits.

Our evening will be moderated by screenwriter David Greenman ’00.

Date: Monday, July 18, 2016

Time: 7:30 pm reception; 8 pm presentation

Location: Writers Guild of America (2nd floor), 7000 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048

Parking: Free underground – garage entrance on Blackburn (1 block south of 3rd Street)

Cost: Free for classes of 2006 – 2016 + 1 guest; $15 per CCLA member ($30 for a CCLA member + 1 guest); $25 per non-members and each additional person.

RSVP: Buy tickets at http://www.cornellclubla.com/store.html?event_id=1614. Your name will be on a list at the door.

More Info: Nancy Mills – NLM5@cornell.edu