Sandy Grushow

Sandy Grushow is the founder of Filmaka.com. Previously, he ran Phase Two Productions, a 20th Century Fox-based entertainment production company. Grushow launched Phase Two in January, 2004, segueing from his position as Chairman of the Fox Television Entertainment Group.

As Chairman of the Fox Television Entertainment Group, Grushow oversaw both the entertainment operations of the FOX Broadcasting Company and one of the industry’s foremost network television production companies, Twentieth Century Fox Television.

During Mr. Grushow’s tenure, the FOX network introduced such key franchises as AMERICAN IDOL, 24, THE OC, ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, THE BERNIE MAC SHOW and JOE MILLIONAIRE and achieved the first sweeps wins in its history (February and May of 2003) and finished closer to #1 for the season than any time in its history (0.2 rating point in 2002-03). Under Mr. Grushow’s oversight, Twentieth Century Fox Television rose from the eighth-ranked studio, with just five series on primetime, to become a leader in network television production, counting such hit series as 24, THE SIMPSONS, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER, ANGEL, KING OF THE HILL, THE BERNIE MAC SHOW, REBA, JUDGING AMY and STILL STANDING.

Grushow began his career at 20th Century Fox in 1983 as an intern, rising to become Vice President of Creative Advertising for the film company. In that position, he developed and implemented advertising campaigns for some of the studio’s most successful films, including BROADCAST NEWS, BIG and DIE HARD.

Grushow then joined the FOX network in 1988 as Senior Vice President of Advertising and Promotion, helping to create and launch the new network’s national brand identity. He was also responsible for supervising all national and affiliate marketing activities, including the launch of such signature FOX series as THE SIMPSONS, IN LIVING COLOR, BEVERLY HILLS 90210 and COPS.

In July 1991, Mr. Grushow was promoted to Executive Vice President of the FOX Entertainment Group and in December 1992 to President of the FOX Entertainment Group. Serving as President through October 1994, Mr. Grushow oversaw FOX’s television programming, scheduling and marketing divisions; in that capacity he was responsible for such hit shows as MELROSE PLACE, THE X-FILES, LIVING SINGLE, PARTY OF FIVE and MAD-TV.

Grushow left FOX Broadcasting in 1995 to become President of the nation's first-ever major interactive television and broadband programming service, TELE-TV in 1995. TELE-TV was a major programming partnership among three of the nation's largest Regional Bell Operating Cos. -- Bell Atlantic, NYNEX and Pacific Telesis Group.

At Tele-TV, he created a branded interactive program navigator and multi-channel video-on-demand and interactive television environment, while managing all programming and marketing operations for the TELE-TV consortium.

A native of New York City, Mr. Grushow graduated Summa Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California at Los Angeles, with a Bachelors degree in communications. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two sons.

Terence Carter

Terence Carter joined Fox Broadcasting Company in March 2009 as Co-Head of Drama Development. Prior to that, Carter was Head of Drama Programming for NBC Universal, overseeing the Drama Development and Current departments at the network and Universal Media Studios. As a Vice President at NBC, Carter oversaw the development of the critical favorite “Kings” as well as shows like “Southland,” “Knight Rider,” “Fear Itself,” and “The Philanthropist.” Prior to his work on the drama side, Carter spent two years as Director of Comedy Development at NBC where he developed shows like “20 Good Years” and “The IT Crowd.” Carter’s pre-NBC resume included a stint heading development for Tonic Films (“Cabin Fever”). His entertainment career began as an intern on NBC’s “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Carter graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University where he studied Afro-American Studies with a focus in film and media.

Damona Resnick-Hoffman

Damona Resnick-Hoffman is the Director, Alternative Programming for The Sci Fi Channel (soon to be Syfy). In this role she oversees the creative elements and day to day production on Sci Fi’s current unscripted shows including hit series Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, and Scare Tactics. She is also a part of the development team and actively pursues concepts for both on-air and digital projects.

Previously, she served as Director, Talent Diversity Initiatives for NBC Universal. In this position, Ms. Resnick-Hoffman created Comedy Short Cuts, a festival for comedic films made with diversity in mind. The 2006 festival resulted in a digital development deal for three top filmmakers and the 2007 festival presented a blind script deal to the top-awarded scribes. She also created Stand-Up for Diversity a search for stand-up comedians which has featured hundreds of comics and opened up opportunities with Last Comic Standing, NBC talent holding deals, the Aspen U.S. Comedy Arts Festival and Montreal Just For Laughs Festival.

Ms. Resnick-Hoffman’s career began in casting on UPN’s “Moesha” and later with CBS Television. She was also Casting Administrator of Paramount Network Television. Her office oversaw the casting of all Paramount television shows including “Frasier”, “Becker”, “Girlfriends”, and “JAG” and she was part of the casting team when hit shows “Numbers”, “NCIS”, and “Medium” were piloted.

Ms. Resnick-Hoffman holds a B.S. in Communications from Northwestern University and a Graduate Certificate in Producing from U.C.L.A.

Dana DuBois

Dana DuBois was most recently Director of Cable Series at Universal Cable Productions. As a studio executive she worked on the USA Network hits Monk, In Plain Sight and The Starter Wife , as well as developing scripts and pilots for USA and Sci Fi Channel. Before her post at UCP, Dana was a Manager of Comedy Series at Universal Media Studios where she developed shows for NBC. Originally from Denver, CO, Dana eventually transitioned from her media studies major at Pomona College to NBC Page on the Burbank lot. She still has her name tag and peacock tie.

John Axelson

John Axelson has produced everything from hundreds of hours of live television, to network comedy as well as documentary and docu-soap television. He has been senior management for most of his career in news and entertainment managing large staffs and budgets with demonstrable success in every venture.

John first became an Executive Producer at Pinnacle Productions where he produced hundreds of commercials as well as long form programs. John worked on BRUCE LEE: CURSE OF THE DRAGON, first as a Director/DP, later becoming a producer on the project for Warner Brothers Home Video. He directed the comedy special: JOE PISCOPO’S CARIBBEAN FANTASY and the pilot SEE AMERICA for RTL (German Television).

The following year, John produced and directed MTV’s TOO HUGE commercial campaign and directed HOME, HEARTH AND OREOS. A teleplay for PBS, as well as four other documentaries with Martin Sheen and Gregory Hines. In addition, John created and executive produced the very successful comedy talk / interview television show 10’S for USA Broadcasting., and STRIP POKER FOR USA Network. Most recently he produced on NATIONAL LAMPOON’S FUNNY MONEY for the Game Show Network and is the Supervising Producer on the re-launch of Comedy Central’s perennial hit series THE MAN SHOW. Then as the Show Runner for CON and Co-Executive Producer on THE MIND OF MENCIA for both Comedy Central and Executive Producer Robert Morton.

Eric Levy

Eric Levy is the Director of Development at The Incubator, an independent documentary and unscripted television production company based in Los Angeles.  The Incubator has produced series and specials for CBS, Discovery, Fox, HBO, History, Lifetime, National Geographic, Spike, TLC, USA, VH1, and WE in the US, as well as Channel Four, Channel Five and BSkyB in the UK.

Eric began his television career in New York as an advertising sales executive for The WB Network before receiving his MBA from Columbia Business School.  After stints in the television departments of talent agencies ICM and Endeavor, Eric became a development executive at LMNO Productions and GSN before moving to The Incubator, where he develops and sells new content for both domestic and international markets. Eric received his undergraduate degree from Colgate University.

Brandon Riegg

While attending the University of Pennsylvania, Brandon Riegg spent a summer interning at Warner Bros. Television, where he returned to work full time upon graduation, starting out in research and sales for Warner Bros. Domestic Distribution. Mr. Riegg then transitioned to a creative role as an assistant at Fox Television Studios, where he gained exposure to
both non-scripted and scripted fare, including the creation of FX's critically acclaimed series "The Shield."

He continued exploring alternative programming at Carsey-Werner-Mandabach as a creative exec in reality, as well as receiving production exposure at Mark Burnett Productions. Mr. Riegg has spent the last three years as a development executive for VH1, here he was instrumental in developing several series, most notably "Breaking Bonaduce." In May, 2006, Mr. Riegg was made Director of Development and Current Programming for ABC's Alternative Department, overseeing hit shows such as "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" and "Dancing with the Stars," as well as the upcoming docu-soap "One Ocean View."

Barry Kotler

Barry is a Television Literary Agent at The Gersh Agency, a talent and literary agency based in Beverly Hills, California. He works with many of Hollywood's top television writers and producers. Prior to joining Gersh in 2004, Kotler received a MFA in Producing from the UCLA School of Film and Television. Barry lives in Los Angeles with his wife Dana.

Michael Rotman

Michael Rotman is an Emmy Nominated writer for his work on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher. He has also worked as a writer/producer on shows such as; The Simple Life, Strip Poker, South Park and Nanny 911. Michael's film, "Star Wait" which he Directed through his company, "Monkeys In Silk Productions" is available nationwide on DVD. Michael just Directed and Co-Executive Produced "Maximus Puss: Suicidal Cat" starring Penn Jillette for superdeluxe.com. Currently, Michael is Executive Producer on the G4 pilot "Around the Net."

Adrian Kulp

Adrian Kulp is currently the Vice-President of Development at “Borderline Amazing”, Chelsea Handler’s newly formed production company. In this role, he is responsible for all development of scripted and non-scripted properties with a first-look deal at the E! Entertainment network.

Prior to this, Kulp spent 7 years as a television executive at Adam Sandler’s Happy Madison Productions, where they created “Rules of Engagement” for CBS, “The Gong Show” and “Gay Robot” for Comedy Central. He also produced a short film entitled “A Day with the Meatball”, starring Sandler, which was attached to the animated feature “Eight Crazy Nights”.

In 2006 and 2007, during his tenure at Happy Madison, he also simultaneously booked the comic talent on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” on CBS. He had the pleasure of booking over 40 stand-ups on the show, giving many of them their first break on national television.

Early in his career, Kulp also did stints in the comedy department at APA, as well as Irvin Arthur & Associates.

He has judged various events at the “Just for Laughs” Festival in Montreal and also served on the executive advisory board for HBO’s now defunct “U.S. Comedy and Arts Festival” in Aspen, Colorado.

He currently resides in Los Angeles with his wife Jennifer.

Matthew Skrobalak

Matt Skrobalak joined CBS Paramount Network Television as Director, Casting in 2004. In his position, Skrobalak oversees casting activity on all CBS Paramount Network Television shows, including talent scouting and serving as liaison between producers, casting directors and the networks.

Before joining CBS Paramount, Skrobalak started “Skrobalak & Ross Casting,” where he and his business partner specialized in casting independent films. Prior to running his own agency, Skrobalak was a Casting Associate for Gary Zuckerbrod on the hit television series, WITHOUT A TRACE for CBS. Skrobalak started out as an assistant at Ulrich/Dawson/Kritzer Casting, where he worked his way up to Casting Associate. Here he worked on shows such as Hope & Faith for ABC and Felicity for the WB.

lso on his casting resume are A Mighty Wind from Castle Rock Entertainment, and Curb Your Enthusiasm for HBO.

Skrobalak graduated from Loyola College with Bachelors Degree in Psychology, and received a Masters Degree from Arizona State in Organizational Communication.

Merry Elkins

President of Elk Road Media & Entertainment and producer Merry Elkins is working with the youth-oriented website younghollywood.com to create sponsorships and market the company to the entertainment community. Additionally, she is spearheading efforts to merchandise KFWB syndicated radio personality Ross Crystal’s “Channel Flipping” and “ShowBiz Express” to the film and television studios. As a producer, she is developing reality projects for television.

For 18 years, she served as an advertising executive at The Hollywood Reporter, one of the bibles of the global entertainment industry. Responsible for heading up television advertising on the West Coast, she oversaw domestic and international print and online ads purchased by the television networks, producers and independent production companies.

While there, her responsibilities included meeting daily sales goals as well as working closely with clients to create custom print and online pieces and managing the paper’s sales and editorial teams to bring these special issues to market; seeking out sponsorship opportunities for conferences, panels, events, awards and co-branding; writing sales letters and working with the marketing team; attending domestic and global television markets and more.

Before her stint at The Hollywood Reporter, she ran her own boutique publicity company, handling clients involved in producing commercials for television. During this time,
she also wrote articles and supplied photos for a number of newspapers, entertainment trade publications and airline magazines. Her subjects ranged from entertainment to travel to consumer interest stories.

Her rich career path included working as a dancer, actress and on-camera reporter, performing in numerous commercials, daytime dramas and primetime shows. She free-lanced for “Entertainment Tonight” and NBC’s news affiliate in San Diego, California.

Her career as a dancer began on the Dean Martin Show, where she auditioned and won one of the 12 coveted spots to become a “Golddigger,” one of the original dancers on “Dean Martin Presents: The Golddiggers.” Later, “The Golddiggers” went on to perform with Bob Hope on his USO tours in Vietnam, host their own television variety series in the US and in London, and to record three albums.

She attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and graduated from USC in Los Angeles with a degree in photojournalism.

She is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Hollywood Radio and Television Society. She is married and lives underneath the Hollywood sign in the Hollywood hills.

Advisory Board

Steve Basilone

Serving as the festival's Director of Programming from 2005 - 2008, Steve Basilone has been a part of the ITVF family since the very beginning. A Pittsburgh native, Basilone has a background in writing. For years he has been writing for the LA Times, LA Confidential, Art & Living Magazine and most recently Death + Taxes. In 2007 Dirty Step Stomp, a feature he co-wrote with writing partner, Annie Mebane, sold to the Weinstein Company. Their last script, The Perfect Fit , is in development at Temple Hill. Currently Steve is in the process of developing a pilot for Fox with long time comedic partner, Dan Levy.