Keynote Speakers
Frederick Huntsberry
COO Paramount Pictures
Judy McGrath
Former CEO MTV Networks
Judy McGrath is a 30-year veteran of MTV Networks, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the brand, content and pro-social identity of MTV, as well as the creative and strategic direction of iconic brands including Nickelodeon, Comedy Central and VH1, worldwide. Most recently, Ms. McGrath served as Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks from 2004 to 2011. In her role, she oversaw the management and operation of the company's multiplatform portfolio, which includes MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central. Ms. McGrath held a succession of positions at MTV Networks since the launch of MTV in 1981. Prior to being named Chairman and CEO, she was the MTV Networks Group President. In her time at the helm of MTVN, her teams developed programs and events across the entire company’s portfolio of brands that have become cultural landmarks to people everywhere, including MTV’s“Video Music Awards,” and “The Real World,” VH1’s long-running, award winning “Save the Music” campaign, CMT’s“Crossroads;” Nickelodeon’s “Dora the Explorer;” and Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” “The Colbert Report,” and “South Park.” Consistently recognized as an inspiring and creative leader, Ms. McGrath has always maintained a passionate commitment to developing pro-social initiatives. Among the programs she has championed are MTV’s anti-bullying campaign A THIN LINE, mtvU’s Darfur is Dying, and the Emmy award-winning Fight For Your Rights series. In early 2010, she worked with George Clooney to organize the “Hope For Haiti Now” telethon which raised over $100 million dollars to benefit earthquake relief. In recent years, on her watch, MTV Networks emerged as one of the leading content companies available on every platform, with innovative applications for mobile, tablets, web and social media. Ms. McGrath began her career at Conde Nast Publications, as a writer for several magazines in their portfolio. A member of the MTV family since its first days, Ms. McGrath joined Warner Amex Satellite Entertainment Company (WASEC), MTV Networks’ predecessor company, in 1981 as a writer for MTV o-air promotion. She subsequently moved up the ranks and became Editorial Director, MTV; Executive Vice President and Creative Director, MTV; and then, President, MTV. Under her direction as President, MTV grew from an irreverentcable channel to the influential global brand it is today. Ms. McGrath is on the board of the American Red Cross and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. She has been honored by the Paley Center for Media, The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences,American Women in Radio & TV; the Food Bank of NYC;YouthAIDS; the TJ Martell Foundation, the Alliance for Womenand the Matrix Awards. Ms. McGrath is in the Broadcasting & Cable Hall of Fame. Currently, Ms. McGrath is consulting for Chernin Entertainment.
Carlton Cuse
Emmy Award Winning Screenwriter & Executive Producer
A veteran television producer and writer, Emmy winner Carlton Cuse helped to shape the complex geometry that was the storyline for "Lost" (ABC, 2005-2010), and created such successful series as "Nash Bridges" (CBS, 1996-2001) and "Martial Law" (CBS, 1998-2001). Cuse started his career by raising funds for and producing a documentary on the famed Harvard rowing teams, which ultimately landed him a job as a production assistant to producer Bernard Schwartz. He eventually worked his way up to development executive, where he met writer Jeffrey Boam, then a hot property thanks to his scripts for "The Lost Boys" (1987) and "Innerspace" (1987). The two became creative partners and developed the short-lived cult Western series, "The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr.," as well as an unproduced 1992 pilot for a series based on "The Witches of Eastwick" (1987). While working with Boam, Cuse also penned several scripts for other television series, including "Crime Story" (NBC, 1986-88). He struck paydirt in 1996 as the co-creator of "Nash Bridges," a popular crime drama about an aging but suave San Francisco police detective (series co-creator Don Johnson) and his partner (Cheech Marin). Among the contributing writers for the series was a young man named Damon Lindelof, who would later partner with Cuse on "Lost." While working on "Bridges," Cuse also created "Martial Law" (CBS, 1998-2000). In 2005, Cuse was tapped by Lindelof to help him oversee the fantasy/drama "Lost.“Cuse eventually came aboard the show as executive producer and joint showrunner with his younger partner by the fourth episode of the first season. In addition to writing or co-writing 32 episodes, including the controversial series finale, Cuse helped to shape the overall story and character arcs, as well as assigning scripts and budget, from the show's Los Angeles offices. For his work on "Lost," Cuse shared the 2005 Emmy for Best Dramatic Series, as well as 2006 awards from the Writers Guild of America and Producers Guild of America.