Industry Execs, Network Showrunners Share Experiences

By Vicky Westover, UA Hanson Film Institute | February 14, 2012

Professionals who have worked on television shows such as "Person of Interest," "Alcatraz," "The New Girl," "The Mentalist," "The Vampire Diaries" and "The Office" will be giving a free, public talk at UA this month.

UA alumna Lisa Roos, vice president of drama development at Warner Bros. Television, will speak at the UA as part of a panel discussion on television show production. (Photo courtesy of the UA Hanson Film Institute)
UA alumna Lisa Roos, vice president of drama development at Warner Bros. Television, will speak at the UA as part of a panel discussion on television show production. (Photo courtesy of the UA Hanson Film Institute)
The UA Hanson Film Institute is collaborating with the Tucson Film Office to offer a lecture series about the film and television industry.
The UA Hanson Film Institute is collaborating with the Tucson Film Office to offer a lecture series about the film and television industry.

Industry professionals will visit the University of Arizona this month to share their first-hand experiences moving an idea to the production of a television show.

The UA Hanson Film Institute and the Tucson Film Office continue their collaboration on “Inside Track: A Series of Film & TV Panels" centered on how the television industry works.

The third panel in the ongoing series – "Creating a Great TV Series – From Idea to Development to Production" – will be held Feb. 18 from 3-4:30 p.m. at the UA's Center for Creative Photography, 1030 N. Olive Road. 

The lecture predates Tucson Cine Mexico 2012, which will be held Feb. 29 through March 4.

During the Feb. 18 event, Lorna Soroko, an award-winning writer, producer, television development executive and entertainment lawyer, will moderate. Soroko, who originally is from Los Angeles, lives in Tucson and guest teaches at the UA.

Among the series the panelists have written for or have developed include "Person of Interest," "Alcatraz," "The New Girl," "The Mentalist," "The Vampire Diaries" and "The Office." 

Confirmed panelists are:

  • UA alumna Jennifer Breslow, vice president of scripted series at Lifetime who oversees development and production of pilots and series. She previously was ABC's vice president of drama development.
  • UA alumna Lisa Roos, vice president of drama development at Warner Bros. Television, oversees and manages the development of drama pilots from pitch to final cut. Roos has developed series such as "Person of Interest," "The Mentalist," "Alcatraz" and "The Vampire Diaries."
  • Robert Myman is a founding partner of Myman, Greenspan, Fineman, Fox, Rosenberg & Light LLP, a leading firm in the entertainment legal community, and previously longtime partner with John Ritter in Adam Productions, where he executive produced four network series and numerous television movies and specials.
  • Joe Port is co-executive producer of "The New Girl," writer/producer of Fox comedy pilot "Family Album" and also writer on comedies such as "Dilbert," "Just Shoot Me," "The Office" and others. 

The Inside Track panels are open to the public. General admission is $8 – only cash will be accepted at the door – and all students and University employees will receive free admission with a CatCard. 

Seats are limited and on a first come, first served basis.