BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//LA Skins Fest - ECPv5.16.4.1//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:LA Skins Fest X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://laskinsfest.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for LA Skins Fest BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/Los_Angeles BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20090308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20091101T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20100314T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20101107T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20110313T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20111106T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20120311T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20121104T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20130310T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20131103T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20140309T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20141102T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20150308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20151101T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20160313T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20161106T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20170312T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20171105T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20180311T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20181104T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20190310T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20191103T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20200308T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20201101T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20210314T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20211107T090000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0800 TZOFFSETTO:-0700 TZNAME:PDT DTSTART:20220313T100000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0700 TZOFFSETTO:-0800 TZNAME:PST DTSTART:20221106T090000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20090608T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20221120T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T040757 CREATED:20220808T235323Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240730T195015Z UID:10783-1244448000-1668963600@laskinsfest.com SUMMARY:Youth Media and Tech Workshop Overview DESCRIPTION: \n     Since 2009\, the Native American Youth Media and Tech Workshop has travelled to reservations and urban centers across the world to provide an expansive and comprehensive program that provides new access for our community. Every year\, we expand the workshop to include new curriculum\, new technology and new equipment. \nOur multimedia curriculum includes short film production that reflect the community and current issues effecting the youth participants. This entails the development and creation of documentaries\, scripted narratives and PSA’s produced entirely by the young filmmakers. Curriculum includes learning proper camera operation\, on-set sound recording\, directing actors\, lighting scenes\, editing and music composition. The youth present their final pieces to their community at the conclusion of the workshop. \n\n    In 2019\, we launched the Native Youth Animation Workshop. This program offers hands on instruction in 3-D animation software\, 2-D animation drawn by hand and stop-motion animation. The workshop also provides tours of animation and visual effects studios. This initiative is meant to provide Native youth with the inspiration to explore animation as a viable opportunity and career path. This program has partnered with numerous studios and networks to offer genuine access. \n\nIn 2021\, we created the Native Youth Virtual Reality Workshop. This program introduces cutting edge virtual reality applications and video production to Native youth. The workshop teaches new technology to Native youth so they can have every opportunity available in new technology. This program provides an in-depth look into the possibilities virtual reality provides our community. Our organization has partnered with the most high profile tech companies to provide this program. Check out some stills and vids here! \n\nThe entire program culminates with the Native Youth Multimedia Weekend in November. This has youth from all of our programs attend our annual film festival at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood. This initiative has youth participants from several reservations and communities attend studio tours\, production workshops\, film screenings and attendance to the Native American Media Awards. \nCheck Out Our Past and Current Workshops! \n2023\n2022\n2021\n2020\n2019\n2018\n2017\n2016\n2015\n2014\n2013\n2012\n2011\n2010\n2009 \n  \nSponsors: \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Meta\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n National Endowment for the Arts\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Los Angeles County Arts & Culture\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n San Manuel Band of Mission Indians\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n United Talent Agency\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Comcast NBCUniversal\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Sony Pictures Entertainment\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Sony Electronics\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Verizon\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n California Humanities\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Union Bank\n \n \n \n\n\n  URL:https://laskinsfest.com/event/youth-media-and-tech-workshop-overview/ CATEGORIES:Youth Workshop END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20090628T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20220510T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T040757 CREATED:20220510T030927Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220529T013900Z UID:10826-1246176000-1652202000@laskinsfest.com SUMMARY:2009 Native Youth Media and Tech Workshops DESCRIPTION:Since 2009\, we have taught film workshops to youth at reservations and Native American urban centers throughout the United States and Canada. The participating youth learn about writing\, directing\, shooting and editing their own movies.  Equally important\, the youth present these films to their tribal communities and speak before an audience. Check out images from our first Native youth cohort: \n \nIn 2009\, we collaborated with Central High\, a federally funded Native American High School located in downtown Los Angeles.  We worked with over a dozen Native American youth who reside in Los Angeles.  For the entire eight-day workshop\, we brought the participating youth to the University of Southern California’s George Lucas School of Cinematic Arts. This was one of our sponsoring organizations that provided classrooms\, computer labs\, and production equipment.  The youth produced  narrative films and presented them at the Pechanga Indian Reservation in Riverside\, California. Check out one of the films they produced during the week: URL:https://laskinsfest.com/event/2009-native-youth-media-and-tech-workshops/ END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20201118T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20211118T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T040757 CREATED:20200409T225754Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250412T180702Z UID:7778-1605686400-1637254800@laskinsfest.com SUMMARY:Showrunner Program DESCRIPTION:   The Native American Showrunner program is a multi-month intensive designed to address the lack of Native American executive producers in television. The overall goal is to provide experienced Native American writers an opportunity to gain new skills and elevate their opportunities in the television writing industry. \n     This program will have selected Native American writers receive mentorship from a television executive producer throughout the year. The goal is to have each participant learn the path to producing a television series. The schedule will have each participant meet with their mentor several times a month to gain experience and receive creative feedback\, career advice and potential referrals. \n     In addition\, participants will author a new pilot and series bible with the artistic support of their respective mentors. Participants will also have group meetings with their fellows participants and showrunners from other television series. These components offer additional creative and business oriented opportunities. \nParticipants will also receive a small stipend\, writing software and additional resources to help bolster their career. \nCheck out our inaugural and current fellows: \n2020 Native American Showrunner Program Fellows \n2021 Native American Showrunner Program Fellows \n2022 Native American Showrunner Program Fellows \n2023 Native American Showrunner Program Fellows \n2024 Native American Showrunner Program Fellows \nThe inaugural Native American Showrunner Program was sponsored by Bad Robot\, Comcast NBCUniversal\, Topple Productions\, Google American Indian Network\, and Walt Disney Television. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Bad Robot\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Comcast NBCUniversal\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Topple Productions\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Google American Indian Network\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Walt Disney Television\n \n \n \n\n\n  URL:https://laskinsfest.com/event/native-american-showrunner-program/ CATEGORIES:Writer's Workshop ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://laskinsfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Showrunner-Slider-patty-final.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210416T080000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210901T170000 DTSTAMP:20260503T040757 CREATED:20210416T200723Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210630T191302Z UID:9486-1618560000-1630515600@laskinsfest.com SUMMARY:15th Annual LA SKINS FEST Call For Films DESCRIPTION:Entries are officially being accepted for the 15th Annual LA SKINS FEST presented by Comcast NBCUniversal. The festival takes place November 16th – 21st\, 2021 in Hollywood\, CA. Qualified filmmakers can submit their entries through filmfreeway.com. \nDeadlines to submit are: \nEarly Deadline May 1st\, 2021 \nRegular Deadline June 1st\, 2021 \nLate Deadline July 1st\, 2021 \nFinal Deadline August 1st\, 2021 \nExtended Deadline September 1st\, 2021 \nThe LA SKINS FEST will celebrate filmmakers whose original works are distinguished and offer a new voice in cinema. Films accepted in the festival will be eligible for the competition and prizes from our corporate sponsors. This year\, awards will be given to the following categories: Achievement in Narrative Filmmaking\, Documentary\, Narrative Short\, Documentary Short\, Animation\, Writer\, Director\, Actor\, Actress and Audience Award.  \nThis festival celebrates our sixth year at the historic TCL Chinese Theater.  The film festival will premier exciting new Indigenous films\, provide the 9th Writers Pitch Fest\, host Native American filmmakers from throughout North\, Central and South America and present the 9th Annual Native Media Awards Celebration. \nThe Festival is an initiative of the Native American non-profit the Barcid Foundation and aims to showcase the rising talent in Native American filmmaking. This year the LA SKINS FEST is expanding the screening series to accommodate the growing talent in Indian Country. \nCorporate support of the LA SKINS FEST plays an essential role in the life of the festival and emphasizes the festival’s commitment to quality\, exploration\, and excellence in the art of cinema\, TV and new media. The Los Angeles Skins Fest is privileged to partner with some of the world’s most renowned entertainment brands this year; including Comcast NBCUniversal\, Spectrum\, Sony Pictures Entertainment\, Bank of America\, Bad Robot\, Motion Picture Association\, USC School of Cinematic Arts\, USC Visions & Voices\, Cast & Crew\, Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nENTRY REQUIREMENTS\n\n\nEntries must be by/or have a Native American/First Nation/Indigenous artist involved in the project (Please include tribal affiliation).\nFilms must NOT have other screenings scheduled in Los Angeles during November 2021. NO EXCEPTIONS.\nWe accept films made by non-Native American filmmakers but the films must be Native American themed.\nFilms must not be available on the Internet or have been broadcast nationally on cable or satellite television prior to the festival screening.\nWorks must be made within the past two years\nFilms in languages other than English with English subtitles will be accepted for consideration.\n\n\n\n\n\n  \n\nDEADLINES AND FEES:\n\n\n\n\nEarly Deadline: May 1st\, 2021\nNarrative Features $40\nDocumentary Feature $40\nAnimation Feature $40\nNarrative Short $30\nDocumentary Short $30\nAnimation Short $40\nStudent Film $25\n___________\nRegular Deadline: June 1st\, 2021\nNarrative Features $55\nDocumentary Feature $55\nAnimation Feature $55\nNarrative Short $45\nDocumentary Short $45\nAnimation Short $45\nStudent Film $35\n___________\nLate Submission July 1st\, 2021\nNarrative Features $70\nDocumentary Feature $70\nAnimation Feature $70\nNarrative Short $60\nDocumentary Short $60\nAnimation Short $60\nStudent Film $45\n___________\n\n\n\nFinal Submission August 1st\, 2021\nNarrative Features $80\nDocumentary Feature $80\nAnimation Feature $80\nNarrative Short $70\nDocumentary Short $70\nAnimation Short $70\nStudent Film $55\n___________\n\n\nExtended Submission September 1st\, 2021\nNarrative Features $95\nDocumentary Feature $95\nAnimation Feature $95\nNarrative Short $85\nDocumentary Short $85\nAnimation Feature $85\nStudent Film $70\n___________\n\n  \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWHERE TO SUBMIT : \n\n\nThe LA SKINS FEST proudly accepts entries via FilmFreeway.com\, the world’s best online submission platform. FilmFreeway offers free HD online screeners\, unlimited video storage\, digital press kits\, and more. Click on the icon below to submit through film freeway:\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nSUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS :\n\n\nCompleted online entry information through Filmfreeway.\nA password protected preview of the film sent to us through Vimeo\, Dropbox\, or YouTube.\nTwo stills from the film (color preferred\, B&W accepted).Digital stills and press kits are preferred.Stills must be hi-res.\nOne photo of the director\nFull cast/crew list.\nFilm synopsis – 120 word logline/synopsis of the film and a 20 word logline/synopsis of film.Short films are only required to provide the 20 word logline.\nPay Submission Fee\n\n***Please note that our festival does not pay screening fees for submitted films. \n\nNOTIFICATION OF ENTRY STATUS :\nFilmmakers will be notified in October 2021 as to whether or not their film has been officially selected. Upon acceptance the filmmaker will receive an email verifying selection status. Be sure to have contact@laskinsfest.com on your accepted email list.\n\n  \n\nCOMPETITION :\nThe LA SKINS FEST will celebrate filmmakers whose original works is distinguished in their category.A pre-screening committee will select four finalists in each category after viewing all selected to be part of the competition.Awards will be given the following categories:\n\nBest Narrative\nBest Documentary\nBest Narrative Short\nBest Documentary Short\nBest Animation\nAudience Award\nEmerging Filmmaker\nBest Actor\nBest Actress\nBest Director\nBest Writer\n\n\n\n\nAbout The LA SKINS FEST\nThe prestigious Los Angeles Skins Fest ranks among the country’s best film festivals and is an annual gathering for film industry insiders\, cinema enthusiasts\, filmmakers\, and critics. The LA Skins Fest is considered a major launching ground for Indian Country’s most talked about films. Founded in 2007\, the Los Angeles Skins Fest\, presented in the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood\, is a 6-day multicultural event celebrating the art of film\, TV and new media. The Los Angeles Skins Fest’s long‐standing commitment is to join filmmakers and film connoisseurs together to experience great cinema. The exciting schedule consists of dozens of filmmakers presenting their newest works\, special artist development programs\, tributes to community leaders\, special events\, and remarkable films. Festival headquarters are in Los Angeles\, CA. URL:https://laskinsfest.com/event/15th-annual-la-skins-fest-call-for-films/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laskinsfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/2021-0401-Barcid-LA-Skins-Fest-15th-Annual-Website-image-1200x384.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20210419 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20210524 DTSTAMP:20260503T040757 CREATED:20210402T200903Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210625T224358Z UID:9365-1618790400-1621814399@laskinsfest.com SUMMARY:6th Annual Native American TV Writers Lab - Selections Announced DESCRIPTION:NATIVE AMERICAN PARTICIPANTS SELECTED FOR THE 6TH ANNUAL NATIVE AMERICAN TV WRITERS LAB \nSponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal\, Sony Pictures Entertainment\, A+E Networks\, the Cherokee Nation Film Office\, Kung Fu Monkey Productions\, Snowpants Productions\, Decolonizing Wealth Project\, Cast & Crew\, Final Draft\, Media Services and Netflix. \nThe Native American Media Alliance\, in partnership with the LA SKINS FEST\, is thrilled to announce the selections of the NATIVE AMERICAN TV WRITERS LAB fellows for 2021. This year’s lab is virtual taking place April 19th through May 23rd\, 2021. \n“We live in an incredibly exciting time – we are finally seeing television shows about Native American people\, by Native people\, with Native artists on both sides of the camera.” Stated William Jehu Garroutte (Cherokee Nation); Executive Producer\, Dark Horse (ABC); Director of Education\, Native American Media Alliance. “As an alumni of the first Native American TV Writers Lab\, I am excited to see this initiative continue to bolster our community\, to empower our writers and storytellers. Every year\, this program builds on an incredible community of talented artists. I look forward to the new and groundbreaking projects the 2021 cohort has to offer.” \nFounded in 2016\, the NATIVE AMERICAN TV WRITERS LAB is an intensive TV scriptwriters workshop that prepares Native Americans for writing careers at major television networks. Fellows take part in a five week curriculum curated by seasoned writing executives. The lab consist of daily workshops\, seminars and one-on-one mentoring to help each writer develop and complete a pilot in five weeks and hone skills to prepare the writers to move into staff writing jobs. This year’s lab is instructed by writer Cari Daly. \nThe 9 participants are: \nAlexander Nystrom \nGlenís Hunter \nDiego Moreno \nAndrina Smith \nBrian Young \nShelby Ramirez \nJohnTom Knight \nLiz Stephens \nJeremy Charles \nAt the end of the program\, each participant will have completed an original television script and will take creative meetings with our corporate partners. \nThe NATIVE AMERICAN TV WRITERS LAB was created to expand the amount of Native Americans working behind the camera\, as a way to increase fair and accurate portrayals of Native Americans on television. Native Americans continue to maintain the lowest representation of writers on current television series. \nThe 2021 Native American TV Writers Lab is sponsored by Sony Pictures Entertainment\, the Cherokee Nation Film Office\, Kung Fu Monkey Productions\, Snowpants Productions and Decolonizing Wealth. \n  \nSPONSORED BY\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Comcast NBCUniversal\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n A+E Networks\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Cherokee Nation Film Office\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Snowpants Productions\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Decolonizing Wealth Project\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Media Services\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Final Draft\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Cast & Crew\n \n \n \n \n \n View Image\n \n Netflix\n \n \n \n\n\n  URL:https://laskinsfest.com/event/6th-annual-native-american-tv-writers-lab-selections-announced/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://laskinsfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/2021-Native-American-TV-Writers-Lab.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210419T190000 DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20210419T210000 DTSTAMP:20260503T040758 CREATED:20210402T160213Z LAST-MODIFIED:20210704T193015Z UID:9424-1618858800-1618866000@laskinsfest.com SUMMARY:NATIVE AMERICAN TV COMEDY SERIES PANEL - RECAP DESCRIPTION:Outside the Box [Office]\, Our Voices\, USC Visions & Voices\,\nand LA SKINS FEST Present\nThe NATIVE AMERICAN TV COMEDY SERIES PANEL \n– A Live Q&A about the Peacock Original\nRutherford Falls\nFeaturing Co-Creator/Showrunner Sierra Teller Ornelas\,\nCast Members Jana Schmieding & Michael Greyeyes\,\nand Writers Tai Leclaire\, Tazbah Chavez & Bobby Wilson\nModerated by SCA MFA Candidate Kapena Baptista \n\n\n\nRECAP\nThe Native American TV Comedy Series Panel was a hilarious\, eye-opening and fun panel thanks to our talented panelists and collaborators! Panelists discussed their journey to the writers room\, sharing the genuine Native voice and creating an incredible series. \nRecording Here: \n \n\n\n\nThis event took place 7:00 P.M. PT on Monday\, April 19th\, 2021 \nOpen to USC Students\, Faculty\, Staff\, Alumni\, and the General Public. \nRutherford Falls debuts exclusively on Peacock on April 22nd\, 2021. \nAbout Rutherford Falls\n\nA comedy about two lifelong best friends\, Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms) and Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding)\, who find themselves at a crossroads – quite literally – when their sleepy town gets an unexpected wakeup call. From co-creators and executive producers\, Michael Schur (Parks and Recreation\, The Good Place)\, Ed Helms\, and Sierra Teller Ornelas (Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Superstore). \nSynopsis: A small town in the Northeast and the Native American reservation it borders are turned upside down when local legend and town namesake\, Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms)\, fights the moving of a historical statue. Rutherford Falls is created and executive produced by Michael Schur\, Ed Helms\, and Sierra Teller Ornelas\, and stars Jana Schmieding\, Michael Greyeyes\, Jesse Leigh\, and Dustin Milligan. Mike Falbo\, David Miner\, and Morgan Sackett also serve as executive producers. \nAbout the Guests\nSierra Ornelas is a Navajo and Mexican American creator\, writer\, producer and showrunner and has become a comedic force to be reckoned within the industry. \nSierra is the co-creator\, showrunner\, writer and executive producer of the new Peacock comedy series\, RUTHERFORD FALLS. She is reuniting with Michael Schur to create the show alongside Ed Helms. She has had a successful writing career as a Co-Executive Producer on NBC’s SUPERSTORE as well as a Co-Executive Producer on ABC’s SPLITTING UP TOGETHER. Previously\, she was a Producer on BROOKLYN NINE-NINE for FOX. She was also a Co-Producer on SELFIE for ABC\, an Executive Story Editor on FOX’s SURVIVING JACK and a Story Editor on HAPPY ENDINGS for ABC. \nRUTHERFORD FALLS is set in a small town in upstate New York and follows two lifelong best friends\, Nathan Rutherford (Ed Helms) and Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding)\, who find themselves at a crossroads–quite literally–when their sleepy town gets an unexpected wakeup call. Nathan is a descendant of the town’s founder who takes pride in his family’s history; and Reagan a member of the Minishonka Nation\, who has dreams of championing her own history. From there\, things get wonderfully complicated. An announcement on the show’s premiere date is forthcoming. The series arrives this Spring on Peacock. \nIn bringing RUTHERFORD FALLS to life\, it was essential for Sierra that the series not only accurately portray Native American people but also tap into their rich\, often-unheralded comedy legacy\, and shine a light on fresh and relevant Native comedy voices. The intention is to show Native Americans—through a mainstream comedy—as funny and real people with relatable\, complex stories to tell; and in doing so\, give indigenous actors the opportunity to shine\, as the show so brilliantly does. Sierra also made it a priority to ensure that the representation she’s forging onscreen also be reflected off-screen\, which meant building a writers’ room staffed with multiple Native writers\, all of whom bring different points of view and comic sensibilities to the table. The result is a multidimensional view of indigenous culture very rarely seen on television today\, and especially in comedies. \nJANA SCHMIEDING (Cast – “Reagan Wells”)\nJana Schmieding is a true multihyphenate star on the rise\, who is making her mark on the entertainment industry as an actor\, writer\, comedian\, and content creator. A Lakota Sioux Native\, Jana has been a longtime educator and advocate\, raising awareness around Native issues and bringing Native stories to mainstream audiences. \nJana will next star as the female lead opposite Ed Helms on Mike Schur’s new comedy series\, RUTHERFORD FALLS. She also serves as a staff writer on the series\, which will launch on Peacock in 2021. The first Native comedy of its kind\, the series will explore themes of identity\, friendship\, and how we define ourselves and relate to historical narratives. Jana was heavily involved in all aspects of the show – including down to the details of beading items for the costume\, props and marketing departments. \nA graduate of the University of Oregon\, Jana has performed and directed improv\, sketch and solo comedy for over a decade in both New York and Los Angeles. One of her pilots brought her to The NYTV Festival as a Notable Writer. In addition to being passionate about Native visibility\, she has also been a vocal advocate for social justice issues\, namely body justice – all of which she discusses regularly in her comedy and writing. Jana hosted the acclaimed “Woman of Size” podcast from 2017-2019\, where she and guests discussed the way we think and talk about our bodies. \n\n\n\n  \nMichael greyeyes (Cast – “tERRY THOMAS”)\n\n\n\nMichael Greyeyes is a multi-hyphenate talent – actor\, director\, choreographer\, and scholar – whose diverse career from stage to screen spans over 25 years. He will soon begin production on the Universal/Blumhouse adaptation of Stephen King’s bestselling novel Firestarter. Greyeyes will step into the role of “Rainbird\,” which was played by Oscar winner George C. Scott in the 1984 movie. Most recently\, Greyeyes starred in the thriller Wild Indian\, the feature debut by writer/director Lyle Mitchell Corbine Jr\, which premiered in competition at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival. The film follows two Anishinaabe men who are inextricably bound together after covering up the savage murder of a schoolmate. He received rave reviews from critics for his gripping portrayal of “Makwa/Michael.”This Spring\, Greyeyes will be star opposite Ed Helms in the new Peacock comedy “Rutherford Falls.” Co-created executive produced by Helms\, Mike Schur (“The Good Place”) and Sierra Teller Ornelas\, the series is set in a small town in upstate New York and the Native American reservation it borders. \nIn the past two years\, Greyeyes has made impactful and resonating appearances in a handful of critically acclaimed projects including recurring roles on HBO’s anthology crime drama “True Detective\,” opposite Mahershala Ali and Stephen Dorff\, and the HBO limited series\, “I Know This Much Is True\,” opposite Mark Ruffalo. He also starred in the independent horror film\, Blood Quantum\, written and directed by Mi’gmaq filmmaker Jeff Barnaby\, which featured an Indigenous cast. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival. The groundbreaking film blends horror with sociopolitical subtext\, imagining a world in which those with indigenous blood are immune to a vicious zombie apocalypse. The film received ten Canadian Screen Award nomination\, including an Actor in a Leading Role nomination for Greyeyes. \nHis other film credits include the Disney+ live-action film\, Togo\, about two of the key figures in the 1925 Nome Serum Run\, and Woman Walks Ahead\, where he starred alongside Jessica Chastain and Sam Rockwell\, in A24 and DirecTV’s western drama. In the film he portrayed Chief Sitting Bull\, which follows widowed artist Catherine Weldon (Chastain) who travelled to North Dakota in the 1880’s to paint the infamous Lakota Sioux Indian leader. Inspired by true events and directed by Susanna White\, the film premiered in competition at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2017 and had a Special Gala Screening at the Tribeca Film Festival. He has appeared in numerous feature films\, including The New World\, directed by Terence Malick\, Skipped Parts\, Passchendaele and Dance Me Outside\, a cult-classic directed by Bruce McDonald. \nOn the small screen\, Greyeyes will soon return for the second season of Apple Original mystery drama series “Home Before Dark.” He recently starred alongside Ian Somerhalder in the Netflix Original Series “V-Wars\,” based on Jonathan Maberry’s bestselling book. In its third season\, Greyeyes joined the cast of “Fear the Walking Dead\,” AMC’s hit companion series to “The Walking Dead.” His other television credits include: “Law and Order: Criminal Intent\,” “Crazy Horse” (TNT)\, and Tecumseh in “Tecumseh’s Vision” (PBS) to mini-series such as “Klondike” (Discovery)\, “Saints and Strangers” (National Geographic)\, and “Dreamkeeper” (ABC). \nBorn and raised in Canada\, Greyeyes is Nêhiyaw (Plains Cree) from Muskeg Lake Cree Nation.He graduated from Kent State University with a master’s degree in the Fine Arts at the School of Theatre and Dance and is also a graduate of The National Ballet School where he went on to join The National Ballet of Canada company. In 2010\, Greyeyes founded a Canadian non-profit theatre organization\, Signal Theatre\, a company that explores intercultural and transdisciplinary live performance. He serves as the Artistic Director for the theatre. Greyeyes selected directing credits include: A Soldier’s Tale\, from thine eyes (Signal Theatre)\, Pimooteewin (Soundstreams)\, Almighty Voice and his Wife (Native Earth Performing Arts)\, & Seven Seconds (2010 imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival). Most recently he directed Yvette Nolan’s adaptation of Aristophanes TheBirds at York University\, where he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Theatre in the School of Arts\, Performance\, Media and Design. \nGreyeyes currently resides with his family in Toronto. \n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\nTAI LECLAIRE (Writer)\nTai Leclaire is a Native American Actor\, Comedian\, and Writer. ”Tai” is short for Taietsarón:sere (it’s Mohawk). He’s from a reservation you haven’t heard of and that’s ok! He’s currently a Staff Writer and co-star on “Rutherford Falls”. The new Peacock comedy by Mike Schur\, Ed Helms\, and Sierra Ornelas. He’s a former house performer at Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre (Character’s Welcome). He’s performed at festivals around the country including Austin Sketch fest and Philly Sketch Fest. He has studied at Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre\, Second City Theatre Chicago\, The People’s Improv Theatre. \n\n\n\n\n  \n  \n  \n  \n\n\n\nTAZBAH CHAVEZ (Writer)\nTazbah Rose Chavez is a performance poet turned director and television writer. She is currently a Co-producer\, writer and episodic director on FX’s new series Reservation Dogs\, a former Story Editor on NBCUniversal’s Rutherford Falls and was a staffer writer for SyFy’s Resident Alien. Raised in Payahuunadu\, Tazbah is a citizen of the Bishop Paiute Tribe and comes from the Nüümü\, Diné and San Carlos Apache people. Tazbah is a director of film and music videos and was recently part of AT&T’s Hello Lab Filmmaker Mentoring Lab in which she wrote and directed the short film Your Name Isn’t English\, executive produced by Taika Waititi and currently streaming on DirectTV. Tazbah has written ads for Nike N7\, and directed health and cultural preservation campaigns for tribes throughout California. She has performed her poetry in acclaimed spaces such as the Smithsonian – National Museum of the American Indian\, Meow Wolf and the Grand Performances Stage to name a few. She holds a degree in American Indian Studies from UCLA\, is a former intern of Sundance Institute’s Native and Indigenous Program and serves as the co-chair of the Native American and Indigenous Writer’s Committee at the Writer’s Guild of America. \n\n\n\n\n  \n\n\n\n\nBOBBY WILSON (Writer)\nBobby “Dues” Wilson is a Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota actor\, writer\, poet\, visual artist\, and comedian\, and a founding member of Indian Sketch Comedy group The 1491s. Bobby was born and raised in his ancestral homelands of Minneapolis and St. Paul\, Minnesota where he and his family frequently lived out of homeless shelters. Very early on Bobby was influenced by graffiti art and spoken word poetry which set him on a path as an artist. As a visual artist and writer his work sits at the nexus of his Dakota heritage and his city upbringing. Bobby’s art is regularly inspired by and elevates commentaries on colonization\, racism\, modern imagery of Native American peoples\, homelessness\, and many more issues faced by indigenous peoples today. He has been commissioned for numerous murals across the country and has been a featured Artist in Residence for the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)\, the Institute of American Indian Arts (AIAI)\, and Yale. Bobby travels around the country conducting youth writer’s workshops\, art workshops\, and performing with The 1491s. Wilson is also a skilled beader whose work has been featured in Vogue’s “Meet 8 Indigenous Beaders Who Are Modernizing Their Craft.” In 2019\, The Oregon Shakespeare Festival commissioned The 1491s to write an original play for the New Native Theater. BETWEEN TWO KNEES which became the longest running original play ever at OSF\, and sold out every show. Bobby has appeared as an actor on THE DAILY SHOW and WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (FX). He was recently a writer on RUTHERFORD FALLS (Peacock / UniTV) and is currently writing on RESERVATION DOGS (FX). Bobby is represented by Debbie Deuble-Hill and Jack Leighton at APA\, Tom Carter at Artillery Creative\, and Matt Wallerstein at Hirsch Wallerstein. \n\n  \n\nKAPENA BAPTISTA (Moderator\, SCA MFA Candidate\, Norman Topping Graduate Fellow)\nKapena Baptista is a composer\, ethnomusicologist\, and indigenous advocate from Los Angeles. He graduated cum laude in Music and Anthropology from Harvard University where he served as Assistant Principal Bassoon in the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra\, and was an undergraduate composer in both the Harvard College Composers Association and the Harvard University Studio for Electroacoustic Composition. Kapena’s academic focus was on his own musical lineage from his Native Hawaiian background. His senior thesis “Lovely Hula Hands: Native Hawaiian Identity in Hapa Haole Music and Hula Performance” contextualized Hawaiian music and Hula dancers within the development of the Hawaiian tourist industry and was awarded a Thomas T. Hoopes Prize for outstanding scholarly research. After graduating from Harvard in 2016\, Kapena was named an inaugural Generation-Indigenous Fellow through the Center for Native American Youth\, and was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study and teach in Lisbon\, Portugal. Kapena is now an MFA candidate in the Peter Stark Producing Program where he is both a Norman Topping Graduate Fellow and a Shriram Family Graduate Fellow. He hopes to increase Native American and Indigenous representation in the media by highlighting narratives that seek to modernize\, empower\, and uplift the peoples whose ancestral lands we call home. \nAbout LA SKINS FEST\nThe Festival is an initiative of the Native American non-profit the Barcid Foundation and aims to showcase the rising talent in Native American filmmaking. This year the LA SKINS FEST is expanding the screening series to accommodate the growing talent in Indian Country. \nThe prestigious LA SKINS FEST ranks among the country’s best film festivals and is an annual gathering for film industry insiders\, cinema enthusiasts\, filmmakers\, and critics. The LA Skins Fest is considered a major launching ground for Indian Country’s most talked about films. Founded in 2007\, the Los Angeles Skins Fest\, presented in the historic TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood\, is a 6-day multicultural event celebrating the art of film\, TV and new media. The Los Angeles Skins Fest’s long-standing commitment is to join filmmakers and film connoisseurs together to experience great cinema. The exciting schedule consists of dozens of filmmakers presenting their newest works\, special artist development programs\, tributes to community leaders\, special events\, and remarkable films. Festival headquarters are in Los Angeles\, CA. \nVisit the Official LA SKINS FEST Website: https://laskinsfest.com/\nVisit the LA SKINS FEST Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/skinsfest\nVisit the LA SKINS FEST Twitter Page: https://twitter.com/LASKINSFEST\nVisit the LA SKINS FEST YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/SKINSFEST \nAbout the SCA Council on Diversity & Inclusion\nDiversity\, inclusion and respect of differences\, including race and ethnicity\, gender and gender identities\, sexual orientation\, and disability\, are foundational tenets of the USC School of Cinematic Arts (SCA). SCA is an internationally recognized institution and a leader in the fields of cinematic arts\, games\, emergent media forms and media scholarship. While entertainment industries including film\, television and interactive media have deep histories in progressive social politics\, current cultural discussions about the state of mainstream media industries indicate that much work needs to be done to challenge and change existing paradigms around power\, privilege and inclusion. Recognized as a pipeline to the media industries and graduate media programs\, SCA is uniquely positioned to play a leadership role in preparing the next generation of media producers and scholars to critically engage with issues of diversity and build inclusive creative and scholarly communities within media industries and academia. SCA embraces this opportunity to influence the wider community of media creators and scholars. In 2016 SCA formed the Council for Diversity & Inclusion to address how our community can foster a more inclusive environment. \nUSC is located in one of our nation’s most vibrant and diverse cities\, and we recognize the need for our institution to reflect the complex and multifaceted richness of our surrounding communities in terms of students\, staff\, faculty and community partners. SCA is committed to cultivating a diverse and inclusive learning environment at all institutional levels. We promote diversity and inclusion in the recruitment and training of all faculty members and believe that celebrating diversity within our student population will open critical and constructive dialogues about difference that enhance our creative and scholarly work. We also understand that support staff play a vital role in the SCA community and\, therefore\, the same attention needs to be paid to diversity among staff members. We define diversity to include age\, race\, ethnicity\, physical ability\, gender identity\, gender expression\, sexual orientation\, socioeconomic status\, country of origin\, veteran status\, religious practice\, and political ideology. SCA seeks to weave a philosophy of inclusion and respect for difference into the fabric of our community; take a leadership role in areas of diversity and inclusion across the university; and establish a model for media industries to empower different voices and perspectives. \nLearn more at: http://cinema.usc.edu/Diversity\n\nThis program is generously sponsored by\n\n\n\nFor more information about upcoming programming and events offered by USC Visions and Voices: The Arts and Humanities Initiative\, please visit their website. URL:https://laskinsfest.com/event/native-america-tv-comedy-series-panel/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://laskinsfest.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Website.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR