UB Goes Hollywood: Launches First Coast to Coast Entertainment Conference in Los Angeles

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The University at Buffalo will offer the first UB Coast to Coast Entertainment and Media Conference June 27-28 in Los Angeles.

Created specifically for UB alumni, students and friends of UB, but open to the public, UBC2C will feature workshops in acting, writing, directing, music production, independent film production and marketing, as well as entertainment business marketing, taught by UB industry alumni Alan Zweibel, Rob Lieberman, Bobby Collins, Ted Kryczko, Linda Phillips Palo and Robert Lamoreaux, as well as Christine La Monte and Rosalind Jarrett, who are organizing the event. The conference will take place at Bergamot Station, as well as various off-site studio locations.

The registration fee for UB graduates of the last decade is $200. For others, the fee is $250 (with an early bird price of $225 for those who register before April 30). The price includes Saturday and Sunday workshops and a Saturday evening networking reception with conference presenters.

Proceeds from the event will be used to bring UB students to Los Angeles to participate. Sponsorship opportunities are available. Further information and registration available at www.coasttocoast.buffalo.edu.

UBC2C will kick-off a full day of workshops at 9 a.m. on June 27. Lunch will feature a keynote speaker and roundtable discussions, followed by a networking reception at 7 p.m. June 28 will feature a half-day symposium and wrap up.

UB industry alumni presenters for UBC2C include:

Bobby Collins, B.A. '73, American Comedy Award winner for Best Male Stand up. He has hosted VH-1's "Stand Up Spotlight," A&E's "An Evening at the Improv" and Showtime's "A Pair of Jokers," and has opened for Frank Sinatra, Julio Inglesias and Dolly Parton. Collins has lectured extensively on the art and business of comedic writing and performing.

Rosalind Jarrett, B.A. '69, executive in charge of publicity for the Screen Actors Guild Awards who has contributed to expanding the audiences for the SAG Awards telecasts on TNT and TBS since 1999.  She has lectured on entertainment public relations at the University of California, Los Angeles, University of Southern California, New York University and Loyola Marymount University. She was formerly director of program publicity, West Coast, for the ABC Television Network Group.

Ted Kryczko, BA '76 is VP in A&R at Walt Disney Records. He has produced and developed over 600 products and programs for children and families through Disney and other companies in the last 30 years. Ted's work has received 14 Parent's Choice Awards, more gold and platinum records than Elvis or the Beatles, and he has been nominated for 14 Grammy Awards, winning twice. His records have sold over 35 million copies in the US and over 70 million worldwide. Ted received his BA from UB and MFA from UC Irvine where last year he was named UCI's Distinguished Alumni in Arts and Entertainment.

Christine La Monte, B.A. '69, a former studio marketing executive at Disney, Universal and Orion Pictures, and a television, theatre and film producer. Her latest producing effort is "Dandelion Dharma," a 30 minute "epic" short narrative film currently playing the festival circuit. She has lectured at UCLA, taught film marketing at the School of Visual Arts in New York and has been a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences since 1986.

Robert Lamoreaux has written and produced some of the most popular animation series for Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network and ABC Family, including "Totally Spies," "Hey Arnold!," the Annie Award-nominated "Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi" and "Catdog." He has also worked on the animated hit, "SpongeBob SquarePants."

Rob Lieberman, B.A. '71, has shot over 2000 commercials, has directed or produced 27 television films, and has been recognized for his work in every area of business. He has been nominated four times and twice won the DGA award for Best Commercial Director Award, won an Emmy for Best Commercial Director, is the recipient of 29 Clio Awards, as well as numerous Cannes Film Festival Awards, Mobius Awards, Addy's, Andys, CEBA's, IBA's and the award for Best Commercial of the Year from Ad Age. He has directed the feature films: "Table For Five," "Fire In The Sky" and "D3: The Mighty Ducks" and just completed "The Tortured." His many credits include directing episodes of "Dexter," "Shark" and "Brothers and Sisters." Lieberman has directed 19 pilots, of which 16 sold through to series.

Linda Philips Palo, M.A. '75, B.A. '72, a casting director who won the Artios, the highest casting honor, for Sophia Coppola's "The Virgin Suicides." She has worked with Francis Ford Coppola on John Grisham's "The Rainmaker," as well as "Jack," "The Secret Garden," "Wind," "Jeepers Creepers II" and "The Young Black Stallion" for IMAX/Disney. She has worked with George Lucas ("Radioland Murders"), Phil Joanou ("Heaven's Prisoners"), Dwight Yoakam ("South of Heaven, West of Hell"). Palo teaches an intensive seminar, "Mastering the Actor Within," to advanced actors at the AIA Actor's Studio in Los Angeles.

Alan Zweibel, B.A. '72, multi-Emmy Award-winning writer/producer/director, who began his career as part of the original "Saturday Night Live" writing team. His TV credits also include "It's Garry Shandling Show," "Monk" and "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Zweibel's best-selling book "Bunny Bunny -- Gilda Radner: A Sort of Love Story" became an Off-Broadway hit and he collaborated with Billy Crystal on the Tony Award winning Broadway show "700 Sundays" . A frequent guest on talk shows like Late Night With David Letterman, Zweibel authored the popular children's book "Our Tree Named Steve" and in 2006, he won the Thurber Prize for American Humor for his novel "The Other Shulman."

UBC2C is the first of a series of annual conferences; plans for the next conference which will take place in New York City in 2010 and will revolve around the television industry, will be announced shortly.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.