DIVERSITY - THE BOTTOM tT TT
The Caucus for Producers, Writers & Directors
presents
In Association with
Diversity - The Bottom Line
Research shows diversity brings in more dollars...for everyone.
MODERATOR - Ted Johnson, Senior Editor - Variety
PANELISTS
Alex Chen, Actor, Writer, Producer
Suzanne de Passe, Co-Chair - de Passe Jones Entertainment
Sharon Liggins, PR Executive - Independent Consultant
Jose Tamez, Golden Globe Winning Producer
Jacques Thelemaque, Award-winning Writer, Director, Producer
CAUCUS CHAIR NORMAN S. POWELL
INVITES CAUCUS MEMBERS & INDUSTRY FRIENDS
TO MARK YOUR CALENDAR, RESERVE YOUR PLACE
Event Chair - Chuck Fries
Producers - Albert Fisher, Tanya Hart, Syd Vinnedge
Tuesday, September 15, 2015
Emerson College LA
7:00 PM - Meet & Greet 7:15 PM-8:30 PM - Panel Discussion
8:30 PM-9:00 PM - Networking, Refreshments
TICKETS (PRE-REGISTERED) - $30-$35
TICKETS AT DOOR, subject to availability - $40
Free Parking at Safety Park, 6104 Hollywood Boulevard
(Southwest corner of Hollywood & Gower next to the Fonda
Theater, 2-block walk on a first come, first serve basis)
RESERVATIONS ARE A MUST!
https://caucusdiversity.eventbrite.com
Ted Johnson
Ted Johnson is senior editor at Variety, covering politics, government and legal affairs. He also
hosts a weekly talk show, "PopPolitics," for SiriusXM's political channel POTUS. He has worked
for the Los Angeles Times and TV Guide, and has been a contributor to Politico. He also is past
president of the Los Angeles Press Club.
Alexandre Chen
Alexandre Chen was born in Sao Paulo, Brazil to Taiwanese parents. He was educated in the San
Francisco Bay Area, graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in Biology, and moved to Los
Angeles where he taught high school science for two years. Alexandre started his acting career in
2007 by taking acting class and being cast as one of the leads in his first independent dramatic
feature film entitled The Willing (2009) and in a supporting role of his first comedic feature
Who Shot Mamba? (2009). Alexandre has also appeared in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
(2000) in featured roles as a Coroner's Assistant and a Hot Dog Eating Champion. Alexandre
continues to study acting, writing, and making his own short films. He is an avid sports fan and
enjoys the outdoors.
Suzanne de Passe
Suzanne de Passe Co-Chair of de Passe Jones Entertainment, began her career at Motown
Records as Creative Assistant to company founder Berry Gordy, and subsequently rose to the
position of President of Motown Productions. During her first year at Motown she found and
brought to Mr. Gordy's attention five young brothers from Gary, Indiana who became the
superstars known as the Jackson 5 among many other artists. In 1983 she was the Executive
Producer and co-writer of MOTOWN 25: YESTERDAY TODAY FOREVER which won the
EMMY that year as Best Music or Variety Program.
Ms. de Passe went on to produce many award winning shows including the highly acclaimed
western mini-series LONESOME DOVE. She is the the recipient of many professional awards
and honors including two Emmy Awards, six NAACP Image Awards, three Peabody Awards, a
Golden Globe and the Women in Film Crystal Award and an Academy Award nomination for
co-writing the screenplay for LADY SINGS the BLUES. She is the subject of two Harvard
Business School Case Studies and has an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters from Howard
University
Sharon Liggins
Sharon Liggins is an accomplished PR executive with extensive experience navigating the
communications landscape at some of the foremost global media companies in the
entertainment industry. Currently an independent consultant, she was most recently director,
publicity, for NBCUniversal's Universal Cable Productions, where she oversaw all public
relations activities for the studio and its hit series including SUITS, COVERT AFFAIRS, PSYCH,
DEFIANCE, WAREHOUSE 13 and EUREKA. Ms. Liggins has held positions at PBS, Creative
Artists Agency, Hallmark Channel and the Walt Disney Company/ABC.
For the Television Academy, Ms. Liggins has served two terms on the board of governors,
representing the Public Relations peer group and co-chaired the Diversity Committee,
developing and coordinating events with the mandate of bringing awareness of diverse voices
and experiences to Academy members and the industry initiating the idea for the Academy's
first-ever celebration of diverse Emmy nominees, "Dynamic & Diverse," which is now an annual
event.
Jose Tamez
Golden Globe winner producer Jose Tamez was born and raised in Mexico where he started his
career at Televisa, the largest television network in Latin America. He moved to Los Angeles to
work with actress/producer Salma Hayek and was named president of Ventanarosa
Productions. In 2002 Ventanarosa produced the film "Frida", which was nominated for 6
Oscars and 2 Golden Globe Awards, receiving 2 Academy Awards, a Golden Globe and a BAFTA,
among other awards. He produced two successful films for Showtime Networks: "In the Time of
the Butterflies" and "The Maldonado Miracle". The latter was nominated for 4 Emmy Awards
and won Best Direction and awarded the prestigious Writers Guild of America Award. He
executive-produced the iconic ABC show "Ugly Betty", a recipient of 2 Golden Globe Awards
including "Best Comedy", as well as the Peabody Award, GLAAD Award, NAACP Award and two
Emmys.
Jacques Thelemaque
Jacques Thelemaque is an award-winning writer, director and producer, with 12 films appearing
everywhere from Sundance to HBO, who co-founded Filmmakers Alliance in 1993 and FA
Productions in 2004. He was also Chief Community Officer of Withoutabox.com in 2005.
Jacques has also been a programming associate at the Los Angeles Film Festival since 2011 and
has been an advisor, board member, programmer, juror or invited speaker at numerous filmrelated organizations and events.