Democracy & Media:
Where Do We Go From There?
November 14-15, 2024
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Forum Agenda
Location
United Talent Agency (UTA)
9336 Civic Center Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210WiFi: UTA Guest
Password: entertainment
Friday, November 15
8:30a – 9:00a
Breakfast & Networking
9:00a – 9:15a
Welcome & Overview
9:15a – 9:45a
What Just Happened? A Look Back at Democracy vs. Authoritarianism in 2024
9:45a – 10:00a
New Study: Entertainment Shaping Attitudes Towards Government and the Future
10:00a - 10:15a
Looking Back: Quick Case Studies of Film and TV Changing Policies
10:15a – 10:30a
Pop-up Pitches
10:30a – 10:45a
Break
10:45a – 11:25a
The Possibilities – and Pitfalls – of Faith and Religion in Media and Entertainment
11:25a – 12:00p
Funding Our Frontlines: Investing in Media and Narrative Infrastructure
12:00p – 12:40p
The Future of Journalism and Local Media
12:40p – 1:40p
LUNCH
Lunch and Learn with Impact Projects
Informal conversations over lunch with several Impact Guild members about their exceptional work to make the world better through media, arts, and entertainment.
1:40p – 2:20p
Platforms with Possibilities: Exploring Impact Through Video Games, Emerging Media (XR/VR), Animation, and the Performing Arts
NOTE: Opening this session, panelist Suuvi Bacelar performs BLOQUEA’O – an original work for cello, Cuban percussion, and electronics on the subject of the fight for freedom through the lens of a Cuban refugee.
Beyond Elections: Using Media to Support a Multiracial Democracy Over the Long Term
2:20p – 2:30p
Transition to breakouts
A Global Perspective on Shifting Gender Norms Through Entertainment
Promoting Mental Health and Safety in Entertainment and Journalism
3:10p – 3:25p
BREAK
3:25p – 4:10p
Persuasion at Scale: Artificial Intelligence, Data and the Future of Storytelling
3:25p – 4:10p
Culture Change and What’s Next for Social Impact in Entertainment
4:55p
Wrap-Up and Closing Remarks
Locations & Hotels
Thursday, November 14
Member Meeting (Official Members Only)
Cantina Frida, 252 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210Welcome Reception & Dinner (Open to All)
Cantina Frida, 252 N Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210Friday, November 15
2024 Forum
UTA, 9336 Civic Center Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90210Breakfast & lunch will be provided
Hotel Options
Below are some hotels near the Forum events:
And here are some other hotel options:
Attendee List
First Name
Last Name
Organization
Pop-up Pitches
Project Title
Project Overview
Contact
Blue State Presents: The Secret Language Series
Blue State is launching quarterly mini-narrative guides that help brands and NGOs move beyond basic inclusive language to address subtle rhetorical frames that promote bias. Our expansive approach to inclusive language and storytelling connects clients with organizations doing vital narrative change work, creating a collaborative network for more impactful messaging.
Public Schools Narrative Initiative
We're building a movement to protect public schools from coordinated attacks that threaten both democratic values and educational opportunities for 50 million children. Our initiative counters divisive narratives by celebrating public schools as essential spaces where diverse voices are respected and civil society takes root.
Ready to Serve?
Cinereach's innovative social media series pairs three engaging hosts with civic leaders for immersive day-in-the-life episodes, making public service relatable to audiences under 30. Through skillfully produced 10-15 minute segments blending humor with authentic moments, the show builds trust in democracy while challenging contestants to understand the human side of civic leadership.
Tell All the Other Girls
Tell All the Other Girls, Bossi's upcoming album, explores women's historical struggle against restrictive narratives and their journey toward self-actualization in a patriarchal world. The House of Bossi is extending this vision through its residency program, currently working to bring Nigerian multidisciplinary artist Ayanfe Olarinde to explore gender themes through visual art.
The Elephant & Butterfly
The Elephant & Butterfly synthesizes insights from 100 cross-sector conversations about our evolving world, sharing findings through Substack and podcasts focused on storytelling for social change. With IRIS funding, we're investigating narrative shift approaches and story-for-impact ecosystems, while actively seeking innovative perspectives from network weavers across media, tech, AI, and nonprofit sectors.
The Lady Chablis Documentary
Our documentary tells a compelling and timely story about authentic living through the unique lens of The Lady Chablis. Drawing on exclusive access and distinctive viewpoints, our experienced team is crafting an intimate portrait that captures this remarkable journey.
The Way We See
We create powerful short documentaries for direct impact advocacy within the criminal legal system, using narrative change to help decision-makers see new perspectives. Our approach has proven remarkably effective, with our videos contributing to an average 68% reduction in prison sentences.
Yes, And... Laughter Lab Fall Show
The Yes, And... Laughter Lab is an innovative incubator and pitch program elevating diverse comedic voices who create content about critical social issues. We bridge the gap between talented comedians and the entertainment industry, social justice organizations, and activists, helping bring meaningful comedy into both the marketplace and movements for social change.
Impact Lounge
Project Title
Project Overview
Contact
Fuerza:STEM Uplifting Latinx Families Through a Culturally Responsive, Bigenerational Transmedia Edutainment Series
Univision's innovative transmedia series combines educational content with popular telenovela formats to nurture Latinx children's interest in STEM while engaging their families. Through culturally responsive storytelling and community watch parties, the program creates rich learning environments that integrate informal science education with Hispanic family and community life.
Hoodwinked: How Marketers Use The Same Tactics As Cults
Dr. Einstein's groundbreaking investigation reveals how digital marketing employs cult-like tactics in our algorithm-driven world, where brands have become modern gods. The book exposes how manipulation techniques once used by spiritual charlatans are now deployed to sell everything from consumer products to political leaders, offering insights into resisting these seductive digital forces.
Movie Night
Picture Motion's groundbreaking Movie Night initiative leverages the power of film to energize democracy and reduce polarization through local grassroots screenings. Launching in November, this program will empower community leaders to host over 100 screenings nationwide, aiming to reach one million people and inspire civic engagement through carefully curated documentaries and narratives.
Mutante's Moderation Lab
We're developing a new framework for journalism that moves beyond traditional impartiality and partisan approaches toward "multipartial" moderation. Our lab tests innovative approaches to reduce polarization and increase trust in shared facts, with the goal of influencing broader social conversation systems including algorithms, influencers, and audiences.
Rezball Impact Platform
Our native sports storytelling platform connects Native American youth, families, and reservation basketball stakeholders with essential tools and resources for long-term impact. We're dismantling Hollywood's traditional approaches to minority stories by creating an authentic ecosystem focused on Native sports, mental health, and economic futures.
Take Me Home
Take Me Home is a groundbreaking narrative drama about Anna, a 33-year-old Korean adoptee with a cognitive disability, living with her aging parents in suburban Florida. Through an innovative financing model and inclusive production process, this film challenges cultural perceptions of disability, aging, and care, while exploring universal themes of family dynamics and self-determination.
empire
empire is a mission-driven company developing pro-democracy AI tools for strategy and scenario planning. Our suite of resources helps pro-democracy communities, including NGOs, artists, and funders, engage with AI from a position of power to design more effective strategies and campaigns.
Other Impact Projects
Project Title
Project Overview
Contact
@RealCitizenKate
What do millennials and Gen Z really think about the election? We find out on Real Citizen Kate, a social media series that humorously breaks down the issues of young voters.
Agents of Influence: A Spy Media Literacy Game
Agents of Influence is a spy media literacy game aimed at middle and high school students. The game teaches critical thinking, content analysis, research, and communication—essential skills that form the foundation of 21st-century education. After the game, students are guided to real resources such as fact checkers or volunteer opportunities to apply their learnings to their lives.
Animal Welfare Storytelling Collective
The first dedicated coalition of animal storytellers + activists to create compelling, research-backed media narratives aimed at reducing animal suffering. This initiative is also designed to bridge the disconnect between the climate + animal welfare movements.
Body of Mine
Body of Mine is a groundbreaking full-body VR experience that allows users to inhabit another gender while exploring authentic transgender stories. Combining cutting-edge tracking technology with personal narratives, this award-winning project creates an unprecedented empathy-building experience that WIRED praised for breaking psychological barriers in media representation.
Bridging Environmental Values Campaign
This initiative uses powerful films and community gatherings to build bridges across political divides through shared environmental values. By focusing on common ground rather than differences, we aim to foster bipartisan collaboration and dispel the narrative that environmental progress requires polarization.
C'est la Vie!: The Webseries
This record-breaking African webseries explores sexual and reproductive health rights through compelling storytelling about young people in the fictional city of Ratanga. Our latest episodes, reaching 30 million West Africans with double the average engagement rate, tackle crucial issues like teen pregnancy and abortion access through authentic character-driven narratives.
How To Speak American
How to Speak American is a pro-democracy, culture-shifting campaign using the power of storytelling to amplify the voices of new Americans. By sharing real experiences and demystifying the citizenship process, we aim to engage communities, empower newly naturalized citizens, and refocus attention on a powerful yet often overlooked electorate.
Mind Rider
This social impact film follows a troubled high school student who overcomes depression, bullying, and family conflict through the exhilarating challenges of extreme mountain biking. Through compelling narrative storytelling, "Mind Rider", promotes natural solutions for teen mental health challenges while emphasizing the importance of dreams, sports, and proper nutrition.
Rapid Response Content Creators
Based on the most pressing misinformation and disinformation we see in Spanish-speaking communities, we are building a rapid response partnership with organizations and people who create content in Spanish, like We Are Más, to counter it through humor and artistic ways, like animations. All with a cultural context eye to ensure our communities share it.
Reality Is Us
Inspired by Reality Winner's story of exposing Russian election interference, this impact campaign extends beyond the film "Winner" to create a hub for community action. Our platform combines messaging and actionable resources to inspire viewers to question authority and actively engage in democratic change.
Ripple Effect
This groundbreaking social experiment brings together diverse Americans to discover common ground through evidence-based trauma healing and peacebuilding techniques. Participants engage in transformational practices without knowing others' viewpoints, creating space for authentic human connection across ideological divides.
Showcase
Showcase is transforming music discovery by connecting carefully curated emerging and underserved artists with audiences seeking authentic new sounds. Our platform goes beyond traditional streaming to create a movement that humanizes music discovery while providing artists with meaningful exposure and support.
The CADER Method
Developed in collaboration with Harvard Divinity School's Religious Literacy Project, the CADER Method provides a structured four-phase approach to identifying and improving religious representations in media. This comprehensive framework helps creators craft more accurate, nuanced portrayals while enhancing audience engagement and cultural understanding.
Undivide Us
Through intimate focus groups across three American cities, this documentary explores the potential for healing America's partisan divide through local community engagement. The film advocates for reclaiming open discourse and democratic values, giving voice to the silent majority seeking solutions over conflict.
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