Other featured speakers include David Alpert, Steve Blume, Tracey Edmonds, Cassian Elwes, Mark Gordon, Marshall Herskovitz, Reginald Hudlin, Darlene Hunt, Jason Katims, Carl Kurlander, Gary Lucchesi, Sharon Tal Yguado, Hayma "Screech" Washington, Beau Willimon, Marci Wiseman, Ken Ziffren, and many more

LOS ANGELES, CA (March 27, 2013) – The Producers Guild of America (PGA) announced today the initial slate of speakers confirmed to participate in the 5th annual Produced By Conference (PBC). Director and producer J.J. Abrams, producer Mark Burnett, actor and producer Tom Cruise and producer Gale Anne Hurd will participate as featured speakers joining a prestigious list of acclaimed producers and industry leaders in entertainment and digital media. The 2013 Produced By Conference will be hosted by 20th Century Fox Studios on June 8-9.

"The rapid evolution of entertainment media has ushered our industry into a truly exciting moment,” said PBC co-chair Tracey Edmonds. "This fantastic list of speakers and panelists reflects that evolution, and includes individuals who have achieved great successes in the past and each of whom has a compelling vision for the future of entertainment.”

"I’m thrilled to return as a co-chair for the fifth Produced By Conference,” said Producers Guild President Emeritus Marshall Herskovitz. "There is simply nothing like the PBC – all these amazing speakers, sponsors and exhibitors in the same place for an entire weekend – there's no better way to learn and enhance your career at the same time.”

Added Rachel Klein, PBC co-chair: "I’m very proud that year after year, the Produced By Conference offers attendees the very best of the best. This year is no exception, and I look forward to welcoming producers and storytellers across all forms of media at this year’s exciting Conference.”

"Every day, the Producers Guild offers producers a wonderful array of opportunities to aspiring and well-established producers alike,” said PBC co-chair Gary Lucchesi. "But once a year, through the Produced By Conference we have the opportunity to gather together from around the world as community of professionals to network and learn from each other, look ahead to the coming trends and improve our storytelling skills and craft.”

2013 PBC speakers include some of the entertainment and digital industries’ most renowned producers and visionaries. In alphabetical order:

• J.J. Abrams, Founder and President, Bad Robot (Producer, STAR TREK, MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: GHOST PROTOCOL, SUPER 8)
• David Alpert, Partner, Circle of Confusion (Executive Producer, "The Walking Dead”)
• Steve Blume, COO and CFO, Content Partners LLC
• Mark Burnett, CEO, One Three Media (Producer, "The Bible,” "The Voice,” "Survivor,” "The Apprentice,” "Shark Tank”)
• Joe Chianese, Executive Vice President, EP Financial Solutions, Entertainment Partners
• Tom Cruise (Producer, JACK REACHER, MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE franchise, THE LAST SAMURAI)
• Tracey Edmonds, CEO, Edmonds Entertainment / Our Stories Films / Alright TV (JUMPING THE BROOM, SOUL FOOD, GOOD LUCK CHUCK)
• Cassian Elwes (Producer, THE BUTLER, PAPER BOY, Executive Producer, MARGIN CALL)
• Mark Gordon (Producer, 2012, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, Executive Producer, "Grey’s Anatomy”)
• Marshall Herskovitz, Partner, Bedford Falls Company, Board of Directors, President Emeritus, Producers Guild of America (Producer, BLOOD DIAMOND, THE LAST SAMURAI, Executive Producer, "thirtysomething”)
• Reginald Hudlin, CEO, Hudlin Entertainment (Producer, DJANGO UNCHAINED)
• Darlene Hunt (Creator, "The Big C,” Consulting Producer, "90210,” Showrunner/Executive Producer, "Save Me”)
• Gale Anne Hurd, CEO, Valhalla Entertainment (Executive Producer, "The Walking Dead,” Producer, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, TERMINATOR trilogy)
• Jason Katims (Showrunner, "Parenthood,” "Friday Night Lights,” "Roswell”)
• Michael J. Kump, Partner, Kinsella Weitzman Iser Kump & Aldisert
• Carl Kurlander, President and CEO, Steeltown Entertainment Project (Writer, SAINT ELMO’S FIRE, Writer and Producer, "Saved By the Bell”)
• Gary Lucchesi, President, Lakeshore Entertainment, Vice President, Producers Guild of America (Producer, THE LINCOLN LAWYER, MILLION DOLLAR BABY, UNDERWORLD franchise)
• David Robinson, Senior Manager, Green Hasson Janks LLP
• Steven Sills, Partner, Green Hasson Janks LLP
• Sharon Tal Yguado, Executive Vice President, Global Scripted Programming and Original Development, Fox International Channels
• Hayma "Screech” Washington, CEO, Screechers Pix, Vice President of Television, Producers Guild of America, Governor of Producers Peer Group, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, (Emmy Award-winning series Executive Producer for thirteen seasons, "The Amazing Race”)
• Beau Willimon (Showrunner and Executive Producer, "House of Cards,” Co-producer and Writer, THE IDES OF MARCH)
• Marci Wiseman, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs, AMC
• Ken Ziffren, Partner, Ziffren Brittenham LLP

The 2013 PBC will feature more than 25 conference sessions, panel discussions, mentoring roundtables, networking opportunities, social events and workshops designed to provide producers with important career tools and insights necessary to compete in today’s competitive marketplace.

Finalists for the 2013 Producers Showcase (ProShow) competition will be revealed in May and invited to Los Angeles to participate in the PBC.While in attendance, they will meet with the ProShow’s development partners – 20th Century Fox for Feature Film, Ryan Seacrest Productions for Reality Television and Maker Studios for Online Content – to discuss their projects in detail and compete for the grand prizes. Winners will be announced at the conclusion of the Conference.

The 2013 PBC event is chaired by Tracey Edmonds, Marshall Herskovitz, Rachel Klein and Gary Lucchesi. Karen Schwartzman (Creative Axis International) is the 2013 PBC Program Director, Diane Salerno (Six Degrees Global) is the 2013 PBC Sponsorship Director and Lynda Dorf is the 2013 PBC Marketing Consultant.

In addition to 20^th Century Fox Studios, many sponsors are already on board including General Motors, the official Automotive Sponsor of the PGA; Delta Air Lines; Entertainment Partners; PRG, Production Resource Group; Quebec Film & Television Council; Prime Focus World; ARRI; Technicolor; Steeltown Entertainment Project; Background Images; Coca-Cola, and more.

For more information or to register, please visit www.producedbyconference.com.

*Media Credentials: All media interested in covering the 2013 Produced By Conference will need to complete and submit a Press Credential Application. Please email Stefan DeCastroverde at stefan.decastroverde@42west.net to receive an application. While credentials are not guaranteed due to space limitations, the PBC will do its best to grant them to as many outlets as possible.

About the Produced By Conference

Reaching across film, television and new media, the Produced By Conference (PBC) is an educational forum conducted by acclaimed producers, including numerous Academy and Emmy Award winners, as well as the next generation of creative entrepreneurs. The Produced By Conference is held through the Producers Guild of America’s charitable entity, the PGA Foundation, as it epitomizes the Foundation’s core mission to educate those who work in the producing profession. Follow the 2013 Produced By Conference on Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/producedbyconference and www.twitter.com/Produced_By or #ProducedBy.

About the Producers Guild of America

The Producers Guild of America is the non-profit trade group that represents, protects and promotes the interests of all members of the producing team in film, television and new media. The Producers Guild has more than 5,400 members who work together to protect and improve their careers, the industry and community by providing members with employment opportunities, seeking to expand health benefits, promoting fair and impartial standards for the awarding of producing credits, as well as other education and advocacy efforts such as encouraging sustainable production practices. Visit www.producersguild.org, www.pgagreen.org, and www.pgadiversity.org for more information.