What’s Happening in Hollywood?

ABOUT THE EVENT:

Join us for a special state of the industry conversation at PROOF Film Festival. This timely discussion brings industry leaders and insiders together to examine the current state of Hollywood amidst ongoing changes in the streaming landscape, strikes, and the evolving roles of studios, agencies, and content creators. What does the future hold for emerging filmmakers, and how can they adapt?

PANELISTS INCLUDE:

Stephanie Allain, Homegrown Pictures

Stephanie Allain’s Homegrown Pictures produces award-winning films that make headlines, launch careers and shape the culture. Titles include Hustle & Flow, Something New, Beyond the Lights, Dear White People and Titus Kaphar’s upcoming Exhibiting Forgiveness. She is Emmy-nominated for producing 2020 Academy Awards. A long-time activist for equity and belonging, Allain is the first woman of color elected President of the Producers Guild of America and a member of AMPAS and the WGA. She sits on the boards of American Cinematheque, Producers Guild of America and Cast & Crew. Her first children’s book, WHO’S IN CHARGE? was published by Candlewick Press in 2024.

Blake Avery, Netflix

Blake Avery is currently a Manager in the Original Film team at Netflix, serving as a studio executive on such titles as Johan Renck’s Spaceman starring Adam Sandler & Carey Mulligan, Luckiest Girl Alive starring Mila Kunis, Cedric Nicolas-Troyan’s Kate starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead & Woody Harrelson, and Night Teeth starring Debby Ryan, Jorge Lendeborg Jr. & Sydney Sweeney. Blake’s upcoming films include Gareth Evan’s Havoc starring Tom Hardy & Forest Whitaker, Patrick Hughes’ War Machine starring Alan Ritchson, as well as Jeremy Saulnier’s Rebel Ridge starring Aaron Pierre & Don Johnson. Blake is also a founder and leader of Indigenous @ Netflix, an employee resource group that advocates for greater representation in the stories told by Netflix, while also seeking to build an inclusive, supportive community for Indigenous employees. Blake began his career at Creative Artists Agency working in the Motion Picture Literary department while also serving as a full-time reader for Sundance’s Screenwriter Labs, then jumping into film development at Studio 8 of Sony Pictures. Prior to joining Netflix, Blake was an executive in the film team at Legendary Entertainment, where he helped shepherd titles like Chris Landon’s We Have a Ghost, the reimagining of the cult VHS-era hit Faces of Death, and the revival of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise with Fede Alvarez. Blake was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, and is an enrolled member of the Sun’aq Tribe of Kodiak, a federally-recognized Alaska Native Tribe located within the city of Kodiak. Blake is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in Film and Gender Studies.

Kate Gondwe, Neon

Kate Gondwe is the Manager of Acquisitions, Development, and Production at award-winning independent studio NEON, with an extensive background in supporting diverse voices through audience campaign strategies. In addition, Kate was named one of the 25 New Faces of Independent Film by Filmmaker Magazine, and she has participated in the Sundance Catalyst Program, Locarno Industry Academy, Tribeca Through Her Lens, IFP Week, and Berlinale Talents.