Industry Exchange
Panels, Workshops & Masterclasses 

From film and music to social media and public leadership, a new generation is reshaping how voices are heard and how change takes hold. This timely conversation explores the intersection of storytelling, culture, civic engagement and influence. Prominent changemakers will discuss what it means to speak with courage when the stakes are high, use creative platforms responsibly and turn visibility into meaningful impact. The panel invites audiences to consider not only who has the microphone, but how each of us can use our voice to move culture forward.

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Who Should Attend:

• Filmmakers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Writers, Musicians, Artists, Content Creators, Influencers, Photographers, Designers, Marketers, Entrepreneurs, Educators, Community Leaders, Advocates, Civic Leaders, Emerging Professionals and anyone interested in using their voice, platform or influence to create meaningful change. All industries.

• Open to the public.

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Date: Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2026​

Time: TBA

Location: TBA

Vertical drama is rapidly becoming a global entertainment phenomenon, drawing millions of viewers and attracting significant interest from producers, platforms and investors. Designed for mobile viewing, these fast-paced serialized stories are creating new opportunities for writers, actors, directors and producers to enter the market, build audiences and monetize original content.

This panel explores what fuels the growth of vertical drama and how creators can get into space. Industry professionals will break down story structure, short-form production, casting, budgeting, distribution, audience growth and monetization, along with what platforms are looking for right now.

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Join us and learn how to develop, package and position a vertical series that captures attention, keeps viewers watching and competes in this expanding market.

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Panelist: Kaleisha Walker & Max

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Who Should Attend:

• Writers, Producers, Directors, Actors, Filmmakers, Content Creators, Influencers, Showrunners, Development Executives, Casting Professionals, Digital Media Professionals, Marketers, Entrepreneurs, Emerging Creatives and anyone interested in creating, producing, distributing or monetizing mobile-first entertainment.

• All industries. Open to the public.

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Date: Thursday, October 1, 2026​

Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm

Location: R. Milton and Denice Johnson Center

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Today’s performers are building careers across film, television, music, voiceover, animation, commercials, digital media and emerging platforms. This collaborative conversation brings actors, singers and voice artists together to share their creative journeys, explore opportunities within Tennessee’s growing entertainment industry and discuss how performers can remain visible, versatile and prepared as the business evolves.

SAG-AFTRA members will offer practical insight into union membership, new technologies, changing performance opportunities and what it takes to build a sustainable career in Tennessee and beyond.

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Panelist: Kyla Jade, Terra Strong Lyons, Wendy Moten, Valerie Jane Parker 

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Who Should Attend:

• Producers, Directors, Writers, Filmmakers, Actors, Content Creators, Entrepreneurs, Investors, Financiers, Entertainment Attorneys, Business Affairs Professionals, Development Executives, Emerging Creatives and anyone looking to better understand how projects are funded, packaged, valued and positioned for real industry opportunities. 

• All industries. Open to the public.

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Date: Friday, October 2, 2026​

Time: 10:00am

Location: Scarritt Bennett Center

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Led by Emmy Award-winning director Bobby Yan, this hands-on workshop takes actors inside the director’s process, from casting and callbacks through rehearsal and performance on set. Participants will explore how directors evaluate actors, what callbacks are really designed to reveal, and how actors and directors build trust and creative shorthand. Using a scene from Yan’s upcoming feature film, attendees will make their own performance choices, compare them with the director’s notes, and leave with practical tools for script preparation, collaboration and stronger on-camera work.​

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Masterclass Leader:Bobby Yan

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Who Should Attend:

• Actors, Directors, Acting Students, Film Students, Emerging Performers, Filmmakers, Writers, Casting Professionals, Acting Coaches and creatives interested in strengthening the actor-director relationship and understanding the journey from audition to on-camera performance.

• All experience levels welcome.

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Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026​

Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm

Location: Scarritt Bennett Center

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Got a film or series you’re ready to pitch?​

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Get your project in front of experienced professionals from across the studio, network and entertainment industry for direct, focused feedback.

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In this private Pitch Clinic, you’ll have approximately five minutes with each participating industry executive to introduce your project, share your intended audience and hear what’s working, what could be stronger and what may help your pitch stand out in the marketplace.

 

Bring your best pitch. Get real industry feedback. Leave with clearer next steps.

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Who Should Attend:

• Filmmakers, writers, producers, directors, showrunners, content creators, creative entrepreneurs and emerging creatives developing a film or series project.

• Ideal for anyone looking to strengthen a concept, sharpen a pitch and gain direct industry perspective before taking a project to market.

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Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026​

Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm

Location: Scarritt Bennett Center

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The line between traditional Hollywood and the creator economy is disappearing. Digital creators are moving onto sets and screens, while actors, filmmakers and industry veterans are adopting creator-led strategies to build audiences and expand opportunities. This high-energy conversation examines what Hollywood can learn from creators about speed, ownership and audience connection, and what creators can learn from Hollywood about craft, production and longevity. Together, these worlds are not simply crossing paths, they are rewriting the rules of entertainment.​​

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Panelist: Milena Gay, Eric Hamilton, Percy Bell

 

Who Should Attend:

• Producers, Directors, Actors, Writers, Filmmakers, Content Creators, Influencers, Musicians, Artists, Journalists, Photographers, Marketers, Digital Strategists, Entrepreneurs, Media Professionals, Emerging Creatives and anyone interested in how technology, audience-building and new business models are reshaping entertainment. All industries.

• Open to the public.

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Date: Thursday,, Oct. 1, 2026​

Time: 10:00am - 11:15 am

Location: Laskey Hall, Scarritt Bennett Center

Dreams need more than imagination; they need a plan. The Dreams Are Made Of Entertainment Summit brings young people face-to-face with filmmakers, studio executives, actors and other entertainment professionals for honest conversations about building a future in film, television and the creative industries.

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Through live, interactive sessions, students can ask questions, explore career paths and hear firsthand how industry professionals turned their ideas, talents and ambitions into real opportunities. They will also gain practical insight into preparing for the future, developing their skills and navigating the challenges of pursuing a creative career.

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This summit is designed to inspire young people to dream bigger, plan with purpose and begin taking meaningful steps toward the future they envision.

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Panelist: Kevin Boseman, Derrick Boseman, Percy Bell, Bobby Yan, Jenny Garner (TBD)

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Who Should Attend:

• High School students Interested in Film, Television, Media & Entertainment Careers

• Educators • School Counselors • Career & College Readiness Professionals • Youth Program Leaders

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Limited Seating / Open to Public

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Date: Friday, October 2, 2026​

Time: 9:30am - 12:30pm

Location: Looby Theater

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Everyone dreams of receiving the call from a studio or streamer that changes everything overnight. The myth is that a great project sells itself. The reality is that successful deals require time, preparation, strategy and the right relationships, all built long before anyone reaches the negotiating table.

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This panel separates the facts from the myth. Producers, investors, and industry professionals will share what it takes to get a project deal-ready, from building a strong foundation and understanding your own value to knowing what to expect once real conversations begin.

Come ready to learn the funding facts, invest in yourself along the way, and approach any negotiation with confidence and realistic expectations.

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Panelist: Brett Dismuke, Angela Northington, Tishea Meadows, D. Channsin Berry, Percy Bell

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Who Should Attend:

• Producers, Directors, Writers, Filmmakers, Actors, Content Creators, Entrepreneurs, Investors, Financiers, Entertainment Attorneys, Business Affairs Professionals, Development Executives, Emerging Creatives and anyone looking to better understand how projects are funded, packaged, valued and positioned for real industry opportunities. 

• All industries. Open to the public.

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Date: Friday, October 2, 2026​

Time: 5:15pm - 6:30pm

Location: No Where Special

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As Artificial Intelligence and other non-sentient technologies contribute to a “famine of imagination” and challenge authentic storytelling, structure alone is not enough. The unique expressions of soul within a story can elevate a script and reveal a writer’s signature voice and vision.

In her “Soul of a Story” masterclass, award-winning producer, writer and educator Carolyn McDonald helps screenwriters create films that resonate, entertain and endure. Part playdate, part workshop, this 90-minute interactive session explores how elements such as tone, theme, rhythm, motifs and character depth can infuse more soul into a story.

Designed for writers of all levels, the masterclass offers tools to help screenwriters:

• Build authentic, believable worlds

• Infuse more soul into a 3-act structure

• Create multidimensional characters

• Design dynamic contrasting relationships

• Incorporate rhythm more intentionally

• Weave evocative motifs and metaphors into scripts

• Develop more engaging themes

 

Participants are encouraged, though not required, to bring an existing concept or idea to use during the exercises. Attendees will also receive access to a free excerpt from Carolyn’s upcoming book, “The Soul of a Story.”

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Masterclass Leader: Carolyn McDonald

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Who Should Attend:

• Screenwriters developing film or episodic projects

• Writers with a script, concept or early-stage idea

• Filmmakers looking to strengthen story, character and theme

• Emerging and experienced writers refining voice and structure

• Creatives seeking more authentic, memorable storytelling

• This masterclass is designed for writers and storytellers at every stage who want to bring more depth, originality and emotional resonance to their work.

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Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026​

Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm

Location: Scarritt Bennett Center

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Derrick and Kevin Boseman step into the spotlight for a revealing conversation about who they are, what shaped them and why this is the moment for their next chapter.

The brothers will share never-before-told stories from the Boseman household in Anderson, South Carolina, including how their parents nurtured each son’s creativity, ambitions and lifelong commitment to the arts.

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As the world marks what would have been Chadwick Boseman’s 50th birthday, Derrick and Kevin will discuss their plans to celebrate his life and creative work, introduce their new Nashville-based company and reveal what is ahead, including new projects in entertainment, philanthropy and community engagement.

It is an intimate look at the family behind the name and a powerful conversation about where the Boseman brothers are going next.

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Special Guests: Derrick Boseman & Kevin Boseman

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Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026​

Time: 7:00pm - 7:45pm

Location: R. Milton and Denice Johnson Center

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