Opening Night Panel & Reception
*Registration opens on Monday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m. PT
*Deadline to RSVP is Thursday, Sept. 26 at 12 noon PT.
Schedule
Reception: 6-7 p.m.
Panel: 7- 9 p.m.
Dessert: 9 - 9:30 p.m.
Our theme for this year’s Conservatory Intensive is “The New Normal.”
This panel will feature a plethora of talented and diverse artisans who have adapted and embraced “The New Normal.”
Diarra Kilpatrick is an actress, writer and producer. She produced, wrote and starred in the ABC web-series, American Koko (2017), for which she received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series nomination. From 2020 to 2023, Kilpatrick starred in the HBO period drama series, Perry Mason. Kilpatrick created, produced and plays the leading role in the BET+ mystery comedy-drama series, Diarra from Detroit.
Jodi Long is best known for her role as Madama on Cafe Americain (1993–1994), and Ok Cha on Sullivan and Son (2012–2014), and her role in Patty Hearst (1988). She won Best Supporting Actress at the Daytime Emmy Awards for her role in the Netflix series Dash & Lily (2020).
Lizza Monet Morales is known for Phil Spector (2013), Access Hollywood (1996) and The Deported (2009).
Matt Johnson is a two-time Emmy Award winning Showrunner, Executive Producer and Writer with over three decades of experience in film, television, stage, and global live events. He served as the Showrunner and Head Writer of the acclaimed “Kitten Bowl” franchise for Hallmark Channel and Co-Executive Produced its spin-off series "Cat Bowl" for its first two seasons. In partnership with Amblin, NBC/Universal, and Toniebox, Matt recently wrote the new “Jurassic Park: Camp Cretaceous” audio-drama series, debuting in Fall 2024 – and is currently developing a new scripted early-learning franchise with the same team. Upcoming projects include Co-Showrunning several non-fiction children’s series, as well as “Tee’s Pot’s” – a feature film he created and co-wrote for Hallmark Channel celebrating adoption and Chinese tea pottery. Matt is a former chair of Diversity & Inclusion for the Producers Guild, and for the past two years has served on the Television Academy Honors Committee, recognizing programs that inspire and drive social change.
Melanie Mayron is an actress and director of film and television. Mayron is best known for her role as photographer Melissa Steadman on the ABC drama thirtysomething for which she won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series in 1989, and was nominated for the same award in 1990 and 1991. In 2018, the Santa Fe Film Festival honored Mayron for her outstanding contributions to film and television.
Wendy Kurtzman is an Emmy and Artios nominated casting director with more than 35 years of experience in feature films, movies for television, limited series, and theater. Wendy has worked with many distinguished directors such as Paul Schrader, Diane Keaton, Sally Field, and Roland Emmerich, for whom she cast the blockbuster “Independence Day.” Prior to starting her own casting business, she was a casting executive at Lifetime and NBC.
Refreshments and dessert will be served.
Parking will be validated.
This workshop is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA LA Conservatory members in good standing. No guests allowed. All performers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. This workshop is not intended to imply an endorsement of any individual or company by SAG-AFTRA. The information provided through the workshop is given for informational purposes and may not be a suitable substitute for the advice of other industry professionals.
ADA requests must be received at least 72 business hours before the start of the event.
