Guest Speakers

Regent University seeks to serve as a creative and spiritually uplifting place where people connect with others who are working in media and the performing arts in a learning environment. On the pages below, you will discover a few of the many artists and professionals who have shared their lives and experiences with us. In 1744, Italian philosopher and historian, Giambattista Vico, offered an apt account of the mission of a story-teller: “Now this is the three-fold labor of poetry (story-telling): (1.) To invent sublime fables suited to the popular understanding; (2.) to perturb to excess (entertain) with a view to the end proposed; (3.) and to teach the vulgar to act virtuously.” As Christians, we join with others to develop our gifts, our talents and our lives in ways that will help make a redemptive difference in the lives of others through the creative and prophetic power of story.

Industry Speakers & Guests

Tony Hale	Doug Gresham	Rebecca St. James	Brian Davidson	Ben Stein

 

SPRING 2012

Gordon Pennington
Managing Director of Burning Media Group

Former director of marketing for Tommy Hilfiger, Gordon Pennington is an international consultant to corporations, governments and institutions. As a lecturer on cultural communications, Pennington has spoken at the annual International Arts Movement conference in New York, and has addressed screenwriters on the theme of "Culture and Media Influence" for the Act One Screenwriters program. He has lectured at Cambridge, Oxford, Columbia, Princeton, Yale, and several other universities. He currently serves with Burning Media Group in New York

http://www.mytruthproject.org/truthproject/downloads/bios/Gordon_Pennington.pdf

Elluz Peraza
Actress/Writer/Director/Producer

Elluz has been a “novella” or Latin American soap opera actress for over thirty-five years. She is a movie connoisseur and now in yesHEis. She has been called to make her talents available to serve God, through her scripts, directing and producing many of the videos you can now see in yesHEis in Spanish.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0672793/

FALL 2011

Dominic Carola
President and Creative Director of Premise Entertainment

After spending more than a decade working for Walt Disney Feature Animation, Dominic has overseen productions ranging from theatrical features and television projects, as a Creative Producer and Director for Project Firefly. While at Walt Disney Feature Animation, Dominic was a Lead Animator for Lilo & Stitch, and animated on such films as Brother Bear and Mulan. His other animation film credits include John Henry, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas and The Lion King. Prior to coming to Disney, Dominic worked as a cartoonist for D.C. Comics.

http://web.mac.com/premise/iWeb/Premise%20Entertainment/Premise_Creative.html

 

Rev. Kim Dorr-Tilley
Pastor to the Entertainment Industry

Kim is the co-owner of Defining Artists Agency. She has worked in entertainment, specifically with on-camera talent, for over 20 years. She developed and ran the Casting Department of The Arthur Company, an independent television production company, for nine years. Kim jumped across the desk in 1993, becoming a talent agent at the Bobby Ball Agency where she headed up the Children's and Young Adult TV/ Film Division and started the Adult Theatrical Department. In 2002, Defining Artists, an Adult Theatrical Boutique Agency, was born out of the Adult Theatrical Department of BBA. In 2005, Kim took over ownership of Defining Artists with her partner, Dede Binder-Goldsmith. Kim is also on staff at Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, overseeing the Prayer Ministry, Alpha and the Bethel Program.

http://www.belairpres.org/default.aspx?page=500224

 

Hugh Hewitt
Radio Talk Show Host with Salem Radio Network

Hugh Hewitt's nationally syndicated radio show, The Hugh Hewitt Show, is broadcast from California on weekdays. The show appears on more than 75 stations and is syndicated by the Salem Radio Network.

Although Hewitt's background is in law, government, and politics, he also covers American cultural trends and frequently delves into the entertainment industry, offering movie reviews with "Emmett of the Unblinking Eye" every Friday evening. He frequently critiques the mainstream media on air, often inviting journalists to defend their work on the show.

http://www.hughhewitt.com/blog/

 

Ron Maxwell
Director/Producer/Writer

During his high school years Ron founded the Garden State Players where he wrote, produced and directed dozens of plays and musicals. Upon graduation from NYU, he worked in Spain as Charleton Heston's personal assistant in Heston's directorial debut, Antony and Cleopatra. In 1978, he produced and directed Sissy Spacek, Bill Hurt, Sally Kellerman and Howard da Dilva in Verna: USO Girl for which Ron received a best director Emmy nomination. Ron was then "drafted" to Hollywood where his first theatrical film, Little Darlings, opened at #1 on Variety's Top Hundred Grossing Films and has since become a classic of the genre. Subsequently, he directed The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia, Kidco, Parent Trap II, and the landmark film Gettysburg, which has been hailed as one of the greatest war movies in the history of film. Gettysburg was released theatrically in the fall of 1993. Since then, Ron has produced, written and directed the film Gods and Generals, the prequel to Gettysburg. Currently, Ron is in pre-production on Joan of Arc: Virgin Warrior and in long range prep on Last Full Measure, the final part of his Civil War Trilogy.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0561813/

 

SPRING 2011

The Adjustment Bureau (Film Screening)

Do we control our destiny, or do unseen forces manipulate us? Matt Damon stars in the thriller The Adjustment Bureau as a man who glimpses the future Fate has planned for him and realizes he wants something else. To get it, he must pursue the only woman he's ever loved across, under and through the streets of modern-day New York. On the brink of winning a seat in the U.S. Senate, ambitious politician David Norris (Damon) meets beautiful contemporary ballet dancer Elise Sellas (Emily Blunt) -- a woman like none he's ever known. But just as he realizes he's falling for her, mysterious men conspire to keep the two apart. David learns he is up against the agents of Fate itself-the men of The Adjustment Bureau-who will do everything in their considerable power to prevent David and Elise from being together. In the face of overwhelming odds, he must either let her go and accept a predetermined path.. or risk everything to defy Fate and be with her.

http://www.theadjustmentbureau.com/

 

Terence Berry
Executive Director

Terence Berry began his career in New York with Citibank's Media & Entertainment Group, where he helped the major studios secure financing for their slate of films. Desiring to work more closely with filmmakers, Terence left banking and began producing short films, including Scott Teems' award-winning, A Death in the Woods. Additionally, Terence helped launch and run the Damah Film Festival and served as an Associate Producer on the Discovery Channel's Monster Garage. Terence is currently attached to produce Not That Funny, an independent film starring Tony Hale. Shooting is to begin later this year. Terence is a graduate of the University of Virginia as well as the Act One Executive Program.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1333219/

 

Brian Davidson
Writer and Producer CSI:Miami

Brian Davidson is a writer...because he can't do anything else. After working in production as a Grip/Electric on several features to Line Producing for reality television series (New Detectives, The Quest), Brian finally figured out he wasn't good at anything so he started writing and has been for over ten years now. Getting his start with comicbook legend Stan Lee (Spiderman, X-Men, Ironman) on several animated series (The Accuser, 7th Portal), he is now writing and producing for television dramas. Currently, he is a Supervising Producer on CSI:Miami and developing projects for CBS. He lives in Los Angeles with his one wife, two daughters, and three dogs.

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1121001/

 

Doonby (Film Screening)

Sam Doonby, a mysterious and handsome drifter, steps off an interstate bus and quickly becomes the talk of a small Texas town. After finding work at Leroy's Country Blues bar, his musical talents make him a small-town star, attracting the attention of Laura, the beautiful but spoiled daughter of local doctor Cyrus Reaper. Sam seems to always be in the right place at the right time to prevent disasters from happening in the town. Before long, jealousy and suspicion drive the townspeople to question his sudden arrival and motives. Finally, when Laura begins to doubt him as well, he disappears as quickly as he materialized. Soon, everyone realizes that there was more to Sam Doonby than they understood, especially Cyrus and his family as the doctor's past comes back to haunt him.

http://www.doonbythemovie.com/

 

Pastor Jack Hayford

Jack Hayford serves as President of The Kings University (formerly The King's College and Seminary) in Los Angeles, which he founded in 1997. From 2004 to 2009, he also served as President of The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. He is probably best known, however, as "Pastor Jack," founding pastor of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California, where he served as senior pastor for more than three decades. A prolific and best-selling author, Pastor Hayford has penned more than 52 books and composed 600 hymns and choruses, including the internationally known and widely recorded "Majesty."

http://www.jackhayford.org/

 

Mark Joseph
Multi-media producer, author, columnist & founder of MJM Entertainment Group

Mark's career in television began in 1992 when he anchored the Entertainment Report for CNN and he spent the next decade hosting the TV show, The Interview, which featured one on one interviews with guests like Larry King, Charlton Heston, Jay Leno and dozens of others. From 2000-2005, he worked in development and marketing for Walden Media. In 2004 he produced the award-winning rock soundtrack for The Passion of The Christ. Mr. Joseph has worked in the development and/or marketing of 21 films including Ray, Holes, I Am David, The Chronicles of Narnia, Because of Winn-Dixie, The Ultimate Gift, Saving Sarah Cain and others. In 2004, he co-produced two short films, Cupid and The Bridge with producer Ralph Winter. He is currently producing three films including Doonby.

http://www.markjoseph.com/

 

John Sullivan
Producer of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed

John Sullivan, partner in Premise Media and a producer of Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, is a philosopher who explores his ideas through the medium of film. John's natural curiosity and interest in documentary filmmaking lead him to film school at San Francisco University and then to a partnership at Premise Media. When his partner Walt Ruloff considered investing in a biotech company, the two set out on a journey of discovery about science and its general attitude toward Intelligent Design. The prejudice and animosity they found among the academic community inspired the unscripted documentary Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.

http://www.christiancinema.com/catalog/newsdesk_info.php?newsdesk_id=823

 

Guest Speakers Archives:

*Click on year to see more information

2012

Speakers

Gordon Pennington

Elluz Peraza

2011

Speakers

Terence Berry	Dominic Carola	Brian Davidson	Rev. Kim Dorr-Tilley
Pastor Jack Hayford	Hugh Hewitt	Mark Joseph	Ron Maxwell
John Sullivan

Screenings

The Adjustment Bureau

Doonby

2010

Speakers

Jacki Armit	Crystal Cameron	Carolyn Castleberry	Michael Chin
Richard Clabaugh	Bobby & Kevin Downes	Rick Eldridge	Tim Finch
Denis Finley	Stan Foster	Dale Girard	Efrem Graham
Douglas Gresham	Oh Yeon Ho, Ph.D.	Rebecca St. James	Wes Llewellyn
Gregg Lloyd	Derek Leonidoff	Scot Mann	Sean Tuohy
Michael Ward, Ph.D.	Darren Wilson

Screenings

Loving the Bad Man	Mao's Last Dancer	The Fifth Quarter	Loving the Bad Man
Waiting for Superman	Letters to God

2009

Speakers

William Ball Jr.	Jeff Blumenkrantz	Phil Cooke	Loren Cunningham
Cassi Davis	Keith Flippen	Wendy Grittith	Sam Haskell
Jason Illian	Jars of Clay	Kimberley Kennedy	Lynnette Khalfani-Cox
Cristobal Krusen	Gene Loving	Max Lucado	Josh McDowell
Steve Morales	Deborah Norville	Jerry Rose	J. Scott “Skip” Rudsenske
Marianne Savell	Sherri Shepherd	Phil Stacey	Ken Wales
Kristi Watts	Lee Webb	Bruce Wilkinson	Karyn Williams
Pat Williams

2008

Speakers

Chris Auer	Jeff Blumenkrantz	Terry Botwick	Danny Carrales
Richard Clabaugh	Tim Conway	John Dedakis	Rick Eldridge
Bill Ewing	Michael Gaunt	Jack Gilbert	Monica Giminez-Grillo
Tony Hale	Ton Halleen	Dennis Hassell	Victoria Jackson
David Kinnaman	Wes Llewellyn	Karen Long	Paul Long
Rob Loos	Dick Mann	Cheryl McKay	Mary Lou Quinlan
Tim Scott & Will Decker	Mike Sinclair	Ben Stein	Michael Ward, Ph.D.
Natalie Wenninger	Lynn Wilford Scarborough

Screenings

22 Weeks

2007

Speakers

Geoffrey Alm	Mark Atteberry	Chris Auer	Dr. Ted Baehr
Dean Batali	Dr. Sybril Bennett	Thom Black	Cindy Bond
David Brimmer	Michael Chin	Tim Conway	Melissa Dogero
Dr. Gary Edgerton	Michael Gaunt	Carol Jaudes	Michael Johnson
Jenny Jones	Colleen Kelly	Brian Kilmeade	David Kirkpatrick
Michael Landon Jr.	Earl Lestz	Derek Leonidoff	Anthony De Longis
Dick Mann	Cheryl McKay	Daniel McKenricks	Randy Pease
Mary Lou Quinlan	Tim Robertson	Charlie Rose	Scott Ross
Joe Saitta	Tim Scott & Will Decker	Mike Sinclair	Jackie Matthews Snow
Ben Stein	Nedra Talley	Jason Upton	Eduardo Verastegui
Ken Wales	Michael Ward, Ph.D.	Natalie Wenninger	Lynn Wilford Scarborough

Screenings

Ten Commandments

2006

Speakers

Clifford Christians	Michael Chin	Louise Duart	Per Holmes
Michael Johnson	Jeff A.R. Jones	Coleman Luck	Scot Mann
John McFarland	Nic McLean	Chris Mitchell	Bill O'Reilly
Rikki Ravitts	Squire Rushnell	Jason Russell	Richard Ryan
Ralph Singleton	Stephen Walker	Randall Wallace	Terry Weber
John Wynne

2005

Speakers

Michael Chin	Michael Flaherty	Michael Johnson	Jennifer Jones
Scot Mann	Marvin Olasky	Richard Ryan	Forrest Sawyer

2004

Speakers

James Brown	Anthony Carreiro	Catherine Crier	Mel Gibson
Dale Girard	Scot Mann	Charles Shuman

2003

Speakers

Stephen J. Cannell

Rev. Luis Cortes Jr.

Peter Engel

Ronald F. Maxwell