Variety and Sony Pictures Announce Television FYC Showcase

Variety and Sony Pictures Announce Television FYC Showcase

Variety and Sony Pictures Television will host an invite-only FYC Showcase in Los Angeles on May 7 featuring activations and three panel conversations with creatives from “Gen V,” “For All Mankind,” “Justified: City Primeval,” “Platonic,” “Twisted Metal,” “Outlander” and “The Wheel of Time.”

All conversations will be moderated by a Variety editor and available on Variety.com following the event.

Programming includes:

Building a Television Universe

A conversation between showrunners and key below-the-line talent on how to successfully build a universe in the competitive television landscape. Executive producers from diverse genres and backgrounds dive into their respective worlds, discussing their approach to growing their franchises, building connections between characters, navigating the fanbase, and more.

Panelists:

• Matt Wolpert, Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer, “For All Mankind”  
• Ben Nedivi, Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer, “For All Mankind” 
• Ron Moore, Executive Producer, “For All Mankind” 
• Michael Dinner, Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer, “Justified: City Primeval”  
• Dave Andron, Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer, “Justified: City Primeval”  
• Moderated by Michael Schneider, Senior TV Editor, Variety  

What is a Comedy Today?

Creatives sit down to discuss how they develop comedies in the ever-changing landscape of the comedy genre. They share the challenges of tackling topical issues and balancing humor, while relating to audiences across different generations. Together, we will explore the defining characteristics of what makes comedy unique today.

Panelists:

• Nick Stoller, Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer, Director, “Platonic”  
• Francesca Delbanco, Co-Showrunner, Executive Producer, Director, “Platonic”  
• Luke Macfarlane, Actor, “Platonic”   
• Michael Jonathan Smith, Showrunner, Executive Producer, “Twisted Metal”  
• Anthony Mackie, Actor, Executive Producer, “Twisted Metal”  
• Stephanie Beatriz, Actor, “Twisted Metal”   
• Moderated by Emily Longeretta, Senior TV Features Editor, Variety  

The Art of Adaptation

This in-depth conversation will explore the process of developing existing IP and source material into a television series. A diverse group of Sony voices will speak on adapting worlds from different mediums, developing characters, and examining how creative teams identify the storyline points that translate to TV.

Panelists:

• Michael Jonathan Smith, Showrunner, Executive Producer, “Twisted Metal”  
• Victoria Paul, Production Designer, “Twisted Metal”  
• Maril Davis, Executive Producer, “Outlander”  
• Justine Gillmer, Executive Producer, “The Wheel of Time” 
• Moderated by Jazz Tangcay, Senior Artisans Editor, Variety 

Additional panelists to be announced.