WFA 2021 Speakers

Soundview Media Partners Founding Member and CEO Dan Gurlitz entered the entertainment distribution industry in 1984. His career began in advertising, and includes over ten years in sales followed by 15 years in senior management within rapid-growth, independent environments. Prior to launching Soundview, Dan was the Senior Vice President and General Manager, Video, for Entertainment One U.S ...

Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner, is a leading expert in the fields of brand narrative, story world development, creative franchise design, and transmedia storytelling. He specializes in the expansion of entertainment properties, premium brands, and socio-political themes into highly successful multi-platform communications and international campaigns. As a producer accredited by the Producers Guild of America, Jeff also develops the story worlds of films, TV shows, videogames, toys, books, comics, apps, virtual reality projects, and theme park attractions. This deepens engagement and accelerates the development of participative communities, resulting in mass audience approval, brand loyalty, and increased revenues. Jeff’s pop ...

Jim Arnoff is a Certified Life/Career/Business Coach to the entertainment industry, small business owners, veterans in film and television, women in finance and NYU alumni. Jim is certified by the International Coach Federation and founded the Gay Coaches Collective/NYC. Jim also consults as a talent agent having represented television production companies in developing and selling original programming. As a consultant, he shapes pitches, strengthens sizzle reels and works with producers to launch their own production companies. He practices entertainment law in television, film and digital. Jim worked at the William Morris Agency as both an in-house lawyer and television packaging ...

Maria C. Miles is the founding partner of an entertainment law firm with offices in New York. Ms. Miles’ practice focuses on all areas of entertainment and media law, including, film (both documentary and narrative), music, literary publishing, fashion, sports and new media ...

Marttise Hill is an award-winning filmmaker and the Metro NY Film/TV Rep for Rosco Laboratories. Marttise received his Bachelor’s in English Literature from Morehouse College and their MFA in Film Production from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. He has taught courses on physical production, directing, creative producing, and screenwriting at Montclair State University, Brooklyn College, Tribeca Film Institute Teaching Artist Fellowship, and the Ghetto Film School in New York. Marttise founded Pryor Hill Productions with his creative partner, Julius Pryor, a full-service media production company that focuses on creating compelling content by underrepresented filmmakers. He’s produced, shot, and directed ...