Ashley McFarlin, an executive of
AMC Network and Allblk, returns to the JXN
FILM FESTIVAL™ to teach creatives
how to pitch their scripts and television ideas to industry professionals.
"Upon completing the B.E.E. Bootcamp workshop series, participants will be armed with the knowledge and tangible tools necessary to package and pitch projects to major networks and studios with confidence." Ashley McFarlin
As Vice President of Development for WE tv and AllBlk.Tv, Ashley McFarlin oversees new and developing
projects for the network and serves as an Executive Producer on the popular series Grown & Gospel,
Brat Loves Judy, A La Carte and 50 Cent’s Hip Hop Homicides.
With over twenty years’ experience in the industry, McFarlin has garnered a s
As Vice President of Development for WE tv and AllBlk.Tv, Ashley McFarlin oversees new and developing
projects for the network and serves as an Executive Producer on the popular series Grown & Gospel,
Brat Loves Judy, A La Carte and 50 Cent’s Hip Hop Homicides.
With over twenty years’ experience in the industry, McFarlin has garnered a strong reputation for
crafting layered, elevated stories of larger-than-life characters that are relatable, real and wildly
entertaining. McFarlin began her career as a production assistant at CNN in Atlanta, Ga.
In 2006, she founded Bird’s Eye Entertainment, Inc., and over the years, has worked on a multitude of
shows with various television networks including Bravo, Discovery, OWN, Oxygen, CNN, MTV, The Travel
Channel, and VH1-- producing popular series such as, Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Potomac and
Southern Charm New Orleans, as well as, VH1’s Girls Cruise, starring Lil’ Kim, Chilli, and Mya.
McFarlin has served as an Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University, a guest lecturer at Yale and
Clark Atlanta Universities; and facilitates annual production bootcamps throughout the country’s top
HBCU campuses. Additionally, as Co-Director of the non-profit teen empowerment group, The Power of
You Teens, Inc., she has launched a new chapter servicing young girls in the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Her most cherished accomplishment was the publication of a book of daily devotionals, The Truth:
Wrapped In Love, available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
McFarlin received her B.A. in Mass Communications from Howard University, where she graduated
Summa Cum Laude.
Tori Davis is a highly accomplished Co Executive Producer and CEO of Jaides Entertainment Inc, a dynamic production company specializing in diverse television programming. Growing up as an only child in The Bronx and raised by a single mother, Tori's journey led her to excel in the entertainment industry. She completed her education at Ta
Tori Davis is a highly accomplished Co Executive Producer and CEO of Jaides Entertainment Inc, a dynamic production company specializing in diverse television programming. Growing up as an only child in The Bronx and raised by a single mother, Tori's journey led her to excel in the entertainment industry. She completed her education at Talent Unlimited High School, Syracuse University, and New York Film Academy, solidifying her foundation in the field.
With a passion for unscripted television, Tori embarked on a successful career that spanned over 10 years. She held pivotal roles as an Assistant Director, Producer, and Post Producer, contributing to the creation of exceptional content. Notably, Tori played an integral part in producing acclaimed shows like VH1's Girl Cruise, which received two NFTA Award nominations and won Best Entertainment Show. Additionally, her exceptional work on the show Golden earned an Emmy nomination.
Throughout her illustrious career, Tori collaborated with renowned figures such as Heidi Klum, Naomi Campbell, Bobby Flay, Lil Kim, James Vanderbeek, Kevin Hart, Remy Ma, Todrick Hall, Snoop Dogg, Stacey London, Mya, Kirk Franklin, Lala Anthony and more. Her expertise extended across esteemed networks like Food Network, Lifetime, Viacom, and Netflix, where she consistently delivered outstanding results.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Tori remains dedicated to nurturing the next generation of talent. She invests her time in mentoring aspiring individuals, offering guidance and training to aspiring Producers and Directors. Many have flourished under her guidance, starting as Production Assistants and interns and blossoming into successful industry professionals.
Tori Davis's unwavering commitment to producing compelling content, her extensive industry knowledge, and her dedication to fostering talent make her an influential figure in the world of television production. Her future endeavors will undoubtedly continue to shape the landscape of unscripted entertainment while empowering and inspiring aspiring creatives along the way.
Robyn Lattaker-Johnson is a talent agent at A3 Artists Agency. After more than 20 years as a
senior network executive, content creator, producer and team leader, Robyn is harnessing
her abilities to navigate network operations, identify top talent, close the trickiest of deals, and
give her signature care to her collaborators and clients.
Spa
Robyn Lattaker-Johnson is a talent agent at A3 Artists Agency. After more than 20 years as a
senior network executive, content creator, producer and team leader, Robyn is harnessing
her abilities to navigate network operations, identify top talent, close the trickiest of deals, and
give her signature care to her collaborators and clients.
Spanning film, television, casting, physical production, unscripted development and current
programming, Robyn Lattaker-Johnson has experience across several disciplines, plus razor-
sharp creative instincts. Her expertise as an executive includes packaging star talent and
authentic voices on both sides of the camera, developing content in all genres of unscripted –
including docu-follow, game, hidden camera, competition reality, talk, documentary, stand-up
comedy, food, news, performance and award shows – as well as managing and motivating
successful teams.
Most recently Robyn served as the Head of Unscripted Programming at OWN: The Oprah
Winfrey Network where she ramped up to launch a second night of original unscripted
programming and creatively led over a dozen new series and specials including Put A Ring
On It, Belle Collective, Girlfriend’s Check In, Behind Every Man, Our OWN Celebration, They
Call Me Dad, The Legacy of Black Wallstreet, Lovely Bites, Food Fantasies, Tregaye’s Way,
Tanya’s Kitchen Table and Fear Not with Iyanla Vanzant. Robyn also oversaw the new cycles
of existing franchises Family or Fiancé, Black Love, Iyanla: Fix My Life, and Ready to Love
and developed The Hair Tales with Tracee Ellis Ross and Michaela angela Davis
Prior to her role at OWN, Robyn served as Head of Content & Development at REVOLT
Media & TV where she oversaw all original long form content development, production,
programming, scheduling, and acquisitions across all digital, linear and event platforms for
Sean “Diddy” Combs. In addition to the success of the 2019 REVOLT SUMMITs in NY,
Atlanta and Los Angeles, Robyn created and produced State of the Culture, Short & Fresh,
Funny AF, R News, Sound Check, and Director’s Reel, along with overseeing The Breakfast
Club, Drink Champs and other music programming.
Before landing positions with Oprah and Diddy, Robyn built her own boutique television
management company – RLJ Media Management & Consulting – where she created
opportunities and strategically guided careers for her unscripted content creator clients,
showrunners, multi-cam directors, talent bookers, production companies, and on-camera
talent.
Prior to her role as a media consultant and manager, Robyn was the Vice President of
Unscripted Programming at the Syfy network where she refreshed the reality TV landscape
with the successful Face Off franchise. Additionally, Robyn oversaw the day-to-day creative
and production aspects of top reality series Jim Henson’s Creature Shop Challenge, Ghost
Hunters (200+ eps), Wizard Wars, Fact or Faked and Paranormal Witness, among others.
Before Syfy, Robyn was an independent producer and consultant developing scripted,
unscripted and digital content. She was the show runner of BET’s Comic View: One Mic
Stand where she personally brought Kevin Hart in to host.
From 2005-08, Robyn was Senior Vice President of Original Programming at BET
Networks/Viacom where she spearheaded the network's most acclaimed original series
including Baldwin Hills, American Gangster, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, Hell Date, Lil’ Kim:
Countdown to Lockdown, Season of the Tiger, Ballers, Take the Cake and the gospel
powerhouse Sunday Best. Under Robyn’s key influence and oversight, BET’s programming
slate grew from 4 original series to approximately 12 series per year.
In the early 2000s Robyn served as Director of Alternative Development and Production, at
the Sci Fi channel in the four years before BET. At that time she launched Ghost Hunters,
Mad Mad House - Sci Fi’s first competition series, The Dream Team talk show and the
hidden camera prank series phenomenon Scare Tactics with Shannen Doherty. Prior to that,
Robyn held key roles as a line producer and production manager working in feature films,
music videos and commercials.
Robyn Lattaker-Johnson completed the Women in Cable Telecommunications (WICT) Senior
Executive Summit at Stanford Graduate School of Business in 2019 and subsequently was
the keynote address speaker at the WICT Rising Leaders Program. She has an MFA from
the Art Center College of Design in Film Directing and graduated cum laude from the
University of Washington with a BA in Communications, Broadcast Journalism. Robyn is
often called upon for her expertise in the field of entertainment to speak on industry panels
and at various university film and TV programs around the country. In addition to serving as a
moderator and panelist with Realscreen, Variety, the Producers Guild of America and several
other media outlets, Robyn speaks with students from Syracuse University, UCLA, Boston
University, University of Northridge, Santa Monica College and Azusa Pacific. She is also a
mentor via Realscreen’s DIALOG and REVOLT’S Office Hours programs.
A wife and mother of two, Robyn currently serves on the board of advisors for The Collective
Identity, a community mentorship program designed engage young black women and
nonbinary participants in safe spaces for growth, introspection and practicing healthy habits
around selfcare.
BRITT MATT was born and raised in Chicago and earned her Masters of Fine Arts from NYU’s Tisch School of Arts where she studied film, stage and television writing. Prior to jumping into the world of scripted comedy, Britt worked as a producer in non-fiction and reality television where she garnered two Daytime Emmy Nominations. Britt is a
BRITT MATT was born and raised in Chicago and earned her Masters of Fine Arts from NYU’s Tisch School of Arts where she studied film, stage and television writing. Prior to jumping into the world of scripted comedy, Britt worked as a producer in non-fiction and reality television where she garnered two Daytime Emmy Nominations. Britt is an alumni of the NBC Writers on the Verge program, and has written on hit comedies such as MARLON (NBC), A.P. BIO (NBC), FIRST WIVES CLUB (BET+), and is currently Executive Producer/Co-Showrunner on HARLEM (AMAZON)."
Amanda Welsh is a Network Television Executive and Production veteran with over 20 years of
experience.
Amanda got her start freelancing for Networks and production companies such as MTV, VH1,
AMC and BET to name a few. Currently, she is the Vice President of Production at WE tv
where she has been for 13 years.
Amanda’s production exp
Amanda Welsh is a Network Television Executive and Production veteran with over 20 years of
experience.
Amanda got her start freelancing for Networks and production companies such as MTV, VH1,
AMC and BET to name a few. Currently, she is the Vice President of Production at WE tv
where she has been for 13 years.
Amanda’s production experience is vast. She has cut her teeth on everything from Unscripted
and Scripted programming, Live events, Studio shows, long & short form content, Films,
Documentaries, Podcasts, as well as taken numerous projects from concept development to
completion. At WE tv, Amanda directs all aspects of production management for her slate of
shows while troubleshooting issues that arise daily. She is responsible for all production costs,
production schedules, deliverables, staff & cast agreements, risk management, etc. Overall, in
her career, she has overseen budgets upwards of $20 million dollars.
Amanda continues to be a formidable force in the production industry where she is known for
her strong work ethic, diplomatic and seasoned negotiating skills and an extremely even keel in
even the toughest situations. Amanda is a master with a budget, finding the savings and ensuring
that productions come in under or on budget. She continues to network and grow her freelance
database and enjoys making new contacts.
Amanda loves being a wife and mother to 2 small children currently residing in
Ashley will introduce you to her industry friends that are producing some of the biggest projects on television.
You will receive a manual written by an industry insider designed just for you.
Review actual case studies of projects that got greenlit and understand why.
All participants will be required to pitch their ideas and receive feedback on how to prepare for the real thing.
All participants will have an opportunity to OFFICIALLY pitch to Ashely's parent company, AMC and ALLBLK
Homewood Suites 2815 N. State St, Jackson, MS 39216
This is a 3 day intensive training to equip you with the tools necessary to pitch your project to major networks and studios.
Homewood Suites 2815 N. State St, Jackson, MS 39216
Homewood Suites 2815 N. State St, Jackson, MS 39216
This is a 3 day intensive training to equip you with the tools necessary to pitch your project to major networks and studios.
Homewood Suites 2815 N. State St, Jackson, MS 39216
JXN Convention Complex 105 E. Pascagoula St. Jackson, MS 39216
This is a 3 day intensive training to equip you with the tools necessary to pitch your project to major networks and studios.
JXN Convention Complex 105 E. Pascagoula St. Jackson, MS 39216
The Jxn Film Festival featuring BEE Pitch Bootcamp 2022 with Ashley McFarlin
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