May 4 at 12:15 pm – 1:15 pm
Back by popular demand, SeriesFest is proud to present a special panel conversation in celebration of women Showrunners breaking the glass ceiling of the television industry. These Showrunners are forging new paths for storytellers of all generations and genders by championing new perspectives that reflect shared experiences on our screens. Join us for a powerful conversation spotlighting the challenges, triumphs, and hopes of the revolutionary Female showrunners behind some of your favorite series.
In Attendance
Speaker
Nkechi
Okoro Carroll
Showrunner, “All American” Franchise & “Found”
Bio
Nkechi Okoro Carroll is the founder of Rock My Soul Productions and is the creator/executive producer of the Warner Bros. Television (WBTV) drama series Found, which debuted last Fall on NBC. The series was recently renewed for a second season. She is also the executive producer/showrunner of the WBTV dramas All American and All American: Homecoming, which rank as The CW’s #1 and #2 series among key demographics of Adults 18–34 and Adults 18–49.
Her prior credits include The Resident, Rosewood, Bones, and The Finder.
Speaker
Michelle
Paradise
Co-Showrunner and Executive Producer, “Star Trek Discovery”
Bio
Michelle Paradise is Co-Showrunner and Executive Producer of the acclaimed Paramount + series, Star Trek: Discovery. It has been nominated for multiple Emmy, Saturn, and GLAAD Media awards, winning the Saturn for Best Science Fiction Series and the GLAAD Media Award for Best Drama Series. Prior to joining Starfleet, Michelle was a writer for series including The Originals and Rogue, and she has written several features. She also used to be an actor, which may explain why you feel compelled to buy Crest toothpaste when you look at her. She holds B.A. degrees in English and French, a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature, and she’s a proud graduate of the prestigious Warner Bros. Television Writers’ Workshop. Yes, that is her real last name.
Speaker
Ashley
Michel Hoban
Showrunner / Executive Producer, “Dr. Death”, & “The Girl from Plainville”
Bio
Ashley Michel Hoban grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where she watched too much television. She earned her MFA in Writing and Directing at NYU’s Graduate Film and Television Program. She has written, directed, and produced on shows including THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE (Hulu), DR. DEATH (Peacock), HAPPY! (SYFY), and MARCO POLO (Netflix). Her short films have screened and earned awards internationally. She is based in New York, where she still watches too much television.
Speaker
Janine
Sherman Barrois
Writer and Showrunner, “The Big Cigar”
Bio
Janine Sherman Barrois is an award-winning writer and showrunner under an exclusive multi-year deal with Warner Bros. through her company, Folding Chair Productions. Barrois was an executive producer on all four seasons of Claws, the hit TNT dramedy and was the showrunner for the first three seasons. In addition, she was the co-showrunner and executive producer of Self Made: Inspired by the Life of Madam CJ Walker, the award-winning Netflix limited series and was the creator of the highly acclaimed OWN series The Kings of Napa. Currently, Janine is showrunning an Apple TV+ limited series, The Big Cigar.
Speaker
Alexa
Junge
Executive Producer, Amazon
Bio
Alexa is one of the most revered showrunners in the business. With credits from FRIENDS, GRACE & FRANKIE, BIG LOVE, WEST WING, SEX AND THE CITY, Alexa is known for her unique voice and wide range. (Currently she serves as an EP on BOSCH LEGACY – her first series where people blow up cars.) Nominated for 6 Emmy and 2 WGA awards, Alexa’s new play, GRETHE B. is being directed by Moises Kaufman. A frequent contributor to THIS AMERICAN LIFE, her FRIENDS episode “The One Where Everyone Finds Out” was recently cited in “Atlantic Magazine” as a proven “mood booster.”
Moderator
Perri
Nemiroff
Senior Producer, Collider
Bio
Perri Nemiroff is the senior producer at Collider where she hosts and produces the interview series, Collider Ladies Night, a show geared towards highlighting the need-to-know female voices in film and television.
In addition to her work at Collider, Perri conducts interviews for Rotten Tomatoes and Fandango, and can be seen on the big screen in NCM’s Noovie Pre-Show hosting Close-Up with Perri Nemiroff. Perri frequently moderates post-screening Q&As and panels at film festivals and conventions including San Diego Comic-Con.
Perri splits her time between Los Angeles and New York. Wherever the film and television coverage takes her, she goes!