Biola Media Conference
Conference Speakers
Directors, producers, actors, and studio executives who have shared their craft and their stories at past Biola Media Conference gatherings — plus the featured industry professionals on the program.
Featured Speakers
The conference has featured speakers including Destin Daniel Cretton, Ryan Coogler, and Jack Hafer, along with industry leaders from major studios including Fox and Disney. Program rosters change from year to year, so the listing below reflects those who have participated.
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Destin Daniel Cretton
Director
Featured as a main stage speaker on the conference program.
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Ryan Coogler
Director
Featured among the conference's roster of industry professionals.
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Jack Hafer
Department Chairman
Chairman of Biola's Cinema and Media Arts Department, greeting attendees and hosting opening sessions.
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Pete Docter
Director
Listed among past speakers of the conference.
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Simon Swart
EVP, Fox Home Entertainment
Delivered a keynote address in a past year of the conference.
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Gavin O'Connor
Special Guest Interviewee
Appeared as a special guest interviewee in a past year.
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Kenneth Ulmer
Speaker
Included among past conference speakers.
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Rob Liefeld
Creator of Deadpool
Spoke on the main stage during a past conference day.
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Meagan Good
Panelist, Women in Entertainment
Participated in a breakout panel on Women in Entertainment.
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Traci Blackwell
Panelist, Women in Entertainment
Joined the Women in Entertainment breakout panel.
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Valentina Garza
Panelist, Women in Entertainment
Featured on the Women in Entertainment panel.
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Tony Bancroft
Panelist, The Animated Life
Took part in the panel on the animated life.
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Mark Henn
Panelist, The Animated Life
Spoke on the animated life panel about animation craft.
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Armand Serrano
Panelist, The Animated Life
Participated in the animation-focused breakout panel.
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Remington Scott
Speaker, Motion Capture & Virtual Reality
Presented on motion capture, virtual and augmented reality, and 3D.
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Travis Cloyd
Speaker, Motion Capture & Virtual Reality
Joined the session on where immersive technology is headed.
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Edwina Findley Dickerson
Speaker
Listed among past conference speakers.
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Mark Atterberry
Speaker
Included among past speakers of the conference.
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Becky Boss
Speaker
Appeared among the conference's past speakers.
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Chris Masi
Speaker
Named among past conference speakers.
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Pat Charles
Speaker
Included in the roster of past speakers.
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Dr. Barry H. Corey
Speaker
Listed among past conference speakers.
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Stan Williams
Speaker
Featured in the conference speaker listings.
Hear How Saying YES Changed Careers
Opportunities surround you in entertainment, and saying YES opens doors. Come hear stories of how saying YES changed lives and created careers — including how to recognize when others believe in you, and why saying YES is a step of faith.
Past sessions have been led by industry figures from studios including Fox and Disney, and the conversation has extended into dedicated workshops on screenwriting, directing, and animation.
Saying YES means you believe you can stretch yourself to new limits. There are no boundaries except the ones you set up for yourself.
Workshops Led by Practitioners
Sessions have been hands-on and craft-focused, led by working professionals in the industry.
| Workshop | Focus |
|---|---|
| Telling Stories That Matter | Storytelling craft and purpose |
| Next Level Thinking | Creative and strategic development |
| Hollywood 101 | Industry fundamentals |
| Secrets Of Award Winning Screenplays | Screenwriting technique |
| Finding Your Voice As A Director | Directing approach |
| Putting Together Your Portfolio for Animation and Special Effects | Portfolio building |
| Directing Actors In Animation | Performance direction in animation |
A special networking event, Access Lunch, has provided one-on-one access to leading industry professionals for attendees.
The Biola Media Conference brings together students, emerging creatives, and established industry professionals for an exploration of filmmaking, storytelling, and media careers. Set within a university environment, the event offers a setting where conversation can bridge classroom learning and practical production experience. The conference program reflects a wide range of perspectives, including directors, producers, actors, studio executives, and other voices in entertainment, creating space for honest discussion about the work behind the screen.
Past conference gatherings have welcomed notable creative voices whose approaches to filmmaking and storytelling have inspired attendees. The speakers page gathers these figures together with the industry professionals featured on the current program, giving visitors a broad view of the kinds of careers and perspectives represented at Biola Media Conference. Because program rosters can change from year to year, the listing serves as a reflection of those who have participated rather than a permanent promise of future appearances.
Attending a media conference can offer students and aspiring creatives a clearer picture of the paths that lead into entertainment. Stories from working professionals illuminate the collaboration, persistence, and discernment required to develop a project and bring it to audiences. The conference also emphasizes the broader significance of media as a platform for stories that shape culture, encouraging thoughtful engagement with the industry rather than a narrow focus on technical skills alone.
The visual identity of the Biola Media Conference pairs a deep plum and aubergine palette with warm cream backgrounds and restrained gold accents, creating an atmosphere that feels both classical and contemporary. Serif display typography gives large headings an editorial elegance, while clean sans-serif type supports navigation, body copy, and small labels. Generous spacing, thin divider rules, and lightly bordered cards allow content to breathe, reinforcing an understated design that keeps attention on the conference program and the people behind it.
Visitors exploring the site can move between information about featured speakers, the conference schedule, and background on the event itself. Each section supports the same central purpose: making the conference feel approachable to students, guests, and industry participants alike. The speakers page, in particular, highlights a community of creatives whose experiences in direction, production, performance, and studio leadership demonstrate the many ways that media careers can develop over time.