Blockbuster Speakers
GTN’s Hottest Movie Tie-In Programs: Visionary Directors, Authors, Producers and the True Stories that Inspired Them
The Tuohy Family The Real Heroes of The Blind Side
The following programs are available together or separately The Father: Sean Tuohy
Behind The Blind Side: Overcoming Obstacles in the Face of Adversity Sean invites audiences to go behind-the-scenes of the Tuohy household with a heartwarming message: “In our house, we believe in miracles.” Sharing personal anecdotes with his signature southern charm, Sean brings The Blind Side to life. A dedicated father and inspirational coach, Sean asks us to consider a simple question: why are kids just like Michael Oher are falling through the cracks every day?
The Mother: Leigh Anne Tuohy
Every Team is a Family: How to Make an Impact on Your Community At the podium, Leigh Anne inspires audiences to recognize the potential in those around us—and to do something about it. She shares her personal Blind Side observations, from seeing Michael Oher for the first time to how the experience changed her as a person—and the Tuohys as a family. She asks audiences to explore how we can make an impact big enough to change a broken system.
The Tuohy Children: Michael Oher, Collins & Sean Jr.
Best-Seller
The Difference Trust Makes: Supporting One Another Through Change and Transition “Who knows where I’d be?” says Oher, who with the love and support of the Tuohys has become the most sought after player in football. Michael Oher, along with Collins and Sean, Jr., inspire audiences to see their greatest challenges as opportunities. “As I look back, it’s crazy how I got here,” he says. “But it didn’t seem tough at the time. I just lived day to day, did the best I could.”
In Conversation: The Tuohy Family “She cried the second she met him, and it was over,” Sean recalls. At the podium, Sean, Leigh Anne and Michael Oher share their intimate, personal story that inspired The Blind Side. As a family, they each share their individual perspectives on the story, and they pose the bigger question: what is the definition of family, and how can we all make a difference to those who need us most?
In Conversation: Subject & Author Author Michael Lewis and Sean Tuohy have known each other since childhoold: they were classmates for 13 years in their hometown of New Orleans. Together on stage, Michael and Sean inspire audiences with the humor and insight that only two long-time friends can share. They intimately discuss the evolution of The Blind Side and what it means for the Tuohy family—and the American education system as a whole.
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The Tuohy Family
Back left to right: Sean & Leigh Anne Tuohy Front left to right: Collins, Michael Oher & Sean Jr. www.greatertalent.com/TheBlindSide
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Catherine Hardwicke
The Twlight Director on Bringing a Best-Seller to the Silver Screen
The Twilight Phenomenon: Bringing a Best-Seller to Life Twilight: The Director’s Notebook is an intimate look at the creative process of visionary director Catherine Hardwicke while making Summit Entertainment’s Twilight. Designed to replicate the director’s own personal notebook that she kept on set, readers will discover the inside secrets on casting, location scouting and wardrobe to storyboard sketches, behind-the-scenes photographs, personal notes about Catherine’s favorite scenes and much more. “With this book, I tried to show fans and aspiring filmmakers some of the process that the crew and I went through filming Twilight. My challenge was to translate Stephenie’s powerful book and make you feel what she makes you feel when you read her words.” The movie version of Twilight has grossed over $340 million worldwide since its release on November 21, 2008. The movie debuted at #1 at the box office with $70 million in gross ticket sales, making it the highest debut ever for a female director. Said The Los Angeles Times, “Hardwicke has connected so intensely to the Meyer novel that it’s hard to imagine anyone else making a better version.”
The Director’s Notebook Hardwicke’s debut as a feature film co-writer and director was the Sundance award winning Thirteen. Made for under $2 million dollars, it garnered an Academy Award nomination for Holly Hunter. She has since directed Lords of Dogtown, The Nativity Story and most recently, Twilight. At the podium, Hardwicke explores why she chose to move from production design to directing; how she chooses a film project, from the script to other factors; and the director’s role in bringing a megabestseller to the big screen.
CatherineHardwicke
Visionary Director of Twilight www.greatertalent.com/CatherineHardwicke
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Michael Uslan
Executive Producer of the Entire BATMAN Series
The Man Behind BATMAN
M
ichael Uslan is best known as the originator and Executive Producer of the Batman movie series, starting with Tim Burton’s 1989 film, and continuing to 2008’s box office record-
breaking The Dark Knight. Less well known is that the first Batman film was the culmination of Uslan’s more than two decades of work to bring a serious, dark version of the character to the big screen. Uslan’s start in the world of comics was as unlikely as his success in bringing Batman to the theaters. Born into a blue collar family in New Jersey, Uslan was instilled at an early age to find work to be passionate about. Knowing he loved comics and films, he set about creating a career. In 1979, Uslan secured the film rights to Batman from DC Comics. He was turned down by every studio in Hollywood. The reason he was consistently given: Batman was from the funny pages and wasn’t supposed to be taken “seriously.”
Bringing Batman to the Silver Screen In an inspiring program, Uslan takes audiences along on the journey of creating his career to bringing Batman successfully to the big screen. He shares the principles that allowed him to persevere despite repeated rejection and encourages audiences everywhere to reach for their dreams and believe in themselves. In a separate program, Uslan address the founders of the comic book industry and how, not coincidentally, the majority of them are Jewish immigrants or first generation American Jews. Personally familiar with these legends, Uslan shares their anecdotes. Along with many of these creators, Uslan appears in the documentary The Legends Behind the Comic Books. Uslan also reveals the connection of the superheroes created by these men and women to Jewish lore and traditions—from how “The Golem” spawned “The Hulk” and just how similar “Superman” and “Moses” really are.
Michael Uslan
Batman Executive Producer & Comic Book Historian www.greatertalent.com/MichaelUslan
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Brett Ratner
Renowned Hollywood Director, Producer & Entrepreneur
More than $1 Billion in Box Office Sales
D
ubbed “a born storyteller” by LA Weekly, Brett Ratner first dreamed of making movies as a child growing up in Miami Beach, Florida. Throughout elementary school, Ratner made movies in lieu of traditional
homework—a talent which helped him skip ahead two grades. After graduating high school early, Ratner was determined to attend New York University Film School but was told that his unimpressive GPA would prevent him from getting in. Ratner refused to accept no for an answer, and after barging into the Dean’s office with his application he was accepted into the program. At only 16 years old, Ratner became the department’s youngest film major in history. Now the 16th highest grossing film director in history with more than $1 billion in career box office sales, Ratner is also the quintessential entrepreneur. In addition to his directorial work, he runs Rat Entertainment, a successful film production company in partnership with Paramount Pictures; Rat Press, a book publishing company with international distribution through Perseus Books Group; Rat Records, a record label; and Brett Ratner Brands, the corporate branding company behind Activision’s Guitar Hero Risky Business campaign and Wynn Resorts’ “Encore” campaign.
From Hip Hop to Hollywood At the podium, Ratner’s archetypal journey
from
Miami
dreamer
to
Hollywood mogul comes to life through his signature charm and action-packed storytelling
style.
Famous
for
his
effortless comedic timing and humorous perspective on success, Ratner encourages audiences to look beyond obstacles and never take no for an answer. Also a prominent and influential figure in the Jewish community, Ratner shares how his shameless chutzpah propelled him into overwhelming success.
Brett Ratner
Renowned Director, Producer & Entrepreneur www.greatertalent.com/BrettRatner
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Sean Astin
Renowned Actor & Director: Goonies, Rudy and Lord of the Rings
A Beloved Career & Cast of Characters
S
ean Astin made his feature film debut at age 13 as “Mikey Walsh” in Richard Donner’s adventure The Goonies (1984). Sean’s portrayal of a young man determined to play
football for Notre Dame in Rudy (1993) won hearts across America, and continues to inspire young people whenever it is shown. Other well-known film credits include Bulworth, Courage Under Fire, Memphis Belle, Encino Man, Like Father Like Son, Where the Day Takes You, Staying Together, War of the Roses, Safe Passage, 50 First Dates and White Water Summer. His role in Peter Jackson’s epic Lord of the Rings, as “Samwise Gamgee,” the trustworthy sidekick of “Frodo Baggins” (played by Elijah Wood) earned him accolades around the world. an received Best Actor honors for his performance in Low Life at the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival. He can also be seen in the indie releases Deterrence, Kimberly, The Last Producer, Boy Meets Girl, Smile, The Final Season and Borderland. A promising director, Astin garnered an Academy Award nomination for his short film Kangaroo Court, which he co-produced with his wife, Christine. A Directors Guild of America member, Astin has also directed episodes of the HBO anthology series Perversions of Science and Angel for The WB. His short film The Long and Short of It was an official entry at Sundance 2003. Sean is also the narrator for the popular show Meerkat Manor.
Leadership & Fellowship at the Podium In his talk What I Learned as a “Goonie,” “Rudy,” & a Hobbit Named “Sam”, Sean blends an inside look at his life and career along with the important messages that are a unifying theme of his most popular film roles: teamwork and leadership.
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Sean Astin
Renowned Actor & Director www.greatertalent.com/SeanAstin
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Leonard Nimoy
Iconic Star Trek Actor, Acclaimed Director & Photographer
40 Years of Star Trek: Trains, Horses and Spaceships
L
eonard Nimoy’s portrayal of the intense, rational and emotionally suppressed Vulcan, Spock, on Star Trek has left an indelible imprint on popular culture. First airing in 1966, Nimoy’s character would become an
icon over the years as the popular television show branched off into syndication and later onto the big screen as a series of six feature films. Nimoy’s performance on Star Trek earned him three Emmy nominations. Nimoy also became a successful movie director, responsible for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, the most successful of the Star Trek films to date. Gene Roddenberry, Star Trek’s creator, referred to Nimoy as “the conscience of Star Trek.”
Innovation, Creativity and Personal Development Nimoy’s remarkable and diverse career knows no boundaries. Now on the 40th Anniversary of Star Trek, Nimoy talks about his role in the history of Star Trek, its origins and how a new genre for television and movies was created. A true Renaissance Man, Nimoy is a benefactor of the arts and sciences as well as an award-winning actor, director, poet and photographer. His lecture is about innovation, creativity and personal development.
Recognizing Creativity in The Arts Aside from his credits as actor and director, Nimoy has recorded ten narrative albums and authored several volumes of poetry (two of which feature his photographs). Nimoy’s black and white art photography is represented in
Leonard Nimoy
several galleries nationwide.
Acclaimed Actor, Director & Photographer www.greatertalent.com/LeonardNimoy
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Candace Bushnell
Best-Selling Author of Sex and the City & Lipstick Jungle
A Novelist and the City
C
andace Bushnell is the critically acclaimed, international best-selling novelist whose first book, Sex and the City, published in 1996, was the basis for the HBO hit series.
Bushnell captured the country’s attention with Sex and the City by breaking down the bedroom doors of New York City’s rich and beautiful to expose true contemporary stories of sex, love and relationships. The book introduced the nation to “modelizers,” “toxic bachelors” and the women who are looking for Mr. Big as they glide in and out of a starstudded social scene. Through her books and television series, Bushnell’s work has influenced and defined two generations of women. She is the winner of the 2006 Matrix award for books (other winners include Joan Didion and Amy Tan), and a recipient of the Albert Einstein Spirit of Achievement Award. Bushnell grew up in Connecticut and attended Rice and New York Universities.
From Characters to Icons From Sex and the City through her four successive novels, Bushnell has revealed a gift for tapping into the zeitgeist of any New York minute. With each book, she has deepened her range, but with a light touch that makes her complex literary accomplishments look easy.
Coming Soon: The Carrie Diaries Meet Carrie Bradshaw, in her teenage years. Bushnell is currently writing a pair of teen novels, The Carrie Diaries, that “takes readers back to Carrie Bradshaw’s formative years in high school, giving an inside look at Carrie’s friendships, romances and how she realized her dream of becoming a writer.” The inspirational first book will come out in 2010.
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Candace Bushnell
Best-Selling Author of Sex and the City & Lipstick Jungle www.greatertalent.com/CandaceBushnell
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Danny Glover
Acclaimed Actor & Leading Social Activist
From Lethal Weapon to Dreamgirls...
A
ctor, producer and humanitarian Danny Glover has been a commanding presence on screen, stage and television for more than 25 years. As an actor, his film credits range from the blockbuster
Lethal Weapon franchise to smaller independent features, some of which Glover also produced. Most recently, he completed filming the critically acclaimed feature 2012 for director Roland Emmerich, Dreamgirls directed by Bill Condon and Poor Boy’s Game for director Clement Virgo, Shooter for director Antoine Fuqua and Be Kind, Rewind for director Michel Gondry. At the same time, Glover has also gained respect for his wide-reaching community activism and philanthropic efforts, with a particular emphasis on advocacy for economic justice, and access to health care and education programs in the United States and Africa. For these efforts, Glover received a 2006 DGA Honor. Internationally, Glover has served as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program.
The Role of Arts in Community Activism In 2004, Glover co-founded Louverture Films, dedicated to the development of films of historical relevance, social purpose, commercial value and artistic integrity. The New York based company has a slate of progressive features and documentaries including the recently released Bamako, which premiered to superb reviews at the Cannes International Film Festival. In addition to his individual presentations focusing on the arts, literacy and community involvement,
Glover
regularly
teams with long-time friend and
Danny Glover
Acclaimed Actor & Leading Social Activist www.greatertalent.com/DannyGlover
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actor Felix Justice in “An Evening with Martin and Langston.”
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Joseph & Valerie Plame Wilson Fair Game: Soon to be a Major Motion Picture
The Politics of Truth: FAIR GAME
T
he first to challenge the Bush administration on its use of purported intelligence to justify the invasion of Iraq, Ambassador Joseph Wilson revealed in a July 2003 New York Times article that he had been asked by the CIA to look into allegations that the Iraqis had attempted to purchase significant quantities of uranium yellowcake from the West African country of Niger. Within a week of his accusation that the White House “twisted” its intelligence to justify the Iraq invasion, his wife’s secret status as a CIA agent was revealed by senior White House and State Department officials to several national journalists—including a syndicated conservative newspaper columnist who published her name. Behind-the-Scenes: The Story that Captivated America Valerie Plame Wilson, a longtime CIA covert operations officer involved in issues of counter-proliferation, then found herself at the heart of a political firestorm and of a Justice Department investigation that exposed what some dub an act of treason. The betrayal implicated senior administration officials, including President Bush’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Karl Rove, Vice President Cheney’s Chief of Staff, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, and the Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage. For his role in the leak case, Libby was convicted on four counts of perjury, obstruction of justice and lying to federal investigators in March 2007. A Blockbuster at the Podium Together the husband and wife team, whose story is scheduled to be released at the end of 2009 as a major motion picture starring Sean Penn and Naomi Watts, lay out the CIA leak controversy in an incisive and enlightening presentation. Drawing from Wilson’s memoir, The Politics of Truth, they take audiences inside two decades of world politics—from facing down Saddam Hussein to White House leaks.
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Valerie Plame & Joseph Wilson “Outed” Former CIA Agent & Former Senior U.S. Diplomat www.greatertalent.com/ValerieandJoseph
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Coming Soon Blockbusters in Development
Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell
Marcus Luttrell Decorated Navy SEAL & Best-Selling Author
Slated to begin production in 2010, Lone Survivor is a highly anticipated film based on the best-selling book by former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell. Lone Survivor tells the harrowing story of four Navy SEALs who journeyed into the mountainous border of Afghanistan and Pakistan on Operation Redwing. An unparalled motivational story of survival, the book is also a moving tribute to the friends and teammates who did not make it off the mountain. A powerful testament to the courage, integrity, patriotism and community that forged these American heroes, Lone Survivor is an incredible account of teamwork, fortitude and modern warfare. www.greatertalent.com/MarcusLuttrell
World War Z by Max Brooks
Max Brooks
Preeminent Zombie Expert
Best-selling author Max Brooks is considered by many to be one of the world’s foremost Zombie preparedness experts. As we all know, the world we live in has become a rather scary place, and the global increase in the number of Zombie attacks isn’t helping matters any. According to the Office of Homeland Security, Brooks is the preeminent authority on dispatching the relentless, flesh-eating armies of Zombies that seem to be everywhere these days. A New York Times bestseller, World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War (2007), tells the story of the world’s desperate battle against the threat of zombies. www.greatertalent.com/MaxBrooks
Moneyball by Michael Lewis
Michael Lewis Journalist & Best-Selling Author
With Brad Pitt on board as the leading role, the film version of Michael Lewis’ 2003 release Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game is expected to take audiences by storm. Lewis offers an unprecedented look behind the scenes of a Major League Baseball franchise. This New York Times best-seller details the effect that an innovative personnel approach has had in allowing the small-budget Oakland Athletics to consistently rank among baseball’s best. www.greatertalent.com/MichaelLewis
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Fo un de d w ith th e be lie f th at w or ds ha ve th e ab ilit y to pe op le ’s liv es , G re ch an ge at er Ta le nt Ne tw or k is de vo te d to br m os t in te re st in g an in gi ng th e d in sp iri ng st or ie s to au di en ce s w or ld w id e.
ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT: Neal Baer • Bob Balaban • John Forté • Danny Glover • Carson Kressley • Seth MacFarlane • Leonard Nimoy • Conan O’Brien • Anthony Rapp • Brett Ratner • Gloria Reuben • Mo Rocca • Peter Sagal • David Steinberg • Ben Vereen • Max Weinberg • Vanessa Williams • Henry Winkler • Anthony Zuiker • Alan Zweibel
GLOBAL AND NATIONAL PERSPECTIVES: Spencer Abraham • Reza Aslan • Cory Booker • Wesley Clark • Richard Clarke • Roger Cressey • Harold Ford, Jr. • Louis Freeh • Brigitte Gabriel • Richard Gephardt • Alberto Gonzales • Zachary Karabell • Parag Khanna • Bernard Kouchner • Jonathan Krohn • Mel Martinez • Meghan McCain • Judge Andrew Napolitano • Ehud Olmert • George Pataki • Janet Reno • Dan Senor • Valerie Plame Wilson • Joseph Wilson
PRINT AND BROADCAST JOURNALISM: Jonathan Alter • Tiki Barber • Andy Borowitz • Campbell Brown • Tina Brown • Sir Harold Evans • Susie Gharib • Christopher Hitchens • Steve Kroft • Kati Marton • Peggy Noonan • The Onion • Byron Pitts • Jeffrey Toobin • Ali Velshi • Gideon Yago
MOTIVATION, INSPIRATION, ADVENTURE: Kris Carr • John Douglas • Mia Farrow • George Foreman • Emmanuel Jal • Rory Kennedy • Marcus Luttrell • Marlee Matlin • Rear Adm. T.K. Mattingly • Luma Mufleh • Petra Nemcova • Nell Irvin-Painter • Capt. Winston Scott • Caroll Spinney • Esera Tuaolo • The Tuohy Family
BUSINESS, ECONOMY, MANAGEMENT: Ben & Jerry • Mark Burnett • Paul DePodesta • Donald Fehr • Susie Gharib • Seth Godin • Peter Greenberg • Peter Guber • Noreena Hertz • Mitch Joel • Liz Lange • Cynthia Rowley • Michael Silverstein • Howard Stringer • James Taylor • Jonathan Tisch • Omar Wasow • Meredith Whitney
BEST SELLING AUTHORS: Po Bronson • Max Brooks • Christopher Buckley • Candace Bushnell • Neil Gaiman • Pete Hamill • Homer Hickam • Michael Lewis • Wendy Mogel • Michael Moore • PJ O’Rourke • Richard Preston • Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez • Jennifer Weiner • Tom Wolfe
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