About the Event
Are you creating content for Disney audiences? Are you looking to elevate your career as a writer, producer, animator, actor, agent or executive? Do you want to gain insights about the industry through the lens of a prominent executive? If so, this is an intimate event that you do not want to miss! All participants will have an opportunity to ask questions directly to the speaker! NOTE: This is an informational networking event; NO pitching projects.

About the Speaker
In his creative role as Vice President of Current Series, Jay Francis was instrumental in the development of Disney XD’s first original animation series, Kick Buttowski as well as creatively managing the Disney Channel hit series Phineas and Ferb. Jay has provided his creative insight in development and current series on such Disney XD series such as Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja, Motorcity, Future Worm, Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero, and currently leads the creative on Disney Channel’s Big City Greens and Milo Murphy’s Law. Additionally, Jay works extensively with the casting, legal, marketing, media relations, social media, music, digital, and programming divisions of the Disney Channel and Disney XD. Prior to joining Disney Television Animation, Jay held the position of VP and General Manager of LEVEL13.NET, developing original properties and acquiring films for Film Roman’s internet subsidiary. In addition to his duties as VP, Jay also handled all of the company’s artistic and production recruitment for The Simpsons, Family Guy, and King of the Hill. He has given lectures at many of the most prestigious art and animation schools in the country including Cal Arts, School of Visual Arts, University of the Arts, RISD, Pratt, Academy of Art, SCAD and Ringling College of Art and Design. He co-founded two independent entertainment companies, Little Gangster Entertainment, a boutique animation studio with offices in Los Angeles and Paris, and Phuuz Entertainment, a creative IP development and production studio. A native of Boston, Massachusetts, Jay received a B.S. in TV/Film Production from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Jay is a member of Disney’s Leadership Learning Advisory Board, ATAS, and ASIFA, as well as having served as an advisory board member at several schools. He is also a former member of the Board of Trustees at Illinois Institute of ART.