All students in the program attend South By Southwest Film and Interactive Festival (SXSW) in the first year of the program (March), and Sundance Film Festival in the second year of the program (January). The MEIM curriculum also includes a number of seminars, workshops and special presentations in both Pittsburgh and Los Angeles that feature industry professionals discussing their experiences and the issues currently confronting the entertainment industry. Beyond exposing students to the insights of these professionals, the events also offer additional opportunities for network development.  In addition, the MEIM program embraces the networking events made available by Heinz College and has developed opportunities and programs designed exclusively for MEIM students.

Seminar and course guest speakers have included:

David Ackert
Principal: Ackert Consulting

Norman Aladjem
Founder: Innovative Talent/ Agent, Head of International Packaging: Paradigm

William Atherton
Actor, DIE HARD, GHOST BUSTERS, REAL GENIUS

Michael Agustin
Co-Founder of GameSalad

Neil Baer
Producer: LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT

Eric Baum
Executive Vice-President, Columbia TriStar Marketing Group, Legal Affairs

Brandon Beck
Co-founder, Riot Games

Brett Benner
Casting Director, SCRUBS

Richard Berger
Senior Vice President, Sony Digital Pictures Home Entertainment

Bruce Block
Producer, THE HOLIDAY, SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE, WHAT WOMEN WANT

Noel Bright
Producer: Tornante Animation/ Vuguru

Joe Boucher
Executive Producer, KING OF THE HILL

Deana Brown
Yahoo!

Nolan Bushnell
Entrepreneur, Founder of Atari, Founder of Chuck E. Cheeses

Vincent Bruzzese
President, Worldwide Motion Picture Group, IPSOS OTX

Sharon Chazin-Lieblein
VP of Casting, Nickelodeon

Kristin Chenoweth
Actress/ Singer: WICKED, PUSHING DAISIES, GLEE

Caldecot (Cotty) Chubb
Producer: HOFFA, MALL RATS

Gregg Colvin
Senior Vice President, Digital, Universal McCann

Jeanne Cotton
Warner Bros. Current Programming

David Courier
Programmer, Sundance Film Festival

Ellen Crawford
Actress, ER, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

Gregg Daniels
Writer & Executive Producer, THE OFFICE, KING OF THE HILL

Keith Eich
Director, Digital Distribution Operations at NBC Universal

Benjamin Elias
VP Advanced Services, Fox Networks Group

Dan Etheridge
Producer, VERONICA MARS 

T.J. Escott
Former Talent Agent & Chairman of Cunningham, Escott, Dipene Agency

Steve Fisch
Vice-President, Business Affairs, Starz Media

Barbara Fisher
National Geographic Productions

Andy Forsell
Senior Vice President of Content Acquisitions and Distribution, Hulu.com

Kim Fox
President, Internal Sales – Inferno Entertainment

Jeff Franklin
Producer, Franklin/Waterman Entertainment; ex-music industry executive, founded ATI and repped Neil Young, Rod Stewart, Deep Purple, Marvin Gaye and Bob Seger

Joe Franzetta
Tandberg Television

Dan Freedman
SVP of Business and Legal Affairs: Mandate Pictures

Joe Friedman
Assistant Controller, International Creative Management (ICM)

Ron Friedman
Writer of sitcoms, variety shows, books, TV movies, films

Stephen Furst
Actor & Director, ANIMAL HOUSE, ST. ELSEWHERE

David Gale
Executive VP MTVX (Cross Media)

Julie Gelfand
Associate Director for The Oscars, beauty pageants, and other award shows

Margie Gilmore
Yahoo!

Michael Goldberg
Writer, COOL RUNNINGS, SNOW DOGS, LITTLE GIANTS

Charles Haid
Director & Actor, NIP/TUCK, THIRD WATCH, ER, BOSTON LEGAL

Sheila Hanahan Taylor
Producer, AMERICAN PIE, FINAL DESTINATION

Matt Hanover
Yahoo!

Geoff Hemwall
Producer, CSI: NEW YORK

Lee Hollin
CBS Drama Development

Eve Honthaner
Production Manager, TITANIC

Norman Horowitz
Former President/CEO of MGM/UA Telecommunications

Ellen Huang
Executive Director/ Founder, Queer Lounge, Sundance

Kevin Iwashina  
Managing Partner, Preferred Content

Susan Kirr
Producer, Unit Production Manager

Franz Kurath
Programming Acquisitions, AT&T

Carl Kurlander
Writer: ST. ELMO’S FIRE/  CEO, Steeltown

Stuart Langley
Executive Counsel: The Walt Disney Company

Ken Larson
President of Kenter Consulting,

Lauren Lloyd
Senior VP of Production - Hollywood Pictures & Tristar Pictures/Columbia/ Founder BigIsGood.tv

Matthew Lesher
Talent Manager, Insight Entertainment

Gregg Maday
Producer/ Executive Vice President of Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures,

Philippe Maigret
Executive VP Acquisitions, Endemol Group

Carlo Martinelli
Vice-President Development, Bona Fide Productions

Jordan Mechner
Video Game Designer/ Author, PRINCE OF PERSIA franchise

Lee Miller
Producer: JERRY LEWIS/ MDA TELETHON

Stacy Milner
Author: How To Be a Great Intern

Bob Moczydlowsky
Director of Program Management, Topspin Media

Theresa Moore-King
Associate Producer of multiple reality series

Kevin Murphy
Producer & Writer, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

Rick Nicita
Chairman and COO: Morgan Creek Pictures

Janet Carol Norton
Talent Agent, International Creative Management (ICM)

Nelle Nugent
Broadway Producer: AMADEAUS, THE ELEPHANT MAN, NICHOLAS NICKLEBY, DRACULA

Lisa Osbourn
Founder, Jigsaw Media

Rick Parks
Screenwriter, EVER AFTER, SWEET HOME ALABAMA, HITCH, FOOL’S GOLD

George Perkins
Executive Producer, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES

Kristie Anne Reed
Executive VP Jerry Bruckheimer Television

Mike Reiss
Writer, THE SIMPSONS

Lou Romano
Senior Vice-President, McCann Erickson

David Sacks
Past Warner Bros. Sr. Vice President of Current Programming

Phil Scanlon
Festival Seminar Producer: Austin, Newport, Method, Sundance

Steve Schifrin
Vice-President, West Coast Facilities, CBS

Laura Schwartz
The White House Director of Events under The Clinton Administration

Steven Selikoff
Talent & Literary Agent, William Morris Agency

John Shaffner
President of the Academy of TV Arts and Sciences/ Prod. Designer, FRIENDS, BIG BANG THEORY

Danny Sherman
Talent Manager at Principal Entertainment

Kristen Simmons
Vice President Worldwide Motion Picture Group at IPSOS OTX

Scott Shooman
EVP of Acquisitions: CBS Films

Jenny Song
Manager of Corporate Development: Sundance Institute

Aaron Sorkin
Writer, THE SOCIAL NETWORK, THE WEST WING, SPORTS NIGHT

Rob Tokar
Former MARVEL COMICS Editor/ Editor-In-Chief of TOKOYOPOP

Nick Turner
SVP of Digital Media: Relativity Media/ Rogue

Thomas Tull
Owner, Legendary Pictures: THE HANGOVER, BATMAN BEGINS, INCEPTION

Chuck Viane
President, Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Paula Wagner
CEO: Chestnut Ridge Productions

Jan Ward
Manager of Research, ABC Television

Nicky Weinstock
Vice-President of Comedy Development, Fox Studios

Michael Weiser
President/CEO, Pinnacle Entertainment

John Wells
Producer, Writer, Director: ER, THE WEST WING, THE COMPANY MEN

Ron Wheeler
Senior Vice President, Content Protection, Fox Entertainment Group

Rebecca Wimbrow deSouza
DreamWorks Animation, Recruiter

David Wohl
Head of Development/ Editor-in-chief or RADICAL COMICS

Sam Wolfson
Vice President, Labor Relations at Warner Bros. Television