MPAA brings mega-symposium to D.C.

Industry players to tell Hollywood story

By WILLIAM TRIPLETT

Hackford

Soderbergh

Zanuck

Barclay

WASHINGTON -- Taylor Hackford, Steven Soderbergh, Lili Zanuck, Paris Barclay and David Weil will be among industry players to participate in the Motion Picture Assn. of America's "The Business of Show Business" mega-symposium next month in D.C.

Event, slated for Feb. 6, is an unprecedented attempt to impress on lawmakers and government policy officials the many positive effects that Hollywood has on the national economy annually. The industry that makes its living from telling stories has previously not been very successful telling its own to Congress.

The day-long event will feature three panels composed of reps from the movie, technology and intellectual property communities.

Zanuck and Barclay will be on the opening panel, "The Art and Economics of Show Business and Intellectual Property: How a Movie Gets Made."

Hackford will be on the second, "The Impact of ShowBusiness and Intellectual Property: America's Growth Engine." Joining him will be Rep. Howard Berman (D-Calif.), the incoming chairman of the House subcommittee on IP issues.

Soderbergh and Anschutz Film Group chief exec Weil will participate on the third panel, "The Future of Show Business: Entertainment in the Digital Age."

Other participants include producer Lindsay Doran; Reed Hastings, founder and chief exec of Netflix; and John Fithian, prexy of the National Assn. of Theater Owners.