The USC Schwarzenegger Institute's inaugural symposium boasts a lineup of political and Hollywood heavyweights chosen to underscore the way policy-makers can learn from filmmakers, according to Nancy Staudt, with the Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy.
"When people think about LA, they think about Hollywood and innovation so we think it’s a great time to bring these innovators in for a discussion," she said, adding that because media-makers shape the way the populace discusses politics, it seemed to apt to extend the invitation.
The symposium kicks off Sept. 24.
ABC News’ Cokie Roberts will moderate the morning discussion on post-partisanship, with:
- Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist
- Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle
- Sen. John McCain, R-AZ
- Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson
- Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge
NBC4’s Conan Nolan will moderate the lunchtime discussion on finding local solutions to global problems, with Dr. R.K. Pachauri, of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster.
The afternoon discussion will bring in media leaders to discuss innovation. BuzzFeed’s Ben Smith will moderate the discussion, with:
- James Cameron, director
- Rob Friedman, co-chairman, Lionsgate
- Brian Grazer, chairman, Imagine Entertainment
- Jimmy Iovine, chairman, Interscope Geffen A&M
- Ron Meyer, president and COO, Universal Studios
Some 650 people are expected to attention the institute’s inaugural event. While it is not open to the public, the speeches will be made available online.
