Chris Albrecht and Courtney A. Kemp in Conversation
6:15 – 8:00 PM
Chris Albrecht, who as Chief Executive Officer oversees all of Starz Networks, Starz Distribution, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Starz Worldwide Distribution and Starz Digital Media, is joined in conversation by one of the network’s most successful creator/producers, Courtney A. Kemp. Under Albrecht’s leadership, Starz has evolved into a major premium cable brand with acclaimed original programming hits including Power, Outlander, Ash vs Evil Dead, Blunt Talk and Survivor’s Remorse. On the heels of the success of Power, Emmy-nominated Kemp recently signed an overall deal with the network continuing as an exec producer and showrunner on Power which has been sold in 175 countries/territories worldwide. Among other topics, the dynamic executive who oversaw Starz successful transition to a publically traded company on NASDAQ and the multi-hyphenate producer will discuss their creative collaborations and the art of developing genre-defining programming for a global audience.
Chris Albrecht
CEO
STARZ
Chris Albrecht is the Chief Executive Officer of Starz, LLC. He is responsible for overseeing Starz Networks, Starz Distribution, Anchor Bay Entertainment, Starz Worldwide Distribution, Starz Digital Media and Starz Animation. As of January 2013, Starz became an independent publicly traded company on the NASDAQ.
Upon joining Starz in January 2010, Mr. Albrecht led the evolution of the Starz premium pay TV business with an aggressive plan to dramatically increase the company’s investment in proprietary and licensed original programming. Through financial discipline and creative partnerships with international content partners, he has elevated Starz globally with award-winning scripted series including Power, The Missing, Outlander, Flesh and Bone, Black Sails and more.
Prior to Starz, Mr. Albrecht was the President of IMG Global Media, heading the company’s diverse businesses including global sports production operations, global rights acquisitions and digital media enterprises.
Previously Mr. Albrecht was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HBO, and President of HBO Original Programming. He transformed the company from a movie focused television service into a worldwide leader in original programming. His tenure at HBO was noted for changing the television landscape by creating critically acclaimed series, including Sex and the City, The Sopranos, Six Feet Under, Deadwood, Band of Brothers, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage, along with dozens of other programs. As President of HBO Independent Productions, Albrecht guided the development and production of comedy series for distribution, including Martin and Everybody Loves Raymond.
Prior to HBO, Mr. Albrecht spent five years at International Creative Management where he signed and represented top comedians including Jim Carrey, Eddie Murphy, Billy Crystal and Whoopi Goldberg. He also co-owned the famed Improvisation Comedy Club in New York City from 1975 to 1980.
Mr. Albrecht has been a long-time advocate for youth, the homeless, children’s health and environmental issues and has been a catalyst in focusing the entertainment industry on these causes.
Mr. Albrecht co-founded Comic Relief, which in 20 years raised more than $50 million to benefit the homeless. For a decade, he raised funds for Los Angeles’ Shelter Partnership by enlisting celebrities including George Carlin, Bill Maher and Lewis Black.
Mr. Albrecht also founded and chaired the Rally to Save Ahmanson Ranch, 3,000 acres of pristine California wilderness threatened by commercial development. In partnership with the NRDC, Heal the Bay, the Sierra Club and other organizations, this effort succeeded in preventing development of the land and turning it into a State Park. Heal the Bay honored Albrecht with its “Walk the Talk Award” for his leadership in saving Ahmanson Ranch.
The Los Angeles Mentoring Project recognized Albrecht with its Stand Up for Mentoring Award for his involvement with several youth mentoring programs.
Albrecht co-chaired a $250 million fundraising campaign for Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Albrecht currently serves on The Paley Center for Media Los Angeles Board of Governors.
Courtney A. Kemp
Showrunner
Power
Kemp is the mind behind Starz’ critically acclaimed gritty New York drama, POWER. The series marks her debut as a creator and showrunner and follows the complex character James “Ghost” St. Patrick and his empire. Under Kemp’s leadership, the series doubled viewership from its premiere episode to its finale in the first season and generated the largest concentration of African American viewership of any scripted premium series in almost a decade. As the second season wrapped, POWER drew a record 6.3 million viewers each week, making it the network’s most highly watched original series on record. For her work on the show, Marie Claire Magazine named Kemp one of “The 50 Most Influential Women in America”. She was included as one of the female powerhouses on Elle Magazine’s “The Agenda” and named one of Ebony Magazine’s “Power 100” honorees. Season three is set to air the summer of 2016.
Previously, Kemp was a writer and supervising producer on the celebrated television show THE GOOD WIFE, which went on to garner nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series and a Writers Guild Award for Dramatic Series. She also worked on ABC’s ELI STONE, and Fox’s JUSTICE and THE BERNIE MAC SHOW, among others. Prior to her work in television, Kemp wrote for many prestigious magazines, including GQ, Vibe, and Marie Claire.
Kemp holds a B.A. from Brown University in English Literature and received her M.A. in English literature from Columbia University.
This event is exclusive to Media Council members and other invited guests. To find out more about Media Council membership, contact mediacouncil@paleycenter.org.
