Event Details
The purpose of this screening and discussion is to connect with content creators interested in developing sports-focused entertainment programming.
The panel will explore how evolving technologies are transforming content delivery and storytelling, while also examining how generational preferences, creative styles, and budget considerations influence today’s storytellers. What is the future, why it holds value and how to approach a career in the industry. Sports programming is so much more than just live games or highlights. Think 30 For 30, Ted Lasso, Hard Knocks, Welcome to Wrexham, and dare we say Yellowjackets.
National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Chapters from New England and New York are partnering to curate the sports content. This is a conversation to develop approaches for entering the creative world of modern sports programming.
Films
Teammates: Honoring Sam Mills – Montclair State University
ATAS 43rd College Television Awards – Sports Nominee via New York Chapter
Follow the journey that found MSU Alumni and College Football Hall of Famer Sam Mills in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Creative Team: Jason Naccarella (Director), Gianna Daginis (Writer), Matt Orth (Writer), Matt Bruchez (Producer) Teni Bello (Writer)
100 Years of the Rose Hill Gym
NATAS New York Chapter
100 Years of the Rose Hill Gym is a centennial tribute video celebrating the historic home of Fordham University Athletics.
Creative Team: Patrick Torres (Creator)
Boston Celtics Al Horford First Dominican NBA Champion
NATAS Boston/New England Chapter, SPORTS – ONE-TIME SPECIAL – Emmy Winner
Al Horford of the Boston Celtics became the first Dominican-born player to win an NBA championship when the team won the 2024 NBA Finals. He achieved this historic victory in his 17th NBA season and 186th playoff game.
Creative Team: Omar Guzman-Hernandez, (General Producer), Virus Deportivo @ Television Dominicana
Hartford Whalers: From Heartbeat to Heartbreak
NATAS Boston/New England Chapter, DOCUMENTARY HISTORICAL – Emmy Nominee
Hartford Whalers: From Heartbeat to Heartbreak is a documentary about how memorable it can be when a professional hockey team finds its perfect place in a loving community.
Creative Team: Lorraine Roe (Producer), Bryan McIndoe (Photojournalist), David Mulligan (Photojournalist), Doug Steinman (Photojournalist/ Editor), Garett Allison (Photojournalist), Steve Pancione (Photojournalist), Kevin E. Nathan (Producer), Matt Finkel (Producer), Gabrielle Lucivero (Producer), Michael Cox (Graphic Artist), Erin Panell (Motion Graphics Designer), Justine Marschner (Producer), NBC Connecticut
Guests
Rob Bonardi- Emmy Winning Television News Veteran
Robert Bonardi is a 25 year veteran of the television news industry as well as a four time Emmy Award winner.
Robert has an Associate of Arts degree in Broadcasting from Brookdale Community College as well as a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Broadcasting from Montclair State University. Robert started out working for MSNBC as a duplication technician and staff video editor. Robert has worked on numerous Daytime and Primetime Shows such as: “The News with Brian Williams”, “Hardball”, “Countdown with Keith Olberman”, “The Abrams Report”, “Scarborough Country” “Imus in the Morning”, and “Early Today” as well as several others.
Robert for the past 21 years has been a freelance video editor and RF Engineer for WABC-TV working on “Eyewitness News.” Robert has worked on numerous stories ranging from Crime, Politics, Entertainment, and Natural Disasters to Covid. Robert has worked during historic events such as The Killing of Osama Bin Laden, the Boston Bombing, The New York City Blackout and The Miracle on the Hudson.
Robert has served a number of roles such as member of the Brookdale Communications and Advisory Board. In 2019, Robert was elected to the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Governor of Creative Crafts for the New York Chapter. In 2021 Robert was elected as an Alternate Trustee serving as one of three representatives for the New York Chapter on the National level. Recently Robert was re-elected to serve as a Governor at Large.
Robert is married with one child, a former Emergency Medical Technician, a 9/11 First responder, Security Officer and Assistant Instructor for Art Beins Karate and holds a black belt in United States Black Cat Kenpo.
Paul Hardart- Professor of Marketing, NYU, Founder of Universal’s Focus Features
Paul Hardart is a clinical professor of Marketing at the renowned New York University Stern School of Business. Paul is a partner in the online storytelling platform Witnify, which captures and curates first-person accounts of important world events. He has produced a number of critically acclaimed feature films and documentaries, including Mary and Max, Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens and Before the Rains. He is an active speaker at conferences and panels related to media and technology.
Before joining NYU Stern, Professor Hardart was the founding director of the Graduate Program in Media Management at The New School. He has guest lectured at the University of California Los Angeles, The American Film Institute, Columbia University, Temple University and the University of California at San Diego.
Paul Hardart founded and ran Universal Focus Features, the independent film label of Universal Pictures. During his tenure there, he oversaw the release of such films as Being John Malkovich, Pitch Black, Nurse Betty and Billy Elliot. He also created Universal Pictures’ library management program, overseeing the restoration and re-issue of Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window and the re-edit of Orson Welles’s Touch of Evil.
Prior to Universal Focus Features, he oversaw strategic planning for Universal Pictures, which included launching new businesses and helping shape the Studio’s long-term strategy. He has also held senior positions at Warner Brothers and Turner Broadcasting and began his career at ABC Sports, CNBC and The Newark Star-Ledger.
Sofia Lois Monroe- Emmy Nominated Producer
Sofia Lois Monroe is an Emmy-nominated content producer and “Philanthropreneur” with over 17 years of experience in the production, film, and television industry. She has contributed to the development and launch of companies and programs both domestically and internationally. Sofia’s expertise spans roles as an Executive Producer, Producer,Director, Business Consultant, Marketing/Brand Strategist, and Community Impact Strategist.
Sofia’s professional and consulting experience includes supporting economic development programs, curriculums, contributing to startups, and serving on boards, committees, and teams such as Catalyststories.org, the official mentorship partner of the National Television Academy of Arts & Sciences (NATAS). Sofia created the Sports Category at Catalyst, bringing her background as a former student-athlete into her passion for sports storytelling. She and the team continue to develop this category and the resulting NATAS/Catalyst NYU Sports Film Festival Showcase.
In 2016, Sofia launched Daymaker Productions, along with its community and education program missions. Daymaker Productions focuses on storytelling, marketing, philanthropy, strategy, and art. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, the company has an intergenerational and international reach. Its mission: We bring efforts together to create impactful content and help people to help more people.
Sofia’s freelance production experience includes producing viral content,travel videos, podcasts, Emmy-nominated content, original comedy for Lionsgate/Heartbeat Studios, six micro-budget independent feature films distributed globally (filming budgets ranging from $5,000 to $150,000), award-winning short films, federally funded contracts and programs, red carpet live streams, experimental branded social media content and more. Community-focused work includes Sofia and teammates committed to helping update the affordable housing and wealth creation initiatives at Nevada Partners, launching Promise Startups and the community creation space (PromiseStartups.com).
Additionally, Sofia has worked in various production departments for over 40 TV shows and award shows, including multiple Grammys, People’s Choice Awards, BET Awards, and MTV Movie Awards.
To learn more about Daymaker Productions and its efforts, please visit www.daymakerproductions.com.
Moderator
Timothy Egan- Media Analyst & Content Creator
Tim is Part-Time Faculty at Vermont Sate University since 2014 currently teaching Business and Communications & Journalism at the Lyndon & Johnson campuses; and in the Cannabis Studies Certificate Program at the Castleton campus. From 2016-22 he was Co-Director of NVU’s incubator Without Walls, that supports small business development with experienced student labor. In 2022, he added the roles of AFT 7810 Part-Time Faculty Union Delegate and Castleton’s CSCP Internship Coordinator.
As a media consultant, he specializes in broadcast and web based video content services for education, entertainment, marketing and media affairs – practicing in New England, the NY Metropolitan area & Eastern Canada. While a Founder and Partner at Moody Street TV from 2006-2018, he created award winning programming for the: Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Curry College, Head Of The Charles Regatta, Mass BioTech Council, Mass Bankers Association, MIT’s Technology Review, Major League Lacrosse, NBC Sports Boston, NECN, NESN and numerous political candidates.
As the inaugural Marketing Chair for the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences he promoted its brand growth, then incorporated its promotion into his role as Chair of Strategic Planning. Regionally he served two terms as President, was Founding Co-Chair of Presidents Council, National Trustee in 2010-2012, and currently serves as Treasurer of the Boston/New England Chapter. He has two New England Emmy Awards as Writer/Director/Producer, among his 28 Emmy Nominations during his 25 plus year media career in New England.
In 2018 he was elected to the NH House of Representatives for Grafton District #2. In 2020 he was re-elected. In 2019 was named Chair of the House Cannabis Caucus.Upon leaving office he became Chair and built out the NHCANN Board of Directors. He was a Business Representative on The NH/Canada Trade Council from 2014-24 and currently the northern states Vice President for the New England Canada Business Council. He’s a Board Member and Past-Treasurer for Catamount Arts in VT and Marketing Chair on Coos Economic Development Corp. board. In his spare time he received an M.S. in Marketing (’15) magna cum laude at SNHU.edu and lives in/enjoys the White Mountains of NH with his wife Betty & daughter Maggie.
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