April 2, 2007 - On Saturday, April 28, the New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting, in conjunction with the Center for Communication and the Apollo Theater Foundation, will present “Careers in Television Production: Paths to Opportunity”, at the Apollo Theater, a panel discussion in which industry insiders will speak to students about working in New York City's television production industry. The panel will be free of change.

Commissioner Katherine Oliver will begin the seminar with an interview with “MTV News” correspondent Sway, who will share his personal experience working in New York City's television entertainment industry. Following this conversation, Commissioner Oliver will moderate a panel discussion with several professionals who represent different sectors of the entertainment production industry. Panelists include:

Darlise Blount, Associate Producer (106 & PARK)

Melanie Byrd, Production Manager (FOOD NETWORK)

Richard Martin, Founder (DRUM TV)

David Puente, Creator/Anchor (EXCLUSIVA - ABC NEWS NOW)

Yvette Vega, Executive Producer (THE CHARLIE ROSE SHOW)

“Our local entertainment production industry employs 100,000 New Yorkers and contributes $5 billion to our economy on an annual basis,” Katherine Oliver, Commissioner of the Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting said. “As we attract new production business to the City and create new jobs through the 'Made in NY' incentive program, we are working to ensure that a diverse group of New Yorkers have access to these positions, through programs such as this panel, the City's Diversity Task Force and our Production Assistant Training Program - a series of free, full-time, month-long training programs developed with Brooklyn Workforce Innovations." For more information, visit http://www.nyc.gov/film.

The event begins at 10:00am. Doors open at 9:00am. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. RSVP to message@film.nyc.gov by Wednesday, April 25.