Description:

Join the Office of External Programs, Internships, & Career Services (EPICS) for this in-depth conversation with Jay Francis, Vice President, Current Series and Diversity, Disney Television Animation, and Calvin Brown Jr., Story Editor and Co-Producer of “The Proud Family." Jay and Calvin will discuss avenues for breaking into the industry and provide an overview of pathways and opportunities at Disney TV Animation.

This is a virtual event. Please register via Handshake. The Zoom link can be found in the Handshake Event.

Jay Francis is Vice President, Current Series, and Diversity, Disney Television Animation (TVA). He is responsible for managing the creative direction of production on current series for Disney TVA and working closely with the development and recruitment teams to identify, secure, and mentor diverse creative talent for Disney TVA and Disney Junior.

Francis joined Disney TVA in 2007. During his tenure, he has overseen creative direction on a multitude of original animated series including Disney's five-time Emmy® Award-winning "Phineas and Ferb," Emmy® Award-nominated "Big City Greens," "Amphibia," and most recently the upcoming Disney+ original animated adventure movie "Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Candace Against the Universe." In his Diversity role, Francis has created an educational institutions program for which he regularly visits and speaks with students at key universities across the country as well as the country's prestigious art and animation schools. He also oversees the television animation studio's Apprentice Writers and Diversity Development Programs. Prior to joining Disney TVA, Francis was Vice President and General Manager, Development and Acquisitions for Level 13, Film Roman's online animation distribution network. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Francis received a Bachelor of Science in television and film production from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.

Calvin Brown Jr. is a television writer/producer born in Charlotte, NC. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, majoring in Radio, Television, and Motion Pictures. He started his television writing career as the intern on the writing staff during season three of the show "A Different World." He has written and produced such television shows as "Married...with Children," "Moesha," "The Parkers," "My Brother and Me," "The Proud Family," "Single Ladies," "Living Single," "The Sinbad Show," "Real Husbands of Hollywood starring Kevin Hart" and he's currently an Executive Producer on "The Proud Family" Reboot for Disney+. He's STILL married to his beautiful wife Deonne and STILL the father of his beautiful kids Brooke, Calvin III and John.