This Tuesday, Famease attended the 8th Annual Women in Entertainment Summit held at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, California. Women in Entertainment aims to connect and empower female creatives across the entertainment industry. Started in 2015 by Renee Rossi and Gretchen McCourt, the summit offers attendees a wide array of events from panel discussions to useful networking opportunities. This year, the summit’s focus centered around “the evolving economics of content creation and distribution, the growing influence of niche platforms and tailored audiences, shifting genre trends, and the impact of emerging technologies on storytelling and audience engagement.”
Speakers at the Women in Entertainment Summit
The 2025 Summit featured a full day of events. Speakers featured at the summit came from every inch of the industry, offering an enriching experience for attendees where they could gain valuable insight. WIE Summit’s hallmark moments came from conversations with executive producers Sara and Erin Foster of “Barely Famous” as well as legend Kathy Bates of “Matlock”. Kathy Bates was the keynote speaker for the summit, joining Matlock creator Jennie Snyder Urman in a discussion moderated by Erika Anderson.
Powerful Words from the Women in Entertainment Summit
Jennie Snyder Urman explored the complexities that came with having a woman portray Matlock, a role once played by Andy Griffith.
“I always knew it would center a woman. I just started thinking of what I would do differently. How is it being an older man in the world versus being an older woman in the world. In society, we’re accustomed to looking at an older man versus not looking at an older woman. I started thinking about that invisibility and how [she] could be the smartest person in the room and weaponizing that in unexpected ways.”
During Bates’ discussion, she expressed the adoration that she has for her work and the grit that has helped her remain steadfast. Bates also spoke on the topic of usefulness as humans and in the industry. She noted a recent interview with Vanity Fair where she spoke on her career and the imposter syndrome that has come with it. When speaking about ties with usefulness she stated, “An older woman whose looking ahead to the future, is useful. I think more than anything, men, women, and children all want to feel useful. Usefulness is an emotional chord that helps us get through whatever we have to do. We have to mean something to ourselves.”
“I was told that it would be difficult for me to be in this business. I loved it so much and learned so much and didn’t take no for an answer. The opportunities I did have I made the most of it It’s hard. Make them want you. Who you are as a human being is really important.”
Photo Credits: Famease Media