George Sunga, Chair of the Diversity Cmte, began his career in the mail room at CBS Television City in Los Angeles and became the first Production Supervisor on the West Coast dealing with Variety-Music-Comedy specials. He later left CBS to help produce the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour. This led to joining Norman Lear, where he helped produce All In The Family, The Jefferson's, and Good Times. George then went on to produce Three's Company, The Ropers and Three's A Crowd over the next nine seasons. He then began an association with Paramont Pictures Television, which allowed him to utilize his film and tape expertise to produce the series, Gung Ho, the TV Special Plaza Suite (starring Carol Burnett) and two seasons of Dear John.
George then produced the pilot episodes of The Torkelsons and Pacific Station for Walt Disney studios. Both pilots went to series. George also produced the comedy pilots and series, The Good Life, Someone Like Me, and Hardball.
In addition to George's professional pursuits, he has served on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS) representing the Producers branch for three terms and chaired the National Emmy's for eight years. George has been a PGA Board of Director since 1980 and is currently an honorary board member.
Deborah Calla's feature highlights are: BEAT THE WORLD (Brazil producer); A BEAUTIFUL LIFE (producer/co-writer) directed by Alejandro Chomski and starring Dana Delany, Debi Mazar, Jesse Garcia, Angela Sarafyan and Bai Ling; LOST ZWEIG (co-producer) starring Rudigler Vogler; DREAM HOUSE (producer) starring Justin Theroux and LEHI’S WIFE (producer) starring Kathryn Joosten.
TV highlights: CARNIVAL IN RIO - 2004 (producer/director) Travel Channel documentary narrated by Anne Archer; CARNIVAL IN RIO – 2003 a co-production with Emmy winner Terry Jastrow; CHICANO ARTISTS (writer/producer/director) for HBO Latino, 500th ANNIVERSARY OF THE DISCOVERY OF BRAZIL (producer) programming for TNT Brasil, FOX KIDS CLUB (producer) FOX Latin America, as well as many commercial campaigns.
Deborah is on the Advisory Board of the Los Angeles Brazilian Film Festival, the Brazilian film programmer of the Los Angeles Latino International Film Festival (2005–2006) and co-chair of the Producers Guild's Diversity Workshop. She has also contributed to The Huffington Post, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. Several books published by Putnam and Scholastic also bear her name.
Deborah is also the founder of The Love Project Inc. a website devoted to essays, interviews, blogs and photos on and about love and life.
Vicente Williams (PGADiversity.org Creator/Administrator) is a New Media geek at heart with an incredibly creative streak. His accomplishments include work on DVD titles from Universal Studios, Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Warner Brothers and four years producing digital content at MTV. Some of his previous employers include FOX, The RAND Corporation, The Learning Company and many more. He is a proud member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Interactive Media Peer Group and the Producers Guild of America New Media Council. In his spare moments, Vicente has lectured at UCLA extension and volunteers with local entertainment charities.
Yvonne Russo is an American Award winning producer, on-camera host and accomplished artist. Russo initially found success as a producer most notably for her work in the independent film world securing a national theatrical release with Landmark Theatres for the film, “Naturally Native” which was the first film in history to be financed entirely by a tribal nation. The film debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2000. Years later, she expanded her work from motion pictures to feature documentaries, Reality Television and Long form television.
Yvonne has received the “Producer of the Year” award from American Indian Film Institute as well as, “Outstanding Achievement in Producing” by First Americans in the Arts. And is a fellow of the Sundance Institute Producers Labs. Yvonne served on the Board of Directors for the Producers Guild of America and is Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee, which created the Producers Guild Workshop aiming to expand diverse voices in entertainment. Yvonne displays creative talent, ambition and the business skills that continue to define her career.
Stephen Grossmann worked for the Mary Tyler Moore Co. (MTM Prods.) from 1977 to 1990 on numerous shows and pilots. From a Variety show starring Mary Tyler Moore and David Letterman to Producing the 8 year run of the NEWHART SHOW.
After leaving MTM in 1990 Stephen freelanced at numerous production companies including Warner Bros., Paramount TV., Disney, Turner TV, Spelling Prods., NBC Prods., Carsey Werner Co., Steven Bochco Prods., and CBS Prods.
He has produced over 400 episodes of Network Television.
A small sample of his work includes,
NEWHART-- BABY BOB-- GEORGE and LEO-- CONRAD BLOOM-- PUBLIC MORALS -- LOVE and MONEY-- MEN, WOMEN and DOGS-- HOPE and GLORIA
Charles Howard began his show business career in our nations capital, but has called Hollywood his home for the last 20 years. He came to Los Angeles for Graduate School at Loyola Marymount University, where he earned a MFA in Film Production. From there his first professional job was as a Producer’s Assistant on the Fox TV Series Mantis. This lead to work as a Coordinator on a batch of movies and TV series; including Sliders, Dead at 21 and Alien III. In an industry quick to pigeonhole, Charles has successfully paid his dues in a variety of positions: documentary cameraman, special effects coordinator, post production coordinator and location manager. He eventually climbed the production ladder to become Production Manager and Line Producer on a number of independent films, including the Sundance selection Spark. In addition to producing independent films, Charles spent two seasons as the Supervising Producer for BET’s top rated show ComicView. Charles has spent the last few years writing and developing feature film scripts and television shows. Additionally, Charles mentors in a Diversity Workshop for Aspiring Producers and is a member of the Board of Delegates for the Producer’s Guild of America.
