Bonnie Curtis

Bonnie Curtis is an American film producer. In 1990, she was hired as Steven Spielberg’s assistant, embarking on a 15-year professional relationship with the acclaimed director. She was a production associate on Schindler’s List and served as associate producer on “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” and “Amistad”. In 1998, she co-produced the epic blockbuster “Saving Private Ryan”, for which she received the Producer of the Year award from the Producers Guild of America. Most recently, Curtis co-produced “Albert Nobbs” and “The Face of Love”.

Bonnie Curtis has spent the last decade speaking on various panels and podiums for Women in Film, Producers Guild of America, American Film Institute, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and film schools and festivals across the globe. In 2008, she was a featured speaker at both the CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools) Teachers Conference and The Center for Early Education’s Parent Conference. Bonnie Curtis has also spoken to the junior high and high school students of various CAIS schools, including Harvard Westlake, Brentwood and Campbell Hall.

Quote:

“During producer Bonnie Curtis’ segment, her 17-year partner Stephen Spielberg popped up on the screen to offer her congratulations and many thanks for her hard work over the years.”

Featured Topics:

WORK LIKE A PRODUCER

What can Hollywood teach us about our own careers? Quite a bit, actually! Accomplished film producer Bonnie Curtis shares how the lessons she’s learned working on movies like “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan” apply to all of us. In this informative (and peppy!) talk, Curtis reminds us to do our research, employ enormous man-power, use creative thinking and always call in the experts.

MY MOTHER DOESN’T APPROVE OF THIS

Reframing the equality discussion to create success for teachers, students and parents The goal of any school community is to provide a safe environment focused on equity and excellence—where students can be nurtured, supported, mentored and challenged. From Texas primary to Hollywood producing—this session exposes one woman’s journey to LGBT acceptance. As an award-winning film producer for Steven Spielberg, Curtis understands the day-to-day details of being part manager, part policeman and part instructional innovator. This strong and vibrant presentation will give you both diversity of thought and action.

Reframe Your Perspective and Move Forward

Making a choice in the workplace it is every organization’s quest to create a more equal workplace. In this provocative, autobiographical and content-rich session, Curtis exposes her personal struggles as a closeted gay woman while achieving professional success on such films as JURASSIC PARK, SCHINDLER’S LIST and SAVING PRIVATE RYAN. As Steven Spielberg’s producing partner, Curtis struggled with the questions that all gay employees struggle with—finally transforming both herself and her workplace into a more productive and profitable venture by making the decision to come out.

REFRAMING THE STORY: Turning Conflict into opportunity

While marshaling the resources of thousands of leaders, department heads and frontline staff; creating more with less; taking greater risks; and bringing together evermore unwieldy resources–the ability to turn conflict into opportunity is imperative…and Bonnie Curtis has done it around the world. Curtis will teach you the leadership lessons from high stakes, multi-faceted projects like SCHINDLER’S LIST, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and MINORITY REPORT. You will learn how you can more effectively and efficiently create, nurture and build your teams to achieve greater success from someone who has led and managed one of the most diverse and time-constrained work groups in the world.

What people are saying…

Steven Spielberg

The great thing about working with Bonnie for all those years, when I would ask her a question, she would answer it from every angle imaginable. Her work ethic always took my breath away.

Chicago Ideas

What can Hollywood teach us about our own careers? Quite a bit, actually! Accomplished film producer Bonnie Curtis shares how the lessons she’s learned working on movies like “Schindler’s List” and “Saving Private Ryan” apply to all of us. Brilliant!

Business Development Director

She is highly regarded by her peers and fans alike. I would highly recommend her not only from a professional standpoint, but personally as well.  She can rock a stage!

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