KEYNOTE SPEAKER TODD FISHER
Todd Fisher is an author, director, and speaker who shares a unique perspective with every audience.
Born into Hollywood royalty – son to Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds and brother to Carrie Fisher – he a veteran of the entertainment industry who has thrived under the media spotlight his entire life.
His 2018 book My Girls: A Lifetime With Carrie and Debbie gave a firsthand account of the years he spent as a companion to the pair of iconic women in his life. It also shed light on the personal sides of fame, addiction, and mental illness that followed the family for decades.
Unlike his parents and sister, Todd is best known for his work behind the camera. His lifelong passion for storytelling was apparent early on when he became one of the youngest-ever members of the International Alliance of Theatrical State Employees (IATSE) labor union at the age of fifteen.
He produced and co-starred in the 2017 HBO documentary Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and
Debbie Reynolds. He has also served as a producer and director on dozens of prominent films and
specials. He has also served as President and archivist for Hollywood Motion Picture Museum, long
recognized as the world’s most extensive collection of movie memorabilia.
When he’s not working on films, books, or speaking engagements, Todd serves as the CEO of Hollywood Motion Picture Experience (HMPE). In addition, he is a pilot, an ordained minister. He is also a competitive golfer and an avid collector of classic film equipment.
In his downtime, Todd enjoys spending time with his wife – award-winning actress and entertainer
Catherine Hickland – along with their dozens of animals at the couple’s home in Las Vegas.
PRESENTATIONS
Behind the Scenes: The Real Story Addiction, Mental Illness, and Life in the Public Eye
In this refreshingly candid presentation director, bestselling author, and Hollywood insider Todd Fisher sheds light on what it was like to spend more than five decades alongside two icons of the silver screen… along with the joys and heartbreaks that were part of the journey.
Based largely on his book My Girls, Fisher shares stories and lessons from his own life. He moves past tabloid myths and shows audiences what it was really like to see his mother and sister – legends Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher – struggle with addiction, mental illness, and heartbreaking setbacks while maintaining careers as Hollywood royalty. He also shares how the wisdom he gained along the way can help not only the millions of people fighting their own personal demons, but also the friends and family members who love them.
This presentation is filled with laughs, amazing personal stories, and a powerful message of hope. For an even better event, moderator-driven Q&A sessions are available following his speech.
Working in the Spotlight: Coming up and Breaking Out in Hollywood’s Golden Age
What is it really like to live under the glare of paparazzi, red carpets, and film premiers? How do actors and directors cope with the constant pressure they feel from fans and the media? Are fame and fortune really worth the costs?
These are the kinds of questions filmmaker Todd Fisher has been answering his entire life.
Born to Hollywood legends Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds, he learned from an early age that there were both advantages and downsides to living in the public eye. As an actor and director, not to mention brother to Star Wars icon Carrie Fisher, he saw the way being in the spotlight can rewarding and destructive all at the same time.
In this engaging presentation, Fisher shares insider stories from a life spent surrounded by Hollywood legends. He also gives a firsthand account of what it’s actually like to live and work under the microscope of fame, as well as what it means to define and achieve success on your own terms.
Producing Truth: A Documentary Director’s Take on Storytelling in the Digital Age
How do you advance a fact, truth, or point of view in a way that resonates with viewers? What is it about viral and persuasive content that can shape millions of opinions at once?
Growing up in one of the world’s most known and beloved families, Todd Fisher found his home behind the camera at an early age. During the course of a career that has lasted decades he has served as a director or producer on dozens of high-profile projects, including the hit HBO documentary Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds in which he also appeared alongside his iconic mother
and sister.
In this interactive presentation, Todd shares the secrets to creating a compelling narrative from existing truth. The result is a humorous and insightful journey that leaves your audience with tips they can use to tell their own stories or shape public opinion using modern technology and sage Hollywood advice.
Storytelling in the Modern Age: Blending Tradition and Technology in the Art of Filmmaking
Technology is reshaping every part of the filmmaking business – just like it is so many other industries. However, embracing something that’s new shouldn’t mean forgetting great ideas that were developed
over the course decades.
No one knows this better than director and producer Todd Fisher, who grew up on the famed lots of Hollywood’s Golden Age and watched the industry transform with each new generation of cameras, computers, and innovators that have come along since those days. He has seen firsthand what it takes
to adopt a mindset of change while holding to the principles that let you share a compelling story and evoke emotional reactions.
As the world grows and changes, the need for clear and effective storytelling is stronger than ever. In this presentation Todd shows students, entertainment industry insiders, or business people from any background how they can master the art of creative thinking in the disruption age.
