Liz Heller

Elizabeth Heller is an American producer and entrepreneur. Described by USA Today as the "'godmother' of the women's cyber movement in Hollywood," Heller is noted for her early advocacy of the internet in the entertainment industry.

Early life and education

Heller was born in Los Angeles and raised in Beverly Hills, California, the daughter of Seymour Heller, a personal manager, and Billie Heller, a women's rights activist. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles.

Career

Heller began her career as an assistant at Epic Records. In 1983, she was hired by MCA Records; as an artist development executive, Heller commissioned more than 500 music videos for artists including Bobby Brown, Belinda Carlisle, and Tom Petty. She remained at MCA until 1990, when she was appointed president of Island Visual Arts. In 1994, Heller began working at Capitol Records, where she served as vice president of new media, and gained attention for developing early strategic alliances between the label and Microsoft, Macromedia, Liquid Audio and Apple, among other technology companies. Additionally, Heller acted as an executive producer on several of the label's soundtrack releases. She was named executive vice president of Capitol in 1996.

While at Capitol, Heller was reunited with music video director Scott Kalvert, who she had worked with at Island Visual Arts. Kalvert, who grew up in New York, had spent more than a decade unsuccessfully "making the studio rounds," trying to get Jim Carroll's autobiography, The Basketball Diaries, made into a film. Excited by the idea, Heller took the project to her former boss, Chris Blackwell, who agreed to invest in the film. Heller produced The Basketball Diaries, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio, released by Palm Pictures in 1995.

Heller founded Buzztone, a marketing company, in 2000. Focused on brand building, cause marketing, social media, and ecommerce strategies, Buzztone's clients have included Microsoft, Paramount Pictures, Electronic Arts, Product(RED), Sony Pictures, and Coca-Cola. She has been a strategic partnership and initiative adviser for TOMS since 2008.

From 2000 through 2002, Heller served as the managing director of Prime Ventures, an investment firm founded by Richard Rosenblatt. In 2010, she founded Vwalls, a social publishing platform, with her husband, John Bard Manulis.

Heller is on the board of directors for uWink and the advisory board for Boopsie. She is a frequent speaker at conferences, events, and seminars worldwide.

Heller is a mentor for X Media Lab, a digital media think tank, and hosts regular networking events for women in Los Angeles. She is a member of the Los Angeles Sustainable Business Council,

Personal

Heller lives with her husband John Bard Manulis in Los Angeles.

Honors and distinctions

Founders Award, Liberty Hill Foundation, 2010 Best in the Business, NARIP, 2009 Rising Star, National Association of Women Business Owners, 2004 Executive director, Grammy Awards host committee, 1993 Cable Ace Award nomination, New Orleans Live, 1992

Filmography/Discography

Year Album Artist Credit2012 Live! Toots & the Maytals Executive producer (DVD)2005 One Fair Summer Evening...Plus! Nanci Griffith Executive producer (DVD)1999 Blast from the Past (film) Various Artists Executive producer (soundtrack)1999 Lost & Found Various Artists Executive producer (soundtrack)1999 Never Been Kissed Various Artists Producer (soundtrack)1999 Teaching Mrs. Tingle Various Artists Executive producer (soundtrack)1998 Boogie Nights, Vol. 2 Various Artists Executive producer (soundtrack)1998 Hope Floats (Original Soundtrack) Dave Grusin Music supervisor1998 There's Something About Mary Various Artists Music supervisor1997 Good Will Hunting Various Artists Executive producer (soundtrack)1997 Scream 2 Various Artists Producer (soundtrack)1997 Making a Noise: A Native American Musical Journey Executive producer (TV special)1996 Nico Blind Melon Executive producer1996 Romeo + Juliet Various Artists Executive producer (soundtrack)1996 Bonnie Raitt: Road Tested Bonnie Raitt Executive producer (TV special)1995 The Basketball Diaries Producer (film)1993 Let the Good Times Roll Various artists Executive producer (TV series)1993 Rhythms of the World Various artists Executive producer (TV special)1992 New Orleans Live! Various artists Executive producer (TV series)1991 Through Time P.O.V. Anthrax Executive producer (long form video)1986 Live by the Bay Jimmy Buffett Executive producer (Live concert video)