Ray Giacopelli

Teaches at Made in NY Media Center by IFP

Most recently, Ray worked in Programming/Research at AMC Networks, joining just before MAD MEN and BREAKING BAD were about to debut. He designed the audience research that guided MAD MEN season two, and was part of the group that saw the potential in, and pushed to develop THE WALKING DEAD right from the initial script. He worked with all five AMC Networks (AMC, WEtv, IFC, Sundance, and BBC-America) forecasting the audience potential of scripts, treatments, pitches, and schedule scenarios. These forecasts were used by all departments: Programming, Sales, Finance, and Senior Management. Previously, Ray worked in Research at Comedy Central, and earlier was the SVP Research at USA Networks and SyFy. His media career began Script Reading at Warner Bros. Pictures, where he found the source material for Stanley Kubrick’s FULL METAL JACKET.