News & Press

As we go to “press” on this newsletter, two weeks have passed since Los Angeles experienced one of the worst natural disasters in its history—impacting lives and livelihoods, the toll of which continues to be tallied, but is certain to be massive. Kari Grubin, who began her tenure as president this month, believes that HPA will continue to be a constant and guiding light for members during this unprecedented time, with wildfires arriving as the industry grapples with colossal business change and seismic technological transition.

“Navigating the aftermath of the fires,” said Grubin, “will take every bit of strength, brain power, generosity and imagination that we can muster. Our industry is built on those very characteristics. HPA is gathering information and outlining pragmatic ways that our organization and members can help. I personally encourage you to reach out to us to let us know if you need assistance. HPA will continue to share information about the recovery efforts in our communications, on our website, in the media and on our social channels.” In the coming weeks, HPA will outline plans for its support of wildfire recovery.

In the coming year, HPA will continue to dig deep into our core values: keeping people ready to embrace and master innovation in our industry and careers, and fostering our community with opportunities to connect and engage.

As we are mindful of our members and the industry as a whole after the fires, we are also focused on how we help prepare them for a changing and advancing industry. HPA’s identity and responsibility is to enable our community to navigate the changing landscape and find positive pathways to be ready for the future of content. I firmly believe that HPA remains ready to play a leading role,” Grubin asserts.

The media and entertainment community has historically embraced change; whether from silent films to talking pictures, black and white to color film, the advent of television, or analog to digital cinema. The flexibility, intellect and creativity required to stay vital, is in the DNA of the industry.

The proven capacity of those working in media and entertainment to adapt and thrive should give hope that the outcomes of current technological upheaval will be no different.

“I recognize that one can feel daunted by the uncertainty gripping the industry. With changes in technology, and economic and cultural changes, it can be a conundrum to know where to go or what to do,” Grubin says. “It’s HPA’s goal to provide our community with ways to see what the future holds and prepare. That could be reskilling or sharing insightful information and experiences. It could be networking or exploring different opportunities to create content. It really is a greenfield.”

By and for the Community

Grubin’s mission as incoming president is to augment and enhance the work that the organization has successfully established over decades. To that end, she will not only call upon the HPA leadership team but on HPA members to offer feedback on ways that the organization can continue to move forward and stay relevant.

“HPA has always been this amazing place where you can give back to your community and where you can connect. That’s what it’s meant for me and one of the tasks I’ve set myself is to provide greater clarity about how more people can get involved. I want to make sure it’s clear and easy about ways to be involved and make sure everyone knows there is an open door for involvement at HPA.  There is a wealth of resources here for people to learn from and huge opportunities to get involved. We are going to make sure that our members have all the information available to take advantage of that and jump in.”

As a non-profit volunteer-run organization, HPA relies on the time and efforts of its members to sustain the community. “HPA is honestly powered by the efforts and expertise of its volunteers, and it takes everybody lifting together for HPA to continue to deliver for everyone. What does it mean if you want to give your time for an hour or one hundred hours?  How do we share information across our entire membership? What processes will enhance support for all of our great volunteer efforts? How do we talk with other industry organizations and work together with them so that our work is not duplicated and that therefore we deliver more value to our community? And, how can we efficiently share information, incoming and outgoing?

“We’re exploring these important topics but I encourage people to raise their hands and tell us what works for them and how they would like to participate.”

Inclusivity never stops

Grubin vows to continue HPA’s absolute dedication to building an inclusive organization that includes the ongoing expansion of HPA ALL initiatives.

“At the foundation of HPA’s ALL initiatives is to create a space where people feel like they belong. I want to ensure we provide more visibility into what HPA is, what the programs are, and have an on-ramp for anybody who wants to participate.”

Grubin established HPA Women in Post (with former HPA Board member Loren Nielsen) to drive a more gender-balanced structure in the tech world.  Subsequently, Grubin, Nielsen along with WIP committee members Belinda Merritt and Laura Thommen, created the Young Entertainment Professionals Program (YEP). She is the original co-chair of HPA ALL (launched with co-chair Renard Jenkins) which is driven to create an inclusive environment for all members of the M&E industry, especially those from under-represented groups.

“Some change happens quickly and some change takes longer. At HPA we’re all about embracing that by reaching out and listening to our members to hear what it is that they need. With the appointment of the Executive Board, (Jenkins, Craig German, Graylind Wherry and Grubin) late last year and the ongoing evolution of the Board of Directors, we are working towards a board structure that reflects our community and continues to evolve to meet its needs.

“For HPA, questions of access, inclusivity and the changing industry also include a broadening definition of the community.  What businesses are part of HPA and what are the areas we should embrace?   It’s about building a board with a broader view across all of the areas that make this industry tick from creative to business to legal and HR. We need to have and will ensure we have, all the voices at the table to encourage new thoughts and ideas through traditional and non-traditional methods.”

Mature approach to AI

The most sweeping technological transition is happening with artificial intelligence and HPA is positioned to shine a light on its developments. The Supersession at 2023 HPA Tech Retreat included a focus on AI and this year the perspective will shift to focus on the human side of the equation.

“We’ve talked about AI at a big-picture level and about what it can do in a very broad sense. Now we’re going to be talking about how AI fits into our working lives,” Grubin explains. “What impact does AI have on the back office? What does it do for storytelling? How can AI best be used to push you or your business to the next level?”

As all-pervasive as AI seems to be, it isn’t the only struggle the industry is going through right now.  Grubin points to the huge geo-economic challenge that productions everywhere are facing, impacting budgets and commissions and the very location of work.

“You could argue that tax incentives globally are having a bigger impact on work patterns and labor than AI,” she says. “So, while AI is one very big focus it is not the only focus. We want HPA to be involved in telling the whole story across the whole ecosystem, not just a part of it.”

It’s all about the people

For all the technological and business changes the industry has witnessed throughout its history, the one constant has been the people at the heart of the creative community. HPA represents the bedrock of this powerful human resource.

“The reason I became HPA President was because I want to continue to give back to my community,” Grubin says. “The example set by Leon Silverman and Seth Hallen and everyone past and present on the HPA Board is a path that I hope to follow and I hope others will follow.

“If you have that passion to help the community, HPA offers a way to do it in whatever way makes the most sense for you. That could be volunteering for one hour but in that one hour, you could change someone’s life.

“There will be struggles ahead while the entire industry goes through such a tumultuous time and our city recovers.  The industry still offers opportunity, and my goal is to show people how they can embrace change and how they can actually excel.”