(sponsorships available)

Sponsored by Signiant

All conference attendees welcome. Kick off the Tech Retreat in style and start the conversation over a cocktail or two.

This year, the popular TR-X session will focus on insights from behind the scenes of affordable productions. The afternoon includes case studies, panel discussions and keynotes that feature leading creatives and technologists who share experiences and expertise.  Panels and speakers will share their real-world experiences of bringing high end productions, sports productions, and lower budget productions to outstanding results with limited resources. Current panelists include a keynote from Michael Cioni, and discussions with Kathryn  Brillhart, Lori H. Schwartz, Angela Victor, Julian Higggins, Christopher Nichols, Alex LoCasale, Renard Jenkins, Erik Weaver, Jason Dachman, Brandin Grams,  David Shapiro, Nick Busto, Tahira Foy, Starry H. Focus, Brian Tran, Lina Sanchez, Kiera Williams and more.

HPA Board Members, and HPA TR-X Co-Chairs, Mark Chiolis and Craig German, will take a few minutes to set the day up, provide an overview of the panels and presenters and let you know the walk-away expectations at the conclusion of today’s programs. HPA President Kari Grubin will kick things off with a 1-2 minute welcome at the very top.

• Kari Grubin, HPA
  

  Kari Grubin

  HPA

  Kari Grubin is a distinguished executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in studio divisions, global post-production facilities, and corporate departments. She is recognized for her expertise in technology, strategic consulting, and post-production services.

  Kari is currently the President of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA), where she has served on the Board of Directors and volunteered for many years. She co-founded HPA Women in Post in 2011, an initiative providing leadership and visibility for women in professional content creation. Alongside board member Loren Nielsen, she also helped launch the HPA Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) program, which has mentored nearly 200 young professionals. In 2021, Kari and Renard Jenkins initiated HPA All, a program to foster diversity in the media and entertainment community by promoting career pathways and visibility for underrepresented groups. She led the 2022 HPA Tech Retreat Supersession and is currently planning the 2025 Retreat with the HPA Program Committee.

  Currently, Kari serves as Membership Services Director for the Motion Picture Association’s Trusted Partner Network, where her focus is on enhanced security preparedness and best practices at all stages in the digital media supply chain.  Committed to industry innovation, Kari previously served as project director for SMPTE’s Rapid Industry Solutions on Set Virtual Production Initiative. In 2021, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Production and Technology Branch.

  Kari’s career includes executive roles at Universal Studios, Paramount Studios, Global Entertainment Partners (GEP), Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, NSS Labs, and Walt Disney Studios. She has contributed significantly to media technology and is listed as a co-inventor for three U.S. patents in media and entertainment technology.

• Mark Chiolis, Mobile TV Group
  

  Mark Chiolis

  Mobile TV Group

  Mark Chiolis is the Director of Business Development for Mobile TV Group (MTVG), which provides facilities for over 4,500 live professional and college sports and entertainment events annually, with more than 35 mobile units, and dozens of remote Cloud Control facilities, based throughout the U.S.  MTVG has been leading the 4K/UHD/HDR/Cloud live event production with key broadcasters, networks and distribution companies.

  Mark is currently working to interface with customers and partners to develop and support MTVG’s entertainment, awards, corporate, concerts, egames, and esports events with current and new trucks, using both broadcast and cine workflows.

  Prior to MTVG, Chiolis worked in marketing, business development, and sales for Grass Valley, Thomson, Technicolor, Philips, and BTS as well as at television stations KMUV, KRBK and KVIE in Sacramento California.

  Chiolis is an active board member of the HPA, an associate member of the American Society of Cinematographers, member of the NAB Cine Consortium, member of the SciTech group at the Television Academy (Emmys), member of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), member of International Association of Aviation Photographers, past section manager of SMPTE, member of STE, SBE and California Broadcasters Association.

• Craig German, HPA
  

  Craig German

  HPA

  Craig has spent most of his career in the entertainment industry, and for the past 20 years has held executive positions in post production and at Hollywood film and television studios, most recently until November 2023 as CEO of Crafty Apes, a visual effects company that works on Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster movies and premier TV shows. Prior to that, he spent three and a half years building and leading the Worldwide Post Production organization at Amazon Studios. Craig is currently advising corporate and startup clients on business strategy, product roadmap, market assessment, and sales outreach.

Serial entrepreneur and CEO Michael Cioni delivers a new wake-up call for industry professionals. The rules of media and entertainment are being rewritten again and a new class of tools and technology threaten to disrupt our production and post production infrastructure. Michael will dive into seismic shifts shaking our industry, exposing how new technology and platforms are challenging everything we thought we knew about making and distributing content. As consumer tastes evolve and the rise of user-generated content out-paces Hollywood, we’ll examine what happens when the status quo collides with a new wave.

• Michael Cioni, Strada
  

  Michael Cioni

  Strada

  Michael Cioni celebrates 25 years as a recognized pioneer in storytelling technology. A four-time Emmy Award winner who was named as one of the Hollywood Reporter’s most influential figures in tech, Michael has founded and led multiple successful ventures including Light Iron, a trailblazing post production company acquired by Panavision. As Panavision’s SVP of Innovation, he led the team that built the groundbreaking Millennium DXL 8K camera system. At Frame.io, an Adobe company, Michael spearheaded their camera-to-cloud program, igniting an entirely new standard of cloud-based cinema acquisition and workflow.

  As both a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) and an associate member of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), Michael thrives at the intersection of creativity and technology. With his 3rd startup, Strada, Michael continues to push the technological boundaries within media and entertainment, combining expertise as an entrepreneur, innovator, team builder, and mentor.

• Moderator: Lina Sanchez, Fox Entertainment
  

  Lina Sanchez

  Fox Entertainment

  Lina is an experienced Post Producer, Producer and Filmmaker at heart. Her visionary perspectives and her ability to work in two different languages and countries have given her the opportunity to work on various prominent and global projects across a variety of formats with studios including Netflix, Disney and Fox Entertainment. Lina, with her passion for storytelling, works everyday to develop and execute projects with the highest standards of quality, with the purpose to inspire people to change the world through audiovisual means.

  Lina’s ability to connect with different people and cultures make her a valuable asset to the industry. She currently works as a Marketing Post Producer for Fox Entertainment, and has served as a Co-chair of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA)’s Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) as well as their Networking, Education and Technology Program (NET), both of which have been designed to offer mentoring, education and community engagement for people of the entertainment industry. She also created a podcast focused on sharing important conversations and skills to navigate the ins and outs of Hollywood, and is currently in the post production phase of her latest short film.

• Tahirah Foy, ArsenalFX Color
  

  Tahirah Foy

  ArsenalFX Color

  Tahirah Foy is a talented colorist with extensive professional experience in color grading for scripted television series, theatrical feature films, made for television movies, unscripted specials, documentary series, music artist visual albums, short form network promotional material, and television/film restoration. She is a young, talented, technically adept artist entering the next exciting phase of her professional journey as a colorist.

  Based in Los Angeles, CA, Tahirah draws visual inspiration from still photography, street art, fine art, personal experiences and travel. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film & Media Culture and Economics from Middlebury College in 2010 and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Media Arts from Emerson College in 2014. She began her career as a Post-Production Coordinator in short form promo for numerous network campaigns and served as a Post Production Coordinator on the AMC series Fear the Walking Dead. Tahirah transitioned to the roles of Finishing Editor and Color Assist in 2018. In 2019, she joined HBO as a Final Picture Colorist, where was one of the Colorist in the internal HBO restoration team that remastered nearly 100 episodes of the hit series Sex
  and the City and the first two season of the critically acclaimed Six Feet Under.

  Tahirah is currently a Senior Colorist at ArsenalFX Color where she have served as Final Colorist for Season 1 of the BET’s #1 drama Series “Average Joe”, Hulu and Onyx Collective’s Original docuseries “Black Twitter: A People’s History, Keke Palmer’s Amazon Music visual album “Big Boss”, the Hallmark Original television movie “Rescuing Christmas”, and Sony Pictures International feature film “Caras Vemos”. She also provides additional color for the 21st Season of ABC’s “Grey’s Anatomy”.

  As a colorist Tahirah strives to understand the creative vision and create a safe space for visual exploration. She uses her professional experience and skillsets to help make each creative idea as clear, captivating, and engaging as possible. Tahirah understands striking visuals are about a world built from our emotions and human experiences, both as individuals and as a collective. As a colorist she trusts the theoretical visual language of color grading just as much as the technical building blocks of the color science. She enjoys being on the frontlines of industry innovation and approaches each project with openness and a collaborative spirit.

• Brian Tran, Day For Nite
  

  Brian Tran

  Day For Nite

  An alum of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Academy Gold program, as well as HPA’s Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) program, Brian initially began his career as a technologist, but his creative flame unexpectedly drew him into entertainment. After taking a course taught by Disney Imagineers, he made his entry through designing museum exhibits, as well as crafting VR/AR/MR/XR experiences, including at Dreamscape Immersive, alongside former Imagineers. He soon found himself in themed entertainment, guiding production for a variety of location-based immersive experiences, including media for attractions at Super Nintendo World, which introduced him to collaborating with digital artists and animators. The excitement and enthusiasm he carried away from that collaboration led him to fully immerse himself in VFX and animation, most recently facilitating the production of visualization for feature and series projects, including Black Adam (2022), The Flash (2023), and Blue Beetle (2023), among other as yet unreleased titles, as well as a 2D animated short, bé hồng (Little Persimmon) (2024), as part of Asians in Animation’s inaugural Animation Industry Immersive Lab program.

  A proud proponent of DEIB initiatives and supporter of diverse voices, he is committed to championing authentic, inclusive, and immersive storytelling by empowering artists and creators to explore and push the boundaries of media content (especially animation) to achieve truth.

• Starry Ye, Kelly Galindo Productions
  

  Starry Ye

  Kelly Galindo Productions

  Starry Ye is a professional documentary filmmaker based in L.A. Graduated from Dodge College of Film & Media Arts at Chapman University, Starry started her journey with CNN. She contributed to producing three true crime docu-series for CNN’s Headline News and two high-profile and nationally televised trials for CNN’s special live coverages: The Killing of Ahmaud Arbery and The Kyle Rittenhouse Trial. These experiences not only honed her journalistic approach, but also sharpened her research and investigative skills, including analyzing complex case materials and sourcing archival footage.

  In 2022, Starry worked in post-production on the Emmy-nominated Netflix docu-series The Andy Warhol Diaries. She later joined the team of NBCUniversal’s The End Is Nye, collaborating with Bill Nye on science-focused storytelling. In Starry’s filmmaking journey, she has participated in both production and post-production of documentaries and scripted shows with CNN, Netflix, NBCUniversal, and award-winning independent documentaries, combining creative vision with meticulous research and storytelling.

  Most recently, Starry worked on multiple Emmy-winning Netflix shows, including John Mulaney Presents: Everybody’s in L.A. She is also a National Member of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the Visual Effects Society (VES).

• Kiera Williams, Kettle
  

  Kiera Williams

  Kettle

  Kiera Williams is a purpose-driven filmmaker and creative strategist at Kettle, where she merges storytelling with digital-first strategies to create impactful narratives.

  A seasoned collaborator, Kiera has contributed to award-winning projects in roles such as Impact Producer for There Goes the Neighborhood and the PBS documentary 93QUEEN, and as Cinematographer on the feature An Introduction to Thribing. She has also served as Assistant Director on bilingual international films Alone Alone Alone on a Wide Wide Sea and Key Lime Pie.

  Her filmmaking explores themes of grief, mental health, reconciliation, and spiritual freedom. Kiera’s work has earned her accolades like the Oxford Centre for Fantasy Writing Fellowship and a spot in the Soho House Creative Mentorship Program.

  Kiera previously worked at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where she championed rising filmmakers through Academy Gold’s social channels and managed the Academy’s platforms during the 96th Oscars. Her storytelling philosophy inspires audiences to reflect deeply on their own lives and purpose.

  As a speaker, Kiera has shared her insights on storytelling and production at prominent events such as the Bloomberg Screentime Conference in Los Angeles and the Moving Picture Institute’s Intern Summit.

  Whether on set or on stage, Kiera is committed to making stories accessible and meaningful, empowering underrepresented voices in every corner of the industry.

In the past five years, the production pipeline within media entertainment has seen foundational shifts in its infrastructure. In that same timeframe, the overall industry, has seen a reduction in budgets and an increase in calls for efficiency. Technological advances in hardware, software, artificial intelligence and machine learning are ushering in new options to address these needs. Please join Rachael Joy Victor, Denys Krasnikov, and Renard T. Jenkins as they discuss and present technical advancements that are providing viable options to support new and efficient workflows.

• Moderator: Renard Jenkins, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs
  

  Renard Jenkins

  I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs

  Renard Jenkins is an experienced content creation and creative technology executive in the Media & Entertainment industry. Jenkins currently serves as Vice President of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) and is the immediate past-president of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). He sits on the Advisory Board of Exceptional Minds and the TV Academy SciTech peer group. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including two national Emmys, a Peabody, 2 Headliners, a 2020 Broadcasting and Cable Technology Leadership award. Jenkins was also awarded the Innovator of the Year award in 2017 for his cutting-edge work and accomplishments in UHD, HDR, NGA and supply chain technology through the PBS Advanced Format Center and other industry activities.

  He has held Executive roles across the industry. Most recently as Warner Bros. SVP, Production Integration & Creative Technology Services [PICTs] where he oversaw global teams that supported 23,500 plus cast/crew members, 8,500 plus content hours and hundreds of global feature film, animation, and syndicated television productions annually.

  He and his team is responsible for the exploration & successful implementation of emerging creative technologies such as OSVP, multi-platform storytelling, meta-human development biometrics/neural-technology & better images and sound for cinema and home entertainment. Jenkins was the technical lead & designer of the Digital Backlot initiative. It focuses on extending the useful lifespan and monetization possibilities of visual effects, animation, and production elements & assets across multiple creation verticals.

  He has also worked for PBS, TV One, Discovery, and Turner Broadcasting where he received multiple awards for his work in Film & Television Production, Postproduction and R&D. He is a champion and advocate for ethics, inclusion, innovation, diversity, equity, acceptance, and accessibility in the technology and media industry. He is also a certified sound engineer, AI/ML engineer/practitioner and application designer.

• Rachel Joy Victor, FBRC.ai
• Denys Krasnikov, Vidby

The latest ETC R&D short demonstrates how iPhones can be used effectively in professional live-action shoots, offering a cost-efficient, agile solution without compromising quality. This session delves into the technical side of shooting with iPhones, covering essential considerations like data pipelines, lensing options, and other critical aspects of production. Learn how to execute seamless workflows, optimize image quality, and make the most of this nimble, cutting-edge tool in high-end filmmaking. Whether you’re shooting on a budget or exploring new creative possibilities, discover how the iPhone can elevate your production game.

• Moderator: Erik Weaver, Entertainment Technology Center at USC
  

  Erik Weaver

  Entertainment Technology Center at USC

  Erik Weaver is a producer, architect, and speaker specializing in the intersection of cloud technology and the media & entertainment (M&E) industry. He currently leads Virtual & Adaptive production projects at the University of Southern California’s Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), including work on ICVFX and Virtual Production. Weaver has held leadership roles, such as overseeing Global M&E Strategy for Western Digital and spearheading ETC’s “Production in the Cloud” initiative. He has also been an executive producer on several notable projects, including The Suitcase (CAA People’s Choice Award, Tribeca 2017) and Wonder Buffalo (SXSW Interactivity competition). His work has earned Emmy nominations and involves cutting-edge technologies like HDR, cloud workflows, and volumetric capture. Additionally, Weaver has chaired multiple industry events and contributed to standards groups like SMPTE C4 MR30, educating the M&E industry on data management and technology integration.

• Dane Brehm, Cintegral Technology
• Martin Christien, Iodyne

Affordable can have many meanings in today’s live sports productions depending upon who you are, what you are working on and your distribution and delivery requirements. In the beginning you were limited to film production and the costs associated with the equipment and the media. As the industry transitioned to portable cameras and recorders the cost structure changed once again but for the most part still required a very large capital investment or high rental fees for the use of the equipment and crew. As the cost of the equipment has come down, with the same, similar, or even higher quality, the options for producing sporting events has opened up and allowed additional down market event coverage to be financially justified and is continuing to gain an audience. With smaller imaging devices, drones, 360 and AR/VR cameras and headsets these are continuing to expand the affordable options to the creative team to use in their toolset. Join SVG Editorial Director Jason Dachman as he moderates a panel of production executives and technologists that are working to democratize our workflows so that more events can be produced at an affordable price to hopefully continue growing the audience and demand for live sports production on a global basis. What are the new options they are working with, what challenges do they face and what results have they been able to generate as they continue to push the boundaries and challenge the status quo with today’s projects and their plans for the future.

• Moderator: Jason Dachman, SVG
  

  Jason Dachman

  SVG

  Dachman oversees all aspects of SVG’s North American editorial operations – including all news on sportsvideo.org and the daily SVG Insider newsletter – and is one of the primary contributors to SVG’s coverage of the sports-video-production industry. A member of the SVG team since 2009, Dachman also serves as Program Director for SVG’s Esports Production Forum, Regional Sports Production Summit, Sports Content Management Forum, Sports Graphics Forum, SVG NEXT conference, and TranSPORT conference. Prior to joining SVG, he covered local sports for The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, MA, and served on the production staff of SiriusXM’s The Ron & Fez Show. Dachman began his career in the Sports Information department at Northeastern University in Boston, where he earned a BA in Media Communications and Cinema Studies. A native of Denver, CO, Jason currently resides in Queens, NY, with his wife Alyson and children Hank and June.

• Brandin Grams, The Rowing Channel
• David Shapiro, Pixellot
• Nick Busto, NBC Sports NEXT
• More panelists TBA

Join industry filmmakers as they reveal how they achieve high-end production quality while working within tight budget constraints. This dynamic session will feature perspectives from experienced professionals, including directors, producers, visual effects artists, and studio executives. Dive into their workflows, learn about the challenges they faced, and hear their invaluable lessons and strategies for navigating cost-effective production. Gain actionable insights that you can apply to elevate your own projects and create impactful productions without breaking the bank.

• Moderator: Lori H. Schwartz, Story Tech
• Kathryn Brillhart
  

  Kathryn Brillhart

  Kathryn Brillhart is a Cinematographer, Director, and Producer who leverages volumetric capture, visualization techniques, and supervising visual effects to enhance projects. For the past decade, she has helped to redefine best practices and standards in virtual production and has advocated for diversity in the film industry through her role on the Global Board of Directors for the Visual Effects Society and SMPTE’s Rapid Industry Solutions OSVP group. Kathryn is a member of the Virtual Production Committee within the ASC Motion Imaging and Technology Council as well as the Alliance of Women Directors and Women In Media. Her written work and case studies have been published by USC’s Entertainment Technology Center and SMPTE’s Motion Imaging Journal. With recent advancements in machine learning and generative AI, Kathryn participates in open source AI communities exploring integrations in both her independent and mainstream workflows.

  Her recent work and role as Virtual Production Supervisor, incorporates real-time game engine and virtual production techniques to achieve in-camera visual effects, including such projects as Warner Bros. Black Adam (2022), Netflix’s Rebel Moon (2023), Camille (2025), and Amazon Studios’ Fallout (2024).

• Angela Victor
• Christopher Nichols, Chaos
  

  Christopher Nichols

  Chaos

  Christopher Nichols is a veteran of the Visual Effects industry with over three decades of experience in Computer Graphics. He is currently the Director of Special Projects at the Chaos Innovation Lab, where he spearheads cutting-edge initiatives at the intersection of creativity and technology. Christopher also hosts the popular CG Garage podcast, where he engages with industry experts to explore the latest advancements in Computer Graphics.

  As part of the Lab, Christopher has been working on integrating ray tracing into virtual production for over a decade, culminating in the development of Chaos’ Project Arena. He served as the producer on Ray Tracing FTW, the first proof of concept for Project Arena, showcasing the transformative potential of this innovative technology.

  Christopher holds a BA in Mathematics and Fine Arts from Colgate University and a Master’s in Architecture from Rice University. With a diverse background spanning VFX and Architecture, he has worked for leading firms such as Gensler, Digital Domain, Sony Imageworks, and Method Studios. His film credits include Maleficent, Oblivion, and Tron: Legacy.

• Alex LoCasale, Torchlight
• Andrew Kightlinger

Co-Chairs, Mark Chiolis and Craig German, kicked this off earlier and they will provide a short wrap up and their own thoughts, as they know they are the only obstacle standing between you and the networking and cocktail event!

• Mark Chiolis, Mobile TV Group
  

  Mark Chiolis

  Mobile TV Group

  Mark Chiolis is the Director of Business Development for Mobile TV Group (MTVG), which provides facilities for over 4,500 live professional and college sports and entertainment events annually, with more than 35 mobile units, and dozens of remote Cloud Control facilities, based throughout the U.S.  MTVG has been leading the 4K/UHD/HDR/Cloud live event production with key broadcasters, networks and distribution companies.

  Mark is currently working to interface with customers and partners to develop and support MTVG’s entertainment, awards, corporate, concerts, egames, and esports events with current and new trucks, using both broadcast and cine workflows.

  Prior to MTVG, Chiolis worked in marketing, business development, and sales for Grass Valley, Thomson, Technicolor, Philips, and BTS as well as at television stations KMUV, KRBK and KVIE in Sacramento California.

  Chiolis is an active board member of the HPA, an associate member of the American Society of Cinematographers, member of the NAB Cine Consortium, member of the SciTech group at the Television Academy (Emmys), member of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), member of International Association of Aviation Photographers, past section manager of SMPTE, member of STE, SBE and California Broadcasters Association.

• Craig German, HPA
  

  Craig German

  HPA

  Craig has spent most of his career in the entertainment industry, and for the past 20 years has held executive positions in post production and at Hollywood film and television studios, most recently until November 2023 as CEO of Crafty Apes, a visual effects company that works on Hollywood’s biggest blockbuster movies and premier TV shows. Prior to that, he spent three and a half years building and leading the Worldwide Post Production organization at Amazon Studios. Craig is currently advising corporate and startup clients on business strategy, product roadmap, market assessment, and sales outreach.

(sponsorships available)

1. Catena and the control plane: an update, Chris Lennon, Ross Video
2. QLoRA for ethically teaching Gen AI your brand, Melody Kellis, Amazon
3. From 360 & IMAX to spatial content, JP Castel, Evercast
4. The potential for AI-powered digital replicas, Marcus LeVere, MySavepoint
5. Modern imaging: haunted by the ghost of the CRT (SDR), Sam Bilodeau, Dolby
6. Creating XR Content to Increase Viewer Engagement, Ehsan Shokrgozar, AWS
7. Looking beyond MaxFALL/MaxCLL in HDR workflows, Lakshmanan Gopishankar, Telestream
8. Tracking digital assets against script changes, Tram Le-Jones, Backlight
9. How are you automating your production pipelines? Jase Lindgren, Perforce
10. AI for localization and performance editing, Peter Busch, Flawless
11. Easy SDR to Dolby Vision conversion options, Tim Walker, AJA Video Systems
12. Is your metadata game plan working? Michael Gitig, Iodyne Pro Data
13. Cloud vs. on-prem computing in post production, Matt Bach, Puget Systems
14. Challenges & opportunities in cloud mastering & QC, Brandon Heaslip, Colorfront USA
15. AI and filmmaking, Barbara Ford Grant
16. AI & other advanced tech for start-ups, Ethan Jacks, MediaBridge Capital Advisors
17. Using JPEG XS in ST2110 and IPMX, Siegfried Fößel and Philipp Eibl, Fraunhofer IIS
18. Navigating AI security & risk in M&E, Mathew Gilliat-Smith, ConvergentDS
19. Virtual production: what’s working, what’s not, how it’s evolving, Nathan Bazley, NantStudios
20. AI discovery, Jason Perr, Perifery
21. Lights, Camera, AI: The Magic of Video Understanding, Travis Couture, Twelve Labs
22. How tech-viz & pre-viz streamline VP on set, Carlos Perez, Disguise
23. The technology adoption curve: where do you fall? David Leopold, LucidLink
24. Exploring the 8K ecosystem & benefits of immersive viewing, Juan Reyes, 8K Association
25. Importance of production metadata in automating VFX, Mike Urban, The Rebel Fleet
26. Your pitch deck and how to market it to investors, Laura Thommen, Compton & Company
27. AI video mattes for post production: editorial, VFX, and DI, Gary Palmer, Electric Sheep
28. Providing predictable color for mobile approvers, Kevin Burke & Eric Dalton, Eizo
29. Eliminate information silos to boost productivity, Jean-Christophe Curelop, Perfect Memory

Join us for a transformative full-day Supersession at HPA Tech Retreat 2025, focusing on the evolving roles of humans across key business functions of companies in the M&E industry. This event will explore the impact of AI on various aspects of business operations, highlighting new opportunities and roles emerging alongside technological advancements. The day’s programming includes demonstrations and in-depth discussions on back office applications, business analytics, creative process tools, and content monetization, all aimed at showcasing how AI can enhance rather than replace human creativity and expertise.

As AI has become increasingly integrated into media and entertainment production, concerns emerge regarding the role of humans in this evolving landscape. How will these tools be utilized? Where is the appropriate boundary between AI-generated content and human creativity? Should such a distinction be drawn? Can new processes demonstrate the seamless integration of AI and human capabilities? How can individuals prepare for this technological transformation? What are the implications for human practitioners in the media and entertainment industry? A comprehensive  and up-to-date overview of AI implementation in media and entertainment, emphasizing the continued significance of human integration within the production ecosystem and exploring the evolving roles of humans in conjunction with technological advancements.

• Renard Jenkins, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs
  

  Renard Jenkins

  I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs

  Renard Jenkins is an experienced content creation and creative technology executive in the Media & Entertainment industry. Jenkins currently serves as Vice President of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) and is the immediate past-president of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). He sits on the Advisory Board of Exceptional Minds and the TV Academy SciTech peer group. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including two national Emmys, a Peabody, 2 Headliners, a 2020 Broadcasting and Cable Technology Leadership award. Jenkins was also awarded the Innovator of the Year award in 2017 for his cutting-edge work and accomplishments in UHD, HDR, NGA and supply chain technology through the PBS Advanced Format Center and other industry activities.

  He has held Executive roles across the industry. Most recently as Warner Bros. SVP, Production Integration & Creative Technology Services [PICTs] where he oversaw global teams that supported 23,500 plus cast/crew members, 8,500 plus content hours and hundreds of global feature film, animation, and syndicated television productions annually.

  He and his team is responsible for the exploration & successful implementation of emerging creative technologies such as OSVP, multi-platform storytelling, meta-human development biometrics/neural-technology & better images and sound for cinema and home entertainment. Jenkins was the technical lead & designer of the Digital Backlot initiative. It focuses on extending the useful lifespan and monetization possibilities of visual effects, animation, and production elements & assets across multiple creation verticals.

  He has also worked for PBS, TV One, Discovery, and Turner Broadcasting where he received multiple awards for his work in Film & Television Production, Postproduction and R&D. He is a champion and advocate for ethics, inclusion, innovation, diversity, equity, acceptance, and accessibility in the technology and media industry. He is also a certified sound engineer, AI/ML engineer/practitioner and application designer.

During an expert-led day moderated by Rachel Joy Victor (FBRC,) this day-long session explores the transformative potential of AI tools in post-production. Professionals in animation/rigging, video editing, and visual effects tackle tasks that traditionally take days, and attempt to complete them within a single day using AI-driven tools. AI-driven analytics for marketing strategies and predicting industry trends; strategic decision-making insights powered by AI; cutting-edge scriptwriting tools, visual effects, and post-production. The session looks at how AI fosters a symbiotic relationship between technology and human creativity.

• Moderator: Rachel Joy Victor, FBRC

AI is having a major impact on the VFX creation process, but what are the implications now and where will VFX artists and producers leverage this powerful tool in future workflows.

• Barbara Ford Grant, Media and Entertainment Executive/Filmmaker

How AI can streamline workflows and unlock new creative possibilities with storyboarding, character design, voice synthesis, and animation rendering, lip syncing, rendering and more to provide a clear roadmap for studios and creators to leverage these tools efficiently and inspire filmmakers and animators to adopt AI-driven solutions while maintaining creative control and artistic vision.

• Lin Tam, Writer-Director-Producer
  

  Lin Tam

  Writer-Director-Producer

  Lin Tam  is an award-winning Director, Producer, and Writer celebrated for her pioneering work in animation and technology. A trailblazer in AI Animation, Lin pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in the animation industry. As the Executive Producer and Chief Creative AI Officer at Immix Studios, she has propelled the studio to new heights, producing internationally acclaimed content that masterfully blends AI technology with animation.

  Her acclaimed short film, “Friendship,” has garnered international recognition, featured in over 25 esteemed film festivals worldwide. Under her leadership, Immix Studios has significantly boosted its output, setting new benchmarks for AI-integrated content creation.

  Lin’s expertise extends across complex product and content development projects. Her portfolio includes cutting-edge work in Generative AI, AR/VR, mobile gaming, and interactive content. Initiatives like Village Roadshow’s Xperience Program and ACMI X underscore her role as an innovator who utilizes emerging technologies to redefine animation and entertainment.

  As a distinguished member of the Producers Guild of America and Screen Producers Australia, Lin is a sought-after speaker at events focused on AI in animation and the broader entertainment industry. She has shared her insights at prestigious venues, including the Producers Guild of America, SXSW Sydney, and Screen Forever, inspiring industry peers and enthusiasts alike. Lin’s presentations emphasize her forefront role in merging creative storytelling with technological advancements, shaping the future of entertainment.

MovieLabs will demonstrate how the 2030 Vision delivers significant benefits to the creative community today and in the future. This session will feature how leading media and technology companies utilize the principles of the 2030 Vision, the MovieLabs Ontology for Media Creation, and AI to drive secure, interoperable, software defined workflows in pre-production, production and post.

• Mark Turner, MovieLabs
• Jim Helman, MovieLabs
• Daniel Lucas, MovieLabs
• Chris Vienneau, MovieLabs
• Christina Lee Storm, Asher XR
• Erik Weaver, Entertainment Technology Center at USC
  

  Erik Weaver

  Entertainment Technology Center at USC

  Erik Weaver is a producer, architect, and speaker specializing in the intersection of cloud technology and the media & entertainment (M&E) industry. He currently leads Virtual & Adaptive production projects at the University of Southern California’s Entertainment Technology Center (ETC), including work on ICVFX and Virtual Production. Weaver has held leadership roles, such as overseeing Global M&E Strategy for Western Digital and spearheading ETC’s “Production in the Cloud” initiative. He has also been an executive producer on several notable projects, including The Suitcase (CAA People’s Choice Award, Tribeca 2017) and Wonder Buffalo (SXSW Interactivity competition). His work has earned Emmy nominations and involves cutting-edge technologies like HDR, cloud workflows, and volumetric capture. Additionally, Weaver has chaired multiple industry events and contributed to standards groups like SMPTE C4 MR30, educating the M&E industry on data management and technology integration.

An overview of a set of principles that will unlock data for AI model builders to improve their products and also open up new opportunities for the content owners who make that possible.

• Chris Bennett, Dolby
• Dave Davis, Protege Media

An award winning filmmaker and the first to use AI, Waters will share insights and discuss her creative process.

• Jagger Waters, Curious Refuge

The director of feature films including Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse and television episodes including Breaking Bad and Black Mirror, David brings a deep understanding of the creative process and technology.  He’ll share his unique perspectives on the creative use of AI and will showcase some of his work.

• David Slade, Director

An overview of the current landscape of AI policies and their implications for intellectual property (IP) protections in the media and entertainment industry.  Critical questions such as IP issues in the US vs internationally, emerging standards and best practices for content creators will be addressed and valuable insights into key considerations for creators.

• Karyn Temple, MPA

• Dave Clark, Director

Taking the premise of the importance of the human element, accompanied by a live demonstration, a discussion of the work it takes to make innovative content like “Airhead”, and how human creativity remains the actual magic of storytelling.

• Walter Woodman, Shy Kids

A behind the technology look at Reid Hoffman’s Digital Twin project and other relevant developments and considerations in the creative use of AI.

• Ben Relles, Content Strategy, Office of Reid Hoffman

How did it go?  A look at the work of the day from the LWaN project.

(sponsorships available)

Sponsored by The Studio B&H

1. Security challenges (and more) with live stream distribution, Chris Lennon, Ross Video
2. Generative AI for media distribution sales, Buzz Hays, Google Cloud
3. 3D object asset collaboration, JP Castel & Tommy Snyder, Evercast
4. The potential for AI-powered digital replicas, Marcus LeVere, MySavepoint
5. Consumer viewing in very dark rooms: an important use case? Craig Todd, Dolby
6. Generative AI from content creation to distribution, Robert Raver, AWS
7. Looking beyond MaxFALL/MaxCLL in HDR workflows, Lakshmanan Gopishankar, Telestream
8. AI on location: use cases and approaches, Jimmy Fusil, Tsecond
9. What’s in your AI Toolkit? How’s it going? Jase Lindgren, Perforce
10. AI for localization and performance editing, Peter Busch, Flawless
11. Live/real-time workflows utilizing virtual I/O & AWS CDI, Scott​ Matics, AJA Video Systems
12. On-set security: pProtecting IP at the edge, Michael Gitig, Iodyne Pro Data
13. The state of hardware and why Hollywood should care, Jon Bach, Puget Systems
14. Challenges & opportunities in cloud mastering & QC, Brandon Heaslip, Colorfront USA
15. TPN: what’s new for 2025! Terri Davies, TPN
16. Boosting the score: enhancing efficiency with AI, Glen Sakata, Dalet
17. AI-based subtitling and dubbing, Siegfried Fößel and Philipp Eibl, Fraunhofer IIS
18. Reducing duplication for multiple studio security assessments, M. Gilliat-Smith, ConvergentDS
19. The perfect hybrid/remote production work environment, Sean Lee, Open Drives
20. Photosensitive epilepsy testing delivery requirements, John Harris, HardingFPA
21. Dailies reimagined: AI-assisted workflows, Travis Couture, Twelve Labs
22. Importance of 3D laser scanning for productions, Jamie Featherston, Leica Geosystems
23. Harmonizing Virtual Production and Visual Effects, Mathieu Mazerolle, Foundry
24. Instant cloud collaboration—anywhere on the planet, Colby Winegar, Storj
25. Next-gen virtual art department: what to expect & how to prepare, Andrew Amato, Disguise
26. Who should pay for camera to cloud? Derek Schweickart, Adobe
27. Streaming, movies, TV: what’s impressing you and why? Julie O’Grady, LucidLink
28. Understanding the MPA Best Practices V5.3 for TPN, Juan Reyes, Tech Align Group
29. Using production metadata to automate the supply chain, Mike Urban, The Rebel Fleet

See program below for dedicated Innovation Zone hours

• Kari Grubin, HPA
  

  Kari Grubin

  HPA

  Kari Grubin is a distinguished executive with over 25 years of leadership experience in studio divisions, global post-production facilities, and corporate departments. She is recognized for her expertise in technology, strategic consulting, and post-production services.

  Kari is currently the President of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA), where she has served on the Board of Directors and volunteered for many years. She co-founded HPA Women in Post in 2011, an initiative providing leadership and visibility for women in professional content creation. Alongside board member Loren Nielsen, she also helped launch the HPA Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) program, which has mentored nearly 200 young professionals. In 2021, Kari and Renard Jenkins initiated HPA All, a program to foster diversity in the media and entertainment community by promoting career pathways and visibility for underrepresented groups. She led the 2022 HPA Tech Retreat Supersession and is currently planning the 2025 Retreat with the HPA Program Committee.

  Currently, Kari serves as Membership Services Director for the Motion Picture Association’s Trusted Partner Network, where her focus is on enhanced security preparedness and best practices at all stages in the digital media supply chain.  Committed to industry innovation, Kari previously served as project director for SMPTE’s Rapid Industry Solutions on Set Virtual Production Initiative. In 2021, she joined the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Production and Technology Branch.

  Kari’s career includes executive roles at Universal Studios, Paramount Studios, Global Entertainment Partners (GEP), Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, NSS Labs, and Walt Disney Studios. She has contributed significantly to media technology and is listed as a co-inventor for three U.S. patents in media and entertainment technology.

• Mark Schubin, Program Maestro, HPA Tech Retreat
  

  Mark Schubin

  Program Maestro, HPA Tech Retreat

  Multiple Emmy-award winning SMPTE Life Fellow Mark Schubin is the world’s greatest expert on the intersecting histories of media technology and opera. He helped create the hotel in-room movie business, the first live nationwide stereo simulcast network, the first live multi-language cinema subtitles, and what was probably the first HDR-to-SDR converter (though no one knew what HDR was at the time). He has worked on moving-image projects on all seven continents (including Antarctica), including news in Kazakhstan, cable TV in Hong Kong, and the television transmission system of Barbados. He also worked on the standardization of the VU meter. His bedroom was an official test site of the ATSC, his paper on aspect ratios was cited by the FCC, and his blog at SchubinCafe.com is archived by the Library of Congress. He once piloted the Fuji blimp and has been known to wear shoes.

• Mark Harrison, DPP
  

  Mark Harrison

  DPP

  Mark began his career as an Historian at Cambridge University, with several publications to his name, before moving into the media industry. He spent many years as a Director, Producer and Executive Producer, and won numerous awards for his filmmaking, including an International Emmy and a BAFTA nomination.

  Mark was Managing Director of an independent production company before being appointed BBC Head of Arts, and then Head of Multiplatform Production. He was subsequently Controller of Production for BBC North and leader of the BBC’s End-to-End Digital programme, before becoming Director of Transformation for BBC Design & Engineering.

  In 2015 Mark founded the DPP – the international network for media and technology – and became its CEO. This led the International Moving Image Society to give him an Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award in 2018.

  Today the DPP has around 550 member companies from across the whole media supply chain – from the global tech giants to broadcasters, and from media tech vendors to production companies. The DPP works with its member companies to generate strategic insight and create business opportunities. In 2024 Mark passed the CEO role to Rowan de Pomerai, and is now Founder and Chief Content Officer.

• Mark Harrison, DPP
  

  Mark Harrison

  DPP

  Mark began his career as an Historian at Cambridge University, with several publications to his name, before moving into the media industry. He spent many years as a Director, Producer and Executive Producer, and won numerous awards for his filmmaking, including an International Emmy and a BAFTA nomination.

  Mark was Managing Director of an independent production company before being appointed BBC Head of Arts, and then Head of Multiplatform Production. He was subsequently Controller of Production for BBC North and leader of the BBC’s End-to-End Digital programme, before becoming Director of Transformation for BBC Design & Engineering.

  In 2015 Mark founded the DPP – the international network for media and technology – and became its CEO. This led the International Moving Image Society to give him an Outstanding Contribution to the Industry Award in 2018.

  Today the DPP has around 550 member companies from across the whole media supply chain – from the global tech giants to broadcasters, and from media tech vendors to production companies. The DPP works with its member companies to generate strategic insight and create business opportunities. In 2024 Mark passed the CEO role to Rowan de Pomerai, and is now Founder and Chief Content Officer.

• Rowan de Pomerai, DPP
  

  Rowan de Pomerai

  DPP

  Rowan de Pomerai is the CEO of the DPP. He brings a highly rounded understanding of the media and technology industries, with experience working in broadcast, production, streaming, and software companies.

  He joined the DPP in 2018, spending several years as the CTO. In 2024 he became CEO, leading the DPP team to deliver against its strategy to be the leading association for media and technology, delivering ever more value to more member companies around the world.

  Rowan also leads many of the DPP’s outputs, from authoring insight reports to programming and hosting major events

• Moderator: Michael Zink, LG Electronics and the Ultra HD Forum
• Bill Baggelaar, UHD Alliance
• Annie Chang, Universal Pictures
• additional panelists to be announced

• Josh Pines, Picture Shop

• Rich Welsh, Deluxe

• Moderator: Ethan Jacks, MediaBridge Capital Advisors
• panelists to be announced

Year after year, a standout event at the HPA Tech Retreat is the Women in Post Luncheon—an inclusive gathering where both women and men are invited to glean insights from expert panelists carefully curated by our Women in Post Committee.

• Moderator: Jonathan Martin, WEKA
• panelists to be announced

• Moderator: Mark Chiolis, Mobile TV Group
  

  Mark Chiolis

  Mobile TV Group

  Mark Chiolis is the Director of Business Development for Mobile TV Group (MTVG), which provides facilities for over 4,500 live professional and college sports and entertainment events annually, with more than 35 mobile units, and dozens of remote Cloud Control facilities, based throughout the U.S.  MTVG has been leading the 4K/UHD/HDR/Cloud live event production with key broadcasters, networks and distribution companies.

  Mark is currently working to interface with customers and partners to develop and support MTVG’s entertainment, awards, corporate, concerts, egames, and esports events with current and new trucks, using both broadcast and cine workflows.

  Prior to MTVG, Chiolis worked in marketing, business development, and sales for Grass Valley, Thomson, Technicolor, Philips, and BTS as well as at television stations KMUV, KRBK and KVIE in Sacramento California.

  Chiolis is an active board member of the HPA, an associate member of the American Society of Cinematographers, member of the NAB Cine Consortium, member of the SciTech group at the Television Academy (Emmys), member of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), member of International Association of Aviation Photographers, past section manager of SMPTE, member of STE, SBE and California Broadcasters Association.

• Jim Toten
• Jeff Carman

• Renard Jenkins, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs
  

  Renard Jenkins

  I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs

  Renard Jenkins is an experienced content creation and creative technology executive in the Media & Entertainment industry. Jenkins currently serves as Vice President of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) and is the immediate past-president of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). He sits on the Advisory Board of Exceptional Minds and the TV Academy SciTech peer group. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including two national Emmys, a Peabody, 2 Headliners, a 2020 Broadcasting and Cable Technology Leadership award. Jenkins was also awarded the Innovator of the Year award in 2017 for his cutting-edge work and accomplishments in UHD, HDR, NGA and supply chain technology through the PBS Advanced Format Center and other industry activities.

  He has held Executive roles across the industry. Most recently as Warner Bros. SVP, Production Integration & Creative Technology Services [PICTs] where he oversaw global teams that supported 23,500 plus cast/crew members, 8,500 plus content hours and hundreds of global feature film, animation, and syndicated television productions annually.

  He and his team is responsible for the exploration & successful implementation of emerging creative technologies such as OSVP, multi-platform storytelling, meta-human development biometrics/neural-technology & better images and sound for cinema and home entertainment. Jenkins was the technical lead & designer of the Digital Backlot initiative. It focuses on extending the useful lifespan and monetization possibilities of visual effects, animation, and production elements & assets across multiple creation verticals.

  He has also worked for PBS, TV One, Discovery, and Turner Broadcasting where he received multiple awards for his work in Film & Television Production, Postproduction and R&D. He is a champion and advocate for ethics, inclusion, innovation, diversity, equity, acceptance, and accessibility in the technology and media industry. He is also a certified sound engineer, AI/ML engineer/practitioner and application designer.

• Barbara Lange, Kibo121

• Ryan Khurana, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment
• Travis Couture, Twelve Labs
  

  Travis Couture

  Twelve Labs

  Biologist turned technologist, Travis has a wealth of experience across academia, industry, and startups. With deep roots in computer vision research, Travis spends his time with Twelve Labs’ customers to sweat the details on how they utilize cutting edge technologies in their video workflows.

• Carin Forman, AWS

• Chris Swan, AWS
  

  Chris Swan

  AWS

  Chris Swan is an Industry Specialist Solutions Architect specializing in Content Production at AWS. His experience spans 20 years across post production for unscripted TV, reality TV, live events and sports. He is passionate about innovation in post production and is a champion for creatives in the Media and Entertainment industry.

• Moderator: Soyoung Lee, Twelve Labs
  

  Soyoung Lee

  Twelve Labs

  Soyoung is a Co-Founder at Twelve Labs where she leads the go-to-market team working closely with enterprises across industries to bring cutting edge foundation models to their workflows.

• Heidi Shakespeare, Memnon Archive Services

(sponsorships available)

(sponsorships available)

1. On-prem – cloud – remote, John Harris, Projective
2. Using AI to identify piracy, Toby Scales, Google Cloud
3. What’s new in AI open source & other techno-collaborations, Andy Maltz, General Intelligence
4. The potential for AI-powered digital replicas, Marcus LeVere, MySavepoint
5. Modern imaging: haunted by the ghost of the CRT (SDR), Sam Bilodeau, Dolby
6. Re-thinking fast-turnaround workflows for the cloud, Chris Swan, AWS
7. Looking beyond MaxFALL/MaxCLL in HDR workflows, Lakshmanan Gopishankar, Telestream
8. Remote work in post production: trends & opportunities, Jimmy Fusil, Remoto
9. Teaching version control concepts to art teams, Jase Lindgren, Perforce
10. AI for localization and performance editing, Peter Busch, Flawless
11. Data storage materiality and the environment, Linda Tadic, Digital Bedrock
12. Intelligent, protected, unified NAS/SAN flash/cloud storage, Charlie Bryant, NetApp
13. Understanding the needs and bottlenecks of post production, Matt Bach, Puget Systems
14. Next-Gen Cinema: Maintaining Creative Vision with Workflow Efficiency, Brian Nogle, Colorfront
15. Media Composer panel SDK, Raymond Thompson, Avid
16. Boosting the score: enhancing efficiency with AI, Glen Sakata, Dalet
17. TBA
18. TBA
19. TBA
20. TBA
21. AI for supplemental sports content creation, Travis Couture, Twelve Labs
22. TBA
23. TBA
24. TBA
25. TBA
26. Evolution of sales & business development in M&E markets, Laura Thommen, Compton & Company
27. AI video mattes for post production: editorial, VFX, and DI, Gary Palmer, Electric Sheep
28. Providing predictable color for mobile approvers, Kevin Burke & Eric Dalton, Eizo
29. Changing asset management without changing production, Jean-Christophe Curelop, Perfect Memory

• Alex LoVerde, ProdPro
  

  Alex LoVerde

  ProdPro

  Alexander LoVerde is the CEO and co-founder of ProdPro, a leading provider of market research and insights for the TV and film industry. Before launching ProdPro, LoVerde co-founded and served as CEO of SyncOnSet, which developed the industry-standard software for managing on-set production workflows. SyncOnSet was acquired by Entertainment Partners in 2020.

  LoVerde also serves on the board of Toon Boom, a global leader in 2D animation software, and as an Operating Partner with TPG Capital / IMC. Recognized for his contributions to the industry, LoVerde has received an Emmy Award for Engineering Achievement and was featured on Forbes’ 2019 “30 Under 30” Hollywood List. He is a member of both the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Television Academy.

• Moderator: John Footen, Deloitte Consulting
• Jason Williamson, Deloitte Consulting
• Seth Hallen
  

  Seth Hallen

  Seth Hallen is a visionary leader in AI with over 25 years of experience in media and entertainment technology. His passion for storytelling and the role of technology in the creative process has shaped his career and driven his dedication to the industry. Currently, he supports early-stage Meditech companies in AI, helping them develop product roadmaps, gain visibility, secure funding, and build essential connections. As the past president of the Hollywood Professional Association and a member of the TV Academy, he is deeply involved in advocating for the industry. His leadership has led to significant contributions to revenue growth and market dominance, particularly through pioneering projects that set new industry standards. A tech enthusiast with a creative mind, he believes that great storytelling is at the core of human experience and is committed to empowering creators with the best technological tools. He continues to explore the intersection of technology and creativity, helping partners create and deliver the world’s greatest stories.

Discover how Universal Pictures’ Love Hurts was brought to life using an end-to-end post-production workflow in the cloud: What worked and what improvements we need to achieve the MovieLabs 2030 Vision. Hear from creative partners and post-production teams who efficiently managed camera files, dailies, VFX pulls, online conform, color grading, marketing campaigns, and digital cinema workflows, all from the studio’s centralized cloud storage.

• Moderator: Annie Chang, Universal Pictures
• Nick Monton, Company 3
• Jordan Stein, Company 3
  

  Jordan Stein

  Company 3

  Global Workflow Manager | Media & Entertainment Technologist | Cloud Optimization Expert

  With a BFA in Photography from Parsons School of Design, I began my career as an online editor and colorist, contributing to feature-length films and tv. This foundation in visual storytelling and technical precision deepened my understanding of the creative and technical processes in media production.

  As the Global Workflow Manager at Company 3, I specialize in designing and implementing innovative workflows that bridge cloud, hybrid, and on-prem environments. Drawing on my extensive experience in finishing and media production, I focus on workflow optimization, cost management for cloud workloads, and product management to deliver impactful solutions that align with both creative and business goals.

• Bobby Micheletti, Universal Pictures
• Jeremy Stapleton, NBCUniversal
• Andy Scade, Pixelogic
• Brandon Lindauer, AWS

• Mathieu Mazerolle, Foundry
  

  Mathieu Mazerolle

  Foundry

  Mathieu Mazerolle has over 28 years of engineering and product experience in the visual effects, cloud, and gaming industries, with a strong focus on innovation and driving the development of new technologies. He is currently the Director of Product, New Technology, at Foundry. Throughout his career, Mathieu has leveraged his technical and and market insights to deliver impactful solutions at leading organizations, including Amazon Web Services, Electronic Arts, Autodesk, Digital Domain, and Ubisoft.

• Mathew Gilliat-Smith, ConvergentDS
  

  Mathew Gilliat-Smith

  ConvergentDS

  Mathew has over 20 years experience in the M&E sector, with strong relationships at many levels within the Film and TV studios, broadcasters and their supply chain. In particular he works with localization, visual effects and other production and post production service providers across the globe. Mathew is responsible for developing Convergent’s initiatives for on-prem, hybrid, cloud and SaaS application security, which includes assessments, threat assessment penetration testing, and general consultancy for security readiness. He manages Convergent’s corporate and business growth strategies including the promotion of the TPN initiative. He was previously founder and CEO of software development businesses focusing on video encryption solutions.

• Ben Stanbury, The Walt Disney Studios
• Keith Ritlop, ConvergentDS
  

  Keith Ritlop

  ConvergentDS

  Keith Ritlop is a seasoned production and technology leader with over 20 years of experience driving innovation across architecture, AI, cloud computing, security, and digital production workflows. He has led global teams for major companies like NBCUniversal, Amazon Studios, Disney, and Paramount Pictures delivering cutting-edge solutions in content security, VFX, workflow design, software engineering, and AI-based production tools.

• Hans Hoffmann, European Broadcasting Union

• Sally-Ann D’Amato, SMPTE
• Thomas Bause Mason, SMPTE
• Renard Jenkins, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs
  

  Renard Jenkins

  I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs

  Renard Jenkins is an experienced content creation and creative technology executive in the Media & Entertainment industry. Jenkins currently serves as Vice President of the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) and is the immediate past-president of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). He sits on the Advisory Board of Exceptional Minds and the TV Academy SciTech peer group. He is a recipient of numerous awards, including two national Emmys, a Peabody, 2 Headliners, a 2020 Broadcasting and Cable Technology Leadership award. Jenkins was also awarded the Innovator of the Year award in 2017 for his cutting-edge work and accomplishments in UHD, HDR, NGA and supply chain technology through the PBS Advanced Format Center and other industry activities.

  He has held Executive roles across the industry. Most recently as Warner Bros. SVP, Production Integration & Creative Technology Services [PICTs] where he oversaw global teams that supported 23,500 plus cast/crew members, 8,500 plus content hours and hundreds of global feature film, animation, and syndicated television productions annually.

  He and his team is responsible for the exploration & successful implementation of emerging creative technologies such as OSVP, multi-platform storytelling, meta-human development biometrics/neural-technology & better images and sound for cinema and home entertainment. Jenkins was the technical lead & designer of the Digital Backlot initiative. It focuses on extending the useful lifespan and monetization possibilities of visual effects, animation, and production elements & assets across multiple creation verticals.

  He has also worked for PBS, TV One, Discovery, and Turner Broadcasting where he received multiple awards for his work in Film & Television Production, Postproduction and R&D. He is a champion and advocate for ethics, inclusion, innovation, diversity, equity, acceptance, and accessibility in the technology and media industry. He is also a certified sound engineer, AI/ML engineer/practitioner and application designer.

• Andy Maltz, General Intelligence
  

  Andy Maltz

  General Intelligence

  Andy has over 4 decades of experience instigating, developing, and deploying technologies in the media and entertainment industry,, and now leads a media technology consultancy. Andy also serves as chair of ISO/TC 36 Cinematography, the motion picture industry’s international technical standards body, as a director of the Digital Object Architecture-fostering DONA Foundation, and is on several advisory boards.

  Andy’s previous roles include the founding head of staff of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Science and Technology Council, founding board member of the Academy Software Foundation, founder and CEO of digital cinema pioneer Avica Technology, and co-initiator of the Advanced Authoring Format, an industry-standard media authoring interchange format. Andy co-authored the award-winning The Digital Dilemma research reports on digital preservation, received two Engineering Emmy Awards, holds several patents, and is a fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), where he serves on its Motion Imaging Journal Board of Editors.

• Seth Hallen
  

  Seth Hallen

  Seth Hallen is a visionary leader in AI with over 25 years of experience in media and entertainment technology. His passion for storytelling and the role of technology in the creative process has shaped his career and driven his dedication to the industry. Currently, he supports early-stage Meditech companies in AI, helping them develop product roadmaps, gain visibility, secure funding, and build essential connections. As the past president of the Hollywood Professional Association and a member of the TV Academy, he is deeply involved in advocating for the industry. His leadership has led to significant contributions to revenue growth and market dominance, particularly through pioneering projects that set new industry standards. A tech enthusiast with a creative mind, he believes that great storytelling is at the core of human experience and is committed to empowering creators with the best technological tools. He continues to explore the intersection of technology and creativity, helping partners create and deliver the world’s greatest stories.

• Alan Lasky, MSB
  

  Alan Lasky

  MSB

  Alan Lasky is a highly accomplished executive experienced in developing and delivering new technologies, workflows and models within the media/entertainment and virtual reality sectors. Some of the technologies Alan has been instrumental in bringing to markets include LIDAR, high resolution digital acquisition, and 3D camera tracking among others. Currently Alan is exploring the outer realms of the Media & Entertainment space while keeping one foot firmly planted in history.

• Moderator: Thomas True, NVIDIA
  

  Thomas True

  NVIDIA

  Thomas True is a senior applied engineer for media workflows in NVIDIA’s Enterprise Products Group. In this role he works at the intersection of live media and the Graphics Processing Unit(GPU) where he focuses on the integration of GPU processing and network transport technologies into broadcast, video and film applications ranging from pre-visualization to post production and live to air. Thomas has a M.S. degree in Computer Science from Brown University in Providence, RI and a B.S. Degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, NY.

• panelists to be announced

Join us for an insightful discussion on how Artificial Individual Intelligence (Aii) will be the key to having AI-based “tools” become accepted and adopted “beings.”  Unlike massive Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) or Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) systems, Aii focuses on the unique character and emotional depth of AI entities, each with distinct personalities, and enabling the building of lasting relationships with humans across platforms. Aii goes beyond functional chatbots to create “living” companions with self-awareness, empathy, and emotive voice, fostering meaningful connections between humans and AI. We’ll explore the future of AI in entertainment, showcasing how it can expand opportunities for creators, artists, and studios, turning GenAI into a technology that grows the industry and generates new revenue streams for artists, versus taking jobs away…creating a true AI-powered Win/Win in our industry.

• Dave Ginsberg, Artificial Individual Intelligence
  

  Dave Ginsberg

  Artificial Individual Intelligence

  As a trailblazing technologist with extensive expertise in media, entertainment and cutting-edge innovation, Dave Ginsberg has carved out a distinctive career in the intersection of creative industries and technology. With over 20+ years of experience driving transformative change, Dave has held leadership roles that blend technical vision, hands-on innovation, and strategic execution.

  Currently serving as Chief Technology Officer at Artificial Individual Intelligence, Dave is at the forefront of AI innovation, designing advanced cloud and on-premises architectures to support a groundbreaking empathetic virtual caregiver solution and other novel unique “alive” AI applications. Responsible for overseeing budgets, technical development and deployment, he demonstrates a rare ability to conceptualize and deliver transformative projects in the rapidly evolving world of AI.

  During Dave’s tenure at Amazon Web Services (AWS), he held the role of Principal Solutions Architect for Media and Entertainment. In this capacity, he led R&D initiatives for cloud-based workflows, designed and executed a customer co-branded innovation lab and introduced disruptive solutions such as a patent-pending audio-in-the-cloud mixing system. This work not only streamlined operations for studio partners but also redefined industry benchmarks in storytelling technology.

  Previously, as Head of Emerging Technology at Amazon Studios, Dave pioneered a large R&D initiative, building a lab to explore the future of production technology, including virtual sets and immersive workflows. These innovations were bolstered by strategic vendor partnerships and a visionary co-partnership program.

  Other notable achievements include a key leadership role as Chief Technology Officer for Sundance Institute, where he orchestrated a large-scale relaunch of public-facing systems, including a high-profile festival film submission website and an innovative festival theater wait list application. These initiatives, which garnered over $1M in corporate donations, showcased an ability to align technological solutions with organizational missions.

  At Warner Bros. he served as Executive Director of Technical Operations for Worldwide TV Marketing and played a pivotal role in the division’s evolution, leveraging cutting-edge technologies to support exponential growth and enable the timely, high-quality production of over 3,000 video and 5,000–7,000 print/digital marketing assets annually. By spearheading initiatives that optimized workflows, improved creative output and significantly reduced costs, he helped the marketing team to scale and deliver assets to customers throughout the world.

  Before joining Warner Bros., he worked as a freelance video and visual effects editor, working with renowned studios including Warner Bros., Fox, Paramount and Disney Imagineering. During this time Dave edited award-winning films, TV shows, marketing campaigns and theme park productions, earning accolades for creative storytelling and visual effects production. Early contributions to workflows for large-format film editing laid the foundation for a career focused on operational excellence and creative support.

  Across all roles, Dave is recognized for his strategic vision, technical acumen, and ability to lead cross-functional teams toward innovative solutions. His experience spans cloud-first strategies, workflow optimization, R&D and large-scale infrastructure design. Known for his ability to bridge technical expertise with business strategy, he excels in driving operational excellence while fostering collaboration across teams and organizations.

• Jerry Rees, Artificial Individual Intelligence
  

  Jerry Rees

  Artificial Individual Intelligence

  Aii Founding Principal Partner, CBO (Chief Being Officer)
  Creative in Residence, Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA)

  Writer / Director of live-action, animation, AR, audio-animatronic and immersive themed entertainment projects, including a record-setting 22 attractions for Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Studios Paris, Disneyland Hong Kong, Tokyo Disneyland and the Disney Cruise Line.

  Winner of 4 THEA awards for Disney.

  While still in high school, mentored at the Disney Studios under the wing of Eric Larson, one of Walt Disney’s legendary “Nine Old Men.”

  Awarded a Disney Scholarship and attended California Institute of the Arts (Cal Arts) as Teacher’s Assistant for the now famous inaugural A113 class with such classmates as Brad Bird, John Lasseter and John Musker. Featured in Vanity Fair’s 2014 article “The Class That Roared” with photos by Annie Leibovitz.

  Started as a classically trained Disney Feature Animator, but moved into new technologies such as Computer Image Choreography on TRON, and Directing the first official Augmented Reality postage stamp for the US Postal Service and Smithsonian in 2011.

  Recruited by Disney as a VP Level Executive R&D Imagineer from 2015 – 2020, designated as the guardian of story, character, emotion and human connection across all emerging technologies. Creative Lead on free-walking autonomous robots and AI companion characters, including the KIWI and D3-O9 projects.

  Awarded merit bonus by The Walt Disney Company’s Chairman and CEO Robert Iger, who wrote – “Your contributions to the Company have played a significant role in our success and delivering shareholder value. Thank you for your dedication and hard work this past year. Congratulations.”

  DISNEY INVENTOR AWARDS:

  Jerry Rees – Filed: 9/17/2019, Publication: 3/18/2021
  Artificial Intelligence-Based Roleplaying Experiences Based On User-Selected Scenarios

  Jerry Rees – Filed: 5/24/2019, Patent: 2/15/2022
  Legged High-Dexterity Self-Balancing Capable Robot Actor

  Jerry Rees – Filed: 1/22/2018, Patent: 10/27/2020
  Communicative Self-Guided Automation

  A fine artist and sculptor, currently pursuing next-gen Avatars, AR, VR and Blended Reality for the masses, with the goal of establishing a new standard of immersive global communication.

  Dedicated to bringing “The Illusion of Life” to AI through Aii.

  A member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA), residing and working in Los Angeles.

  Best known to many as Writer / Director of “The Brave Little Toaster”.

  “We will not win the next technology race with better technology. We will win the next technology race with better philosophy.”
  – Jerry Rees

• Morgan Prygrocki, Adobe
  

  Morgan Prygrocki

  Adobe

  Morgan Prygrocki is a Senior Strategic Development Manager at Adobe, specializing in advancing post-production video workflows for Hollywood and beyond. With over 16 years of experience at the forefront of high-end camera technology and virtual production solutions, Morgan has supported a wide spectrum of productions, including major league sports broadcasts, award-winning films, and globally recognized commercial campaigns. Her expertise lies in bridging cutting-edge technology with creative storytelling, ensuring productions achieve their full potential.

• Lee Eigner, Sony Music Vision
  

  Lee Eigner

  Sony Music Vision

  Lee Eigner is the Senior Director of Film Operations at Sony Music Vision, where he oversees post-production, theatrical and home entertainment mastering, deliverable specifications, and global content delivery.

  At Amazon Studios, Lee managed content workflows and quality control processes for launches. He also worked on accessibility initiatives, collaborating with experts to address gaps and develop innovative solutions for enhancing media accessibility.

  At Sony Music Vision, Lee continues to advocate for advancing accessibility technology in streaming and theatrical environments to better serve audiences with disabilities.

• Moderator: Chris Lennon, Ross Video
• Stan Moote, IABM
• Loic Barbou, Bloomberg

• Yves Bergquist, Entertainment Technology Center – USC Cinematic Arts

• Holly Beavon, I2A2 Technologies, Studios, & Labs
  

  Holly Beavon

  I2A2 Technologies, Studios, & Labs

  Dr. Holly Beavon is a research psychologist studying media and technology, emphasizing engagement, persuasion, immersive technologies, and human-computer interaction. Her postdoctoral work investigates the taxonomies and measurement of character identification and representation in interactive media and applies machine learning techniques for statistical analysis and modeling. Holly’s broad background encompasses live entertainment, work in front of the camera as an actor, and post-production from editorial to mastering for broadcast.

  Beyond the immediate application to current media and technology, Holly is interested in extending her research to digital humans and next-level audience immersion utilizing a contextual interplay between identification, moral, cultural, and psychological factors based on statistical models applied to generative AI.

   

• Anne Brooker-Grogan and Ed Grogan

Must be present to win.