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 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
  

  Brian Tran

  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.

MrBeast latest venture with Amazon Prime “Beast Games” is a large-scale multi-cam reality TV contest series breaking boundaries in the way TV production is recorded, edited, and delivered. Known for pushing creative and technical boundaries, MrBeast’s team is merging the fast-paced, highly dynamic world of YouTube with the rigorous demands of broadcast-level television production

To manage ingest and fast turnaround for editorial, the show utilized an advanced DIT workflow, 25 on-site editors, ingesting to an impressive 2.5 PB solid-state shared storage road case that was backed up and transported across to Greenville, NC for finishing.

Attendees will gain a behind-the-scenes look into the technology implemented to meet the unique demands of this fast-moving and large-scale production, with zero downtime and flawless execution. Joshua Kulic, Head of Post Production of MrBeast an in-depth interview during the HPA 2025 Retreat, offering further insights into the production process.

• Joshua Kulic, MrBeast
  

  Joshua Kulic

  MrBeast

  Storyteller, tech-obsessed, gearhead, and lover of media, who is constantly expanding their skillset. Years of experience in all avenues of Production across TV, Commerical, New Media, Sports, and eSports. Well-versed in both the creative and technical avenues of production.

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 T. Jenkins is the President and CEO of I2A2 Technologies, Studios, and Labs. A software development and consulting firm specializing in the creation of ethically responsible tools, solutions, and experiences for the M&E, Marketing & Research, Education, and Healthcare industries, utilizing both emerging and traditional technologies. Jenkins is an experienced executive in the Technology, Film, Television, and Radio industries. Jenkins also currently serves as Vice President of the Hollywood Professionals Association, Immediate Past President of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and sits on the board of Exceptional Minds. He is
  also an active member of the Television Academy and The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. He has held Executive roles across the Technology, Media, and Entertainment industry.

  Prior to rejoining WarnerMedia and Warner Bros., Jenkins served as Vice President, Operations, Engineering, and Distribution at PBS, where he designed and led the strategic direction, technology development, engineering, and operational management of PBS’s entire media-supply chain. He has also worked for TV One, Discovery, ESPN, NBA Ent., MLB, NFL, and Turner Broadcasting.

  Jenkins is a recipient of numerous awards, including two national Emmys, a Peabody, two Headliners, and a 2020 Broadcasting and Cable Technology Leadership award. In 2017, Jenkins was recognized as an Innovator of the Year award recipient for his groundbreaking contributions to the fields of Ultra High Definition (UHD), High Dynamic Range (HDR), Next Generation Audio (NGA) technologies, and supply chain management through his work at the PBS Advanced Format Center and various industry initiatives. Jenkins is a steadfast advocate for ethical conduct, inclusivity, innovation, diversity, equity, acceptance, accessibility, and the elimination of discriminatory biases within the technology and media sectors. Additionally, he holds certifications as a sound engineer, AI/ML engineer, and application designer among others. Jenkins holds a deep passion for the visual arts and, when time permits, offers pro bono services in location sound recording, live mixing, studio recording, post-production, and finishing for
  aspiring filmmakers, animators, and musicians. His family’s guiding principle is “In all things, integrity, and integrity in all things.”

• Rachel Joy Victor, FBRC.ai
  

  Rachel Joy Victor

  FBRC.ai

  Rachel Joy Victor is the co-founder of FBRC.AI, a company focused on creating AI-supported tools for the future of content production–from films to games to location-based experiences. Rachel’s work as a designer, strategist, and worldbuilder for emerging technologies (XR/AI/web3) focuses on creating narrative, brand, and product experiences. She draws from her education in computational neuroscience and spatial economics to facilitate the creation of data-informed emergent experiences. Rachel’s clients have included Disney, HBO, Technicolor, Vans, Ford, Nike, Havas, Meow Wolf, Niantic, and many more. She is passionate about making technology accessible and has provided executive education for leading companies like Warner Brothers, NBCUniversal, Activision, UGG, and Red Bull–in addition to being a keynote speaker at leading industry events.

• Denys Krasnikov, Vidby.AI
  

  Denys Krasnikov

  Vidby.AI

  AI professional in translation technologies with 10 years of experience; he started his startup projects after graduating from the Innovations in Economic Development Program at Harvard University in 2014, many years before the artificial intelligence boom. Denys has invested his time and money in developing breakthrough life-changing technologies of accurate AI localization of video and audio content and real-time voice translation solutions. Denys is a Google Cloud Innovator and Responsible AI Researcher. He is a Y Combinator School ’2019 Alumni; Ph.D., an executive member of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, a member of the Hollywood Professional Association, and a vice president of the Ukrainian League of Industrialists & Entrepreneurs. In 2023, he was selected as a United Nations Consultant and Contractor for AI localization of educational content.

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
  

  Brandin Grams

  The Rowing Channel

  Brandin is the co-founder of The Rowing Channel (TRC), now a platform of the Watersports Broadcasting Corporation (WBC). Once started by a trifecta of athletes between Orange Coast College and California State University, Long Beach, to pool resources to fulfill a gap of racing coverage, TRC became a national and even worldwide figure over the last 10 years. Supported by volunteers from our partnering broadcast and venue organizations, TRC became a cooperative effort of west-coast colleges, universities, athletic conferences and rowing organizations around the nation.

  Brandin’s team has established the production operations that became a standard, bar-none in places including, but not limited to, the Sacramento State Aquatic Center, the Lake Lanier Olympic Park, Newport Harbor, Mission Bay San Diego, Tempe Town Lake, the Chula Vista High Performance Center, the Dexter Lake State Recreation Area, and the Vancouver Lake State Recreation Areas.

  Brandin’s experience includes seven years at Intel working in network software development on edge computing, part of the technology that drives several sports data functions at venues around the country.

• David Shapiro, Pixellot
  

  David Shapiro

  Pixellot

  David Shapiro is currently Pixellot’s President of North America. He is the former CEO of Steel Sports and brings with him nearly 20 years of experience in management, coaching, and corporate development in the youth sports arena. In addition to his time at Steel Sports, Shapiro spent 20 years as both a staff and board member at Positive Coaching Alliance, a national non-profit with the mission of developing ”Better Athletes, Better People”.

• Nick Busto, NBC Sports NEXT

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
  

  Dane Brehm

  Cintegral

  Dane Brehm, Production Technologist & L600 Digital Imaging Technician has a long-standing desire to BE at the forefront of creativity, technology, sustainability, and workflow. His direct approach, sharing personality, and consideration for bringing meaningful approaches to workflow techniques and solutions is his passion.

  Dane balances his time between working on-set as a ICG DIT for ASC DPs; while running Cintegral.tech, a workflow company that focuses on introducing and implementing rentable high-performance enterprise NVMe/ SSD Storage and RAID systems. These systems improve the efficiency, cost effectiveness while increasing productivity for the End User on Location or on Stage. Cintegral’s creed the last six years has been “Fast Drives, Saves Lives”

  Dane’s company Cintegral has supported over 474 productions since 2016 to bridge modern 4K/6K/8K Studio and Streaming content data footprint for large format-multi-camera-VFX intensive Feature Films, Television shows, and Music Festivals. Dane’s connective personality has forged deep partnerships with  OEMs and Suppliers to develop tools and software for Union and Non-Union crews across the US, Pacific, Europe, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

  Dane is an ASC Technical Instructor, SMPTE and Local 600 member, as well as a participant in the ASC-MITC Advanced Data Management working group.  He is a founding member of the DIT super group “DIT-WIT,” which comprises over 350 global members to discuss, share, develop, and execute the creative and technical needs of present and future productions. When he’s not participating he enjoys traveling with his Wife and Family, LAFC Football Matches, and is a avid Motorcyclist.

• Martin Christien, iodyne
  

  Martin Christien

  iodyne

  Martin Christien is a workflow specialist with over 20 years experience working in production with the last decade spent working in workflow production technology for many high-end brands in the M&E space including the BBC, PostBox Systems, G-Technology, Fender, and iodyne. Martin has focused on the science of workflow efficiency to develop production pipelines and product that prepare for the tech that’s coming next.
  Now as Director of Workflow at iodyne, Martin is proud to help develop the tools for the future of filmmaking, creating a new perspective as to how we think about the hardware and software we use to tell stories.
  A self professed ‘MacGyver’, you’ll find him in the garage either building or breaking something, “either way we’re having fun right!”.

• Sarah Ivy

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, StoryTech
  

  Lori H. Schwartz

  StoryTech

  Lori H. Schwartz is a nationally recognized technology catalyst (‘Tech Cat’). As a leading advisor and speaker in marketing and tech innovation, Lori collaborates with top creative and strategic executives of multiple brands, tech, and content companies to ensure their understanding of emerging business models while designing unique experiences to create engagement.

  Lori is a CNN Technology Contributor and a frequent speaker at major industry events. She also helps private companies facilitate conversations around new business models and technology innovation. Her StoryTech initiative facilitates communication between storytellers and technology companies. The trend briefings, curation, and tour products have become well known globally through their work @CES, @NAB, and private events. She frequently curates large trade show plenaries and hosts events to help drive conversations around the latest marketing and advertising technology as well as the latest content business models.

  Originally from New York, Lori is a long-time resident of the Los Angeles area. She is joined in her life journey by her fifteen-year-old daughter, whose near-instant grasp of new technologies underscores Lori’s quest to help companies and humans enjoy, and grow from the technologies increasingly defining our lives.

• 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
  

  Angela Victor

  Angela Victor brings extensive experience in production, post production, and VFX within the entertainment industry. With a proven ability to deliver complex projects on time and within budget, she has contributed to live events, scripted streaming and cable episodic content, unscripted series, independent feature films, and VFX trailers.

  Beyond hands-on production expertise, Angela has a background in strategic planning and consulting for network and cable television, offering a unique perspective on industry trends and audience engagement. She earned an MBA with a focus on finance and marketing and is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt in Process Redesign, achieved through General Electric’s training while at NBC TV Network. Angela combines creative insights with data-driven strategies to drive innovation and efficiency in entertainment projects.

  Angela looks forward to sharing her expertise as a panelist, contributing to a meaningful discussion on The Art of Cost-Effective Techniques for High-End Productions.

• 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, Sony Pictures Entertainment
  

  Alex LoCasale

  Torchlight, Sony Pictures Entertainment

  Strategic business leader with an acumen for building an inclusive and diverse culture, optimizing processes for productivity, and architecting deals for maximum profitability for the company and client.

  ✦ Strategist with Global Mindset – forward-thinking, find new pathways to success for both client and company, launching new divisions, orchestrating M&As between companies, and building lasting global relationships.
  ✦ Collaborative Leader – build better processes through collaboration and communication, working tirelessly to find a palatable solution for all stakeholders.
  ✦ Trustworthy Partner – operate at high level of integrity, decisive and transparent in business dealings and always focused on providing the best partnership opportunity to the client to gain their trust and loyalty.
  ✦ Mentor/Coach – model behavior and listen actively, seek and give advice, manage conflicts and mediate by providing avenues for open dialogue and forums, empowering team members to contribute and grow.

  “My philosophy is never to have a client/vendor relationship, but to create a partnership; being service to someone’s success as they are to my own.”

• Andrew Kightlinger, Red Island Video Club
  

  Andrew Kightlinger

  Red Island Video Club

  Andrew Boodhoo Kightlinger was born and raised in Madagascar, later living in South Dakota. His mixed background continues to feed a prolific instinct for storytelling and exploring the human condition. His second feature film, LOST ON A MOUNTAIN IN MAINE, produced by Sylvester Stallone, released in theaters nationwide last year. He previously wrote and directed the indie feature TATER TOT & PATTON starring Jessica Rothe. He also won the 2016 Slamdance Screenplay Grand Prize for his script GREAT WHITE SHARK and recently collaborated on film with the Getty Museum, Sony, and Fujifilm. He studied film at Boston University. He’s repped by Artists First and William Jacobsen at GGSSC.

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 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.

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, Mick Delcourt, 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, Chris Johnson, ConvergentDS
19. Latest advancements in hybrid picture and sound workflows, Richad Duke, Avid
20. Open-source AI for on-prem processing: lower cost & complexity, 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
30. Reimagining creative decision making in the age of fragmented capture, Rachel Joy Victor, FBRC.ai

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.

• 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.

• Seth Hallen, Hallstone Ventures
  

  Seth Hallen

  Hallstone Ventures

  With over 25 years of experience in media and entertainment technology, Seth is a visionary leader in AI, passionate about storytelling and its intersection with technology. He supports AI-driven MediaTech startups by helping them secure funding, refine their product strategies, gain visibility, and build vital industry connections.

  Seth is a strong advocate for AI’s potential to enhance human creativity, believing it can serve as a powerful assistant in the creative process. Throughout his career, he has built strong relationships with decision-makers and led teams to success in North America and Europe, driving revenue growth and setting new industry standards.

  As a member of the TV Academy’s AI Task Force and having served as president of the Hollywood Professional Association for nine years, Seth is actively involved in shaping the future of the media and entertainment sector. His mission is to empower creators with innovative tools, inspire change, and help the industry thrive by anticipating the next big shift in technology and creativity.

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 T. Jenkins is the President and CEO of I2A2 Technologies, Studios, and Labs. A software development and consulting firm specializing in the creation of ethically responsible tools, solutions, and experiences for the M&E, Marketing & Research, Education, and Healthcare industries, utilizing both emerging and traditional technologies. Jenkins is an experienced executive in the Technology, Film, Television, and Radio industries. Jenkins also currently serves as Vice President of the Hollywood Professionals Association, Immediate Past President of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and sits on the board of Exceptional Minds. He is
  also an active member of the Television Academy and The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. He has held Executive roles across the Technology, Media, and Entertainment industry.

  Prior to rejoining WarnerMedia and Warner Bros., Jenkins served as Vice President, Operations, Engineering, and Distribution at PBS, where he designed and led the strategic direction, technology development, engineering, and operational management of PBS’s entire media-supply chain. He has also worked for TV One, Discovery, ESPN, NBA Ent., MLB, NFL, and Turner Broadcasting.

  Jenkins is a recipient of numerous awards, including two national Emmys, a Peabody, two Headliners, and a 2020 Broadcasting and Cable Technology Leadership award. In 2017, Jenkins was recognized as an Innovator of the Year award recipient for his groundbreaking contributions to the fields of Ultra High Definition (UHD), High Dynamic Range (HDR), Next Generation Audio (NGA) technologies, and supply chain management through his work at the PBS Advanced Format Center and various industry initiatives. Jenkins is a steadfast advocate for ethical conduct, inclusivity, innovation, diversity, equity, acceptance, accessibility, and the elimination of discriminatory biases within the technology and media sectors. Additionally, he holds certifications as a sound engineer, AI/ML engineer, and application designer among others. Jenkins holds a deep passion for the visual arts and, when time permits, offers pro bono services in location sound recording, live mixing, studio recording, post-production, and finishing for
  aspiring filmmakers, animators, and musicians. His family’s guiding principle is “In all things, integrity, and integrity in all things.”

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
  

  Rachel Joy Victor

  FBRC.ai

  Rachel Joy Victor is the co-founder of FBRC.AI, a company focused on creating AI-supported tools for the future of content production–from films to games to location-based experiences. Rachel’s work as a designer, strategist, and worldbuilder for emerging technologies (XR/AI/web3) focuses on creating narrative, brand, and product experiences. She draws from her education in computational neuroscience and spatial economics to facilitate the creation of data-informed emergent experiences. Rachel’s clients have included Disney, HBO, Technicolor, Vans, Ford, Nike, Havas, Meow Wolf, Niantic, and many more. She is passionate about making technology accessible and has provided executive education for leading companies like Warner Brothers, NBCUniversal, Activision, UGG, and Red Bull–in addition to being a keynote speaker at leading industry events.

How emerging AI tools are transforming visual effects production, expanding creative boundaries, and empowering workflow possibilities.

• Barbara Ford Grant
  

  Barbara Ford Grant

  Barbara is a pioneering media and entertainment executive with over 25 years of experience bridging art and technology in storytelling. Currently working on AI innovations, she previously served as President of Prysm, NEP Virtual Studios, and CTO of Meow Wolf. Her career spans leadership roles at major studios including HBO, Digital Domain, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and DreamWorks Animation, where she developed breakthrough technologies for productions like Game of Thrones, Maleficent, and the Shrek franchise.

  Throughout her career, Barbara has focused on transforming visual storytelling through technological innovation while maintaining an artist’s perspective. Her expertise ranges from image science to digital human animation to mixed-reality platforms, to virtual production, consistently pushing the boundaries of creative expression in entertainment. Barbara is on the Advisory Board for Sohonet, a member of both the Television and Motion Picture Academies, having chaired the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee from 2018-2023, and has been a member of the VES Technology Committee since 2019.

• Daniel Kramer
  

  Daniel Kramer

  Daniel is a Visual Effects Supervisor at Sony Pictures Imageworks with over three decades of experience working on live-action and animated projects. He is passionate about the art and science of VFX and currently supervising an animated feature film at Imageworks for Netflix.

  Daniel began his career in the early ’90s at VisionArt as a lead artist, working on such projects as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Independence Day, and Godzilla. His keen eye and technical knowledge of VFX, and particularly procedural animation systems, brought him to Sony Imageworks where he moved into supervising roles on such projects as Surf’s Up, developing and overseeing the wave, water, and sand systems, and ultimately as Visual Effects Supervisor on projects including: Men in Black: International, Ghostbusters, and Edge of Tomorrow where he led a talented team to bring a militarized Heathrow, massive beach battles, the alien Mimic to life.

  In addition to VFX supervision Daniel served as Head of CG at Imageworks, ensuring visual quality and providing technical guidance across multiple feature films.

  Daniel is a member of the Motion Picture Academy and the Visual Effects Society, where he has been nominated for multiple awards. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in Political Science.

Discover how AI can streamline workflows and unlock new creative possibilities. Explore the power of custom AI models to create consistent characters, enhance animation rendering, achieve precise lip-syncing, and utilize AI 3D model generators. This session provides a  roadmap for studios and creators to efficiently leverage these tools, inspiring filmmakers and animators to adopt AI-driven solutions while maintaining their creative control and artistic vision.

• Lin Tam, Immix Studios
  

  Lin Tam

  Immix Studios

  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
  

  Chris Vienneau

  MovieLabs

  Chris Vienneau is a senior leader with over 30 years of experience in the entertainment industry. He has developed tools and services for renowned companies such as Disney, Electronic Arts, and Google. Throughout his career, he has managed market-leading tools like Maya, FBX, and Arnold. He has also been involved in groundbreaking projects such as Bifrost, ShaderX, and Arnold GPU, and he holds several authored patents. He has overseen partnerships with major companies including Apple, Adobe, and Nvidia. More recently he has been working with MovieLabs and their 2030 vision and runs his own data as a service company FX-DMZ.

• Christina Lee Storm, Playbook PLBK / ASHER XR
  

  Christina Lee Storm

  Playbook PLBK / ASHER XR

  Christina Lee Storm is an award-winning producer and senior entertainment executive recognized for her pioneering work at the intersection of storytelling and cutting-edge technologies spanning film, television, animation, documentaries, virtual reality, augmented reality, and XR.

  As Co-Founder of PLAYBOOK PLBK and Founder/CEO of ASHER XR, she leads her companies to strategically, creatively, and ethically integrate emerging technologies like real-time, virtual production, and AI into traditional, digital, and multi-platform storytelling.

  As former Director of Virtual Production UCAN at Netflix, Christina fostered innovation in content creation and creativity for the studio’s IP and franchises across Netflix’s series, films, live, unscripted, experiences, ads, and ancillary content. Christina was also responsible for strategically building and overseeing virtual production ecosystems, spaces, and stages around the world and collaborated with filmmakers and industry partners to drive growth and innovation adoption.

  While at DreamWorks Animation, Christina was Vice President of Business Operations, Strategy, & Emerging Technology, where she championed the future of real-time content creation and workflows.

  Beyond her work in emerging media, Christina is passionate about thought-provoking films having produced“ Solitary” starring David Oyelowo with BRON Studios, as well as documentaries “Life After Pi,” and “Jurassic Punk,” among many titles. Her collaborations span the globe, contributing to acclaimed productions like “The Artist” and “Life of Pi.”

  Christina serves as the Governor of the Television Academy’s Emerging Media Programming peer group, Co-Chair of the Academy’s Advocacy Committee, and an active member of the Academy’s AI Task Force. Additionally, she serves on the Producers Guild of America’s Production Innovation Task Force, the Los Angeles Mayor’s Entertainment Industry Council and Workforce Development Sub-Committee. Christina is an advisor for Runway’s 100 Film Fund and is also Co-Founder of Playbook AID, an ethical solution for everyone to protect, secure, and control their intellectual property in the age of online digital theft.

  Christina is globally recognized as a thought leader in the emerging media landscape and is recognized for her leadership and dedication to the industry. She was inducted into AWE’s inaugural XR Hall of Fame, received the Lumiere Distinguished Leadership Award in Technology, and she is a proud Founding Member of DreamWorks Animation’s TECHWomen.

• 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.

While most AI presentations focus on the services and creative features that AI tools provide to content owners and creators, very few focus on the critical solutions needed to ensure control, transparency, provenance, and ultimately business value stemming from the content that the AI models are being trained on.  This panel session will outline 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
  

  Dave Davis

  Protege

  Dave Davis is GM, Protege Media at Protege, where Dave leads Protege’s licensing activities with respect to audiovisual media for generative AI. Protege acquired Calliope Networks, where Dave was co-founder and CEO. Prior to Calliope Networks, Dave was an entertainment licensing executive at 20th Century Fox, NBCUniversal, Paramount and MPLC. Dave began his career as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs in New York, and as a corporate lawyer at Gunderson Dettmer in Silicon Valley. Dave holds a BA from Wesleyan University and a JD from the University of Michigan Law School. Dave is a member of the California bar and sits on the Copyright Society’s AI sub-committee.

• Jim Helman, MovieLabs
  

  Jim Helman

  MovieLabs

  Jim is CTO at MovieLabs, a technology joint venture of five major Hollywood studios. At MovieLabs, Jim leads technical work on the 2030 Vision for media creation in the cloud and has led industry initiatives including driving worldwide standards for high dynamic range video. Jim also led the design and implementation of the Entertainment Identifier Registry (EIDR), for which he was awarded an Engineering, Science and Technology Emmy.

  Prior to MovieLabs, Jim was chief software architect at Liberate Technologies, where he led the development of a web platform for delivering interactive cable services. Prior to Liberate, he worked at Silicon Graphics, developing real-time 3D systems for VR, location-based entertainment, and visual simulation. Jim holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Applied Physics from Stanford and a B.A. in Physics and Math from Washington University.

• Barbara Ford Grant
  

  Barbara Ford Grant

  Barbara is a pioneering media and entertainment executive with over 25 years of experience bridging art and technology in storytelling. Currently working on AI innovations, she previously served as President of Prysm, NEP Virtual Studios, and CTO of Meow Wolf. Her career spans leadership roles at major studios including HBO, Digital Domain, Sony Pictures Imageworks, and DreamWorks Animation, where she developed breakthrough technologies for productions like Game of Thrones, Maleficent, and the Shrek franchise.

  Throughout her career, Barbara has focused on transforming visual storytelling through technological innovation while maintaining an artist’s perspective. Her expertise ranges from image science to digital human animation to mixed-reality platforms, to virtual production, consistently pushing the boundaries of creative expression in entertainment. Barbara is on the Advisory Board for Sohonet, a member of both the Television and Motion Picture Academies, having chaired the Scientific and Technical Awards Committee from 2018-2023, and has been a member of the VES Technology Committee since 2019.

• Bill Baggelaar, UHD Alliance
  

  Bill Baggelaar

  UHD Alliance

  Bill Baggelaar is the President of the UHD Alliance, an industry organization focused on elevating the consumer experience for UHD viewing at home. Bil is the former Chief Technology Officer at Sony Pictures Entertainment. As a visionary senior executive, Bill sets technology strategy, leads research and development efforts, and leverages emerging technologies that shape the future of cloud-based production, post-production, and delivery of creative content for film and television.

  Bill brings his extensive experience in production, visual effects, and post-production along with his work collaborating with partners throughout the industry in developing and implementing key technologies. His work on IMF, 4K, HDR, and virtual production has been instrumental in driving the entertainment industry forward.

  Bill is a highly respected, active leader in multiple industry organizations and initiatives. He is the co-chair of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Science & Technology Council and is the co-chair of the Academy’s ACES Project. He also serves as the co-chair on the Television Academy’s Generative AI Summit. Bill is a member of SMPTE and active with the Advanced Imaging Society. In his efforts to provide a vision for the future of the entertinment industry, Bill was a co-author on the MovieLabs 2030 Vision whitepaper; “The Future of Media Creation”.

• Michael Frey, Universal Music Group
  

  Michael Frey

  Universal Music Group

  Michael Frey is President of Operations, Global Studios and Technology at Universal Music Group, Inc.,

  In addition to overseeing Global Digital, Physical and Metadata Operations, Michael leads many of the Group’s business transformation initiatives which includes leveraging our iconic studio footprint to form a global network of creative collaboration spaces where our recording artists, producers, songwriters and support talent can expand and evolve their creative potential across all forms of content.

  With the company’s Audio Leadership Team, Michael works closely with the artist community, strategic partners and device manufacturers such as Dolby and Mercedes Benz to maximize the quality of audio and video content available for fans and consumers. Michael is also instrumental in expanding the company’s solutions to independent artists and labels around the world to help them build successful careers in entertainment.

  Michael’s technology teams are diligently collaborating with progressive external companies Infinite Reality and Synapse to expand UMG’s capabilities in areas spanning machine learning, A.I., curating metadata, personalization and metaverse solutions that aid consumers in discovering and experiencing new music as well as our catalog containing a rich heritage of songs created over the past 100+ years.

  Prior to UMG, Michael served as the President of Sony DADC New Media Solutions at Sony Corporation of America. In that role, he was responsible for the development, implementation and execution of digital marketing, immersive consumer experiences and digital supply chain solutions for customers across media and entertainment. Throughout his 10 years at Sony, Mr. Frey worked across Sony’s Entertainment, Electronics and R&D groups driving strategic cross division programs across Sony’s landscape of companies and technologies.

  Mr. Frey’s previous operational leadership positions include serving as Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Operations for Technicolor, where he spearheaded operations for its Home Entertainment Services Division.  He was also Senior Vice President, Customer Fulfillment Operations and iMusic for EMI Music.  In that position, he oversaw EMI Music’s manufacturing and distribution operations. In addition, he led initiatives to build the company’s time-sensitive digital infrastructure, restructured commercial trading terms, created strategic account teams to service top customers and developed a commercial service organization to support sales. Michael began his career in consulting at Accenture, where he helped build the company’s Supply Chain Management Practice in Entertainement, Electronics and High Technology and he lead numerous supply chain strategy and operations turnaround engagements for a diverse range of clients.

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
  

  David Slade

  David Slade is an English film director based in Los Angeles. Born in 1969 at the Northern General Hospital in Sheffield, he initially pursued a career in journalism, focusing on music and subculture.

  He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art and Film, a Master’s degree in Creative Arts, and an honorary Doctorate in Film Studies.

  David’s feature films include Hard Candy, 30 Days of Night, and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse.

  His television work includes directing pilots for Hannibal and American Gods, as well as episodes of Breaking Bad, Black Mirror: Metalhead, Bandersnatch, and an upcoming episode in the new season.

  In addition to his film and television work, David has directed numerous music videos and commercials for major brands and artists, including Muse, Armani, UNICEF, Aphex Twin, Stone Temple Pilots, System of a Down, and Meta, among many others.

• Dave Clark, Promise
  

  Dave Clark

  Promise

  Dave Clark is an award-winning filmmaker at the forefront of integrating Generative AI into film, TV, and advertising. He is currently the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Promise. Recognized as a leading voice for his ability to seamlessly blend nuanced storytelling with cutting-edge technology, he has become one of the most sought-after artists, with top filmmakers and storytellers worldwide turning to him for guidance on this transformative technology. Clark recently amassed millions of views for his groundbreaking AI directing work, including his short film “Battalion,” which focused on the only Black unit to arrive on Omaha Beach in Normandy during World War 2. It quickly captured the attention of Hollywood, with many top directors reaching out to learn more about the technology behind it. Dave also garnered widespread acclaim when he released the world’s first hybrid narrative genre short, “Another,” combining live-action and GenAI. It was screened during his keynote presentation at Cannes Next in 2024. Over his career, Dave has also been a successful brand marketer and commercial director – creating films, immersive engagements, and brand spots for companies like Coca-Cola, Snapchat, Hewlett Packard, Warner Bros., and Intel. Dave has spoken about the future of filmmaking at prestigious events around the globe (including Sundance, the Berlinale, MIT, Indiewire, Picture This Conference, and the Cannes Film Festival). He resides in Southern California with his wife and children.

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
  

  Walter Woodman

  Shy Kids

  shy kids began as a collaboration between three friends and has blossomed into a small but versatile production company specializing in writing, directing, animation, editing, and sound. They describe their style as “Punk Rock Pixar,” with work noted for it’s unique ability to bring humanity out of tech obsessed world. Recently their film “air head” was one of the first selected to use OpenAI’s revolutionary model Sora.

• Hanno Basse, Stability AI
  

  Hanno Basse

  Stability AI

   Hanno Basse is the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Stability AI, a leading generative AI company developing cutting-edge models and applications across image, video, 3D, and audio. With over 30 years of experience, Hanno has driven technological innovation across media, entertainment, and technology industries.

  Prior to joining Stability AI, Hanno served as CTO at Digital Domain, where he led technical infrastructure, research and development, and machine-learning initiatives. Before that, he served as CTO of Microsoft Azure Media and Entertainment, where he led the deployment of cloud, edge, and AI technologies. He previously held the role of CTO at 20th Century Fox Film Corp., driving advancements in production and distribution systems.

  Hanno is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and holds 30 patents, underscoring his contributions to innovation in the industry. 

Join Karyn Temple for an overview of the current landscape of AI policies and their implications for intellectual property (IP) protections in the media and entertainment industry. We will explore critical questions, including:

• What specific IP issues are being addressed in the United States, and how do these efforts compare to international approaches?
• What emerging standards and best practices should content creators be aware of as they navigate this evolving legal landscape?

Karyn will provide valuable insights into key considerations that creators must keep in mind during this pivotal interim period, as new laws and regulations are being crafted to safeguard their intellectual property rights. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed and prepared for the future of AI and IP!

• Karyn Temple, Motion Picture Association
  

  Karyn Temple

  Motion Picture Association

  Karyn A. Temple is Senior Executive Vice President and Global General Counsel for the Motion Picture Association. One of the world’s leading authorities on copyright, Ms. Temple oversees all of the Association’s legal affairs and content protection efforts around the world.

  Prior to joining the Motion Picture Association, Ms. Temple served more than eight years in the U.S. Copyright Office, most recently as the Register of Copyrights, where she led the 400-person agency and its eight divisions representing law, policy, international affairs, financial operations, registration practice, public records, and outreach and education. In this role, she testified multiple times before both the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate and oversaw the Office’s policy and legal activities among others.

  Prior to leading the U.S. Copyright Office, Ms. Temple headed its Office of Policy and International Affairs, which includes a staff of attorneys focusing on domestic and international copyright law matters. Ms. Temple served on both U.S. delegations for the most recently adopted WIPO treaties (the Beijing Treaty on Audiovisual Performances and the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Public Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired or Otherwise Print Disabled). Ms. Temple also served in policy and litigation roles at the U.S. Department of Justice, most recently serving in the Obama Administration as Senior Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General of the United States.

  Ms. Temple also has extensive private-sector experience. She previously served as Vice President, Litigation and Legal Affairs for the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) where she managed a wide variety of anti-piracy litigation matters on behalf of RIAA member companies. She also spent several years as a litigation associate at the prominent D.C.-based law firm Williams and Connolly LLP. Immediately after law school, Ms. Temple served as a law clerk for The Honorable Nathaniel R. Jones, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

  Ms. Temple has served in several prominent volunteer positions in the copyright community, including as an elected Trustee for the Copyright Society of the USA, co-chair of the International Chapter of the Copyright Society of the USA, steering committee member of the D.C. Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Law Section, and Chair of the Copyright Committee of the D.C. Bar’s IP Law Section.

  Ms. Temple received her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, Senior Editor of the Columbia Law Review, and Chairperson of the Columbia Black Law Students’ Association. She received her B.A. in English from the University of Michigan.

• Ben Relles, Content Strategy, Office of Reid Hoffman

• Richard Crudo
  

  Richard Crudo

  Richard Crudo, ASC’s lengthy resume includes many notable feature films. Among them are Federal Hill, American Buffalo, American Pie, Down to Earth, Outside Providence, Grind, Out Cold and Brooklyn Rules. On the television side, he has photographed numerous episodes of FX Network’s Justified, the CW’s Jane the Virgin, MTV’s Awkward and CBS’s SWAT. He has also contributed to such series as Good Girls Revolt and Doubt (Amazon), Greenleaf (OWN), Sweet Vicious (MTV) and NCIS, Tommy and Why Women Kill (CBS).

  In Spring 2022, Mr. Crudo shot the pilot episode of Federal Hill: The Beginning. Executive Produced by Terence Winter (creator of Boardwalk Empire, writer/producer of The Sopranos & The Wolf of Wall Street), it saw him reunited with longtime collaborator, writer/director Michael Corrente. Immediately following, he shot the pilot episode of Executive Producer David E. Kelley’s ABC series, Avalon.

  Mr. Crudo is a six-term Past President of the American Society of Cinematographers and served for three years as a Governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He is a frequent lecturer at universities and a regular contributor to American Cinematographer magazine and other industry publications.

  He is also a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and in 2007 was made a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society.

• 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.

• Vladimir Koylazov, Chaos

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

• Rachel Joy Victor, FBRC.ai
  

  Rachel Joy Victor

  FBRC.ai

  Rachel Joy Victor is the co-founder of FBRC.AI, a company focused on creating AI-supported tools for the future of content production–from films to games to location-based experiences. Rachel’s work as a designer, strategist, and worldbuilder for emerging technologies (XR/AI/web3) focuses on creating narrative, brand, and product experiences. She draws from her education in computational neuroscience and spatial economics to facilitate the creation of data-informed emergent experiences. Rachel’s clients have included Disney, HBO, Technicolor, Vans, Ford, Nike, Havas, Meow Wolf, Niantic, and many more. She is passionate about making technology accessible and has provided executive education for leading companies like Warner Brothers, NBCUniversal, Activision, UGG, and Red Bull–in addition to being a keynote speaker at leading industry events.

Sponsored by ComputaCenter and Lenovo

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 studio security assessments, Chris Johnson 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, Dan Germain
22. Importance of 3D laser scanning for productions, Jamie Featherston, Leica Geosystems
23. Harmonizing Virtual Production and Visual Effects, Mathieu Mazerolle, Foundry
24. Instant, non-proprietary access to your media archives, 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
30. Balancing Artistry and AI, Ben Abergel, HPA YEP, and Matthew Klein, Light Iron

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

Ten years ago, both the UHD Alliance and the Ultra HD Forum launched as industry groups to help with the launch of UHD services. Both organizations were instrumental in defining what Ultra HD actually means – both from a consumer experience and a service deployment perspective. While there has been a lot of progress over the past decade from production to distribution; with many contents and services available in various UHD formats – some opportunities for improvements remain. This panel will take an honest look at the status quo and discuss the successes, but also remaining challenges for the industry to tackle.

• Moderator: Carolyn Giardina, Variety/Variety VIP+
  

  Carolyn Giardina

  Variety/Variety VIP+

  Carolyn Giardina is senior entertainment technology and crafts editor at Variety Intelligence Platform (VIP+), a division of Variety that operates a digital subscription offering analyzing the media and technology industries; and entertainment news leader Variety.

  She took on that role in February 2024, following more than a decade at The Hollywood Reporter, where as tech editor she covered everything from artificial intelligence to the Academy Awards. She also has worked in the U.S. and aboard, as an editor, reporter or columnist, on titles including Cinema Editor, SHOOT, The IBC Daily and SMPTE Motion Imaging Journal.

  No stranger to the community, Carolyn served multiple terms on the HPA Board of Directors, during which time she co-founded and was founding chair of the HPA Awards; and more recently helped plan and moderate a series of remote panels as part of the HPA Industry Recovery Task Force amid the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak.

  For her industry contributions, Carolyn has been honored with American Cinema Editors’ Robert Wise Award for journalistic illumination of the art of film editing, the International Cinematographers Guild’s Technicolor William A. Fraker Award for journalistic contributions to cinematography, and the Advanced Imaging Society’s Distinguished Leadership Lumiere Award.

  With a commitment to education, she also co-authored Exploring 3D: The New Grammar of Stereoscopic Filmmaking (Focal Press, 2013) and is a lecturer at Chapman University’s Dodge College of Film & Media Arts.

• Bill Baggelaar, UHD Alliance
  

  Bill Baggelaar

  UHD Alliance

  Bill Baggelaar is the President of the UHD Alliance, an industry organization focused on elevating the consumer experience for UHD viewing at home. Bil is the former Chief Technology Officer at Sony Pictures Entertainment. As a visionary senior executive, Bill sets technology strategy, leads research and development efforts, and leverages emerging technologies that shape the future of cloud-based production, post-production, and delivery of creative content for film and television.

  Bill brings his extensive experience in production, visual effects, and post-production along with his work collaborating with partners throughout the industry in developing and implementing key technologies. His work on IMF, 4K, HDR, and virtual production has been instrumental in driving the entertainment industry forward.

  Bill is a highly respected, active leader in multiple industry organizations and initiatives. He is the co-chair of The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, Science & Technology Council and is the co-chair of the Academy’s ACES Project. He also serves as the co-chair on the Television Academy’s Generative AI Summit. Bill is a member of SMPTE and active with the Advanced Imaging Society. In his efforts to provide a vision for the future of the entertinment industry, Bill was a co-author on the MovieLabs 2030 Vision whitepaper; “The Future of Media Creation”.

• Juan Reyes, UHD Alliance
• Michael Zink, LG Electronics & Ultra HD Forum

• Joshua Pines, Picture Shop
  

  Joshua Pines

  Picture Shop

  Joshua is currently in charge of imaging and color science projects at picture shop, which provides the motion picture industry with digital color correction processes for both theatrically released films and broadcast/streaming episodics.

  He joined Technicolor after more than 10 years at Industrial Light & Magic, where he supervised their film scanning/recording department from its inception, and worked extensively with both traditional and digital cinema technologies. he started his career teaching film courses at the cooper union in New York city after earning his degree in electrical engineering there. He began working in visual effects at MAGI in 1982 at the tail end of their work on “Tron”, went on to lead the computer graphics division at R/Greenberg Associates in New York city, and then supervised film effects and film recording at Degraf/Wahrman in Los Angeles before working for ILM. He has received two technical achievement awards from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the Herbert Kalmus award from SMPTE, has had his gender identity confirmed when SMPTE named him a fellow, and has credits on several zillion feature films.

  Joshua has always thought that computers could be a useful tool in making movies better, and he still hopes that one day this may come true.

• Rich Welsh, Deluxe
  

  Rich Welsh

  Deluxe

  Rich Welsh is Senior Vice President of Innovation at Deluxe, where he works to bring next generation technologies and workflows to mastering, distribution and localization services for studios, OTT platforms and content creators worldwide. Rich has over two decades experience in movie and television post production, mastering and delivery.

  Rich is also President of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE). SMPTE is a global community engaged in standards development for the media technology industries for over 100 years, with a mission to inspire technological advancement in art, science, and media everywhere for everyone. In his role as President at SMPTE Rich aims to bring innovative strategic leadership, encourage growth of a diverse membership and deliver on SMPTE’s vision of Unlimited creativity, experiences for everyone.

  In 2024 Rich co-founded and Chairs the Board of Volustor, a SaaS platform providing workflow, asset management and visualisation for 3D scanning, spatial data and digital replicas in media, gaming, metaverse and industrial applications.

  Prior to his role at Deluxe, Rich was founder and CEO at Sundog Media Toolkit which pioneered cloud based automated mastering for movies and TV for Hollywood studios. Sundog was acquired by Deluxe in 2020. Before Sundog, Rich worked as Head of European Theatrical Operations at Technicolor, and Director of Digital Cinema at Dolby Laboratories.

  In his vast amounts of spare time, Rich is also a keen enduro mountain biker, snowboarder, surfer and DJ.

  Rich holds a Doctor of Technology (HC) and BSc(hons) Media Technology from Southampton Solent University, and is a Fellow of SMPTE.

• Moderator Ethan Jacks, MediaBridge Capital Advisors
  

  Ethan Jacks

  MediaBridge Capital Advisors

  Ethan co-founded MediaBridge Capital Advisors in 2012 with partner John Bowen. MediaBridge is a leading boutique investment bank, focused on mergers and acquisitions and capital raises in the media technology sector. Ethan began his career in digital media in 1999 at Avid Technology, serving as EVP of Corporate Development, Chief Legal Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer. Ethan helped drive Avid’s strategy to grow both organically and through strategic M&A, leading a total of 15 acquisitions of private and publicly held companies that fueled Avid’s growth across its film, video, and audio sectors. In that period, Avid’s market value grew from $400 million to $2.5 billion. Previously Ethan co-founded an environmental technology company using MIT developed technology for recycling hazardous and toxic waste, which raised over $500m in growth capital. Ethan practiced corporate law for 10 years, including as a partner at McDermott, Will & Emery. Ethan holds a B.S. and MBA from MIT’s Sloan School of Management, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Ethan has lectured on entrepreneurship at MIT and spoken on M&A at many industry events.

• Pinar Seyhan Demirdag, Cuebric
  

  Pinar Seyhan Demirdag

  Cuebric

  Pinar Seyhan Demirdag is a globally recognized AI expert, creative technologist, and industry pioneer, shaping the future of AI-driven creativity. As LinkedIn Learning’s first Generative AI expert and instructor, her courses—translated into six languages—have garnered over two million views and 100,000+ five-star reviews.

  Co-founder of Cuebric, born from Seyhan Lee, the world’s first Creative AI production company, Pinar has reimagined storytelling and the creation of 3D worlds with AI tools, simplifying the process of bringing ideas from concept to screen in real time. She also produced the world’s first generative AI VFX for a feature film and earned the prestigious D&AD Award for the first generative AI commercial.

  A sought-after thought leader, Pinar has appeared on CBS’s 60 Minutes and global stages such as Bloomberg Screen Time, SXSW, TEDx, Siggraph, and Harvard University. Previously, she founded a successful creative technology studio in Europe, developed an eponymous IKEA collection, and partnered with Google Brain to create a tool democratizing AI art. Pinar continues to shape the global narrative on the conscious and ethical use of AI and how humans remain relevant in the age of AI.

• Josh Kline, Scripto
  

  Josh Kline

  Scripto

  Josh Kline is an Emmy-winning technologist and entrepreneur known for pioneering innovations in media and entertainment. He co-founded Sample Digital, where he developed and patented Digital Dailies, a groundbreaking streaming solution for film and TV production, earning a Primetime Emmy Engineering Award in 2013. Josh has held executive roles at Box, Final Draft, and Deluxe, leading cloud-based solutions for content creation and management. In 2024, he assumed the role of CEO at Scripto, a SaaS platform for collaborative scriptwriting and IP management. He also founded HaveNeed, a barter marketplace promoting circular economies, and HOOZIN, a group event management app. As a strategic consultant, he has advised top companies, including Microsoft and Avid. Josh is a USC alumnus.

• Seth Hallen, Hallstone Ventures
  

  Seth Hallen

  Hallstone Ventures

  With over 25 years of experience in media and entertainment technology, Seth is a visionary leader in AI, passionate about storytelling and its intersection with technology. He supports AI-driven MediaTech startups by helping them secure funding, refine their product strategies, gain visibility, and build vital industry connections.

  Seth is a strong advocate for AI’s potential to enhance human creativity, believing it can serve as a powerful assistant in the creative process. Throughout his career, he has built strong relationships with decision-makers and led teams to success in North America and Europe, driving revenue growth and setting new industry standards.

  As a member of the TV Academy’s AI Task Force and having served as president of the Hollywood Professional Association for nine years, Seth is actively involved in shaping the future of the media and entertainment sector. His mission is to empower creators with innovative tools, inspire change, and help the industry thrive by anticipating the next big shift in technology and creativity.

Join Women in Post for an inspiring lunch panel focused on resilience and remaining relevant in the ever-evolving media and entertainment industry.

Panelists Graef Allen (Dolby Laboratories), Paula Fairfield, Karol Urban, and Laura Teodosio (Adobe) will share personal stories about overcoming challenges in a traditionally male-dominated space. Moderated by Margaret Craig (Signiant), this conversation will explore how resilience, passion, and self-confidence have fueled their careers and empowered them to grow their skills and strengths.

Come for lunch and leave with insights and encouragement to help you navigate your own journey.

• Moderator Margaret Craig, CEO, Signiant
  

  Margaret Craig

  CEO, Signiant

  Margaret Craig is an experienced business leader in the media technology space.  She currently serves as CEO of Signiant, a venture-backed enterprise software company that provides advanced technology for transferring large data sets over public and private IP networks.  Under her leadership, Signiant developed an innovative SaaS platform that drove rapid top-line growth, established the company as the market leader, and enabled a business model transition from licensed software to SaaS.

  Prior to assuming the CEO role at Signiant in late 2011, Margaret served as COO of Ascent Media Network Services, a provider of managed services for content distribution. There she led the technology transition to file-based delivery platforms and oversaw contract negotiations with some of the world’s largest content owners. Prior to Ascent Media, Margaret was the CEO of publicly-traded Leitch Technology, a global provider of technical infrastructure for television production and transmission; and served as President of Snell & Wilcox, a supplier of video image processing software and hardware.

  Ms. Craig holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University.  She began her career as a design engineer at Tektronix, where she contributed to the development of television test equipment and RF products.

• Graef Allen, Dolby Laboratories
  

  Graef Allen

  Dolby Laboratories

  Graef has worked for Dolby Laboratories since 2004. She joined the company to work as a 35mm film projectionist at Dolby’s Burbank screening room. Over the past 21 years, her responsibilities have included film and digital projection, Dolby Digital audio encoding, DCP mastering, visual QC, and managing the technical operations team that mastered and encoded some of the first Dolby Vision titles. In recent years, her focus has been on SDR-to-Dolby Vision conversions. Graef has a BA in biochemistry from the University of Oxford. When she’s not working, Graef enjoys going to the movies, traveling, watching Jeopardy!, and beading (a hobby she picked up during the pandemic).

• Paula Fairfield
  

  Paula Fairfield

  Paula Fairfield is an International and Emmy award winning sound designer for tv, film, commercials, and basically anything that makes noise. She has 14 Emmy nominations for her work on Lost, The River, Game of Thrones, Lovecraft Country, Rings of Power and House of the Dragon, and 3 Body Problem, with three wins, two for Game of Thrones, and one for Lovecraft Country. She won a BAFTA for her work on House ofthe Dragon, six Golden Reel Awards, and has received multiple other wins and nominations for her work in both The US and Canada. Her passion is high concept sound design and her main interest is working withvisionary creatives, which is clearly reflected in her resume and her background as an artist.

  Paula grew up in Nova Scotia,Canada and has a BFA and an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from NSCAD University in Halifax, N.S, Canada. During her career as an exhibiting artist, she was the co-director ofCanada’s foremost media art center, Charles Street Video. Her art work resides in several collections worldwide, including the National Gallery of Canada. She sits on the Advisory Board of Northwestern University, the Executive Sound Peer Committee of the Television Academy, the advisory committee forAVID, and is a member of the Film Academy and the MPSE.

  Recent projects include “3 Body Problem”, “House of the Dragon”, “Rings of Power”, “Agatha All Along”, and“Mufassa The Lion King Prequel”. She will also release her first immersive concept album in 2025, a music, sound design and spoken word called “A Tiny Trip of Grief”.

• Karol Urban
  

  Karol Urban

  Karol Urban, CAS, MPSE, NATAS, has provided essential support to directors and producers as a re-recording mixer and sound designer since 1999. Initially concentrating on documentaries in Washington, D.C., she relocated to Los Angeles, where she now mixes both episodic and feature content. She characterizes her role as “playing mind games with sound,” reflecting her innovative approach to sound design.

  Karol is an active and dedicated advocate of her professional community. She has served on the Television Academy’s Governor’s Peer Group for Sound Mixing and organized for LA Sound Group. In addition, she has participated as a blue-ribbon panel judge for the Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards and has mentored through America Rise. Most recently, she has joined the board for MPEG 700. Furthermore, Karol has acted as the content editor for the CAS Quarterly and has been a board member of the Cinema Audio Society for over a decade, culminating in her tenure as President from 2019 to 2023. She is committed to educational outreach and moderates and participates in panels and mentoring initiatives for prominent events such as Mix’s Sound for Film Event, EIPMA, MPSE, Soundgirls, WAM, UCLA, and The Academy Gold Program.

  Her recent credits include distinguished works such as “Tiny Beautiful Things”, “National Treasure: Edge of History”, “Loki”, “Echo”, and “Say Nothing”.

• Laura Teodosio, Adobe

Speakers will define the concept of “integrated production,” using examples from the 2023 Italian feature film ‘Comandante’ to describe a creatively lossless VFX production paradigm. Topics to be covered: How to create value for physical production through integration with VFX. What needs to happen in prep and in-camera and how to create interdepartmental buy-in. How the effective use of USD and metadata from concept to delivery can result in a workflow without waste or redundancy. How this approach can result in an efficient and agile process that benefits the entire production.

• David Stump, ASC
  

  David Stump

  ASC

  David Stump ASC has been working in motion pictures and television production as Director of Photography, as Visual Effects Director of Photography, as Visual Effects Supervisor, and as Stereographer, (including both live action work and 2D to 3D conversion work), earning an Emmy Award, an Academy Award for Scientific and Technical Achievement, an IMAGO Technical Achievement Award and an International Cinematographers Guild Award. His credits include projects like Little Fires Everywhere, The Morning Show, Skyfire, The Happytime Murders, American Gods, The Unwilling, Immortals, Quantum of Solace, Flight Plan, Fantastic Four, X-Men 1 & 2, Into the Blue, Garfield, Batman Forever, Hollow Man, Men of Honor, Deep Blue Sea, Stuart Little, The Sphere, Contact, Batman & Robin, Mars Attacks, Executive Decision, Stargate, and Free Willy, among many, many others. He is currently chairman of the Camera Committee and the Metadata Committee of the ASC Motion Imaging Technology Council. Under his guidance, the combined efforts of the Producer’s Guild of America and the American Society of Cinematographers produced both the ASC / PGA Camera Assessment Series, and the ASC / PGA Image Control Assessment Series, side by side comparisons of virtually all of the high end digital cinema cameras against film. He has lectured and taught classes in Cinematography and Visual Effects at the American Film Institute, UCLA, Art Center College of Design, Woodbury University, Arizona State University, Global Cinematography Institute, IATSE Local 600, TV Globo Rio De Janeiro Brasil, Savannah College of Art and Design, The Beijing Film Academy and most recently the ARRI Academy in Beijing. He has spoken at many conferences and trade shows including the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), the International Broadcast Convention (IBC), Cinegear Expo, DV Expo, the PGA Produced By Conference, the Hollywood Post Alliance Retreat, the Cinegrid Conference, the IMAGO Conference, the Lisbon Film Festival, the Todos En Alta Conference in Zaragoza Spain, and many others. David authored the book “Digital Cinematography – Fundamentals, Techniques and Workflows”, and is a contributing author to the “VES Handbook”. http://www.amazon.com/Digital-Cinematography-Fundamentals-Techniques-Workflows/dp/0240817915 http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_12?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=ves+handbook+of+visual+effects&sprefix=VES+handbook%2Cstripbooks%2C324

• Kevin Haug, KTH_VFX
  

  Kevin Haug

  KTH_VFX

  Kevin Tod Haug has surfed the paradigm shifts from optical to digital, from motion control to CGI, and from small screen to large and back again. And now in Near Real Time – for Edoardo De Angelis’ COMANDANTE.

  His credits include:
  -Three films for David Fincher: THE GAME, FIGHT CLUB and PANIC ROOM
  -Tarsem’s visually dazzling THE CELL; and Zach Helm’s remarkable MR. MAGORIUM’S WONDER EMPORIUM
  -Six projects with Marc Forster including FINDING NEVERLAND, STAY, STRANGER THAN FICTION, KITE RUNNER and QUANTUM OF SOLACE (BAFTA nomination)
  -Frequent collaborations with David Slade including ECLIPSE and BARKSKINS. and an Emmy nomination for AMERICAN GODS – under the Aegis of Neil Gaiman, Bryan Fuller and Michael Green.

  Haug is a member of the ASC Tech Council, AMPAS, BAFTA, ATAS, the DGA and the CIA (California Institute of the Arts).

• 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 T. Jenkins is the President and CEO of I2A2 Technologies, Studios, and Labs. A software development and consulting firm specializing in the creation of ethically responsible tools, solutions, and experiences for the M&E, Marketing & Research, Education, and Healthcare industries, utilizing both emerging and traditional technologies. Jenkins is an experienced executive in the Technology, Film, Television, and Radio industries. Jenkins also currently serves as Vice President of the Hollywood Professionals Association, Immediate Past President of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and sits on the board of Exceptional Minds. He is
  also an active member of the Television Academy and The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. He has held Executive roles across the Technology, Media, and Entertainment industry.

  Prior to rejoining WarnerMedia and Warner Bros., Jenkins served as Vice President, Operations, Engineering, and Distribution at PBS, where he designed and led the strategic direction, technology development, engineering, and operational management of PBS’s entire media-supply chain. He has also worked for TV One, Discovery, ESPN, NBA Ent., MLB, NFL, and Turner Broadcasting.

  Jenkins is a recipient of numerous awards, including two national Emmys, a Peabody, two Headliners, and a 2020 Broadcasting and Cable Technology Leadership award. In 2017, Jenkins was recognized as an Innovator of the Year award recipient for his groundbreaking contributions to the fields of Ultra High Definition (UHD), High Dynamic Range (HDR), Next Generation Audio (NGA) technologies, and supply chain management through his work at the PBS Advanced Format Center and various industry initiatives. Jenkins is a steadfast advocate for ethical conduct, inclusivity, innovation, diversity, equity, acceptance, accessibility, and the elimination of discriminatory biases within the technology and media sectors. Additionally, he holds certifications as a sound engineer, AI/ML engineer, and application designer among others. Jenkins holds a deep passion for the visual arts and, when time permits, offers pro bono services in location sound recording, live mixing, studio recording, post-production, and finishing for
  aspiring filmmakers, animators, and musicians. His family’s guiding principle is “In all things, integrity, and integrity in all things.”

• Paulo Rabello, Globo
  

  Paulo Rabello

  Globo

  Paulo Rabello is an electronic and computer engineer with 30 years of hands-on experience in the broadcast and entertainment industry.

  He is a member of the Engineering Society of TV in Brazil, holds an MBA in project management and is certified as a Project Management Professional by the Project Management Institute.

  Paulo began his career at Globo in 1995 and he has served as Head of Projects & Maintenance Technology and Director of Entertainment Technology Operations, where he led projects for telenovelas and series in 4K and 4K HDR.

  Currently, he is the Head of Technology for Media Supply Chain at Globo, overseeing Drama, Shows, Sports, and News.

• Barbara Lange, Kibo121
  

  Barbara Lange

  Kibo121

  Barbara Lange is an entrepreneur and accomplished executive business leader. Her career includes serving as executive leader for prominent global not-for-profit professional associations. Barbara is renowned for her leadership skills, effectively collaborating with Boards to optimize organizational performance and ensure enduring success.
  In 2022, she founded Kibo121, a consultancy committed to guiding industry towards sustainable solutions, encompassing environmental, social, and
  governance (ESG) considerations.

  In 2023, together with Dovetail Creative, Kibo121 co-founded the Media Tech Sustainability Series (MTSS), a non-commercial program to aid the media tech industry on sustainability issues through webinars, training, and industry events.

  Barbara’s achievements include executive leadership role at SMPTE and the HPA, with previous roles in business development and product management at the IEEE. Presently, she serves on the board and chairs a working group of the Greening of Streaming industry initiative and is sits on sustainability committees for ATSC and SMPTE. She is a member of the International Society of Sustainability Professionals (ISSP), SMPTE, and the HPA.

• Ryan Khurana, MLSE
  

  Ryan Khurana

  MLSE

  Ryan Khurana currently leads Machine Learning initiatives at Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, where he pioneered their Video Alchemy project – a groundbreaking approach to video search and editing using multimodal embeddings. This innovation has unlocked over 30 years of archive footage for video producers, revolutionizing content creation workflows.

  Prior to MLSE, Ryan served as Chief of Staff at WOMBO Studios, one of the first consumer Generative AI startups, releasing text-to-image and image-to-video apps that garnered hundreds millions of users. His work spans the intersection of AI and entertainment, with particular expertise in generative AI, video processing, and large language models.

  Ryan holds a Master of Management Analytics from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and has published extensively on AI adoption and strategy.

• 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.

As media industries worldwide adapt to regulatory requirements, such as the 2025 European Accessibility Act (EAA), Canada’s AODA, and the ADA in the U.S., there is a need for innovative solutions that can support the demands of accessibility standards. This presentation will explore the impact of Generative AI (GenAI) technologies on media accessibility, examining how these advancements are reshaping compliance and content delivery.

We will discuss the role of GenAI for accessibility features including closed captioning, audio descriptions, and multilingual support, which are essential for meeting international accessibility laws. Special attention will be given to how these technologies improve the efficiency and accuracy of accessibility services while preserving the original intent and emotional depth of the media content.

The session will include a practical overview and case studies, illustrating how organizations have implemented GenAI to navigate the complex landscape of global accessibility standards. Attendees will learn how GenAI can strategically address both current and future regulatory challenges, how to integrate AI technologies into existing production workflows and showing the balance between automation and human oversight to ensure compliance and enhance viewer engagement.

• Carin Forman, AWS
  

  Carin Forman

  AWS

  Carin is the Global Partner Lead, supporting Media & Entertainment partners in the Media Supply Chain and Archive segment at AWS. Carin brings over 25 years of experience in Broadcast and Studio operations, focused on media supply chain and distribution. Carin started her career working at Discovery Channel, writing the first business plan to archive, index and digitize Discovery Communications growing library of content, building archive, media management and content distribution workflows. Carin launched Discovery’s Digital Media Center, an asset management system, designed to digitize, and make content globally discoverable, eliminating tape. After 16 years, Carin moved to NY working for HBO, where she managed and built the end-to-end workflows for HBO’s Photography, Graphics and Promo Videos. Carin implemented cloud collaboration solutions to handle rights, ingest, review, approval and distribution to Social, OTT and onto HBO Max. Carin joined AWS in 2021 as part of the AWS Partner team. Carin’s focus is on strategic enablement and partner development, providing expertise for partners supporting Archive Migrations, Monetization, Media Management, Rights and Metadata Management, Content Orchestration, Media Processing and Localization. In her free time, Carin enjoys skiing, kayaking and travel.

• Oz Krakowski, Deepdub
  

  Oz Krakowski

  Deepdub

  Oz Krakowski is leading Deepdub’s business development and strategic sales and has overseen the localization of hundreds of hours of scripted and unscripted content into multiple languages using Deepdub’s groundbreaking AI-powered localization platform. From dubbing theatricals, award-winning indie films, the first ever dubbed scripted drama on Hulu (“Vanda”) to unscripted content like reality show “Hardcore Pawn” and docu-crime “Forensic Files”, Oz has been fostering collaborations and partnerships with studios and content owners around the globe. He is also an active member of the DEG Committees and a judge in the prestigious DEG EnTech Awards. Deepdub is the only AI dubbing company that is TPN Gold Shield and GDPR certified. The company has launched the Deepdub GO platform, enabling content owners and dubbing studios access to the most advanced AI dubbing platform and tools to maintain full control over the process. Oz is a serial entrepreneur and before joining Deepdub was co-founder of a startup in the healthcare market. He lives in Dallas Texas for the past 17 years where he completed his Executive MBA program at Southern Methodist University.

• 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: Carin Forman, AWS
  

  Carin Forman

  AWS

  Carin is the Global Partner Lead, supporting Media & Entertainment partners in the Media Supply Chain and Archive segment at AWS. Carin brings over 25 years of experience in Broadcast and Studio operations, focused on media supply chain and distribution. Carin started her career working at Discovery Channel, writing the first business plan to archive, index and digitize Discovery Communications growing library of content, building archive, media management and content distribution workflows. Carin launched Discovery’s Digital Media Center, an asset management system, designed to digitize, and make content globally discoverable, eliminating tape. After 16 years, Carin moved to NY working for HBO, where she managed and built the end-to-end workflows for HBO’s Photography, Graphics and Promo Videos. Carin implemented cloud collaboration solutions to handle rights, ingest, review, approval and distribution to Social, OTT and onto HBO Max. Carin joined AWS in 2021 as part of the AWS Partner team. Carin’s focus is on strategic enablement and partner development, providing expertise for partners supporting Archive Migrations, Monetization, Media Management, Rights and Metadata Management, Content Orchestration, Media Processing and Localization. In her free time, Carin enjoys skiing, kayaking and travel.

• Heidi Shakespeare, Memnon Archiving Services
  

  Heidi Shakespeare

  Memnon Archiving Services

  Heidi Shakespeare, the CEO of Memnon, is a dynamic leader with over 25 years of experience in driving sales growth across the broadcast and digital archiving industries. Her commitment to innovation has propelled Memnon to the forefront of audiovisual (AV) migration and archiving, positioning the company as a key player in preserving and providing access to the world’s content.

  Before taking the helm at Memnon, Heidi held leadership positions at Iron Mountain and Bonded Services Group, where she honed her expertise in managing complex archiving solutions. Her career path is particularly unique, as it also includes a period early in her career spent traveling the world as a trapeze artist, an experience that likely fostered her sense of adventure and resilience.

  Under her leadership, Memnon has become known for its cutting-edge approaches to digitizing and preserving valuable audiovisual content, ensuring that critical historical and cultural materials are accessible for generations to come.

• 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.

• Ryan Khurana, MLSE
  

  Ryan Khurana

  MLSE

  Ryan Khurana currently leads Machine Learning initiatives at Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment, where he pioneered their Video Alchemy project – a groundbreaking approach to video search and editing using multimodal embeddings. This innovation has unlocked over 30 years of archive footage for video producers, revolutionizing content creation workflows.

  Prior to MLSE, Ryan served as Chief of Staff at WOMBO Studios, one of the first consumer Generative AI startups, releasing text-to-image and image-to-video apps that garnered hundreds millions of users. His work spans the intersection of AI and entertainment, with particular expertise in generative AI, video processing, and large language models.

  Ryan holds a Master of Management Analytics from the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management and has published extensively on AI adoption and strategy.

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. Caching, tiering & intelligent data infrastructure, 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. C2PA – Combating disinformation in the age of AI, Glen Sakata, Dalet
17. Solving the big problems for Visual Generative AI, Yair Adato, Bria
18. Fighting deep fakes, Ken Gerstein, Nagra
19. Let’s talk sustainability! Barbara Lange, Kibo121
20. ACES 2.0 implementation success: comparing ACES 2.0 & 1.0, Joachim Zell, Barco
21. AI for supplemental sports content creation, Travis Couture, Twelve Labs & Ryan Khurana, MLSE
22. Orchestrating scalable media workflows on cloud, Majed Alhjary, MASV
23. Future of color, Matthew Brantley, 6P Color
24. Cloud storage economics: a strategic discussion, Laquie Campbell, Backblaze
25.  Blow my mind, not my lunch! Zero–nausea 6DoF volumetric cinema, Gianluca Meardi, V-Nova
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
30. Content archive issues and answers: James Snyder on designing archives for long-term survival

• 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, Hallstone Ventures
  

  Seth Hallen

  Hallstone Ventures

  With over 25 years of experience in media and entertainment technology, Seth is a visionary leader in AI, passionate about storytelling and its intersection with technology. He supports AI-driven MediaTech startups by helping them secure funding, refine their product strategies, gain visibility, and build vital industry connections.

  Seth is a strong advocate for AI’s potential to enhance human creativity, believing it can serve as a powerful assistant in the creative process. Throughout his career, he has built strong relationships with decision-makers and led teams to success in North America and Europe, driving revenue growth and setting new industry standards.

  As a member of the TV Academy’s AI Task Force and having served as president of the Hollywood Professional Association for nine years, Seth is actively involved in shaping the future of the media and entertainment sector. His mission is to empower creators with innovative tools, inspire change, and help the industry thrive by anticipating the next big shift in technology and creativity.

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
  

  Annie Chang

  Universal Pictures

  Annie Chang is the Vice President, Creative Technologies for Universal Pictures, responsible for developing strategies and designing innovative next-generation workflows across film and emerging immersive media experiences. Prior to joining Universal Pictures, Chang was the VP, Technology for Marvel Studios and held various roles during more than a decade tenure at The Walt Disney Studios. Chang is the AMPAS ACES Project Co-Chair and served as the Co-Chair of the AMPAS SciTech Council until 2022. She was the Chair of the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) Working Group at SMPTE. She is an SMPTE Fellow and is a recipient of the SMPTE Workflow Systems Medal Award, Advanced Imaging Society’s Distinguished Leadership award and StudioDaily’s 2018 Exceptional Women in Production and Post. In 2020, The Hollywood Reporter named Chang on their list of top “Hollywood Innovators.” In 2021, Hollywood Professional Association honored Chang with the HPA League Honor of “The Catalyst” which recognizes a leader who has successfully inspired and sparked positive change and innovation in entertainment as a “mover and shaker,” and TVNewsCheck recognized Chang with their Women in Technology Futurist Award. In 2022, Women in Technology Hollywood honored Chang with their WiTH Leadership Award.

• Nick Monton, Company 3
• Phil Wortas, Company 3
  

  Phil Wortas

  Company 3

  Phil Wortas is a technologist with 20 years of experience in post-production, focusing on emerging technologies that enhance creative workflows and improve the technical foundation of modern media production. Phil seeks to bridge the gap between innovation and practical application, ensuring that new tools empower rather than disrupt the creative process. Recently, Phil has led efforts to migrate traditional production and post-production pipelines to the cloud, enabling greater flexibility, scalability, and efficiency. Passionate about bridging the gap between cutting-edge infrastructure and creative storytelling, Phil works to push the boundaries of what’s possible in modern media workflows.

• Bobby Micheletti, Universal Studios
  

  Bobby Micheletti

  Universal Studios

  As Chief Engineer at Universal Studios, Bobby Micheletti leverages his extensive expertise to lead the technical operations supporting the Film Group’s Marketing division. His oversight spans critical areas including Trailer and TV finishing, In-House Creative Editorial, Motion Graphics, and Print Production. He and his team are responsible for managing hardware and software upgrades, system maintenance, and implementing innovative workflow solutions. Their focus is on driving continuous improvements to meet the evolving demands and challenges of film marketing, ensuring efficiency, scalability, and creative excellence across all marketing deliverables. Additionally, Bobby oversees the security and integrity of high-traffic data environments, managing secure access in and out of the facility. His leadership ensures that both physical and digital security protocols are in place to protect sensitive content and maintain operational excellence within the studio.

• Jeremy Stapleton, NBCUniversal
  

  Jeremy Stapleton

  NBCUniversal

  With over 18 years of experience in media and technology, Jeremy Stapleton is a seasoned professional dedicated to leading teams in creating software solutions that drive digital transformation and enhance users’ daily lives. Before joining Universal Pictures, Mr. Stapleton led a global team of software developers at Technicolor, focusing on building and integrating applications in the post-production space.

  At NBCUniversal, Mr. Stapleton has been an integral part of the Creative Technologies team, spearheading innovation initiatives related to production cloud adoption. Recently, he has taken on the role of Director of Software Engineering within the NBCUniversal Operations & Technologies team, where he continues to drive technological advancements and innovation.

• Andy Scade, Pixelogic
  

  Andy Scade

  Pixelogic

  Andy Scade is currently the SVP & General Manager of Pixelogics Digital Cinema and Home Entertainment mastering business. He runs teams and facilities based in Los Angeles, London and Cairo servicing the top tier of content producers and distributors in the M&E space.  He’s spent the last 15 years creating innovative workflows and solutions to support content production and the transition from 35mm to Digital Cinema film distribution. This followed an interesting path to film servicing having previously being a successful recording and mix engineer for many well known singers and bands in the late 90’s and 00’s.

• Craig Seidel, Pixelogic
  

  Craig Seidel

  Pixelogic

  Craig is currently President of Seidel Media Technologies, bringing innovative technical solutions to media and entertainment. Most recently, Craig was CTO at Pixelogic, and before that, he was at MovieLabs, where he created the Emmy-winning MovieLabs Digital Distribution Framework (MDDF). Craig has also held leadership positions at TiVo, Liberate Technologies, and SRI International.

  Craig’s experience is primarily in post-production and distribution, with a focus on supply chain efficiency and the effective use of AI, cloud computing, and automation. He continues to spearhead industry initiatives to enhance efficiency, scalability, and security in media workflows. Craig holds engineering degrees from UC Berkeley and Stanford.

• Brandon Lindauer, AWS
  

  Brandon Lindauer

  AWS

  Brandon Lindauer is a Global Specialist at AWS focused on Content Production in Media & Entertainment. Brandon has spent nearly two decades in the M&E industry and is passionate about raising the bar in post-production. He has worked at several studios both large and small creating innovative solutions to improve operations, and has extensive experience in cloud computing. Before coming to AWS he held positions such as Director of IT and Principal Architect. Brandon is now the Worldwide Technical Leader for the AWS Content Production Focus Area.

• 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.

• Chris Johnson, ConvergentDS
  

  Chris Johnson

  ConvergentDS

  A highly regarded Cyber and Physical security strategist Chris drives thought leadership within the ConvergentDS team.

  After a successful 20year career with UK law enforcement performing specialist roles he has spent the last two decades building highly regarded security risk assurance programs within Critical National Infrastructure and the Media and Entertainment Industries.

  During this time, he has performed leadership roles in a security setting for Major Music Labels, Hollywood Film Studios, Law Firms and UK Government backed National Infrastructure projects within the Energy and Transport Sectors.

  Between September 2006 and May 2018, Chris was responsible for development and global delivery of the cyber and physical security compliance programmes for the Content and Delivery Security Association (“CDSA”), in 2018 the program transitioned to the Trusted Partner Network (TPN), a joint venture between the Motion Picture Association and CDSA. He remains heavily involved in the constantly evolving TPN program and its convergence with advancements in technology.

  As CEO and President of Convergent, Chris led the 2024 strategic merger with Digital Silence a Denver based Cyber and Offensive Security company and in March 2024 became CEO of the merged entity. He is now accountable for the business’s highly respected and experienced team of risk and security professionals operating a global footprint.

• 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.

• Peter Busch, Flawless AI
• Raymond Evans, ConvergentDS

• Hans Hoffmann, EBU
  

  Hans Hoffmann

  EBU

  Dr. Hans Hoffmann is EBU Senior Manager and head of media fundamental and production technologies in the EBU Technology and Innovation department.

  In the EBU he is leading a top expert team, and working together with the EBU Members, on emerging media technology strategies such as immersive media, IP and cloud infrastructures, Data, Metadata and Artificial Intelligence, and how the industry is managing manage its constant digital transformations through open innovations and applied innovation management. Hans is the chair of the Broadcast Technology Futures groups which consist of the senior managers of the R&D centers of BBC, RAI, NHK, VRT, YLE and CBC and co-chairs the Forum of Advanced Media in Europe (FAME) and the Inter-SDO group. He has a long and broad history in SMPTE such as past Standards VP, Finance VP and Executive VP. He was the first European President of the SMPTE 2021-22 and working together with the SMPTE home-office, the executive committee and board and the SMPTE Membership in leading the transformation of the Society. Hans is a fellow of the SMPTE and recipient of the Richard-Theile Medal of the FKTG in 2021. Previously he has been with the Institute fuer Rundfunktechnik in Munich for 9 years working as project manager and scientific staff.

The Media and Entertainment industry is undergoing widespread and rapid transformation driven by marketplace changes and the AI tidal wave. Technology-driven disruption is nothing new, but this time it seems bigger, faster, and deeper than ever before, requiring greater collaborative effort to develop the guidelines, policies, and common technical frameworks and standards necessary for a sustainable and profitable future. This interactive session will introduce attendees to the standards organizations and the people leading them, explore key topics, and encourage sharing of ideas and actionable next steps.

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

  Renard Jenkins

  I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs

  Renard T. Jenkins is the President and CEO of I2A2 Technologies, Studios, and Labs. A software development and consulting firm specializing in the creation of ethically responsible tools, solutions, and experiences for the M&E, Marketing & Research, Education, and Healthcare industries, utilizing both emerging and traditional technologies. Jenkins is an experienced executive in the Technology, Film, Television, and Radio industries. Jenkins also currently serves as Vice President of the Hollywood Professionals Association, Immediate Past President of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and sits on the board of Exceptional Minds. He is
  also an active member of the Television Academy and The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. He has held Executive roles across the Technology, Media, and Entertainment industry.

  Prior to rejoining WarnerMedia and Warner Bros., Jenkins served as Vice President, Operations, Engineering, and Distribution at PBS, where he designed and led the strategic direction, technology development, engineering, and operational management of PBS’s entire media-supply chain. He has also worked for TV One, Discovery, ESPN, NBA Ent., MLB, NFL, and Turner Broadcasting.

  Jenkins is a recipient of numerous awards, including two national Emmys, a Peabody, two Headliners, and a 2020 Broadcasting and Cable Technology Leadership award. In 2017, Jenkins was recognized as an Innovator of the Year award recipient for his groundbreaking contributions to the fields of Ultra High Definition (UHD), High Dynamic Range (HDR), Next Generation Audio (NGA) technologies, and supply chain management through his work at the PBS Advanced Format Center and various industry initiatives. Jenkins is a steadfast advocate for ethical conduct, inclusivity, innovation, diversity, equity, acceptance, accessibility, and the elimination of discriminatory biases within the technology and media sectors. Additionally, he holds certifications as a sound engineer, AI/ML engineer, and application designer among others. Jenkins holds a deep passion for the visual arts and, when time permits, offers pro bono services in location sound recording, live mixing, studio recording, post-production, and finishing for
  aspiring filmmakers, animators, and musicians. His family’s guiding principle is “In all things, integrity, and integrity in all things.”

• 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.

Join two AWS veterans for an engaging chat exploring how entertainment and media companies are breaking traditional boundaries to create interconnected experiences across multiple platforms. As consumer behaviors evolve and technology advances, leading organizations are reimagining how their intellectual property can transcend single channels to deliver immersive, personalized experiences across streaming, gaming, live events, and digital worlds.

This lunch & learn session will examine how major media companies are successfully navigating this convergence through real-world examples – from gaming platforms hosting massive virtual concerts to news organizations expanding into interactive entertainment. Our speakers will discuss the challenges and opportunities in this multi-dimensional landscape, where success increasingly depends on leveraging IP across diverse channels while maintaining authentic connections with audiences.

Discussion Points:

• How entertainment companies are expanding their IP across multiple domains
• The impact of changing consumer preferences on content strategy
• The role of first-party data in creating interconnected experiences
• Emerging trends in cross-platform engagement and monetization
• Future outlook for entertainment IP convergence

Join us for this thought-provoking discussion on how the entertainment industry is evolving beyond traditional boundaries to meet the demands of tomorrow’s audiences.

• Chris Blandy, AWS
• Gretchen Libby, AWS
• Pinar Seyhan Demirdag, Cuebric
• Seth Hallen, Hallstone Ventures Inc

• Seth Hallen, Hallstone Ventures
  

  Seth Hallen

  Hallstone Ventures

  With over 25 years of experience in media and entertainment technology, Seth is a visionary leader in AI, passionate about storytelling and its intersection with technology. He supports AI-driven MediaTech startups by helping them secure funding, refine their product strategies, gain visibility, and build vital industry connections.

  Seth is a strong advocate for AI’s potential to enhance human creativity, believing it can serve as a powerful assistant in the creative process. Throughout his career, he has built strong relationships with decision-makers and led teams to success in North America and Europe, driving revenue growth and setting new industry standards.

  As a member of the TV Academy’s AI Task Force and having served as president of the Hollywood Professional Association for nine years, Seth is actively involved in shaping the future of the media and entertainment sector. His mission is to empower creators with innovative tools, inspire change, and help the industry thrive by anticipating the next big shift in technology and creativity.

• 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.

• Vered Horesh, Bria.ai
• Lewis Smithingham, Media Monks
• 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.

• Peter Busch, Flawless
• 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.

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.

• Richard Atkinson, Artificial Individual Intelligence
  

  Richard Atkinson

  Artificial Individual Intelligence

  CEO, Artificial Individual Intelligence, LLC. President, Content Delivery and Security Assoc. Former GM, CTO, CSO, CIO, Sr Exec driving profound business growth at Adobe, Disney, EA, and Northop Grumman

  Led profound incremental business growth for Disney ($1B/year) and Adobe ($1.6B TAM) through innovative strategies and bold leadership. Broadly recognized across many leaders and companies of Media & Entertainment for an engaging and inclusive leadership style and understanding the critical intersection of technology, business, and customer/human engagement. Exceptionally strong technically, while also having a creative advertising background and passion that has allowed me to drive the solutions while also bringing the customer base and key stakeholders along in the journey

• 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.

• James Cohan, Paramount
• Jonathan Tortora, Warner Bros. Discovery
• Irad Eyal, Quickture

• 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.

• Chris Lennon, Ross Video
  

  Chris Lennon

  Ross Video

  Chris Lennon serves in Ross Video’s Office of the CTO as Director, Standards Strategy. He is responsible for Ross’ activities in standards and trade organizations, as well as its global thought leadership program.

  Chris also serves as Executive Director of the Open Services Alliance (OSA), a global industry organization focused on interoperability among microservice oriented media systems, now a part of SMPTE’s Rapid Industry Solutions. The OSA produced the media industry’s first microservices standards and continues to lead the way in this rapidly evolving area.

  Chris has held a variety of leadership positions in the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE),
  including Standards Director, Western US Governor, Local Section Chair, and Chair of multiple Technology Committees. He is a SMPTE Fellow and recipient of SMPTE’s prestigious 2008 Citation. He currently is a manager of the SMPTE Rocky Mountain Section and serves on the IABM Board.

• Stan Moote, IABM
  

  Stan Moote

  IABM

  Stan Moote is CTO of IABM, the international vendors’ association for the digital media and entertainment sector. A highly respected industry veteran, Moote began his television career in 1977 as a plant engineer for CFTO-TV in Toronto, Canada. He was involved in the original SMPTE Digital Video Standards Committee meetings creating CCIR-601 and continues by coordinating activities within the industry for standards groups. Through his domain knowledge working with video and audio, Moote developed several patents and focuses on workflow solutions, new technology, and interoperability. Stan is SMPTE Life Fellow, recipient of the SMPTE Digital Processing Medal Award and a SMPTE Governor-at-large.

• Emeka Okoli, Zixi

• 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.

   

• Renard Jenkins, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs
  

  Renard Jenkins

  I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs

  Renard T. Jenkins is the President and CEO of I2A2 Technologies, Studios, and Labs. A software development and consulting firm specializing in the creation of ethically responsible tools, solutions, and experiences for the M&E, Marketing & Research, Education, and Healthcare industries, utilizing both emerging and traditional technologies. Jenkins is an experienced executive in the Technology, Film, Television, and Radio industries. Jenkins also currently serves as Vice President of the Hollywood Professionals Association, Immediate Past President of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers, and sits on the board of Exceptional Minds. He is
  also an active member of the Television Academy and The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. He has held Executive roles across the Technology, Media, and Entertainment industry.

  Prior to rejoining WarnerMedia and Warner Bros., Jenkins served as Vice President, Operations, Engineering, and Distribution at PBS, where he designed and led the strategic direction, technology development, engineering, and operational management of PBS’s entire media-supply chain. He has also worked for TV One, Discovery, ESPN, NBA Ent., MLB, NFL, and Turner Broadcasting.

  Jenkins is a recipient of numerous awards, including two national Emmys, a Peabody, two Headliners, and a 2020 Broadcasting and Cable Technology Leadership award. In 2017, Jenkins was recognized as an Innovator of the Year award recipient for his groundbreaking contributions to the fields of Ultra High Definition (UHD), High Dynamic Range (HDR), Next Generation Audio (NGA) technologies, and supply chain management through his work at the PBS Advanced Format Center and various industry initiatives. Jenkins is a steadfast advocate for ethical conduct, inclusivity, innovation, diversity, equity, acceptance, accessibility, and the elimination of discriminatory biases within the technology and media sectors. Additionally, he holds certifications as a sound engineer, AI/ML engineer, and application designer among others. Jenkins holds a deep passion for the visual arts and, when time permits, offers pro bono services in location sound recording, live mixing, studio recording, post-production, and finishing for
  aspiring filmmakers, animators, and musicians. His family’s guiding principle is “In all things, integrity, and integrity in all things.”

• Clayton Mosher, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs
  

  Clayton Mosher

  I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs

  Dr. Clayton Mosher, a cognitive neuroscientist, researches how the brain produces emotions. He has a diverse career that bridges healthcare research in neurodiversity and insights into audience responses in the entertainment industry. He is the recipient of multiple awards related to STEM education, public speaking, and postdoctoral research. His work appears in various journals like the Society for Motion Picture and Television Engineers, Current Biology, Neuron, and The Journal of Neuroscience. At I2A2, he utilizes neurotechnology to help creatives elevate their storytelling and appeal to neurodiverse audiences.

• Anne Brooker-Grogan and Ed Grogan