gHacks are team based, hands-on workshops where you will get your hands dirty building a real-world creative project. For this event you will work with Google Cloud’s Generative Media technology and your own creative skills, together with a team, to build a 30 second ad spot. Participants will work in teams of 5 along with a coach to help and guide the team and review their work.

Sign-Up Required

• Gino Filicetti, Google Cloud
  

  Gino Filicetti

  Google Cloud

  Gino Filicetti joined Google in 2021 as a Customer Engineer specializing in cloud application modernization in the Media & Entertainment industry.

  He carries responsibility for providing in-depth enterprise application modernization expertise to support the technical relationship with Google’s Media & Entertainment customers, including product and solution briefings, proof-of-concept work, and partner directly with product management to prioritize solutions impacting customer adoption to Google Cloud.

• Toby Scales, Google Cloud
  

  Toby Scales

  Google Cloud

  Toby leads the Media & Entertainment vertical in Google Cloud’s Oce of the CISO, where he focuses on driving strategic change across the content and enterprise security disciplines.

  In his previous role at Microsoft and now at Google, he’s partnered with every major studio on cloud transformation initiatives across animation, VFX and post-production.

  Before getting involved at the intersection of Hollywood and cloud, he ran the services arm of a major MSP in Manhattan (where he developed their cloud consulting practice), and before that founded and sold his own consulting rm in Seattle, Washington.

  He now lives in Boulder, Colorado with his wife and two sons– who are officially recognized as the World’s Best Kids.

Registration Required

Details and RSVP

Sponsored by AMD & AWS

Details and RSVP

Join us for a drink and chat with fellow attendees and learn some insider tips and tricks on how to navigate the week’s activities.

Located at the main pool

Details and RSVP

Sponsored by Signiant

All conference attendees welcome.

Innovation Zone Presentations
presented by Gloshine

9:30 am – 9:40 am
Welcome Remarks and Announcements – James Blevins, MESH & Eliza Tan, Adobe

9:40 am – 10:00 am
Camera-to-Timeline: Reimagining Real-Time Cloud Editing – LucidLink

10:20 am – 10:40 am
Connecting virtual Production and VFX – Foundry

11:00 am – 11:20 am
Leonardo.AI Masterclass: Best Models Best Practices – Jessie Hughes, Leonardo AI

11:40 am – noon
From Pipeline to Performance: Broadcasting Live Animation in Real Time – Blake Baxter and Daniel Urbach, Immersive Enterprise Laboratories

This year’s HPA Tech Retreat TR-X Monday session kicks off with the bold theme “Imagine No Limits”, a call to reimagine what’s possible in the world of Media & Entertainment. Our industry is evolving at breakneck speed, and while change can feel overwhelming, “Imagine No Limits” reminds us that it isn’t something to fear. The tools reshaping our workflows may seem daunting at first, but they’re opening doors to extraordinary opportunities and inspiring creators to reach new heights. Together, we’ll explore where the future of our industry is headed and how no idea is too ambitious when we dream up new workflows and build the technology to bring them to life. Hear from trailblazers and future-thinkers who are redefining the rules, while also reflecting on past “no limits” visions to see how far we’ve come. By the end of the day, you won’t just walk away with insights. You’ll carry fresh sparks of inspiration to fuel conversations and collaborations that flow into the evening’s networking.

• Renard T. Jenkins, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs
• 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., and the new Mountain Media Center in Englewood Colorado. 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 mobile units, 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 a past 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 German has spent most of his career in the entertainment industry, and for the past 20 years has held senior executive positions in post production and at Hollywood film and television studios, with his most recent role as CEO of Crafty Apes, a VFX studio 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.

• Bob Beitcher, Motion Picture and Television Foundation

• Moderator: Matt Klein, Light Iron
  

  Matt Klein

  Light Iron

  Matthew is a creative and technical leader specializing in post-production. With a passion for developing technologies that empower filmmakers to tell impactful stories, he has super-charged workflows across dailies, editorial, VFX, and DI. As Director of Software Development at Light Iron and previously as a Senior Software Developer at Company 3, Matthew’s innovative software solutions have been utilized on hundreds of feature films and episodic projects. He also has the great privilege of co-chairing the HPA’s Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) program, and is a member of the Television Academy’s Science and Technology Peer Group.

• Maggie Jensen, The Walt Disney Company
  

  Maggie Jensen

  The Walt Disney Company

  Maggie got her start at a Microsoft partner firm, where she learned Power BI for manufacturing companies while she was finishing up her masters degree in information systems at Brigham Young University. In her final year of the program she interned with the studio technology team at the Walt Disney company, where she returned after graduation, working as a business intelligence engineer. Maggie has loved the transition into the media & entertainment industry, and has thoroughly enjoyed being part of the YEP program. She believes data is the new language of business and is excited to be involved in using technology and data to propel filmmaking into its next era.

• Ben Abergel, Ciné Nissim
  

  Ben Abergel

  Ciné Nissim

  Ben Abergel is a creative technologist and filmmaker specializing in artificial intelligence and virtual production. With a focus on developing pipelines that support storytelling, he works at the intersection of AI, real-time tools, and filmmaking to enhance pre-production, production, and post-production. Through Ciné Nissim, his creative production company, he provides AI-driven creative services, research and development, and consulting for film and television.

  His work includes serving as Head of AI Technology & Production on two projects with the Entertainment Technology Center, including an AI hybrid live-action production where he led AI and virtual production workflows. He is also a graduate of the HPA’s Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) program.

• Casey Spellman, Paramount Global
  

  Casey Spellman

  Paramount Global

  Casey Spellman is a Tech Strategy professional at Paramount Global, where she identifies and evaluates emerging technologies that help productions work faster, smarter, and occasionally with a hint of auto‑magic. She began her career at the company as an Executive Assistant in the Futurist department, supporting initiatives in immersive and interactive entertainment. Casey then advanced to Production Tech Innovation, collaborating directly with creative and technical teams to explore tools that streamline workflows and enhance on‑set efficiency. Now part of Corporate Tech Strategy, she focuses on bridging innovative solutions with organizational needs, translating forward‑looking ideas into practical, production‑ready capabilities. She is driven by curiosity, thoughtful collaboration, and a commitment to making complex technology both accessible and impactful.

• Maya Roseman, Flawless AI
  

  Maya Roseman

  Flawless AI

  Maya Roseman is a film professional who is working on bridging the gap between the familiar post-production and finishing work that she has done for the last 9 years and today’s new and innovative workflows and products that the tech industry is offering the film industry.
  A native of the Pacific Northwest, Maya’s career spans years working in the entertainment space. Her professional journey began with globalization and fulfillment, then to post-production and finishing work as a producer on numerous episodic, unscripted, and theatrical marketing campaigns. Now she has moved into the software/tech space as a Post Producer in the FFX Department at Flawless.
  Maya holds a B.A. in Film and Television Production from Howard University and an M.F.A. in Producing from UCLA. As a forever student, Maya takes the time to stay connected and learn new areas that are part of where the industry is headed. She is a recent HPA Young Entertainment Professional alumnus, Class of 2025. When not working on movies, she is likely watching them or catching up on reading with a good cup of coffee.

• Moderator: Lori H. Schwartz, StoryTech
  

  Lori H. Schwartz

  StoryTech

  Lori H. Schwartz, affectionately known as the “Tech Cat (Technology Catalyst),” is a leading voice at the crossroads of media, technology, and storytelling. As Founder and CEO of StoryTech, she guides brands and executives through the fast-changing innovation landscape with curated tech tours, salon-style gatherings, and strategy sessions.

  A longtime champion of turning complex trends into practical insights, Lori is recognized for creating VIP experiences at global events such as CES, NAB Show, Infinity Festival and now the HPA Retreat! She brings leaders face-to-face with transformative ideas in AI, immersive media, and next-gen connectivity, helping them understand not just what’s coming, but how to act on it.

  As a sought-after host and moderator, Lori is known for her mix of insights, humor, and authority. She has led hundreds of panels and fireside chats with senior executives, producers, and technologists, bridging Hollywood creativity with Silicon Valley innovation.

  A frequent CNN contributor, Lori also designs conversations that spark community and collaboration across industries. Her mission is simple: to help organizations and audiences embrace change with confidence, curiosity, and imagination and have fun doing it.

  She is the proud mom of GEN Zer and animator, Sadie Bee, who teaches her new stuff daily.

• Edward Dawson-Taylor, CG Pro
  

  Edward Dawson-Taylor

  CG Pro

  Edd is a CG / VFX Supervisor leaning into the cutting edge of AI. He has worked for the likes of ILM, Disney, MPC and Digital Domain on blockbuster movies such as; Jurassic World, The Lion King, and Jungle Book. As an artist and supervisor in movies, TV and interactive, Edd has worked across multiple disciplines, from creatures to environments. Widely recognized as an artist and cutting-edge technologist, he has led teams of artists and developers in creating beautiful worlds and enhancing CG software and pipelines. As a pioneer in the world of Virtual Production, Edd co-founded the school CG Pro, where he creates and teaches dynamic live courses focused on Unreal Engine, VFX tools, and the emerging world of Virtual Production. Edd also runs CG Pro Studio, a cutting-edge and highly creative real-time and AI creative service company.

• Andy Cochrane, The AV Club Productions, Inc.
  

  Andy Cochrane

  The AV Club Productions, Inc.

  Andrew Cochrane is an interactive and immersive creator for mediums such as virtual and augmented reality, installations, live events, and large-scale domes. Andrew is an expert in forming and leading multi-disciplinary teams to deliver innovative and technologically complex projects. He has been integral to the growing immersive entertainment space as a creator and thought leader.

  Currently, he is consulting and working with exciting new technologies – using AI and other emerging tools to architect experiences for audiences across numerous platforms and mediums. Most recently, he has been developing a new form of immersive musical experience called Loud Movies – an experimental blend of dance music and cinema that leans heavily on live event technologies.

  Previous accomplishments include building the studio, team, and processes for the content creation arm responsible for the Sphere in Las Vegas, MSG Sphere Studios. As the Senior Vice President of Post Production, Andrew was responsible for building and leading the Post, Playback, and Studio Technology teams driving the technology, audio, and video for the MSG Sphere in Las Vegas.

  His immersive credits span the gamut of live-action, CGI, and real-time experiences for clients such as HP, Intel, Adobe, USA Today, Google, GE, Disney, USA Network, Visa, Las Vegas, and many others. Andrew has also directed commercials for brands such as Disney, LG, VIZIO, Google, Target, Barco, and M&M’s. He has also done several traditional and VR projects featuring his own narrative and creative development, including “The Carrier” a VR short starring Karolina Wydra that is currently working through the international film festival circuit.

Christie®, in collaboration with CBS VFX, presents a deep dive into “Virtual Projection,” a new workflow that integrates high-fidelity RGB projection with real-time software tools to support modern virtual production. The session will explore how CBS VFX is deploying this system at their Hollywood “Stage-3” to enhance the capabilities of existing virtual production setups, improve color accuracy and lighting control, and reduce both setup time and post-production costs. Through a detailed case study, the team will discuss technical challenges, implementation strategies, and early results from on-set testing.

• Joseph Conover, Christie
  

  Joseph Conover

  Christie

  Joseph Conover is a veteran audio-visual advisor and technology team leader with a passion for creating and delivering best-in-class entertainment experiences.
  

  He has vast global experience with large venue immersive entertainment and media. Mr. Conover currently leads Christies Strategic Development and Partnership efforts in North America with a primary focus on 3DLP projection and virtual production solutions.

  Mr. Conover previously owned his own company providing technical solutions. After the sale of this company to Sharp Electronics, he held various leadership positions at Sharp & Panasonic before taking his current role at Christie.

  Christies Immersive Entertainment Group provides technical consultation and design for many clients whom wish to deliver world class projection mapping and immersive experiences through innovative solutions as well as supporting our partners in the live event production industry.

• Chris Barnett, Christie
  

  Chris Barnett

  Christie

  Chris Barnett is the visionary behind Christie’s Virtual Projection, driving the virtual production solution globally. With 17+ years across XR VFX, live events, cinema, and broadcast, he bridges creative storytelling with advanced production technology. An Epic Games Fellow of Animation, he previously led sales at Cuebric and served as Director of Studio Production for agencies and studios worldwide.

Leaders from major sports leagues, broadcasters, and venues offer a glimpse at the breakthrough technological innovations and cutting-edge production workflows reshaping how fans engage with live sports content. From immersive shared-reality venues and mixed-reality platforms to AI-enhanced storytelling and reimagined camera angles to next-gen content distribution and fan-engagement tools, discover how these industry leaders are pushing boundaries and setting new standards for what’s possible in sports production.

• Moderator: Jason Dachman, SVG
  

  Jason Dachman

  SVG

  Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, U.S.
  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, 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 two children.

• Phil Orlins, ESPN
  

  Phil Orlins

  ESPN

  Phil Orlins is the vice president of production technology and innovation for ESPN, leading the company’s efforts in advancing technology and innovation initiatives and priorities for ESPN across properties. In his role, Orlins drives the development and implementation of cutting-edge production tools, alternative telecasts, and emerging technologies that enhance the viewing experience for fans.

  A leader in sports media innovation, Orlins has played a pivotal role in introducing and expanding ESPN’s use of real-time data visualization, augmented reality, advanced camera systems and immersive viewing experiences. His contributions include pioneering K-Zone Live and K-Zone 3D, as well as spearheading alternate presentations such as StatCast, KayRod Cast and KidsCast. Under his leadership, ESPN revolutionized in-game access with live, mic’d up in-game player conversations, now a staple for nearly all of its MLB telecasts.

  Orlins was the coordinating producer for Toy Story Funday Football, the first-of-its-kind real-time, animated NFL game, in October 2023, which went on to win three 2024 Sports Emmys for Outstanding Studio or Production Design/Art Direction, The George Wensel Technical Achievement Award and Outstanding Graphic Design – Event/Show.

  Orlins previously worked as a producer in ESPN’s MLB coverage from 1991-2003, produced Sunday Night Baseball from 1994 to 2003, and led ESPN’s baseball coverage from 2014 through 2024.

  Orlins joined ESPN in 1988 and has produced a variety of marquee ESPN events, including serving as the coordinating producer for the X Games franchise, where he led ESPN’s Emmy-winning innovation in 3D and immersive coverage from 2009-12, including X Games 3D: The Movie. The 2011 and 2012 Winter X Games were recognized with an Emmy award in the category of Technical Team Remote for the combined 3D and 2D coverage of the event.

  Additional industry honors include a Sports Emmy Award for Outstanding Tech Achievement for Front Row Cam in 2017 as well as for K-Zone 3D in 2018, a Sports Emmy Award for Cal Ripken’s record-breaking game in 1996 and two CableACE Awards for the Jackie Robinson anniversary game and for Sunday Night Baseball, both in 1997.

  A native of South Orange, N.J., Orlins graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science degree in TV/Radio.

• Ken DeGennaro, NBA
  

  Ken DeGennaro

  NBA

  Ken DeGennaro is the NBA Executive Vice President and Head of Media Operations and Technology. DeGennaro oversees the league’s broadcast operations, engineering, player tracking and stats, and OTT technology departments and is also responsible for the global delivery of video and statistics via satellite, fiber, broadband and mobile. He manages the development and implementation of NBA Cloud Services, including significant AI and ML executions supporting both business and basketball analytics alike.

  DeGennaro helped spearhead the launch of the reimagine NBA App in 2022 and leads the NBA’s Stats Technology group, which is responsible for all data and metrics presented on NBA.com.

  DeGennaro joined the NBA in March 1998 and holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Rutgers University and a Master of Science in Jurisprudence from Seton Hall Law.

  Ken DeGennaro serves as Executive Vice President and Head of Media Operations and Technology at the NBA, where he leads the strategic architecture and execution of the league’s end-to-end media technology ecosystem. His purview includes broadcast engineering, player tracking systems, real-time statistics pipelines, and OTT infrastructure, with a focus on scalable, low-latency delivery across satellite, fiber, broadband, and mobile networks.

  Ken is the driving force behind the NBA’s Cloud Services platform, overseeing the integration of advanced AI and machine learning models that power both operational intelligence and basketball analytics. These systems support dynamic content generation, predictive performance metrics, and automated data enrichment across the league’s digital properties.

  He also heads the NBA Stats Technology group, which manages the ingestion, normalization, and visualization of high-volume data streams for NBA.com and affiliated platforms. Under his leadership, the group has implemented robust APIs and microservices architectures to support real-time fan engagement and third-party data syndication.

  Ken played a pivotal role in the 2022 launch of the reimagined NBA App, leading cross-functional teams in replatforming the app’s backend services and enhancing its personalization engine.

  He joined the NBA in 1998 and holds a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University and a Master of Science in Jurisprudence from Seton Hall Law School.

   

• Devin Poolman, Cosm
  

  Devin Poolman

  Cosm

  Devin Poolman is Chief Product and Technology Officer at Cosm, where he leads the technological development and strategy of the company’s immersive initiatives, platforms, and partnership ventures. Having previously led technology and digital strategy at some of the world’s largest media companies, including FOX’s Digital Consumer Group and Sports Digital business unit, as well as early-stage companies like Metricly and 8020, Poolman’s forward-thinking approach to technology and media, product development, and user experience today guide Cosm’s mission to redefine the way the world experiences content.

• Michelle Munson, Eluvio
  

  Michelle Munson

  Eluvio

  Michelle Munson is the co-founder and CEO of Eluvio (https://eluv.io) and co-creator of the Content Fabric protocol, an open and decentralized Internet protocol for owner-controlled streaming, storage and monetization of digital content at scale. The Content Fabric provides premium content distribution and management for tier1 sports, studios, and artists globally, and has won multiple product awards from leading organizations at global industry events including HPA, IABM, IBC, NAB, and SEIcon. Eluvio users include Amazon Studios/MGM, Cricket Australia, European Professional Club Rugby, Red Bull, SONY Pictures, Telstra Broadcast Services, UEFA, Warner Bros., WPALiveTV, WWE, and others

  Michelle previously co-founded Aspera in 2004 and led the company as CEO until May 2017, including through acquisition by IBM in 2014. She co-invented the Aspera FASP™ transport technology used in the digital media supply chain for high-speed, low-cost secure digital content transport, replacing satellite and traditional tape-based delivery technologies, and won an engineering Emmy.

  Michelle holds fifteen US patents in the areas of content networking, machine learning, block chain and distribution infrastructure. She is also the recipient of the SMPTE 2019 David Sarnoff Medal for technology innovation with lasting impact in film and television and the SMPTE 2025 Workflow Systems Medal for video workflow innovation. She holds dual B.Sc. degrees in Electrical Engineering and Physics from Kansas State University and was a Fulbright Scholar at Cambridge University where she received a postgraduate diploma in Computer Science. In 2022, she became the youngest person inducted into the Kansas State University Engineering Hall of Fame.

As physical and digital worlds converge, experiential pipelines are becoming central to delivering content at scale. From immersive theaters and arenas to pop-ups and hybrid venues, demand is surging. This panel explores how pipelines are being reimagined to handle diverse asset needs: 3D environments, real-time rendering, LED stage design, volumetric capture, and more. With a “No Limits” approach, we’ll look at how infrastructure, workflows, and collaboration models are evolving for the future to meet the challenge.

• Moderator: Lori H. Schwartz, StoryTech
  

  Lori H. Schwartz

  StoryTech

  Lori H. Schwartz, affectionately known as the “Tech Cat (Technology Catalyst),” is a leading voice at the crossroads of media, technology, and storytelling. As Founder and CEO of StoryTech, she guides brands and executives through the fast-changing innovation landscape with curated tech tours, salon-style gatherings, and strategy sessions.

  A longtime champion of turning complex trends into practical insights, Lori is recognized for creating VIP experiences at global events such as CES, NAB Show, Infinity Festival and now the HPA Retreat! She brings leaders face-to-face with transformative ideas in AI, immersive media, and next-gen connectivity, helping them understand not just what’s coming, but how to act on it.

  As a sought-after host and moderator, Lori is known for her mix of insights, humor, and authority. She has led hundreds of panels and fireside chats with senior executives, producers, and technologists, bridging Hollywood creativity with Silicon Valley innovation.

  A frequent CNN contributor, Lori also designs conversations that spark community and collaboration across industries. Her mission is simple: to help organizations and audiences embrace change with confidence, curiosity, and imagination and have fun doing it.

  She is the proud mom of GEN Zer and animator, Sadie Bee, who teaches her new stuff daily.

• Matthew Celia, Light Sail VR
  

  Matthew Celia

  Light Sail VR

  Matthew Celia is an Emmy award-winning visionary creative technologist and immersive storyteller with over two decades of experience in film production and technology. As the co-founder and creative director of Light Sail VR, Matthew has directed and produced over 200 immersive projects, including groundbreaking experiences for major brands such as SNL, Google, Meta, and Paramount Pictures. His work blends narrative authenticity with cutting-edge technology, pushing the boundaries of storytelling in virtual and augmented reality.

• Evo Heyning, Realitycraft
  

  Evo Heyning

  Realitycraft

  Evo Heyning is an award-winning producer, creative technologist, and R&D leader specializing in immersive media, XR, and AI-enabled futures design. Evo began her career as a writer/producer of independent film and interactive game web projects in the 1990s, writing speculative fiction scripts on our futures with AI in the early 2000s before pursuing a masters in AI/XR design systems for production of new media.

  As CEO of Realitycraft, Evo focuses on creative tech uses & advanced research and development in workflows and production strategies, generative AI, interactive media, and participatory systems, driving innovation at the intersection of creative technology and social impact. Evo experiments with gaussian splatting and reality capture for volumetric and the future of holographic interfaces and lightfields for immersive storytelling.

  With over 20 years of art and filmmaking experience, Evo has designed and produced immersive experiences that bridge real and virtual worlds, including more than 500 hours of live, interactive virtual events and groundbreaking XR and VR projects. Evo has won many film festivals including this year’s releases with the Virtual Worlds Museum Spotlight Series and AI film shorts produced for art and culture fests worldwide. Evo is now filming season two of the Spotlight Series with In Kenzo and SEHU at the VWM in addition to documentaries, concept design shorts and short stories for TV, XR and immersive web.

  Her media production work has spanned sectors from public health—contributing to the Affordable Care Act’s launch campaign—to education, cleantech, and civic technology, consistently leveraging emerging media to solve real-world challenges such as Journey to Wild Cacao and Silence in Paradise. Evo has worked on blockbuster film projects to indie shorts, documentaries and features with small teams worldwide.

  Evo’s academic contributions include teaching XR, AI, and engagement design to producers, Fortune 1000 companies, and government agencies, as well as authoring Promptcraft, a guidebook on creative production with AI tools. She is a frequent speaker and moderator at global conferences, sharing insights on virtual engagement, collaborative worldbuilding, and the future of public media systems.

  Previously, Evo co-founded Toyshoppe Systems, a practical effects and R&D studio that contributed to over 100 major media projects, including sci-fi films, theme parks, and AR/VR product development. Her leadership extends to serving as Vice President and Board Member of XR Guild, where she advocates for ethical engagement in the XR industry.

  Currently, Evo’s R&D at Realitycraft is centered on developing sustainable, AI-powered solutions for affordable, climate-resilient housing, exemplified by her latest project, GrowAHome.org— endeavors connecting resilient housing futures and the people creating innovative solutions along with immersive educational series utilizing XR and AI tools. Her work continues to shape the future of immersive media, generative AI, and collaborative technology systems.

  Evo is recognized for her visionary approach to technology, her commitment to open, accessible media ecosystems, and her ability to translate cutting-edge research into transformative, real-world applications.

• Alyssa Landry, Landry Creative
  

  Alyssa Landry

  Landry Creative

  Alyssa Landry is a Creative Director and award-winning Show Writer whose work spans themed entertainment, XR, and experiential marketing, a combination that gives her a rare perspective on how immersive stories are conceived, produced, and delivered at scale.

  She has collaborated with global brands and studios including Disney, Thinkwell, Princess Cruises, Jack Morton, Airbnb, Incarna Studios, PBS South Florida, and Double Eye Studios, contributing to experiences that blend narrative, technology, and audience engagement across very different production models and environments.

  Over the past year, Alyssa has been actively incorporating generative AI into her creative practice as a hands-on tool for ideation, prototyping, and interactive storytelling, particularly in projects where emotion, audience response, and scale intersect.

  Her work has been recognized by the Venice International Film Festival, SXSW, the Société des Auteurs et Compositeurs Dramatiques, and the Beaumarchais Foundation.

• Jillian Austin, MC²
  

  Jillian Austin

  MC²

  Jillian Austin is a Creative Director, experiential strategist, and narrative-driven leader with over 17 years of experience at the intersection of technology, entertainment, and immersive storytelling. Her work fuses sharp business strategy with emotionally resonant creative execution to drive meaningful audience engagement and measurable impact.

  Before joining MC², Jillian led brand-side initiatives for experiential destinations such as AREA15 and TAO Group, developing high-impact events, activations, and strategic partnerships. She has collaborated directly with top entertainment talent including Snoop Dogg, Usher, Steve Aoki, Kaskade, Armin van Buuren, and The Kardashians, crafting immersive experiences that blend culture, commerce, and technology.

  Her career spans immersive location-based entertainment, Silicon Valley startups, and global brands including Disney, Google, Amazon, Netflix, LVMH, Toyota, BMW, FX, Michelin, Lyft, Insomniac, and Tao Group. Jillian has also partnered with Emmy Award–winning creators to develop interactive, cross-platform narratives that push the boundaries of participation and play.

  An award-winning writer and producer, Jillian brings a background in performance and narrative design that informs her human-centered approach to leadership, collaboration, and innovation. She believes storytelling is the most powerful connector—and a catalyst for shaping what comes next.

• Robert Tercek, Co-Founder of The Futurists Network & Nura Studios AI
  

  Robert Tercek

  Co-Founder of The Futurists Network & Nura Studios AI

  For 30 years, Robert Tercek has inspired and led the teams that expanded the boundaries of entertainment around the world. A pioneer of digital media, Tercek specializes in launching new systems: the world’s first streaming video on mobile devices in more than 30 countries; the earliest multiplayer game platform on the Web for Sony; and the first pan-regional multichannel TV platform in Asia for StarTV. Today he is the co-founder of Nura Studios, which provides artists with a comprehensive AI toolkit and agentic workflow to create scripted episodic video series. He has served in senior executive leadership roles for Sony Pictures Entertainment, the Oprah Winfrey Network, and MTV: Music Television; and he has co-founded five startup companies. His 2016 book Vaporized, about the growth of the dematerialized economy, was selected as the International Book of the Year by the editors of GetAbstract. He is a Special Advisor to the Carson Foundation and the Johnny Carson Center for Emerging Media Art at the University of Nebraska.

• 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., and the new Mountain Media Center in Englewood Colorado. 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 mobile units, 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 a past 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 German has spent most of his career in the entertainment industry, and for the past 20 years has held senior executive positions in post production and at Hollywood film and television studios, with his most recent role as CEO of Crafty Apes, a VFX studio 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. Art in the age of AI, Ehsan Shokrgozar, AWS
2. Control is everything: SMPTE ST2138 can simplify your life, Chris Lennon, Ross
3. Why display uniformity matters, Eric Dalton, Eizo
4. AI personalization and the new viewer experience, Steven Sabonjohn, EPAM
5. Financing your growth with venture capital or private equity, Ethan Jacks, MediaBridge
6. Metadata is the new currency, Soyoung Lee, Twelve Labs
7. JALI facial animation & intelligent automation technology, Sarah Watling, JALI
8. Film restoration and legacy media, Tony Martinez, Evercast
9. Intelligent Data Movement for Modern Media, Andreas Hoeschle, Pixitmedia/Datacore
10. Abolish the timeline, Melody Kellis, Amazon Selling Partner Services
11. A new framing of forensic watermarking in Hollywood, James Hynard, Castlabs
12. Private 5G and CBRS for live broadcast and remote production, Jim Jachetta, VidOvation
13. Not every frame deserves forever, Nick Pearce, ad signal
14. Making Capture-to-Cloud Cost-Effective, Secure, and Practical, Michael Gitig, iodyne
15. Who Gets to Create? Equity in Generative AI, Monica Monique, Chain Reaction Group
16. Backup, archiving, restoration, & preservation differences, Linda Tadic, Digital Bedrock
17. The case for a single monitor HDR/SDR color grading paradigm, Flanders Scientific Inc.
18. Metadata collection during production, Ashay Javadekar, Eagle Studio
19. Unscripted 2.0: how tech is empowering reality content, Irad Eyal, Quickture
20. Creating a unified workflow between VP and post-production, Dan Caffrey, Foundry
21. Can VR give pre-rendered movie assets new life? G. Meardi, A. Bodini, V-Nova Studios
22. Creators meetup — Gen AI artists, Jessie Hughes, Leonardo.ai
23. Preparing for a TPN assessment under v5.3.1, Juan Reyes, Tech Align Group
24. AI in production and post: enabling tool or creative thief? Darren Frankel, Adobe
25. SMPTE 2110 for ICVFX: the hardware reality check, Chris Stevenson, Puget Systems
26. Dubs, subs, & zero drama: live translation that actually ships, Eliot Sakhartov, Microsoft
27. The agentic workbench: empowering production with agentic AI, Ranjit Raju, Google
28. Why Hollywood won’t adopt your tech (even when it’s good), John Corser, FilmIQ
29. Budgeting for AI: understanding costs & optimization strategies, Aaron Sloman, Burnlab
30. Simplifying digital media chain using dedicated AI services, Bruno Munger, Telestream

You might have noticed that there have been some big changes in the media industry. And you might be noticing that these changes just keep coming and accelerating.  And you might be thinking WTF IS GOING ON?

Well, at this year’s HPA Tech Retreat SuperSession, the folks who are at the edge, driving this industry transformation will help guide you. And these smart AF folks who are inventing this future, are not just going to TELL you about it, they’re gonna SHOW you.

Industry media and tech pioneer, Ed Ulbrich sets the stage for an important day of industry conversation around how our industry and creativity itself is transforming in powerful ways as new tools, workflows, and the evolving landscape of AI-powered storytelling creates profound industry disruption and paths to new opportunities.

• Ed Ulbrich, Moonvalley
  

  Ed Ulbrich

  Moonvalley

  Ed Ulbrich is a producer and senior media and technology executive shaping the future of content creation at enterprise scale. As Head of Strategic Growth & Partnerships at Moonvalley, he leads strategic partnerships with major studios, streamers, VFX companies, and global brands to deploy commercially safe, production-grade AI video models and artist-centric workflows across film, television, advertising, and live entertainment. His role bridges creative leadership, platform strategy, real-world production, and operational execution, helping the industry move from isolated experimentation to real, scalable adoption of generative AI.

  Previously, Ed was Chief Content Officer & President of Production at Metaphysic and earlier served as CEO of Digital Domain and President of Method Studios. Over his career, he has overseen Oscar-winning visual effects on Titanic, What Dreams May Come, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, blockbuster franchises like Top Gun: Maverick, Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Vol. 2, as well as the groundbreaking Tupac Shakur “Hologram” with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.

  His work spans films, music videos for artists from Michael Jackson to Lady Gaga, and hundreds of commercials, cementing his reputation as a pioneer at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and innovation.

While the use of AI to create media is exploding, it is mostly creating what we are coming to call slop. AI without a creative soul. Our industry sees the promise of AI beyond slop.And also the challenges. In this session we will explore how human creativity using powerful new tools that expand the creative palette can enable new ways to tell stories and engage audiences. And at the same time take a sober look at impacts and what is needed for our industry to embrace these new tools as “professionals”.

AI pioneer Nik Kleverov, Chief Creative Officer of Native Foreign (the first filmmakers to receive copyright on an AI animated film) sits down with Eric Iverson, CTO of United Talent Agency to discuss creativity in the era of AI and the path that has led to the first full length animated feature – Critterz.

• Eric Iverson, United Talent Agency
• Nik Kleverov, Native Foreign
  

  Nik Kleverov

  Native Foreign

  Nik Kleverov is a pioneering storyteller and thought leader making history with many firsts in AI. He is Chief Creative Officer of Native Foreign, a renowned agency celebrated for its innovative approach to brand storytelling. His career has taken him from creating iconic title sequences (Netflix’s Narcos) to viral commercial work, including the first ever AI brand film (for Toys”R”Us). Nik’s work highlights his expertise in merging creativity with technology. He is also a public speaker who has become a leading voice on how AI is reshaping the future of storytelling.

Ben Lock leads the development of Emerging technology workflows and tools at Asteria Films. He’ll show how human centered design is at the root of creative story telling and how new tools extend the artist’s creative palette and accelerate the production pipeline.

• Ben Lock, Moonvalley
  

  Ben Lock

  Moonvalley

  Benjamin Lock is a BAFTA-winning producer whose work sits at the intersection of storytelling, technology, and practical production. With 25 years of experience in animation, visual effects, and production technology, across Europe, Asia, and North America, he has guided filmmakers through the creative and logistical realities of large-scale animation and VFX. His credits include Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and Ready Player One, working on projects for George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, J J Abrams and more.

  His senior leadership roles at Aardman, Framestore, Lucasfilm/ILM, and Autodesk shape his approach to turning technical capability into production strategies that bridge creative ambition with grounded, scalable practice.Now based in Los Angeles, Ben leads AI-assisted production at Moonvalley’s Asteria Film Company, collaborating with studios on commercially safe models and artist-controllable pipelines.

  He also co-leads the Producers Guild’s Conversations in Innovation working group, helping producers evaluate emerging technologies with clarity and creative intent.

  He is a graduate of the UK’s National Film and Television School and a member of BAFTA, the Producers Guild of America, the Visual Effects Society, ASIFA-Hollywood, and the Television Academy.

Jason Zada, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Secret Level, one of the first AI-native entertainment studios, speaks about the radical ways technology is reshaping storytelling, creativity, and production, enabling content to be made at “the speed of culture,” and what industry adoption requires to make it possible.

• Jason Zada, Secret Level
  

  Jason Zada

  Secret Level

  Jason Zada is an Emmy-winning director, creative visionary, and storyteller who has spent over 25 years at the forefront of technology and entertainment. Known for blending innovation with compelling narratives, he has created some of the most viral and culturally impactful projects, including Take This Lollipop, Elf Yourself, and The Forest. With 26 Cannes Lions, SXSW Best in Show honors, and billions of global views for his work, Zada has a proven track record of pushing creative boundaries. As the founder of Secret Level, the leading AI-native entertainment studio, he continues to pioneer the intersection of AI, storytelling, and filmmaking, redefining the future of entertainment.

Storytelling has survived every technological shift but this one is different. Let’s stop chasing AI parlor tricks and start shaping tools that amplify human creativity. Let’s focus on the technologies, processes and policies that truly move the creative ecosystem forward. Join Christina Lee Storm, Ghen Laraya – Long, Lynn Renee Maxcy and Renard T. Jenkins for the conversation on building technology and an infrastructure that strengthens professional storytelling, not replaces it.

• Renard T. Jenkins, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs
• Ghen Laraya-Long, Technotainment Law
  

  Ghen Laraya-Long

  Technotainment Law

  Ghen Laraya Long is a seasoned international technology and entertainment attorney specializing in the complex transactional frameworks that power modern content creation, production, and distribution. With a career defined by navigating the shift from traditional media to emerging digital platforms, she provides strategic legal counsel to a diverse roster of clients, including independent creators, innovative startups, and global multimedia conglomerates.

  Ghen’s extensive professional background includes pivotal roles at industry leaders such as Disney, CBS, Red Bull, Yahoo, Mandalay Digital, Amp’d Mobile, and Tokyopop. Her expertise is particularly sought after in the realm of “future-proofing” content, ensuring that production and distribution contracts are resilient in the face of rapid technological disruption.

  At the leading edge of the industry’s most pressing conversations, Ghen is an active member of the Television Academy’s Standing Innovation Advisory Committee. She is a recognized thought leader and a frequent speaker on the legal implications of emerging tech at prestigious forums, including Corporate Counsel Women of Colour, Digital Hollywood, the TV Academy’s AI Summit, the Athena Film Festival, and Hollyshorts.

  Beyond her legal practice, Ghen is deeply committed to fostering a more inclusive and innovative industry. She currently serves on the board of Fil-Am Arts and has previously contributed her leadership to the boards of Women in Film, Greenlight Women, and Echoes of Hope. Her extensive community engagement also includes contributions to ReelStart, Women In Tech Hollywood (WiTH), Barely Canadian, Power Ladies, CinemaSala, and Canadians Abroad.

• Lynn Renee Maxcy, CCAI, Good Energy, Miry's List
• Christina Lee Storm, Secret Level
  

  Christina Lee Storm

  Secret Level

  Christina Lee Storm is an award-winning producer and accomplished executive recognized for her pioneering work bridging storytelling and technology spanning film, series, animation, documentaries, virtual reality, augmented reality, and XR.

  Christina Lee Storm is Co-Founder of PLAYBOOK PLBK and Head of Studio, Narrative at AI-native studio, Secret Level. Christina leads her companies to strategically, creatively and responsibly integrate emerging technologies like GenAI, real-time, and virtual production into narrative, digital, and multi-platform storytelling. She has been instrumental in implementing creative and strategic production technologies for franchises, IP, and world-building with studios such as Netflix, Universal, and DreamWorks Animation. Christina served as Head of Content & Acquisitions at Positron where she played a key role in strategizing, driving, and acquiring premium cinematic VR content for the company’s platform.

  Christina is Co-Founder of The Creative + Tech Orbit substack. She is Governor of the Television Academy’s Emerging Media Programming peer group, Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee, Lead for the Academy’s Responsible AI & Production Standards Working Group, and an active member of the Innovation Advisory Committee. Christina sits on the Producers Guild of America’s Production Innovation Task Force, Los Angeles Mayor’s Entertainment Industry Council, and Runway’s 100 Film Fund Advisor Panel.

  Globally known as a thought leader in the emerging media landscape, Christina was inducted into AWE’s inaugural XR Hall of Fame, received the Lumiere Distinguished Leadership Award in Technology, and is a newly inducted member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, Class of 2025.

Studio-grade AI filmmaking tools are now in the hands of millions of creators. With more than 50 million global users, Leonardo.AI’s generative AI suite powers first-time filmmakers to the highest echelon of directors and studios.

In this Supersession Keynote, Jessie Hughes, Senior Creative Technologist at Leonardo.AI, dives into what this innovation means for filmmakers, directors, and screen professionals leading from the front of our creative industry. Having trained the US Television Academy and Hollywood studios for years behind closed doors, Jessie offers a rare insider’s view — from when these tools were used without going public, to the public now having these exact same tools.

Jessie will share this month’s leading cinematic video workflows, reveal how studios are adapting in real time, and paint a clear picture of what screen professionals will need to thrive in 2026. More voices, smaller budgets, better stories. For those in the biz, how do we keep up as the tide rapidly rises?

• Jessie Hughes, Leonardo.Ai
  

  Jessie Hughes

  Leonardo.Ai

  Jessie Hughes is an internationally-recognised new media artist, technologist, scholar and screenwriter, her works having exhibited most notably at Sundance, SXSW, Cannes and the Tate Modern. She’s collaborated with the likes of Meta, Oculus and Adobe, in a decade of leading imaginative emerging technologies. Jessie Hughes is the Senior Creative Technologist at generative AI leader Leonardo.Ai, pioneering creative tools for a new era. She is an awarded early-adopter of new technologies.

We are at a pivotal moment where AI, audience behavior, and creator-driven platforms are redefining media, entertainment, and creative labor itself. This session brings together filmmakers, workflow innovators, and business leaders to challenge assumptions about authorship, virality, and the economics of creativity.

• Eliza Tan, Adobe
  

  Eliza Tan

  Adobe

  Eliza Tan works at the intersection of media, technology, and storytelling, managing a broad set of technology partnerships across Adobe’s digital video and audio products. Her work centers on integrating third-party tools into professional post-production workflows, with ongoing attention to the creator economy and emerging AI technologies.

  Born in Singapore, raised in Malaysia, and now based in San Francisco, Eliza brings a cross-cultural perspective informed by hands-on work in broadcast and documentary production across multiple continents. Alongside her industry role, she stays closely connected to early-stage creative and technical experimentation through community-driven AI film initiatives and hackathons, and contributes to industry conversations on how media workflows continues to evolve at the intersection of technology, creative intent, and human judgment.

3x Emmy Winning Creator for YouTube & Twitch, Commercial Director

• Bernie Su, Pickford AI
  

  Bernie Su

  Pickford AI

  Bernie is a Peabody and three-time Primetime Emmy award-winning creator, director, and interactive storyteller pushing the boundaries of AI-driven narrative. He is the creator and showrunner of Whispers, Pickford.ai’s groundbreaking interactive mystery series where audiences actively solve crimes alongside AI-powered characters. The experience was recently showcased at the Busan Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival.
  His Emmy-winning works include Jane Austen adaptations The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Emma Approved—capturing YouTube’s first two Primetime Emmys—and Artificial, the pioneering live interactive sci-fi series that became Twitch’s most decorated original, winning a Webby, Peabody, and Emmy.
  He recently directed the Olay Body Wash 2025 AAPI commercial campaign and is a sought-after speaker on generative AI’s transformative impact, ethics, and risk across the creator economy and traditional entertainment industry.

Creative Director, Open AI

• Chad Nelson, OpenAI
  

  Chad Nelson

  OpenAI

Creative Director for Mark Rober & Crunch Labs

• Pojo Riegert, CrunchLabs
  

  Pojo Riegert

  CrunchLabs

  Pojo Riegert is a Creative Lead, Director, and Writer heading Mark Rober’s Creative Team, shaping captivating stories that highlight incredible engineering and science. Serving as Mark’s second brain for social media storytelling, Pojo identifies what resonates deeply with audiences, driving clickable and engaging content. He spent his early career with Zach King, mastering short-form content strategy and helping triple his YouTube following, surpassing 40M subscribers in under 3 years. His experience also includes collaborative roles with influencers across the industry, fostering community driven efforts and relationships. Projects led by Pojo have collectively surpassed 4 billion views and earned recognition, including a Streamy Award for Best VFX.

Creative Journeys / Future Projection / Audience Q & A

• Eliza Tan, Adobe
  

  Eliza Tan

  Adobe

  Eliza Tan works at the intersection of media, technology, and storytelling, managing a broad set of technology partnerships across Adobe’s digital video and audio products. Her work centers on integrating third-party tools into professional post-production workflows, with ongoing attention to the creator economy and emerging AI technologies.

  Born in Singapore, raised in Malaysia, and now based in San Francisco, Eliza brings a cross-cultural perspective informed by hands-on work in broadcast and documentary production across multiple continents. Alongside her industry role, she stays closely connected to early-stage creative and technical experimentation through community-driven AI film initiatives and hackathons, and contributes to industry conversations on how media workflows continues to evolve at the intersection of technology, creative intent, and human judgment.

• Bernie Su, Pickford AI
  

  Bernie Su

  Pickford AI

  Bernie is a Peabody and three-time Primetime Emmy award-winning creator, director, and interactive storyteller pushing the boundaries of AI-driven narrative. He is the creator and showrunner of Whispers, Pickford.ai’s groundbreaking interactive mystery series where audiences actively solve crimes alongside AI-powered characters. The experience was recently showcased at the Busan Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival.
  His Emmy-winning works include Jane Austen adaptations The Lizzie Bennet Diaries and Emma Approved—capturing YouTube’s first two Primetime Emmys—and Artificial, the pioneering live interactive sci-fi series that became Twitch’s most decorated original, winning a Webby, Peabody, and Emmy.
  He recently directed the Olay Body Wash 2025 AAPI commercial campaign and is a sought-after speaker on generative AI’s transformative impact, ethics, and risk across the creator economy and traditional entertainment industry.

• Chad Nelson, OpenAI
  

  Chad Nelson

  OpenAI

• Pojo Riegert, CrunchLabs
  

  Pojo Riegert

  CrunchLabs

  Pojo Riegert is a Creative Lead, Director, and Writer heading Mark Rober’s Creative Team, shaping captivating stories that highlight incredible engineering and science. Serving as Mark’s second brain for social media storytelling, Pojo identifies what resonates deeply with audiences, driving clickable and engaging content. He spent his early career with Zach King, mastering short-form content strategy and helping triple his YouTube following, surpassing 40M subscribers in under 3 years. His experience also includes collaborative roles with influencers across the industry, fostering community driven efforts and relationships. Projects led by Pojo have collectively surpassed 4 billion views and earned recognition, including a Streamy Award for Best VFX.

Innovation Zone Presentations
presented by Gloshine

12:30 pm – 12:50 pm
SMPTE 2110 Solution Powered by NVIDIA BlueField – Puget Systems

12:50:00 PM
Program announcements – James Blevins, MESH & Eliza Tan, Adobe

This session will explore how Netflix and their Media Production Suite is working to remove operational friction in the filmmaking process to better amplify creativity and build a frictionless, global ecosystem. It will focus on why the future of cloud-based production relies on people, collaboration, and trust, and will call for collective industry alignment on open standards like OTIO, FDL, and AMF.

• Naz Pethani, Senior Director, Content and Business Products, Netflix
  

  Naz Pethani

  Senior Director, Content and Business Products, Netflix

  Naz is an entrepreneurial Product and Technology leader with over two decades of experience at the forefront of innovation in the Media & Entertainment industry. He brings a unique and powerful blend of expertise in Technology, Gen AI, Media Operations and Business Leadership, and has a passion for curating high-performing teams that build industry-transforming solutions. He has a proven track record of setting a vision and turning it into reality through an iterative, data-informed approach to build sustainable and rapidly growing enterprises.

  A technologist at heart, Naz graduated from USC with a Master’s in Computer Science, focusing on AI/ML and Media, and began his career by launching and commercializing technologies like UMD, HD-DVD, and Blu-ray for major Hollywood studios like Universal, Disney, Paramount, Lionsgate and Warner Bros. He was a key architect in Deluxe’s transformation from a film lab into a digital powerhouse where he built and led high-performing New Technology teams. In various executive roles at Deluxe, he managed engineering, global media operations, R&D, P&Ls, and product portfolios, culminating in his role as SVP of Product. In this capacity, he spearheaded the integration of multiple acquisitions into the award-winning Deluxe One Platform, a comprehensive ecosystem of products spanning lens to living room.

  In his most recent role as the Head of Product for Content Production and Studio Innovation at Netflix, Naz leads a portfolio of technology investments in live-action production media technology, visual effects/animation, studio technology, Gen AI and infrastructure. He charted the vision and led teams working on Netflix’s cloud-native Media Production ecosystem (MPS) that empowers creative teams with tools and time savings enabling them to tell incredible stories without worrying about media logistics. Naz’s teams also pioneered cutting-edge, hybrid infrastructure for content creation that facilitates seamless collaboration among creators and artists globally. He leads the technology strategy for the Studio at Netflix, including advanced technologies (AI/ML), to enhance production capabilities and position Netflix at the forefront of technological innovation.
  Naz is passionate about the power of technology, particularly AI, to empower storytellers globally to do their best creative work and bring their artistry to a worldwide audience. In his spare time, Naz is dedicated to cutting-edge neuroscience-based mental health, serving on private boards and volunteering to champion advancements in the field.

• Jeff Smith, Director, Post Production - Unscripted, Netflix
  

  Jeff Smith

  Director, Post Production - Unscripted, Netflix

• Lisa Higgins, Age of Attraction, Executive in Charge
  

  Lisa Higgins

  Age of Attraction, Executive in Charge

• Shannon Hollins, Temptation Island S2, Assistant Editor
  

  Shannon Hollins

  Temptation Island S2, Assistant Editor

  Shannon Hollins is an Assistant Editor with experience across both scripted and non-scripted television. Her credits include popular series such as Love Is Blind and Temptation Island. She brings a detail-oriented, collaborative approach to post-production, with expertise in Avid Media Composer, media and Nexis management, as well as turnovers and online prep. She regularly collaborates with editors, producers, post supervisors, and online and mix teams to help ensure smooth, efficient workflows from offline through delivery.

• Jenna Vu, Death by Lightning, 3 Body Problem, Post Producer
  

  Jenna Vu

  Death by Lightning, 3 Body Problem, Post Producer

  Jenna Vu is a Post Producer, currently overseeing editorial on Season 2 of Netflix’s 3 Body Problem. She has previously worked on series such as Death by Lightning, Veep, and House of Cards. She has over a decade of experience in post, leading teams from pre-production through final delivery.

  Jenna grew up in San Diego before moving to Los Angeles to attend the University of Southern California, where she studied film production.

WTF is a “Software-Defined Workflow” and how can it provide the flexibility and interoperability that creative teams need to adapt to change – by 2030 and beyond.MovieLabs and Industry Forum members demonstrate, live without a net, how flexible workflows built with software components that seamlessly interoperate will provide the foundations to better leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI), easily deploy Intelligent Automation (IA) and quickly adopt any other emerging technologies that would benefit productions in the future.

• Jim Helman, CTO, MovieLabs
  

  Jim Helman

  CTO, 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 driven industry initiatives for the studios including high dynamic range video in worldwide video standards. Jim also led the design and implementation of the Entertainment Identifier Registry (EIDR), for which he received an Engineering, Science and Technology Emmy.

  Prior to MovieLabs, Jim was chief software architect at Liberate Technologies, where he developed an early platform for delivering Internet applications to televisions. Before that he worked at Silicon Graphics, developing real-time 3D systems for VR, location-based entertainment, and visual simulation. He’s also consulted extensively, including for Xerox PARC and for NEC Research Labs, where he successfully raised TSA and venture funding for an AI video recognition spin off.

  Jim holds M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Applied Physics from Stanford and a B.A. in Physics and Math from Washington University.

• Mark Tuner, Program Director, MovieLabs
• Chris Vienneau, Advisor, MovieLabs
  

  Chris Vienneau

  Advisor, 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.

• Jason Fotter, BIND Studio
• Peter Postma, Managing Director, FilmLight
  

  Peter Postma

  Managing Director, FilmLight

  Peter Postma is Managing Director of the Americas at FilmLight, developing color grading and image management tools that are used in motion picture productions of all sizes. Previously Peter worked as a systems engineer at Eastman Kodak helping pioneer digital intermediate technology. Peter has taught seminars around the world on color management for production and post-production and holds a BFA in Film and Animation from Rochester Institute of Technology.

• Stephen Shapiro, Director Technology Post Production, Sony Pictures
  

  Stephen Shapiro

  Director Technology Post Production, Sony Pictures

  After a 15-year career in freelance editorial as an assistant editor for major motion pictures and episodic television, Stephen transitioned to the Technology Development group at Sony Pictures Entertainment bringing his expertise in post-production and editorial workflows to the studio. Stephen enjoys workflow design and implementation for all aspects of production workflows including VFX, picture and sound editing, and post finishing.

WTF is going on in our supply chain businesses? How do founders of mature companies take advantage of new opportunities and how can new founders find their path in the very bespoke world of the new emerging media ecosystem.

• Moderator: Seth Hallen, General Partner, Hallstone Ventures
  

  Seth Hallen

  General Partner, Hallstone Ventures

  Seth Hallen is Founder and Managing Partner of Hallstone Ventures and is a visionary leader in media and entertainment technology with over 25 years of global executive experience across the emerging media technology landscape. Now an active investor and advisor, Seth supports AI-driven startups bringing his expertise and vast network to the founders.

  Former President of the Hollywood Professional Association for 9 years and a current member of the Television Academy’s AI Task Force, Seth is helping shape the future of content creation. He champions AI as a creative partner-an accelerator for human imagination-and continues to drive innovation by bridging technology and storytelling.

  Through decades of leadership, Seth has built high-performing teams, forged strategic industry relationships, and consistently delivered transformative growth. His mission is clear: empower creators, anticipate disruption, and inspire ethical, tech-enabled progress in the entertainment industry.

• Ethan Jacks, Principal, MediaBridge Capital Advisors
  

  Ethan Jacks

  Principal, 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. MediaBridge principals, including Courtney Spencer, a partner since 2018, have closed over 50 major transactions in 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 that fueled Avid’s growth in market value from $400 million to $2.5 billion. Previously 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.

• Vince Pizzica, Investor/Advisor/Board Member, Pacific Strategic Partners
  

  Vince Pizzica

  Investor/Advisor/Board Member, Pacific Strategic Partners

  Vince Pizzica is a globally recognized leader in the information and communications technology (ICT) and media sectors, with over four decades of experience driving strategic transformation and innovation. Throughout his career, he has held key executive roles, including Chief Technology Officer, Chief Marketing Officer, and President of a €1.5 billion enterprise. Notably, Vince was instrumental in the successful turnaround of Thomson SA, later rebranded as Technicolor SA, where he spearheaded corporate restructuring and strategic acquisitions.

  Currently, Vince serves on the boards of several private equity-backed and venture-funded companies, including MediaKind, Sohonet, and CREE8, contributing his expertise to businesses navigating digital disruption. His global career has taken him across China, Europe, and North America, equipping him with invaluable cross-cultural insights.

  An engineer by training, with a Master’s degree in Telecommunications from the University of Essex, Respected for his forward-thinking approach and his ability to guide organizations through complex transitions, Vince remains a trusted advisor and thought leader in the ever-evolving intersection of business and technology.

• Joe Harkins, MediaTech Investor
  

  Joe Harkins

  MediaTech Investor

  Joe Harkins is a venture capital and media technology investor based in Los Angeles. He invests in visionary founders and fund managers across the media, entertainment, and technology landscape. Joe’s background is in corporate development, where he led mergers and acquisitions and completed both sell-side and buy-side transactions.

  Joe began his media career as an artist, working in visual effects for feature films, commercials, and music videos for 15 years before moving into corporate development and investing. He contributed VFX to more than two dozen tentpole films across all major studios, including Oscar winners Hugo, Avatar, and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.

  He is an active member of the Visual Effects Society and SIGGRAPH and holds a degree in Computer Animation. Joe also earned an MBA from Pepperdine University and is a member of the international business honor society Beta Gamma Sigma.

Katie Hinsen looks at the huge possibilities of WTF is going on beyond Film and Television and inspires the Tech Retreat audience to literally think outside of the box and the boxes that constrain media.

• Katie Hinsen, SVP Post Production, Sphere Studios
  

  Katie Hinsen

  SVP Post Production, Sphere Studios

  As Senior Vice President, Post Production at Sphere Entertainment Co., Katie oversees all post production operations for Sphere Studios – the immersive content studio dedicated to developing multi-sensory entertainment experiences exclusively for Sphere. In this role she leads a team of digital artists and technicians specialized in large format and high-resolution production who are delivering first-of-its-kind visual and audio content leveraging Sphere’s next-generation technologies. This includes the venue’s exterior – the “Exosphere” – the world’s largest LED screen; the interior display plane – the world’s highest-resolution LED screen; and the world’s most advanced audio system, Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT.

  Katie is an international award-winning executive with credits on over 125 major productions, and has spent much of her career focused on the development and implementation of emerging technologies that are transforming the entertainment world. Prior to joining Sphere Entertainment in 2024, Katie served as Director of Technology for Marvel Studios, where she worked to reimagine the content creation process. Her early career experience includes roles as a finishing artist, engineer, editor, VFX artist, and colorist.

  She is the co-founder of Blue Collar Post Collective, a grassroots initiative supporting emerging talent in post production. She is also a recipient of a Leadership Award from Women in Technology Hollywood, an organization that inspires, empowers and educates to create an equitable and inclusive Media and Entertainment technology community.
  Katie is originally from Aotearoa, New Zealand.

• Buzz Hays, Google

In this session, Thom Belda, Director of Mayo Clinic’s Immersive Experiential Learning Technology, will delve into how M&E core technologies are coming together to help revolutionize and democratize medical education. The focus will be on Mayo Clinic’s innovative approach, including the utilization of digital twins, immersive, augmented and virtual reality, and advanced, private (Mayo Clinic-Specific) large language models. These elements are designed to create immersive, scalable, and personalized learning experiences for healthcare providers, trainees, and medical students. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how these innovations can redefine training and knowledge-sharing in healthcare, highlighting the broader impact of media technology beyond the realms of film and television.

• Thom Belda, Mayo Clinic
  

  Thom Belda

  Mayo Clinic

  Professional Summary: Thom Belda has dedicated most of his professional career to Mayo Clinic, contributing significantly over the past 20 years to innovation in healthcare technology and healthcare simulation training. Currently, Thom serves as Director for Enterprise Immersive and Experiential Learning Technologies, Mayo Clinic. This work involves the application of infrastructure technologies, leveraging AI, gaming (serious games) technologies in the development of sophisticated immersive training using a variety of immersive tools. Scaling these technologies and applications, this work will lead to experiential driven education for workforce development, medical school, nursing, and allied health training programs, as well as for the residents and fellows that receive their residency training as part of the Mayo Clinic Alix College of Medicine. Thom’s goal is to achieve sustainable immersive training opportunities for all students and healthcare providers at Mayo Clinic in the near future.
  Thom has played a pivotal part in aligning simulation technology with Mayo Clinic’s mission of excellence in patient care, education, and research. His collaborative approach brings together multidisciplinary teams, fostering innovation in simulation-based curricula and assessment tools that address evolving healthcare challenges. Thom’s forward-thinking vision has helped integrate advanced digital platforms and data-driven methodologies, ensuring that simulation education remains at the forefront of healthcare digital transformation. His ongoing commitment to professional development and mentorship continues to shape the next generation of simulation technologists and educators within the Mayo Clinic enterprise, reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement and exceptional patient outcomes. His commitment stems from the need to ensure all staff have effective tools to provide optimal patient care.

  Education and Training: Thom earned an M.S. in Information Technology from Florida Institute of Technology (2014) and a B.S. in Information Technology from Concordia University, St. Paul (1998).
  Thomas began working in simulation in the early 2000s with an engineering team at Mayo Clinic, involved in design and licensing an aviation training simulator for pilots. This training platform was developed in response to a shift in aviation from military trained commercial pilots to more civilian based pilots in addition to the shuttering of hypobaric chamber hypoxia training programs run by the miliary at that time. This simulator was implemented into many flight simulation training programs nationally and internationally in the early half of the 2000’s. In 2005, he shifted focus to healthcare simulation technology, having been recruited by the medical director, Dr. William Dunn. Thom led the technical planning and infrastructure implementation along with aspects of the environmental design for the very first Mayo Clinic Multidisciplinary Simulation Center in Rochester, MN, which led to more Simulation Centers being developed and modeled after this one. Thom was involved in the Enterprise establishment of the Mayo Clinic Simulation centers in Phoenix Arizona and Jacksonville Florida. Recently, Thom has consulted nationally and internationally with Mayo Clinic Care Network Hospitals desiring to implement and establish similar simulation technology focused training platforms for the benefit of their institutions and patients. Thom holds multiple technology patents from this work. He has contributed to several technology-focused roles with the International Society for Simulation in Healthcare and contributed to multiple technology-focused projects. He remains dedicated to developing advanced healthcare training systems to improve patient safety and outcomes through simulation.

   

In this session, explore the migration of media technology into the enterprise. Lap Luu, Magnopus CTO, will demonstrate how the OKO spatial platform, powered by Google Cloud’s global infrastructure and Gemini AI, is bridging the gap between high-fidelity storytelling and industrial utility. From spatial computing interfaces that guide design, buildout, and operations to digital twins that manage city-scale infrastructure, we will demonstrate that the workflows of Hollywood can solve cross-industry challenges.

• Lap Luu, Magnopus
  

  Lap Luu

  Magnopus

  Lap Van Luu is the Chief Technology Officer at Magnopus, a content-focused technology company that unifies the physical and digital worlds. A veteran of the media and entertainment industry, Lap has spent over 25 years solving complex infrastructure challenges, ensuring that cutting-edge creative visions are supported by robust, scalable technology.

  At Magnopus, he leads the technical strategy, building the complex pipelines that power cross-reality experiences for global expos, theme parks, and Hollywood. Lap specializes in translating media entertainment technology into scalable solutions for industries “beyond the frame.

• Leon Silverman, Strategic Perspective; HPA Past President
  

  Leon Silverman

  Strategic Perspective; HPA Past President

  Leon Silverman is a pioneering executive with more than 40 years at the intersection of media, entertainment, and technology innovation. With leadership roles at industry defining and iconic companies like Kodak, LaserPacific, Disney, and Netflix, he has consistently driven groundbreaking advances in technology, fueled creative enablement, workflow innovation, and next-gen infrastructure.

  He serves MovieLabs, the technology R&D Lab owned by the major Studios as Chair of the MovieLabs Industry Forum, where he spearheads an aligned global effort to literally define and invent the future of media creation.

  As head of Strategic Perspective Consulting, he helps drive industry strategy at the intersection of creativity and technology.  His clients include major Hollywood Studios, industry services and creative technology organizations.

  Silverman is a Venture Partner and Investor in Hallstone Ventures and serves as senior advisor to MediaBridge Capital, a Boston-based boutique investment bank focused on mergers and acquisitions and consulting for media and entertainment.

  He was one of the founders and was the original and long-standing president of the HPA – the Hollywood Professional Association, where he continues to advise and serve as Program Chair of The HPA Tech Retreat Super Session.

  Silverman serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Production and Technology Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he also served a six year term on the Science and Technology Council. In addition, Silverman is a sponsor of and helped to design and launch the Academy’s talent development initiative, the Gold Rising program.

  Silverman also serves on the Executive Committee of the new Science and Technology peer group at the Television Academy and is a long serving member of its Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards committee.

  He has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the HPA, the Bob Lambert Technology Leadership Award from the Entertainment Technology Center at USC, has 2 Emmy Awards for his contributions to technology innovation, holds 10 issued patents and numerous Disney Inventor awards for his contributions to patent applications.

  He has served multiple terms as Governor and is a Life Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), where he was awarded its Presidential Proclamation honoring his “contributions to the Society and the media entertainment industry as a visionary, innovator, and mentor.”

• Annie Chang, NBCUniversal
  

  Annie Chang

  NBCUniversal

  Annie Chang is the Vice President, Creative Technologies for NBCUniversal, responsible for developing strategies and designing innovative next-generation workflows across film and episodic television productions. Prior to joining NBCUniversal, 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 an AMPAS Governor-at-Large, the Chair of the AMPAS SciTech Council and the Board Chair for UHD Alliance. She was the Chair of the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) Working Group at SMPTE, is an SMPTE Fellow and 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.” Annie has been honored 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,” as well as TVNewsCheck’s Women in Technology Futurist Award, Women in Technology WiTH Leadership Award, SMPTE’s Presidential Proclamation, DEG Entech Hall of Fame award and a Technology and Engineering Emmy for her work with IMF.

Innovation Zone Presentations
presented by Gloshine

6:30 pm – 6:50 pm
Secure by Default: Why Facility-Grade Protections Must Move to the Edge – IoDyne

Sponsored by The Studio B&H

1. AI assistant editors, Brian Kenworthy, AWS
2. The live stream distribution mess: let’s fix this together, Chris Lennon, Ross Video
3. Why display uniformity matters, Eric Dalton, Eizo
4. AI personalization and the new viewer experience, Steven Sabonjohn, EPAM
5. Financing your growth with venture capital or private equity, Ethan Jacks, MediaBridge
6. Human+Machine: redefining creative workflows, Soyoung Lee, Twelve Labs
7. Synthetic users in the loop, Michael Ronen, Wonderland
8. End of EDL? frame matching, AI, & rise of version intelligence, Jason Brahms, Edit Hero
9. Building open and interoperable media workflows, Andreas Hoeschle, Pixitmedia/Datacore
10. Building real media pipelines in the production cloud era, David Colantuoni, Storj
11. A new framing of forensic watermarking in Hollywood, James Hynard, Castlabs
12. Private 5G and CBRS for live broadcast and remote production, Jim Jachetta, VidOvation
13. Beyond the render: expanding cloud in post & VFX, Stephanie Deguzman, Suite Studios
14. Beyond the booth: using events to tell tech co.’s stories, Lori H. Schwartz & Carin Mazaira
15. Partnership: can you compete without it? Sarah Macfarlane, The DPP
16. AI: enriching metadata, de-riching operational budgets, Nick Pearce, ad signal
17. The case for a single monitor HDR/SDR color grading paradigm, Flanders Scientific Inc.
18. Making Capture-to-Cloud Cost-Effective, Secure, and Practical, Michael Gitig, iodyne
19. Performance-led AI in VFX pipelines, Verena Puhm & Jon Finger, Luma AI
20. AI impact on automated QC of subtitles/captions, Fereidoon Khosravi, Venera Technologies
21. Metadata retrieval during post-production, Ashay Javadekar, Eagle Studio
22. Unscripted 2.0: how tech is empowering reality content, Irad Eyal, Quickture
23. Creators meetup — Gen AI artists, Jessie Hughes, Leonardo.ai
24. Evolving 8K ecosystem & immersive home entertainment, Juan Reyes, Tech Align Group
25. If the Hollywood moat’s gone, is it democratization? What changes? Darren Frankel, Adobe
26. Memory shortages and effects on all computer hardware, Jon Bach, Puget Systems
27. AI agents as creative co-pilots in editorial discovery, Eliot Sakhartov, Microsoft
28. Scaling Global VFX w/AI-Accelerated Pipelines, Sarah McGrail Global Visual FX, Ad.ai
29. The agentic workbench: empowering production with agentic AI, Ranjit Raju, Google
30. Telemetry: bringing F1-style real-time intelligence to film & TV, John Corser, FilmIQ

See program below for dedicated Innovation Zone hours

• Renard T. Jenkins, I2A2 Technologies, Studios & Labs

• 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. Most-recently, he received the Television Academy’s Charles F. Jenkins Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award. He once piloted the Fuji blimp and has been known to wear shoes.

• Lori H. Schwartz, StoryTech
  

  Lori H. Schwartz

  StoryTech

  Lori H. Schwartz, affectionately known as the “Tech Cat (Technology Catalyst),” is a leading voice at the crossroads of media, technology, and storytelling. As Founder and CEO of StoryTech, she guides brands and executives through the fast-changing innovation landscape with curated tech tours, salon-style gatherings, and strategy sessions.

  A longtime champion of turning complex trends into practical insights, Lori is recognized for creating VIP experiences at global events such as CES, NAB Show, Infinity Festival and now the HPA Retreat! She brings leaders face-to-face with transformative ideas in AI, immersive media, and next-gen connectivity, helping them understand not just what’s coming, but how to act on it.

  As a sought-after host and moderator, Lori is known for her mix of insights, humor, and authority. She has led hundreds of panels and fireside chats with senior executives, producers, and technologists, bridging Hollywood creativity with Silicon Valley innovation.

  A frequent CNN contributor, Lori also designs conversations that spark community and collaboration across industries. Her mission is simple: to help organizations and audiences embrace change with confidence, curiosity, and imagination and have fun doing it.

  She is the proud mom of GEN Zer and animator, Sadie Bee, who teaches her new stuff daily.

• Mark Harrison, DPP
  

  Mark Harrison

  DPP

  Dr Mark Harrison
  Founder and Chief Content Officer, DPP Ltd

  Mark began his career as an Historian before moving into the media industry as a Director, Producer and Executive Producer. He won numerous awards for his filmmaking, including an International Emmy and a BAFTA nomination.

  Mark ran an independent production company, before joining the BBC as Head of Arts, and then Head of Multiplatform Production. He was 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. In 2024 Mark passed the CEO role to Rowan de Pomerai, and is now Founder and Chief Content Officer.

• Matthew Goldman, Sinclair
  

  Matthew Goldman

  Sinclair

  Matthew Goldman is Vice President Strategic & Technical Initiatives at Sinclair, Inc. He has been actively involved in the development of digital television systems for over 30 years. In the 1990s, he was a prominent participant in the Moving Picture Experts Group where he helped create the MPEG-2 Systems standard, the baseline transport technology used in direct broadcast satellite, digital cable, and terrestrial broadcasting. Mr. Goldman was a co-developer of the Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) Program and System Information Protocol (PSIP) standard. In the mid-2000s, he defined the broadcasting industry’s first compressed-domain program splicer. Four of his projects were later recognized by Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards. A technical paper on high dynamic range video that he co-wrote received the Best Paper Award of the 2015 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Broadcast Engineering Conference. He is an author of the 2007 and 2017 editions of the NAB Engineering Handbook, and has been published in the IEEE Proceedings and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) Motion Imaging Journal. Mr. Goldman received Bachelor (high honors) and Master of Science degrees in electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He holds six patents related to digital video transport. A SMPTE Fellow and past President of the Society, he is also a senior member of the IEEE, and an inductee of the Academy of Digital Television Pioneers. Mr. Goldman currently is Chairperson of the North American Broadcasters Association Technical Committee.

Amid content scraping and AI-generated media, creators and tech professionals in the media and entertainment industry want transparency, clarity and protection for their work and livelihoods. Content Credentials (C2PA), a technical media authenticity and content provenance framework, has gained adoption as a way to take control over digital media and intellectual property, and distinguish it from the stuff made by AI. But as media companies and independent creators consider using the content “nutrition labeling” system, there are important tradeoffs they will need to consider whether they’re just thinking about using C2PA or already are.

In this talk, Kate Kaye, deputy director of World Privacy Forum and co-author of the only independent report on C2PA focused on data, privacy, identity, and trust will help HPA members understand:
• Misguided assumptions about what C2PA does and does not do
• Wide access and exposure of C2PA data showing details about content owners, companies and creators
• The C2PA “Trust Model” and “Trust List” and how they work to help measure the trustworthiness of content
• How back-end C2PA technical decisions affect media businesses and individual creators
• A related C2PA-based framework intended for asserting digital rights and media usage preferences called JPEG Trust

• Kate Kaye, World Privacy Forum
  

  Kate Kaye

  World Privacy Forum

  Kate Kaye is deputy director of World Privacy Forum, a nonpartisan 501c3 nonprofit organization conducting research in the public interest. Kate is the co-author of World Privacy Forum’s September 2025 report, Privacy, Identity and Trust in C2PA, which offers the first privacy and identity-focused analysis of the emerging content provenance and “labeling” technical framework, also known as “Content Credentials.” Before joining WPF, Kate worked as a journalist for more than 20 years, reporting on data-centric algorithmic technical systems, how they use data and affect people, and on policy regulating tech. She was a senior staff reporter covering AI and data for Protocol (a Politico-offshoot publication) and covering platforms, data and privacy for Digiday. She also built Advertising Age’s beat covering the “big data” industry and was among the very first reporters to cover digital political ad targeting including through her reporting at ClickZ. Her freelance reporting has been published in MIT Technology Review, NPR, Bloomberg CityLab, OneZero, WSJ, Fast Company and IAPP. Kate has won several journalism awards including First Place Society of Professional Journalists NW Excellence in Journalism Technology Awards in 2019 and 2022. Kate is also author of Campaign ’08: A Turning Point for Digital Media, a book about the paid digital media and targeting efforts of the 2008 presidential campaigns, published in January 2009.

With the increasing rate of change in our business, how can we possibly keep up, while doing the right thing collectively to ensure the level of interoperability that is demanded of us? Part of the answer is to work cooperatively in a “rising tide” spirit, but these days, that has to happen rapidly.

SMPTE has streamlined many of its processes and provided tools for us that are beginning to really bear fruit. Its Rapid Industry Solutions (RIS) organization has made meaningful impact. RIS-OSA has cranked out a collection of badly needed solutions that address interoperability among media services, key in today’s hybrid cloud world.

Key among those is its current work on the next big SMPTE standards suite – ST 2138 (Catena). Leveraging well-accepted and adopted industry standards such as Zero Trust, gRPC, REST, ProtoBuf and a host of others, Catena has been able to be developed quickly into the industry’s newest (and only) open-source standard for control of media devices and services. Using SMPTE’s Public Committee Draft (PCD) process to get documents and code out in front of implementers rapidly, alongside freely accessible Github repositories has been a boon to providing solutions quickly to the industry.

It will be a dive into what’s been going on in SMPTE and RIS, with a focus on Catena, along with a sneak peek at what’s planned for the remainder of 2026.

• Moderator: 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.

• Brian Cipponeri, Dell
  

  Brian Cipponeri

  Dell

  Brian Cipponeri is a fourth-generation media and technology leader with over 25 years of experience helping organizations modernize how storytelling is created, managed, and delivered. Raised in a family with deep roots in Hollywood, Brian represents a living bridge between the creative traditions of early cinema and the data-driven realities of today’s media industry.

  His great-grandfather started as a cameraman for Warner Brothers in the 1920s, his great uncle was a Society of Camera Operators Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, and his mother built a long-standing career in animation at Hanna-Barbera, Filmation, and Disney Animation.

  While his heritage is grounded in creative production, Brian’s career has focused on the technology and infrastructure that enable modern media at scale. As a concept thinker and seasoned technologist, he has led and advised on large-scale data platform design across media and entertainment, genomics, aerospace, government, and healthcare, environments where reliability, performance, and long-term data stewardship are essential.

  Brian began his career at Walt Disney Interactive as a Technical Support Engineer, gaining firsthand insight into the operational demands of creative teams. He currently serves as Global Media & Entertainment Data Platforms Architect at Dell Technologies, where he works with studios, broadcasters, and content creators worldwide to architect resilient systems for production, post-production, streaming, and content preservation.

  Known for translating complex technical challenges into clear, actionable strategies, Brian effectively aligns creative, technical, and executive stakeholders. He is a strong advocate for collaboration and future-ready design, ensuring technology empowers creativity for storytelling.

• Jim Helman, MovieLabs
• Thomas Bause Mason, SMPTE
  

  Thomas Bause Mason

  SMPTE

  Thomas Bause Mason is the Director of Standards Development at the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) where he leads SMPTE’s standards development efforts and industry engagement. He began his career in Cologne, Germany, as a computer programmer for automation software in the nuclear and automobile industries. Before his move to Los Angeles, Bause Mason worked at the West German Television (WDR) and Cologne Broadcasting Center (CBC), where he led the quality control department. In addition, he worked as an independent database developer. In Los Angeles, he became a postproduction consultant, building and running the encoding operations for Ascent Media. Joining NBC Universal in 2005, he focused on emerging digital media technology, spending two years in London to support the company’s international business. Moving to New York in 2008, Bause Mason provided proof of concept, product evaluation, and best practice implementation advice to NBC Universal’s various business units. He assisted industry organizations in the development of standards, technical recommendations, and study group reports. He has a master’s-equivalent in media technology and holds multiple patents in watermarking, 3D, authentication, metadata tagging, and VR.

• 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.

• Moderator: Tom Graham, Dolby Laboratories
  

  Tom Graham

  Dolby Laboratories

  With over three decades immersed in Hollywood’s post-production landscape, Tom Graham, Head of Dolby Vision Content Enablement at Dolby Laboratories, brings unparalleled insight into the world of audio-visual content creation and delivery. An early pioneer of Avid Pro Tools, now at Dolby, Tom champions the transformative power of Dolby Vision, collaborating closely with content creators, studios and post facilities to unlock the full potential of high dynamic range storytelling.

• Eddie Drake, The Walt Disney Studios
  

  Eddie Drake

  The Walt Disney Studios

  As Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for The Walt Disney Studios, Eddie provides leading-edge technology and production services for Marvel Studios, Disney Live Action, 20th Century Studios, and Searchlight Pictures. His team also supports Studio Operations, Studio Marketing, and Franchise teams; oversight of the Content Security organization; and leadership of innovative research through Disney Research Studios based in Zurich, Switzerland.
  Previously, Eddie served as Head of Technology for Marvel Studios building on a 30-year career dedicated to advancing the technical and creative boundaries of media and entertainment. He holds more than 50 patents in the space and serves on the Boards of MovieLabs and the Entertainment Technology Center@USC, contributing to the industry’s future standards.

• Annie Chang, NBCUniversal
  

  Annie Chang

  NBCUniversal

  Annie Chang is the Vice President, Creative Technologies for NBCUniversal, responsible for developing strategies and designing innovative next-generation workflows across film and episodic television productions. Prior to joining NBCUniversal, 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 an AMPAS Governor-at-Large, the Chair of the AMPAS SciTech Council and the Board Chair for UHD Alliance. She was the Chair of the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) Working Group at SMPTE, is an SMPTE Fellow and 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.” Annie has been honored 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,” as well as TVNewsCheck’s Women in Technology Futurist Award, Women in Technology WiTH Leadership Award, SMPTE’s Presidential Proclamation, DEG Entech Hall of Fame award and a Technology and Engineering Emmy for her work with IMF.

• Bill Baggelaar, UHDA

• Josh Pines, Picture Shop
  

  Josh Pines

  Picture Shop

  joshua pines – chief troublemaker and luddite
  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.

  picture shop recently acquired the post production facilities previously under the corporate umbrella of technicolor. joshua 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 over a decade at industrial light & magic. 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.

Innovation Zone Presentations
presented by Gloshine

12:45 pm – 1:15 pm
AI in Motion: Advancing Image and Video Quality for Modern Filmmaking – Topaz Labs

1:25 pm – 1:45 pm
Storage using synthetic DNA – Atlas Data Storage

Whether AI sticks in post-production will depend largely on editorial judgment. This panel examines which tools are earning trust in real workflows, where skepticism remains warranted, and how these decisions are shaping the future of the edit room.

• Moderator: Laura Pursley, Purrmark Consulting
  

  Laura Pursley

  Purrmark Consulting

  Laura Pursley is a marketing and strategy leader specializing in emerging technologies in production, post-production, and broadcast. Throughout her career, she has helped companies including Frame.io, Sony Electronics, and Light Iron introduce new tools to professional creative audiences. Known for bridging technical innovation with the crafts of motion pictures, Laura brings a practitioner’s understanding of how—and when—new technologies are adopted in real-world workflows. She is the host of The Moving Crafts, a podcast exploring how creative work evolves alongside new technology.

• Inbal Lessner, ACE, C-Sharp Productions
  

  Inbal Lessner, ACE

  C-Sharp Productions

  Inbal B. Lessner is a senior documentary programming executive, executive producer, and editor with more than a decade of experience delivering premium nonfiction films and docuseries for major platforms and networks. Her work spans documentary development, programming oversight, editorial leadership, and post-production management, with a reputation for guiding complex projects from concept through delivery and launch.

  Lessner currently serves as Director of Documentary Programming at Hidden Empire Film Group, where she executes the company’s documentary programming goals across development, production, and post-production. In this role, she oversees budgets, schedules, staffing, editorial direction, and delivery across multiple feature films and docuseries, hires and manages post-production teams, and sources and oversees outside vendors. She partners closely with senior executives on greenlight decisions, production strategy, and release planning.

  As a filmmaker, Lessner is twice Emmy-nominated and ACE Eddie Award–winning editor and producer. Her credits include Escaping Twin Flames (Netflix), Seduced: Inside the NXIVM Cult (STARZ), Brave Miss World (Netflix), Stormy (Peacock), CNN’s The Decades series, Victim/Suspect (Netflix), ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke (Netflix), October 8, and I Have Never Forgotten You. She is known for strong story instincts, rigorous editorial standards, and the ability to elevate late-stage projects while maintaining schedules and budgets.

  Lessner is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she was awarded the WTC Johnson full-tuition Fellowship. She is a member of the Television Academy and American Cinema Editors (ACE).

• Danielle DiStefano, ITV America
  

  Danielle DiStefano

  ITV America

  As Chief Technology Officer for ITV America, Danielle DiStefano is a proven technology leader who oversees all facets of the company’s technology strategy, from production and post-production workflows to facility infrastructure and enterprise IT.

  DiStefano’s ascent to CTO is marked by a history of driving technical innovation and operational excellence across the media industry. Her deep capabilities in post-production and workflow design were honed through key leadership roles in unscripted post-production and live sports over the past 25 years.

  Danielle’s Emmy-winning experience at the Olympic Games with high-stakes, large-scale technical environments prepared her to consistently deliver creative, outside-the-box technical solutions essential for high-quality content delivery for hit shows such as Love Island USA, Hell’s Kitchen and Queer Eye.

  Dedicated to fostering the next generation of industry leaders, Danielle extends her expertise beyond her corporate duties. She actively mentors peers and colleagues through various programs, prioritizing her role as a role model and mentor for women and the LGBTQ+ community in production. When she is not focused on data and fiber connectivity, Danielle enjoys time with her wife, daughter, and dog Clifford, often found at the dog park or driving her daughter to theater practice.

• Matt Lathrop, Walt Disney Studios, StudioLAB
  

  Matt Lathrop

  Walt Disney Studios, StudioLAB

  Matt Lathrop is the Software Engineering Lead in StudioLAB at the Walt Disney Studios, where he has been for the past three years. In this role, he works on supporting productions across the company with new innovative technologies from the industry. Before joining Disney, Matt gathered experience in various innovation groups across multiple industries, focusing on solving complex problems and driving technological advancements. He holds a BS in Computer Science from Stanford University.

• Kelsey McCullough, Walt Disney Studios, StudioLAB
  

  Kelsey McCullough

  Walt Disney Studios, StudioLAB

  Kelsey is the Senior Manager of Product Development for Walt Disney Studios, StudioLAB, where she has been for the last 4+ years. She leads the delivery of innovation projects for Disney Studios in collaboration with StudioLAB’s partner companies. Prior to this role, she spent 8 years in product management and data analytics for Disney’s theme park technology group. She holds a MS in Applied Math and Statistics from Georgetown University.

• Mariana Fernandez, Accenture
  

  Mariana Fernandez

  Accenture

• Moderator: 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.

• Ben Abergel, Ciné Nissim
  

  Ben Abergel

  Ciné Nissim

  Ben Abergel is a creative technologist and filmmaker specializing in artificial intelligence and virtual production. With a focus on developing pipelines that support storytelling, he works at the intersection of AI, real-time tools, and filmmaking to enhance pre-production, production, and post-production. Through Ciné Nissim, his creative production company, he provides AI-driven creative services, research and development, and consulting for film and television.

  His work includes serving as Head of AI Technology & Production on two projects with the Entertainment Technology Center, including an AI hybrid live-action production where he led AI and virtual production workflows. He is also a graduate of the HPA’s Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) program.

• Freddy Chávez Olmos, Boxel Studio
  

  Freddy Chávez Olmos

  Boxel Studio

  Freddy Chávez Olmos is a multidisciplinary Creative Director with over 20 years of experience in filmmaking and visual effects. Known for being at the forefront of emerging technologies, he leverages AI and innovation to empower creators and shape the future of storytelling.
  Born in Puebla, Mexico, Freddy studied special effects make-up in Los Angeles and apprenticed under legendary artist Dick Smith (“THE EXORCIST”). Based in Vancouver, he has worked on projects by visionary filmmakers like Guillermo del Toro, Neill Blomkamp, Robert Rodriguez, Tim Burton, and Christopher Nolan. His collaborations with top VFX studios including Double Negative, Industrial Light & Magic, Weta Digital, and Image Engine, include contributions to the Oscar-winning “BLADE RUNNER 2049” and the Emmy-winning “THE MANDALORIAN”.

  Freddy’s award-winning directorial debut, “SHHH”, received international acclaim, including praise from Guillermo del Toro. As a member of the Directors Guild of Canada, he has directed episodes of CW and Netflix’s “TWO SENTENCE HORROR STORIES” and written for the Mexican horror anthology “LA HORA MARCADA” (2022).

  Currently, Freddy serves as the Creative Director for AI and Innovation at Boxel Studio. He is also part of the Creative Partners Program (CPP) and beta testing groups for cutting-edge tools such as Leonardo AI, Runway, Luma Dream Machine, Pika Labs, Viggle, Beeble Switchlight, Higgsfield AI, Simulon, Wonder Dynamics and Topaz Labs. His recent work at Boxel Studio on the television series Superman & Lois exemplifies his pioneering approach, using machine learning tools to accelerate and optimize production workflows, an achievement that led the team to receive Autodesk’s “Innovator of the Year” award in 2025.

• Juan Salazar, Foundry

• Moderator: Thomas True, NVIDIA
  

  Thomas True

  NVIDIA

  Thomas True is a senior applied engineer for professional media workflows in NVIDIA’s Enterprise Products Group. In this role he works at the intersection of video I/O and the Graphics Processing Unit(GPU) where he focuses on the integration of GPU and networking 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.

• Jason Schleifer, Griptape
  

  Jason Schleifer

  Griptape

  Jason Schleifer is a creative and technical leader with over 25 years in animation, technology, and storytelling. Currently Chief Creative Officer at Griptape, he focuses on Griptape Nodes: empowering creative professionals to harness AI in a predictable, controllable way to create exceptional content. As co-founder of Nimble Collective (acquired by AWS), he helped develop cloud-based animation production workflows, enabling studios to collaborate and produce from anywhere. His career includes senior creative roles at DreamWorks, Weta Digital, and AWS, blending artistry, mentoring, and strategic vision. Jason thrives on solving creative and technical challenges, inspiring teams, and helping artists bring ideas to life.

• Soyoung Lee, Twelve Labs
• Shani Mandel Laufer, Lightricks

In an increasingly complex global media landscape, understanding the legal and policy developments shaping the industry is essential. Ben Sheffner, drawing on his experience as SVP & Associate General Counsel, Law & Policy at the Motion Picture Association, will provide an overview of key legislative and regulatory issues currently under discussion in the U.S. and internationally. This session will explore how these developments may influence the media and entertainment ecosystem, offering attendees timely insights into the evolving legal environment.

• Ben Sheffner, Motion Picture Association
  

  Ben Sheffner

  Motion Picture Association

  Ben Sheffner is Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel, Law & Policy, at the Motion Picture Association, where he specializes in copyright, First Amendment, and other legal and policy issues of importance to the MPA’s member studios. With dual appointments in the MPA’s Legal and Government Affairs departments, Ben works closely with attorneys and policy advocates internally and at the MPA’s member studios to formulate and implement strategies to create a favorable environment for the industry to thrive, both economically and creatively. Among his several roles, Ben frequently represents MPA before federal and state government officials and entities; manages the MPA’s amicus brief program; and serves as counsel to the Title Registration Bureau.

  Prior to joining the MPA in 2011, Ben held in-house legal positions at NBCUniversal and Twentieth Century Fox, and worked as an associate in the Century City office of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, where he litigated copyright and other cases for major movie studios, television networks, and record labels. In 2008, Ben served as Special Counsel on Senator John McCain’s presidential campaign, where, among other responsibilities, he handled the campaign’s copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property issues. Ben served as a law clerk for the Hon. M. Margaret McKeown on the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit from 2000-2001.

  Ben serves as an Adviser to the American Law Institute’s Restatement of the Law, Copyright project and has previously held positions as a Trustee of the Copyright Society of the USA as well as the Los Angeles Copyright Society, and as a participant on the Uniform Law Commission committee that drafted a uniform anti-SLAPP statute.

  Prior to attending law school, Ben worked as a political reporter in Washington, DC for the Cook Political Report and Roll Call newspaper, where he covered congressional elections, the term limits movement, campaign finance reform, and various other issues related to Congress’ internal politics and administration. Ben received an A.B. from Harvard College and a J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall).

• Doug Walker, Autodesk
  

  Doug Walker

  Autodesk

  Doug is a Distinguished Engineer at Autodesk where he is the Technology Lead for Color Science, working on products such as Flame, Maya, 3ds Max, and Arnold. He is active in open source projects, serving as the Chief Architect on the OpenColorIO Technical Steering Committee and collaborating on color-related features in OpenUSD and MaterialX. He led the team of Autodesk engineers that developed OpenColorIO v2. Doug has been honored with the Natalie M. and Herbert T. Kalmus Medal and the Workflow Systems Medal from SMPTE and with an HPA Engineering Excellence award.

• Scott Dyer, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
  

  Scott Dyer

  Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

  Scott Dyer is a Senior Imaging Engineer at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and currently serves as Chair of the ACES Project within the Academy Software Foundation. He holds a B.S. in Motion Picture Science from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has spent his career exploring the intersection of color science, imaging technology, and open-source standards.

  Outside of work, Scott enjoys creating art out of playing cards and can occasionally be found representing the United States in international mölkky tournaments.

• Jeff Sengpiehl, Qualstar
  

  Jeff Sengpiehl

  Qualstar

  Jeff Sengpiehl is an executive in the Media / Broadcast Integration sector and Facilities and cloud infrastructure space for content creation and delivery, currently serving as Chief Technology Officer for the data storage powerhouse, Qualstar.

  With several years spent between various industry segments in Post Production Rentals and Facilities and Broadcast, Sengpiehl accrued more than 30+ years in the M&E industry with key executive roles as Vice President of Engineering, Panavision / Light Iron, Chief Engineer at Sim International, and CTO / Chief Technologist at Key Code Media. He’s also the founder and moderator for several social media and email technology groups, specialized for post-production products and services.

  Sengpiehl is a proven workflow / systems design consultant, and advisor and cooperates as advisor with several consultation groups, and is skilled in Mentoring of co-workers and staff to thrive in fast-evolving M&E environments – to make the best possible choices.

  Since the early 2000’s he has been an Industry Thought Leader with the ability to unite the creative, operations and operations stakeholders in environments of change – Helping all to reach excellence for the organization, the client, and themselves – even in times of crisis and uncertainty. He is also a live and web event host and panelist bringing clarity and education on technology and process for the industry at large.

• Heidi Shakespeare, Memnon
  

  Heidi Shakespeare

  Memnon

  Heidi Shakespeare is the CEO of Memnon and a visionary leader with over 25 years experience driving growth in the broadcast and digital archiving industries. A recognized thought leader in the evolution of media migration solutions, Heidi has played a pivotal role in transforming how organisations preserve and access audiovisual content in an increasingly digital world.
  She has consistently championed the importance of technological innovation in a field often rooted in legacy formats. Recognizing the transformative power of AI, Heidi has ensured that the solutions developed under her leadership incorporate the latest advancements—creating intelligent, future-ready systems for digitizing, enriching, and preserving media content.
  Under her guidance, Memnon has expanded its global presence by developing cutting-edge media migration facilities, reinforcing its reputation as a leader in preserving the world’s cultural and historical heritage.
  Heidi began her career in advertising, where she developed a strong foundation in strategic communication and client engagement. During a sabbatical, she travelled the world and worked as a trapeze artist—an experience that reflects her adventurous spirit and resilience, qualities that continue to shape her leadership today.
  Prior to joining Memnon, she held senior leadership roles at Iron Mountain and Bonded Services Group, gaining deep expertise in managing complex archiving initiatives. Through her commitment to innovation, access, and preservation, Heidi is helping ensure that invaluable content from the past is not only safeguarded but accessible for future generations.
  Alternative:
  Heidi Shakespeare is the CEO of Memnon and a visionary leader with over 25 years of experience in the broadcast and digital archiving industries. A recognized thought leader in media migration, she has transformed how organizations preserve and access audiovisual content in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world.

  Heidi has championed technological innovation in a field rooted in legacy formats, leading the development of intelligent, future-ready systems for digitizing, enriching, and preserving media archives. Under her leadership, Memnon has significantly expanded its global presence and forged strategic partnerships with blue-chip industry powerhouses such as AWS, Globant, and Veritone. These partnerships reflect Heidi’s deep understanding of customer needs and long-term objectives—aligning Memnon with trusted global brands to elevate customer experience, drive strategic brand alignment, and boost global brand awareness.

  Beginning her career in advertising, Heidi developed a strong foundation in strategic communication and client engagement. Prior to Memnon, she held senior roles at Iron Mountain and Bonded Services Group, where she led complex archiving initiatives. Through her unwavering commitment to innovation, access, and preservation, Heidi is ensuring that vital content from the past remains discoverable and accessible for generations to come.

• Carin Forman, AWS
• Tim Stockhaus, Meta Martis
  

  Tim Stockhaus

  Meta Martis

  Tim Stockhaus is the Founder and CEO of Meta Martis, a media technology company specializing in large scale digitization, preservation, and long term stewardship of the world’s most valuable video and audio archives. With decades of experience across broadcast, studios, sports, and cultural institutions, Tim is recognized for bridging deep technical expertise with practical business execution.
  Under his leadership, Meta Martis has delivered complex archive migration and digitization projects for major media organizations, government entities, and global broadcasters, combining on site robotic ingest, rigorous quality control, and AI driven metadata enrichment to transform legacy content into searchable, monetizable assets.
  Tim is also the driving force behind Meta8, a next generation Tier 3 deep archive private cloud platform built on non proprietary, air gapped storage technology. Meta8 is designed to complement public cloud infrastructure while providing ultra secure, low energy, long term storage with rapid access, AI powered search, and future proof data ownership. The platform addresses the growing need for authenticity, compliance, and resilience in an era of escalating cyber risk and content proliferation.
  Prior to Meta Martis, Tim founded and led multiple successful media technology ventures and was closely involved in the early evolution of professional media workflows, earning a reputation as both an innovator and trusted partner to some of the most demanding content owners in the world.
  Tim continues to focus on helping organizations future proof their archives, reduce long term storage risk, and unlock new value from legacy media through thoughtful technology design and disciplined execution.

• Ari Abelson, Open Origins
  

  Ari Abelson

  Open Origins

  Ari Abelson is the Co-Founder and President of OpenOrigins. OpenOrigins is building the technology that enables organizations to protect their IP, visual media and new content in a world of AI. Formerly, Ari worked as a digital researcher, working on disinformation and misinformation projects in collaboration with the Dstl, Ministry of Defence, LSHTM and Facebook.

• Andrea Kalas, Iron Mountain
  

  Andrea Kalas

  Iron Mountain

  Andrea Kalas is Vice President of Media and Archival Services at Iron Mountain, where she leads an amazing team of experts who provide an enormous range of archival services to Entertainment companies, universities, corporations and individuals who care about their assets enough to entrust them to us to both preserve and share them with the world.

  Previously, Andrea ran the Paramount Archives where she combined preservation expertise with technical innovation to build what is now one of the world’s most valuable film archives. Before joining Paramount, Andrea served as Head of Preservation at the British Film Institute, Digital Studio Director for Discovery Communications, Archivist for Dreamworks SKG, and preservationist and research data expert at UCLA Film and Television Archive. She is former President of the Association of Moving Image Archivists and a current member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences where she founded the Academy Digital Preservation Forum Initiative. Andrea has preserved or restored over 2000 films over her career, and in 2023 she was the recipient of the HPA Outstanding Achievement in Restoration award for the restoration of The Godfather, 1972 d. Francis Ford Coppola.

• Seth Hallen, General Partner, Hallstone Ventures
  

  Seth Hallen

  General Partner, Hallstone Ventures

  Seth Hallen is Founder and Managing Partner of Hallstone Ventures and is a visionary leader in media and entertainment technology with over 25 years of global executive experience across the emerging media technology landscape. Now an active investor and advisor, Seth supports AI-driven startups bringing his expertise and vast network to the founders.

  Former President of the Hollywood Professional Association for 9 years and a current member of the Television Academy’s AI Task Force, Seth is helping shape the future of content creation. He champions AI as a creative partner-an accelerator for human imagination-and continues to drive innovation by bridging technology and storytelling.

  Through decades of leadership, Seth has built high-performing teams, forged strategic industry relationships, and consistently delivered transformative growth. His mission is clear: empower creators, anticipate disruption, and inspire ethical, tech-enabled progress in the entertainment industry.

• Kyle Hjelmeseth, G&B Digital Management, Inc.
  

  Kyle Hjelmeseth

  G&B Digital Management, Inc.

  Kyle Hjelmeseth (“YELM-SETH”) is a prominent figure in the digital media landscape, renowned as the Founder and CEO of G&B Digital Management. As a self-made minority business owner, Hjelmeseth brings a unique perspective to his work, leveraging his personal experiences as a mixed-race individual to champion messages of diversity and inclusivity. With a solutions-driven attitude and an innovative business model, he has successfully built media momentum around these crucial themes.

  Under Hjelmeseth’s exceptional leadership, G&B has emerged as a trailblazer, revolutionizing talent management with integrity and fostering a refreshingly diverse company culture. The agency exclusively represents over 100 influencers who embody the powerful ethos of inclusivity, transforming them into influential figures. G&B’s exceptional achievements have been recognized through numerous prestigious accolades, including twice being named one of the “Fastest Growing Private Companies in America” on the esteemed Inc. 5000 list. Kyle was awarded the 40 Over 40 honor by Campaign US in 2025, has been twice nominated at LA Business Journal’s CEO of the Year. As a testament to his industry expertise, Hjelmeseth is frequently sought after as a speaker and thought leader. He has been invited to lead discussions at prestigious events such as the Young President’s Organization (YPO), Google and the Influencer Marketing Show, where he shares his insights and drives conversations on critical topics. Notable media outlets including Business Insider, Forbes, Good Day, Glossy, and more have featured Hjelmeseth personally, solidifying his reputation as an authority in the field.

  Hjelmeseth’s unwavering commitment to excellence has propelled G&B to reach remarkable revenue milestones, with an impressive 75% referral and retention rate that speaks to the firm’s exceptional work and dedication to client success. Collaborating with globally recognized brands, from Chanel to Target and everything in between, he and his team expertly manage and secure brand deals for a diverse roster of influential individuals, spanning both macro (1M+ following) and mid-tier (100k-500k following) influencers.

  In addition to his groundbreaking work at G&B, Hjelmeseth has spearheaded the transformative programs, College of Influence [link]. College of Influence offers an unparalleled educational platform with unique learning modules, empowering talent to thrive and evolve. Drawing on his extensive background in mentoring and entrepreneurship, Hjelmeseth and his team of top influencers provide essential guidance, from navigating contracts to negotiating deals and beyond, to ensure a prosperous career trajectory.

• Eliot Chang, Figment
  

  Eliot Chang

  Figment

  Eliot is a creative technologist focusing on social software and world building.
  His startup Figment aims to create the tools that allow creators to bring their worlds to life, and the platform to let anyone explore them.
  Before Figment, he was at Fortnite working on their social and growth org as a product designer.

• Leon Silverman, Strategic Perspective; HPA Past President
  

  Leon Silverman

  Strategic Perspective; HPA Past President

  Leon Silverman is a pioneering executive with more than 40 years at the intersection of media, entertainment, and technology innovation. With leadership roles at industry defining and iconic companies like Kodak, LaserPacific, Disney, and Netflix, he has consistently driven groundbreaking advances in technology, fueled creative enablement, workflow innovation, and next-gen infrastructure.

  He serves MovieLabs, the technology R&D Lab owned by the major Studios as Chair of the MovieLabs Industry Forum, where he spearheads an aligned global effort to literally define and invent the future of media creation.

  As head of Strategic Perspective Consulting, he helps drive industry strategy at the intersection of creativity and technology.  His clients include major Hollywood Studios, industry services and creative technology organizations.

  Silverman is a Venture Partner and Investor in Hallstone Ventures and serves as senior advisor to MediaBridge Capital, a Boston-based boutique investment bank focused on mergers and acquisitions and consulting for media and entertainment.

  He was one of the founders and was the original and long-standing president of the HPA – the Hollywood Professional Association, where he continues to advise and serve as Program Chair of The HPA Tech Retreat Super Session.

  Silverman serves as a member of the Executive Committee of the Production and Technology Branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, where he also served a six year term on the Science and Technology Council. In addition, Silverman is a sponsor of and helped to design and launch the Academy’s talent development initiative, the Gold Rising program.

  Silverman also serves on the Executive Committee of the new Science and Technology peer group at the Television Academy and is a long serving member of its Technology and Engineering Emmy Awards committee.

  He has been honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the HPA, the Bob Lambert Technology Leadership Award from the Entertainment Technology Center at USC, has 2 Emmy Awards for his contributions to technology innovation, holds 10 issued patents and numerous Disney Inventor awards for his contributions to patent applications.

  He has served multiple terms as Governor and is a Life Fellow of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), where he was awarded its Presidential Proclamation honoring his “contributions to the Society and the media entertainment industry as a visionary, innovator, and mentor.”

• Annie Chang, NBCUniversal
  

  Annie Chang

  NBCUniversal

  Annie Chang is the Vice President, Creative Technologies for NBCUniversal, responsible for developing strategies and designing innovative next-generation workflows across film and episodic television productions. Prior to joining NBCUniversal, 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 an AMPAS Governor-at-Large, the Chair of the AMPAS SciTech Council and the Board Chair for UHD Alliance. She was the Chair of the Interoperable Master Format (IMF) Working Group at SMPTE, is an SMPTE Fellow and 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.” Annie has been honored 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,” as well as TVNewsCheck’s Women in Technology Futurist Award, Women in Technology WiTH Leadership Award, SMPTE’s Presidential Proclamation, DEG Entech Hall of Fame award and a Technology and Engineering Emmy for her work with IMF.

Sponsored by AMD, Dolby & Sohonet

Innovation Zone Presentations
presented by Gloshine

6:45 pm – 7:05 pm
Zero Copy Content Supply Chain – From source Through Distribution and Monetization – Eluvio

7:20 pm – 7:40 pm
Preserving the Performance: Human-Led Hybrid AI for Complex Production Workflows – Verena Puhm & Tony Hou, Luma AI

7:40 pm
Closing Remarks – James Blevins, MESH & Eliza Tan, Adobe

Dive into the latest research and case studies from the Entertainment Technology Center exploring the evolving landscape of AI filmmaking. This session spotlights Pathways, a hybrid AI film blending traditional and machine-assisted production methods, and The Bends, a fully generative cinematic experiment. Hear how creative teams developed, executed, and delivered professional-grade projects using next-generation AI tools—revealing both the opportunities and challenges shaping the future of film production.

• Erik Weaver, Entertainment Technology Center
  

  Erik Weaver

  Entertainment Technology Center

  Erik Weaver is an Emmy-nominated producer and applied researcher focused on the evolution of in-camera VFX (ICVFX) into AI-driven production workflows. As Head of Virtual & Adaptive Production at the Entertainment Technology Center at USC, he leads research and real-world deployments that bridge traditional virtual production with generative AI. His recent projects include The Bends, Pathways, and ChickaBOOM, exploring scalable, professional AI pipelines while preserving creative intent and cinematic craft.

• Tom Thudiyanplackal, Entertainment Technology Center
  

  Tom Thudiyanplackal

  Entertainment Technology Center

  Tom Thudiyanplackal is a creative executive, studio head, and creative technologist operating at the intersection of media, technology, and human-centered innovation. With experience spanning blockbuster film marketing, original IP development, and AI-enabled production pipelines, he builds scalable storytelling ventures across film, episodic, and interactive platforms. His work focuses on transforming how content is conceived, produced, and monetized in a digitally saturated world.

  He is the Founder and CEO of The How and The Why LLC, and serves as an Executive Producer with the Entertainment Technology Center @ University of Southern California, a Producer and Industry Mentor at the School of Cinematic Arts, and MA+P at USC. His global work advances boundary-pushing productions that apply technology as an enabling force, expanding what human artists can create and making previously unreachable stories achievable.

• Sarah Ivy, Producer
  

  Sarah Ivy

  Producer

  Sarah Ivy is an award-winning producer and director based in Venice Beach, CA, specializing in AI-driven R&D and commercial production at a professional and studio level. Her work builds scalable hybrid workflows that blend generative AI with live action and traditional post to deliver client-ready results.
  In the past, Sarah has worked across the physical production and development landscapes, including independent films, television, production companies and studios. She served as Vice President and Producer at Master Key Productions, where she led international shoots for numerous shows, including the likes of Scandal, Covert Affairs, and Royal Pains. Additional companies that she worked for are Warner Bros., DC Entertainment, New Line Cinema, Valhalla Entertainment, Jerry Bruckheimer Films & Television, MTV Films and CBS’s Criminal Minds.
  She has also produced and directed two feature documentaries, earning critical acclaim and awards for impact-driven storytelling.
  In addition to traditional filmmaking, Sarah is passionate about the evolving role of technology in the arts by actively exploring the intersection of filmmaking and machine learning, creating AI-driven short projects and educating other filmmakers on how generative AI can transform the creative process.
  As a graduate of the USC School of Cinematic Arts, her work continues to be driven by a commitment to powerful, thought-provoking storytelling.

• Christina Lee Storm, Secret Level
  

  Christina Lee Storm

  Secret Level

  Christina Lee Storm is an award-winning producer and accomplished executive recognized for her pioneering work bridging storytelling and technology spanning film, series, animation, documentaries, virtual reality, augmented reality, and XR.

  Christina Lee Storm is Co-Founder of PLAYBOOK PLBK and Head of Studio, Narrative at AI-native studio, Secret Level. Christina leads her companies to strategically, creatively and responsibly integrate emerging technologies like GenAI, real-time, and virtual production into narrative, digital, and multi-platform storytelling. She has been instrumental in implementing creative and strategic production technologies for franchises, IP, and world-building with studios such as Netflix, Universal, and DreamWorks Animation. Christina served as Head of Content & Acquisitions at Positron where she played a key role in strategizing, driving, and acquiring premium cinematic VR content for the company’s platform.

  Christina is Co-Founder of The Creative + Tech Orbit substack. She is Governor of the Television Academy’s Emerging Media Programming peer group, Co-Chair of the Advocacy Committee, Lead for the Academy’s Responsible AI & Production Standards Working Group, and an active member of the Innovation Advisory Committee. Christina sits on the Producers Guild of America’s Production Innovation Task Force, Los Angeles Mayor’s Entertainment Industry Council, and Runway’s 100 Film Fund Advisor Panel.

  Globally known as a thought leader in the emerging media landscape, Christina was inducted into AWE’s inaugural XR Hall of Fame, received the Lumiere Distinguished Leadership Award in Technology, and is a newly inducted member of the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences, Class of 2025.

• Ben Abergel, Ciné Nissim
  

  Ben Abergel

  Ciné Nissim

  Ben Abergel is a creative technologist and filmmaker specializing in artificial intelligence and virtual production. With a focus on developing pipelines that support storytelling, he works at the intersection of AI, real-time tools, and filmmaking to enhance pre-production, production, and post-production. Through Ciné Nissim, his creative production company, he provides AI-driven creative services, research and development, and consulting for film and television.

  His work includes serving as Head of AI Technology & Production on two projects with the Entertainment Technology Center, including an AI hybrid live-action production where he led AI and virtual production workflows. He is also a graduate of the HPA’s Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) program.

• Tiffany Lin, Writer/Director, THE BENDS
  

  Tiffany Lin

  Writer/Director, THE BENDS

  Tiffany Lin is a Taiwanese-American filmmaker born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area currently based in Los Angeles. A graduate of USC’s film production program, Tiffany has worked extensively across live action and animation. As a writer and director, her work has been recognized by film festivals including the Student Academy Awards, Urbanworld Film Festival, and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival; her editing work has played at festivals like SXSW, Tribeca, and Slamdance. She was a 2023-2024 Film Independent LAIKA Project Involve fellow. Through her work, she aspires to tell emotionally honest stories in unconventional ways.

As cinemas seek bold new ways to engage audiences, immersive LED domes are opening the door to entirely new forms of shared entertainment, transforming how guests engage with IP. In this presentation, Alexis Scalice and Andy Merkin of Cosm will take us behind the scenes of The Matrix in Shared Reality and Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in Shared Reality, Cosm Studios’ first two groundbreaking adaptations of film into their new format of Shared Reality Cinema.

Drawing from their work with Cosm’s Studios and Media teams, Alexis and Andy will share how the projects were conceived, the creative and technical challenges of translating a cinematic classic into a fully immersive environment, and what this means for the future of cinema and location-based entertainment. Attendees will gain unique insight into how new technologies are reshaping audience expectations, expanding storytelling possibilities, driving deeper fandom and creating repeat guest offerings that build long-term audience loyalty alongside new revenue models for theaters.

• Alexis Scalice, Cosm
  

  Alexis Scalice

  Cosm

  Alexis Scalice is the Vice President of Business Development and Entertainment at Cosm, the leading experiential media and immersive technology company redefining the way the world experiences content. Based in Los Angeles, Alexis builds Cosm’s portfolio of revolutionary Shared Reality and immersive experiences, driving Cosm’s mission to change the way the world experiences content by combining real-time innovation with cutting-edge entertainment.

  With over 15 years in live and location-based entertainment, Alexis has been recognized for her ability to drive fan engagement and brand loyalty while enhancing revenue streams across a variety of business units. Prior to joining Cosm, Alexis served as Vice President of worldwide location-based entertainment company Universal Live Entertainment Group, where she developed global collaborations and led landmark projects such as Jurassic World: The Exhibition and Downton Abbey: The Exhibition. Her previous roles include as Senior Director of Worldwide Live Entertainment at NBCUniversal, Director of Guest Experience at DreamWorks and Director of Guest Experience for Caruso overseeing hospitality and experience for The Grove in Los Angeles and The Americana at Brand in Glendale.

  In 2023, Alexis was named as one of Blooloop’s Power 10 Immersive Influencers, demonstrating her capacity to lead at the forefront of the entertainment sector. Her significant experience in both branded entertainment and guest-centric design complements Cosm’s aim of creating unmatched experiences for interpersonal connection and storytelling.

• Andy Merkin, Cosm
  

  Andy Merkin

  Cosm

  Overseeing arts and entertainment experiences for Cosm, Andy directs and produces stories and events for traditional and digital media and manages production for comprehensive pipelines: IP development and pre-production, experience design, design production, post-production, and programming.

  He is an Adjunct Professor and speaker on transmedia strategy and production across the world including USC, UCLA, Art Center, Harvard Business School, and professional conferences such as the Toronto International Film Festival, Los Angeles Film Festival, and Sundance Film Festival. He has served as a film expert with the Department of State traveling to Pakistan and Argentina. His award-winning projects include the PGA Innovation Award, Lumiere Award, Cannes Lions, SXSW Interactive Awards, D&AD Gold Pencils, and the 2006 Time Person of the Year.

  Andy holds an MS from MIT in transmedia production management, an MBA from HEC-Paris in creative management, and an AB with Honors from Rollins College in anthropology/ international business. A true believer that interesting storytellers (hopefully) have led interesting lives, Andy’s previous work experience includes development and production for Sony Pictures Television, training teachers and entrepreneurs in the Peace Corps in Bangladesh, performing improv, and educating students in zoo keeping for Busch Gardens.

• Buzz Hayes, Google

Discover how cutting-edge technology is reshaping television and film stunts. Go behind the scenes of The Fall Guy (2024) to see how today’s most daring action sequences are planned, engineered, and safely executed in a real-world case study.

• Moderator: Wendy Aylsworth, Walden Pond
• David Leitch, Director/Producer The Fall Guy, Stunt Designer

1. Set-to-cloud workflows, Zach Willner, AWS
2. AI and archives, Andrea Kalas, Iron Mountain
3. Creators meetup — Gen AI artists, Jessie Hughes, Leonardo.ai
4. AI personalization and the new viewer experience, Steven Sabonjohn, EPAM
5. Financing your growth with venture capital or private equity, Ethan Jacks, MediaBridge
6. Synthetic users in the loop, Michael Ronen, Wonderland
7. AI in Hollywood: the pendulum is finally settling, but where? Jon Bach, Puget Systems
8. Private 5G and CBRS for live broadcast and remote production, Jim Jachetta, VidOvation
9. AI: the elephant in the edit room, Wendy Aylsworth, WIP Advisory Council
10. Redefining industry grade results with future filmmaking, Mathieu Mazerolle, Foundry
11. M&E is undergoing structural change; who wins and loses? Darren Frankel, Adobe
12. Name, image, and likeness unique ID, Renard T. Jenkins, HAND
13. Scalable VP: redefining the creative workflow for any project size, V. Suresh, Disguise
14. Making Capture-to-Cloud Cost-Effective, Secure, and Practical, Michael Gitig, iodyne
15. WTF is the production industry headed? Chuck Parker, Sohonet
16. Technology of Stunts, David Leitch, Director/Producer The Fall Guy, Stunt Designer
17. Why your supply chain hates you (& how AI can help), Christopher Lewis, LTIMindtree
18. Navigating AI copyright issues in film and TV, Lisa Oratz, Perkins Coie LLP