News & Press

The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) has released additional programming details for the highly anticipated 2025 HPA Tech Retreat in Rancho Mirage, California. The popular TR-X session on Monday, February 17th will spotlight innovative solutions in affordable production, featuring case studies, panel discussions, and a keynote address. Monday’s sessions will bring together leading creatives and technologists who will share their real-world insights on how to achieve outstanding production results despite limited resources. Attendees will hear from experts on topics ranging from high-end productions and sports broadcasts to low-budget creative endeavors.

Monday, February 17, 2025 Schedule

Setting the stage
HPA President Kari Grubin opens the session and HPA Board members and HPA TR-X Co-Chairs Mark Chiolis and Craig German introduce the day.

Keynote, Disruptive Pixels: The Big Power of Small Budgets
Michael Cioni, CEO of Strada

Serial entrepreneur and Strada CEO Cioni will deliver a new wake-up call for industry professionals. As the rules of media and entertainment are being rewritten again and a new class of tools and technology threaten to disrupt our production and postproduction infrastructure, Cioni will dive into seismic shifts shaking our industry, exposing how new technology and platforms are challenging everything we thought we knew about making and distributing content.

The Art of Filmmaking: Mastering Affordable Film Production
Moderator: Lina Sánchez-Salamanca, Fox Entertainment
Panelists: Tahirah Foy, Arsenal FX Color; Brian Tran, Day For Nite; Kiera Williams, Kettle; and Starry Ye, Hwy 99 Filmworks

An insightful and practical panel discussion on the art of creating high-quality films without breaking the bank, featuring a diverse group of young industry leaders who share different creative solutions, budget management tips, equipment and technology options, collaboration facts and post-production workflows that will help create top notch quality films on a tight budget.

Case Study: Finding Production Efficiency through Technical Advancement
Moderator: Renard T. Jenkins, I2A2.io
Panelists: Rachel Joy Victor, FBRC.ai; Denys Krasnikov, Vidby

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

Nimble Approach: Leveraging iPhones in Professional Production
Moderator, Erik Weaver, Entertainment Technology Center
Dane Brehm, Cinetegral Technologies
Martin Christien, Iodyne

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

Get in The Game: Creative Strategies to Make Sports Productions More Affordable
Moderator: Jason Dachman, Editorial Director, SVG
Panelists: Brandin Grams, The Rowing Channel; David Shapiro, Pixellot; Nick Busto, NBC Sports

The concept of “affordable” has many meanings in live sports productions today, depending upon who you are, what you are working on and your distribution and delivery requirements. From film production to the industry transition to portable cameras and recorders, the cost structure changed once again but, for the most part, still required a very large capital investment or high rental fees for the use of the equipment and crew. Equipment costs are going down as the sophistication of AI-based automated-production systems rise, opportunities for additional down-market live-event coverage have opened up. Dachman moderates a panel of production executives and technologists that are working to democratize our workflows so that more events can be produced at an affordable price for this growing audience of passionate sports fans.

The Art of Cost-effective Techniques for High-End Productions
Moderator: Lori H. Schwartz, Story Tech
Panelists: Kathryn Brillhart; Angela Victor; Christopher Nichols, Chaos; Alex LoCasale, Torchlight

Filmmakers discuss achieving high-end production quality in tight budget constraints. This dynamic session will feature perspectives from experienced directors, producers, visual effects artists, and studio executives. Dive into their workflows, learn about the challenges they faced, and hear their invaluable lessons and strategies for navigating cost-effective production. Gain actionable insights that you can apply to elevate your own projects and create impactful productions without breaking the bank.

Wrap Up and Networking Reception

The day ends with a wrap up discussion by Chiolis and German followed by a networking and cocktails reception.

For three decades, the HPA Tech Retreat has been recognized for its in-depth and inventive approach to covering the critical topics facing the media creation industry. The Retreat is an uncommon gathering of thought leaders, technology trendsetters and creatives who gather in a non-marketing setting to discuss and explore the most important topics that face the industry during 4-plus days of sessions, roundtable discussions, conversation and technology demonstrations. Monday kicks off with a welcome brunch and the opening of the Innovation Zone.

The HPA Tech Retreat consistently sells out well in advance of the event and registration is expected to reach capacity quickly; securing a spot is highly recommended. Attendance is strictly capped to foster an atmosphere that promotes discussion, debate, and connection.

The 2025 HPA Tech Retreat takes place thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and HPA is pleased to announce AWS will be the Marquee Sponsor of the 2025 HPA Tech Retreat.  In addition, AOTO has come on board as the official HPA Tech Retreat Stage Sponsor. The Studio-B&H is the sponsor-host of the Tuesday Night Networking event. Other generous sponsors include Sohonet, Adobe, Dell Technologies, Signiant, and Tech Align Group. For information on sponsoring the 2025 HPA Tech Retreat, please contact Joyce Cataldo at jcataldo@hpaonline.com. For more information about the HPA Tech Retreat, visit www.hpaonline.com.