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Jackson Hole Tech Symposium assembles many of the brightest minds in the Industry to provide you with the inside story on advanced technologies and emerging trends in the digital media marketplace. TRACY SWEDLOW TO PRESENT OPENING KEYNOTE
Tracy Swedlow—CEO, publisher, and editor-in-chief of InteractiveTV Today [itvt]will present the opening keynote, this year!
InteractiveTV Today [itvt] is the most widely read and trusted publication in the world offering in-depth news and information about the rapidly morphing world of interactive and multiplatform television. Prior to founding [itvt] in 1998, Swedlow was chief evangelist at eGroups.com (now Yahoo! Groups), new media editor at PC World, a producer and director for pioneering interactive TV company, Telemorphix, and a video producer at Steve Michelson Productions in San Francisco. With this year's focus on new media platforms, Swedlow's opening comments on the swiftly expanding field of ITV and multiplatform distribution will complement Symposium seminars and panel discussions in the following days. Content creators and distributors wishing to be competitive in this new marketplace will find Swedlow an invaluable resource.
CONFIRMED SPEAKER AND PANELIST BIOS Wenden Baldwin
Director, Special Projects, DTS Digital Images
Leading initiatives for Digital Lab services for digital acquisition, image enhancement, and emergency image repair for film and digital, Wenden entered feature film post production in 1985 and has contributed to more than 100 features. Since 1996, she has been committed to producing high quality digital images in the roles of compositor, visual effects designer, producer, facility designer, and consultant. Wenden's taste for emerging technologies and esoteric projects has given her a number of opportunities to work on creative projects in collaboration with video artists and independent filmmakers. Wenden continues to pursue emerging technologies as a member of the DTS Digital Images team. During the last two years, she has been following the development of high resolution digital production cameras, establishing higher standards of quality for digitally captured images through specialized image processing and enhancement. Stephan Ukas-Bradley
Manager, Technical Services, ARRI, Inc.
Stephan Ukas-Bradley began working at the ARRI Munich facility in 1988 as an apprentice. After transitioning into the service department and then serving a brief stint in the military, he transferred to the Burbank, CA, office in 1994 where he served as a camera technician. Four years later, his duties expanded to technical representative. He has been heavily involved in the Digital Imaging department, supporting the beta test and establishing the service structure for the Arrilaser Film Recorder. In 2001, Ukas-Bradley was promoted to Manager of Technical Services, overseeing camera and lighting repair and supervising a team of technicians. Recently he has been invited to join the American Society of Cinematographers as an associate member. Steve Burns
EVP Production & Chief Science Editor, Discovery Networks, U.S.
A 14 year Discovery veteran, Burns is responsible for nearly two thousand hours of production per year, across ten DCI U.S. networks, including Discovery Channel, The Science Channel and Animal Planet. He has creative and editorial responsibility for science, factual specials and series, animal programming, current affairs and live productions. n addition to his EVP Production duties, he also fills the role of Science Editor across Discovery Networks. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President and General Manager of The Science Channel. Since June 2003, Burns has overseen all aspects of programming, development, marketing and management for the relaunch of The Science Channel. The rapidly expanding channel is now in 40 million homes. While with the Discovery Channel, the network’s filmmakers and executive producers were honored with 86 major nominations, including one Oscar. They won 11 Primetime Emmys, 14 News and Documentary Emmys, an Alfred I. Dupont Award, two Peabody awards and dozens of other industry honors. In 1993, Burns won a News and Documentary Emmy for Outstanding Informational or Cultural Program Award, for his work as Senior Producer on Spirits of the Rainforest. C.R. Caillouet
Owner, Vision Unlimited,LA
Involved in the television business for over 30 years, C.R. has worked in high definition for over half that time. He has made enough mistakes for all of us, and now spends a lot of time trying to keep new producers from making the same ones. C.R. possesses an intimate knowledge of all areas of HDTV production. Tucked away in the swamps of southern Louisiana, C.R. occasionally emerges from the backwoods to see the rest of the world, but prefers life on the bayou. Since 1997, C.R. has worked as the Festival's Technical Director. John Canning
Director of Content Production/Producer, Yahoo
Director of Content Production and producer for Yahoo! Studios which is responsible for The 9 and other original content production for Yahoo! Media Group, John was formerly the director of content distribution and field producer for Richard Bangs Adventures, a new content property for Yahoo! Media. Canning brings extensive experience in software and hardware platforms for media distribution and content creation to Yahoo!’s Media Group, which he joined in Sept ‘05. His role at Yahoo! is to design compelling consumer experiences online through unique multimedia content and industry partnerships. Previously he was at Microsoft, where he was part of eHome Division, whose mission is to offer consumers simple and enriching personalized entertainment, communications and information experiences. Canning led external evangelism for applications and services for eHome, working external third parties in the areas of media and data distribution, content, whole home control and services. He spent his formative years and too many of them to count at GA Institute of Technology where he studied Electrical Engineering, digital media design and usability and the relationship between science, technology and culture. Katherine Carpenter
Producer, Bahati Productions
An award-winning television producer and programming executive with extensive background in documentaries for Video-on-demand, broadcast, cable & the Web Katie was producer, director and writer with John Heminway of A Year On Earth, a global odyssey following three teenagers on an environmental research expedition, airing this fall on Discovery Kids and Discovery HD. Carpenter recently worked as Senior Executive Producer for Rainbow Media’s pioneering video-on-demand service, Mag Rack. Incubated at Cablevision and expanded to include more than 500 hours of non-fiction programming in 30 niche subject areas, Mag Rack was singled out by Multichannel News for the “Innovator Award” representing the best in cable TV programming. Prior to joining Mag Rack, Carpenter was Vice President of Programming for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and also headed up the National Audubon Society film and TV division, producing wildlife specials and series for TBS, Discovery, PBS and the Disney Channel, as well as LIVE educational wildlife-watch specials for distribution to elementary schools in the US and the UK. Frank Chindamo
President/Chief Creative Officer, Fun Little Movies
Frank Chindamo holds the world record for most short films made independently. FLM specializes in producing original, live-action comedy films for its mobile entertainment channels. FLM has been the subject of cover stories in Forbes Magazine and the L.A. Times, and has received coverage in other major publications, as well. Chindamo's films have appeared on HBO, Showtime, CBS, PBS, A&E, Playboy, MTV and Comedy Central, Britain’s Channel Four, and Canada’s CBC. He has garnered 20 awards including The American Cine Golden Eagle, honors at the The American International Film Festival, and a Finalist's Place for Best Short at the Cannes Film Festival. Barry Clark
Executive Producer, Mandalay Media
A long-time collaborator with Peter Guber in Mandalay Media Arts, Barry Clark is responsible for the production of more than 200 hours of (mostly miserable) fiction and nonfiction television programs, among which were some of the first HD programs to be broadcast on PBS. With Guber he produced the 3D IMAX film Galapagos, and he and Guber are currently collaborating with Pierre de Lespinois on the production of a 3D feature set in the late Cretaceous, a time of terror and turmoil -- a time very much like our own. Douglas Craig
Vice President, Programming - New Media Operations
The Discovery Channel
As vice president of programming for new media operations, Douglas Craig is responsible for the content on Discovery’s video on demand and mobile offerings. He develops programming products and packages of Discovery Networks content for the new media landscape, and works across the company’s business units to develop multi-dimensional partnerships. Craig oversees programming strategy and the use of the more than 100,000 hours of Discovery Networks content for the company’s various video on demand platforms, including Discovery On Demand and other PC on demand services such as iTunes, Movie Link, and Akimbo. Craig also supervises the creation of added-value VOD programming elements, develops Discovery On Demand packages for advertisers and affiliates, and coordinates with Discovery Networks’ on-air marketing department to use VOD to promote Discovery’s linear networks. In addition, Craig manages the content strategy and development for Discovery’s new mobile services including Discovery Mobile. Randall Dark
Co-Founder & President, HD Vision Studios
Back in 1986, Randall Dark was given the opportunity to view High Definition for the first time and knew it was the future of images. A few short years later, he founded HD Vision in New York City. The company’s mandate was to specialize in the growth of High Definition, launching Dark into the position of technological and creative visionary. An undisputed pioneer in the industry, today, Randall is the creative and marketing force behind HD Vision Studios in Los Angeles. Recognized globally as an expert in emerging technologies, Randall has spoken to audiences at events including: MIPCOM, Tokyo International Film Festival, Banff World Television Festival, National Association of Broadcaster's Convention, International Electronic Cinema Festival, Canadian Association of Broadcasters Convention, New York State Bar Association, Bear Stearns Media Conference, and NATPE. In addition to his experience in High Definition, Randall has recently completed a children's book entitled, The Tale of Sasquatch. Pierre de Lespinois
President & Co-owner, Evergreen Films, LLC
President, Managing Partner, & Co-owner of Meteor Studios, LLC
Since falling of a 500-foot cliff while filming a hang gliding segment, Pierre de Lespinois has been inspired as an adventurer and filmmaker, traveling from the top of the Andes to the deeps of the sea. He has created, directed, and produced dozens of credits, including When Dinosaurs Roamed America, Dinosaur Planet, and Alien Planet. Having directed hundreds of commercial campaigns for fortune 500 companies, his strong visual style and innovative approach earned him 14 Emmy nominations and four Emmys for Directing and Producing. He has also been awarded dozens of international awards for the programs he has created and directed. de Lespinois was the co-developer of CABLECAM®, a spectacular live-action camera mount and tracking system, which won a technical Oscar for innovation. Considered a leader in High Definition Production, Pierre has helped networks and producers all over the world about the use of integration of HD production. John Dietsch
President and CEO, Castle Creek Productions
An innovator in the field of outdoor sports, adventure travel, and lifestyle television, Dietsch’s company has produced over 150 episodes, including twenty award-winning films, series, and one-offs. Some of the series recently produced include Wild California, Explore the Undiscovered, The Great Adventure, The Best of California, and Creative Juice (shot in HD) for cable outlets Travel, ESPN, Fox Sports, Fine Living, HGTV and OLN. CCP’s branded entertainment series have been distributed to CNBC, CBS, ABC, and NBC affiliates and over the web for clients such as Apple, Honda, Chrysler, Bank of America and the State of California. Currently, John’s focus is Hook.tv, the World’s Premier Fishing Network, which he founded as an online multi-channel TV portal, social networking, e-commerce distribution platform devoted solely to angler enthusiasts and the outdoors lifestyles associated with fly fishing, bass fishing, and saltwater angling. Other endeavors include a brief stint as the executive producer for Powder Magazine’s TV series on ESPN, as Department Head for Fly-Fishing on Robert Redford’s Oscar winning feature film A River Runs Through It, as consultant on national and international TV commercials on fly-fishing, as co-author of Shadowcasting, and as writer, director and co-producer for the first video based CD-ROM on fly fishing for Intellimedia Sports, The ESPN Interactive Fly Fishing School. Wm. Douglas Fulton
President of Entertainment, DAVE TV
A senior management executive pioneering new digital convergence markets with an international broadcast television background, Doug Fulton’s responsibilities include establishing and managing relationships with studios, TV networks, content producers and production companies, record labels, talent and marketing agencies, develop new digital distribution strategies, social broadcast networks, and business partnerships. Doug previously held the position of Executive Vice President of Jump TV, Europe, the world’s leading CDN ethnic television network. Mr. Fulton is a shareholder and board member of Vizor, OY, Helsinki, Finland, which launched the first Nordic multi media DTT/broadband “Music” television channel. In his former role as CEO/Executive Director of SC ABC Plus Media, headquartered in Bucharest, Romania, Fulton was responsible for the launch of 3 national digital satellite/cable television channels and a satellite radio network. Mr. Fulton was Senior Vice President of Europe of SBS Broadcasting, SA and Senior Advisor to CEO of SBS Broadcasting, SA, of Europe, Europe's 2nd largest broadcast network. Andrew Gellis
President & CEO, Cinevest
A veteran of the IMAX/Giant Screen industry, Andrew Gellis is recognized for his broad range of production and distribution experience and his creative and business expertise in all aspects of large format filmmaking. Andrew Gellis is the President and CEO of Cinevest, a production entity formed to originate fiction and non-fiction programming for simultaneous release in 35mm and IMAX Theatres worldwide. Gellis was formerly Senior Vice President, Film and Distribution at the IMAX Corporation. He was responsible for initiating, developing, and creating the Company’s film product from inception through delivery to theatres. Andrew pioneered the development of dramatic, narrative filmmaking in the 1570 IMAX format in both 2D and 3D, and stretched the boundaries of traditional documentary filmmaking in the 1570 format. He is currently the Chairman of the non-profit, newly consolidated Giant Screen Cinema Association, which he formed in 2005. Larry Gerbrandt
Senior Vice President & General Manager, Nielsen Analytics
As SVP and general manager of Nielsen Analytics, a new division of VNU’s Media Measurement & Information group, Larry is responsible for developing leading edge research, analyses, and valuation services to companies in the media and entertainment space. His focus is on the convergence of content delivery and consumer media technology and the underlying economic models in the television, motion picture, cable, satellite, music, home video, video game, and mobile entertainment. In addition to original research on emerging technologies, Nielsen Analytics conducts primary consumer-level research and synthesizes top level research from the many VNU divisions, including Nielsen Entertainment, Nielsen Media Research, Claritas, SRDS, and Scarborough. Prior to joining Nielsen, Larry served in various analytical, editorial, and management roles during his twenty year tenure at Kagan World Media, most recently as Chief Operating Officer, and also led the media and entertainment practice at AlixPartners LLC. C.M. Hardt
Producer & Director, "Death in el Valle"
An award-winning photographer and photojournalist, C.M. Hardt just finished producing and launching the website and DVD of her documentary Death in El Valle, a provocative investigation of her grandfather’s political murder in Spain in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. Hardt has worked extensively as a writer – director – producer, on a variety of projects since 1998. Most recently, she was Senior Producer for Nanny 911. Other projects include: Your Reality Checked, Whale Hunter. Goose’s Opportunity Tour, In Style Celebrity Wedding, The Hitchhiker Chronicles, The Residents, Cannonball USA, Medical Diary, Only Joking, and The John Stossel Show. Robert Render Harrison
Filmmaker & Writer
Robert Render Harrison is an independent producer, director, DP/Steadicam operator, still photographer, and frequent contributor to the moviemaking press. Currently a contributing editor for Videography and Indie Slate magazines, he has also reviewed equipment and movies for International Documentary, Showreel, and American Cinematographer. Harrison produced a documentary series on American Indian art and artists, entitled Indian Art Summer. Robert has cultivated a lifelong interest in the world's wildlife, and was a founding member of the junior branch of the World Wildlife Fund. Born in the UK, he now resides in Novato, CA. Bruce Hickey
Writer & Director, Cynergy Films
Bruce Hickey has directed plays in Chicago, Los Angeles, and NYC. By age twenty, he directed his first play and at twenty-three he wrote and directed All That I Want, which ran for over two years at the Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago and won Best Play and Best Director. In L.A., Bruce has written and directed television, theater, and films, and most recently wrote and directed Buzz, an interactive TV series developed at the AFI Digital Content Lab. He wrote and directed the feature film Necropolis, a horror film cult classic. He has written TV movies for ABC, CBS and Showtime, including an adaptation of the classic play Picnic for CBS. Currently, his feature film project The Color of Honor, is based on a true story and has Usher attached to star. Bill Hudson
Director, Business and Market Development, Professional Applications Marketing
Apple Computer
Bill leads a global organization that is chartered with facilitating the adoption of Apple’s Final Cut Studio. He and his team also manage relationships with third party manufacturers developing integrated solutions with Apple’s professional applications. Prior to joining Apple more than seven years ago, Bill produced on-air promo for ABC in Los Angeles. Bill is a produced screenwriter and has logged over ten years in commercial and feature film production and development. Mark Jacobs
Executive Producer, BBC Natural History Unit
Learning and Interactive: Innovation Team
An environmental scientist, Mark Jacobs began work in television as a researcher with the BBC Natural History Unit 25 years ago. Since then he has produced many award winning films for BBC series, ranging from programs in the ground breaking Supersense series, to programs for Wildlife On One, landmark projects on UK, Polynesia, Central America, and environmental investigations for Nature. Eight years ago, Mark pioneered some of the first applications of 3D animation for both the BBC and Discovery in the science fiction special Natural History of An Alien. In 2000 he joined the BBC's Content R&D arm to help pioneer new ways of using multimedia content, animation, and natural history. Mark helped pioneer the introduction to the BBC of Augmented Reality based technology and advised on development of the Creative Archive. Recently he joined the Learning and Interactive Innovation Team to develop projects that use BBC content on mobile platforms and was Executive Producer of the RTS and BAFTA award winning Coast mobile experience.
Mark Johnson
CEO, Javelin Ventures
As Chief Executive Officer of Javelin Ventures, developing software for DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray Disc production, Mark is responsible for formulating new methods of addressing the increasingly complex content production process. Formerly VP of Technology for Technicolor's Worldwide Technology Group, and member of Technicolor's HD Optical Disc Launch Team, Mark helped to define the next-generation formats that are just now coming to market. As an award-winning DVD author, Mark helped set Technicolor's standards and practices with blockbuster titles like Disney's Snow White and Beauty and the Beast. Formerly, he worked at Daikin US where he was Product Manager for the Scenarist DVD authoring system. Mark co-authored DVD Demystified, Third Edition, and is now working on his next book, High Definition DVD: Producing for HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc, due out in March.
Patrick J. Kearney
VP Product Development, ROK Entertainment Group, USA
With fifteen years producing traditional and digital entertainment, Patrick J. Kearney has established himself as an expert in deploying revolutionary entertainment experiences. He has produced and deployed product on every type of consumer-facing digital network. Patrick's career is focused on the definition and implementation of branded entertainment services for mobile devices, game consoles and set-top boxes. He specializes in the creation of products for new or emerging markets specifically where no such products exist. He is currently with ROK Entertainment Group, USA, deploying their mobile audio and video technologies in the States. He continues to pioneer new means of bringing global entertainment properties to market. Tamara Krinsky
iklipz.com
Tamara Krinsky works with iklipz.com, developing strategic partnerships with film festivals, film schools and organizations, advising them on marketing, and producing and hosting original content. Prior to iklipz, Krinsky was the Associate Director of the Film Program with HBO's Comedy Arts Festival, held yearly in Aspen, CO. She has also worked with the Los Angeles Film Festival, Maui Film Festival, and AFIFEST. Krinsky is firmly entrenched in the documentary world, currently serving as the Associate Editor of Documentary magazine, published by the IDA. She worked as an associate AVID editor for several docu-reality series produced by R.J. Cutler and in post-production for the Sci Fi Lab, an internal division of the Sci Fi Channel. She worked as a Production Coordinator for the DEN (Digital Entertainment Network) during the first internet boom. She began her career at IFP/West (now Film Independent) as their Resource Coordinator, advising indie filmmakers on various aspects of development, production and distribution. Gregory Markel
Founder and President, Infuse Creative
As one of the ten "pioneers of search," Gregory Markel’s Infuse Creative search engine marketing company is regarded as one of the premiere tech-driven, lead generation, e-commerce and entertainment focused search engine marketing companies in the world. Markel began his SEO career in 1995, and during the course of his work, has achieved first page SEO rankings for many of the most competitive keywords on the planet. Markel and Flash Master designer George Shaw were the first to provide a sophisticated, enterprise approach to SEO Flash optimization. Markel and Infuse Creative were also the first SEM provider to offer video search strategies to the major movie studios. Gregory was founder/producer of "ESEMS," the very first entertainment focused search engine marketing conference, and proudly, SEMCARES.com , the SEM's industry's first and definitive SEM volunteer services site. Markel has provided direct consulting to major search engines, including Google and Yahoo, as well as many well-known search technology companies. Markel and Infuse Creative are also currently developing: 1) a ground breaking lead generation technology working with A. I. (Artificial Intelligence) scientists to create the world's first A.I. driven search engine campaign, lead generation, and conversion tuning engine, and 2) A top secret uber consumer search solution unlike any currently in existence. James Mathers
Filmmaker
James Mathers began his career in the entertainment industry as a child actor, appearing in many films and TV series of the 1960’s. He began professional work behind the lens upon completing film school, after which, he founded The Migrant FilmWorkers. James has been the Director of Photography on over thirty feature films and MOWs and has seen six TV series from inception through their first season. He currently specializes in shooting "filmstyle" digital, and while still active as a cinematographer, also regularly produces, writes, and directs a variety of projects. Mathers is President and Co-founder of the non-profit educational cooperative, The Digital Cinema Society, a group dedicated to the industry's informed integration of new technology. A sample of his work acquired in HD can be seen in the feature documentary The US vs. John Lennon, which is currently in theatrical release from Lions Gate. Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager, High Definition/Cinema Products
Panasonic Broadcast and Television Systems
Jeff Merritt has been involved with broadcasting and production industries for more than 30 years, concentrating on operations and engineering. Following four years on active duty in the Air Force with Armed Forces Radio and Television, he worked with TV stations in their transition from film to video for news and production. Among many domestic and overseas assignments, he served in Desert Storm/Desert Shield documenting the military war efforts. Jeff has held positions as Operations Manager for a group of radio and TV stations, Senior Videotape Editor for Walt Disney Company including the Disney Channel, Fox Television Network, and was the Director of Postproduction for E! Entertainment Television, as well as Director of Production and Operations for Channel One Network. He has been instrumental in bringing to market such innovative products as Panasonic’s HD3700 multi-format/multi-standard D5-HD VTR, the first truly Universal Format Converter, and DLP HD Cinema projectors. Jeff has been the national product line business manager of High Definition and Digital Cinema products for Panasonic Broadcast and Television Systems Company for more than five years. Doug Mielke
Global Data, Fotokem
Doug has been at the forefront of technological innovation in the North American media and entertainment industry in for more than 25 years. Over the past 10 years, he has held senior positions defining the migration strategies for some of the industry's leading studios and networks. Doug joined FotoKem in January, 2006 to build Global Data, the newest offering in the digital services group, establishing a data center presence in Seoul, Tokyo, London, and soon in Sydney. The software at the core allows any type of data to be moved from and to anywhere in the world over any type of public or private network with the highest level of speed and security available. Dhanendra Patel
Senior Product Manager, Sony Electronics
Prior to working for Sony, Dhanendra Patel worked for the BBC Television Center for 10 Years, as a Senior Studio Engineer. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 1987, Patel joined Ikegami as Sales Engineer, servicing the West Coast. He then worked for Direct TV, before finally moving into Broadcast Cameras as Senior Sales Support Engineer for Sony. Currently, he is Senior Product Manager for Cinealta products. Ken Rutkowski
Host/President, KenRadio Broadcasting
Ken Rutkowski is one of most broadly-informed and connected people in the media, entertainment and technology (MET) market. Ken’s relationships span senior managers of leading technology companies to studio executives, and small software companies innovating the next generation of MET products/services to IT outsourcers and consultants. Ken’s daily Internet and radio talk show, World Tech Round-Up, is a crucial source of inside information for over 186,000 Internet listeners in over 40 countries. His Daily Tech Clicks newsletter and IQ Report are distributed 5 days per week to the technology, entertainment, and business elite. Ken helps clients utilize emerging technology developments to create new business models, identify revenue opportunities and out-maneuver competitors. Combining his deep understanding of MET convergence with an insider’s perspective of the problems facing the industry today, Ken crafts breakthrough strategies that leverage innovations in the digital economy. Ken also works on an international level, helping countries to fortify their technology outreach story and strategy. He is a founding member of the Streaming Media Executive Committee and is on the board of several media, entertainment, and technology companies. Louie Schwartzberg
President, BlackLight Films
Louie Schwartzberg is an Award winning cinematographer, director, and producer whose notable career spans commercials, television shows, feature films and documentaries, including Walt Disney Pictures’ theatrical release America’s Heart and Soul. His work has also been seen in films such as Crash, /War of the Worlds/ and Syriana. Louie has just finished production on a series of Blu-Ray HD short films for Disney/Buena Vista Home Entertainment. Louie has won two Clio Awards for TV advertising, a Mobius Award for Best Environmental PSA, the Heartland Film Festival’s Truly Moving Picture Award, and was nominated for an Emmy for his Discovery Channel 1-hour special Oceans of Air. Mark Shelley
Executive Director, Sea Studios Foundation
President of Sea Studios, Inc., and Founder/Executive Producer of Sea Studios Foundation, Mark Shelley is also Senior Series Producer for National Geographic Television. Sea Studios is one of the premiere production companies in the world dedicated to science and nature programming. As lead producer and director of photography for Sea Studios, Mark has been responsible for numerous award-winning exhibit and television programs. Exhibit clients have included major aquariums, zoos, and natural history visitor centers around the world. Television clients have included National Geographic Television, Turner Broadcasting (National Audubon), Discovery, and NATURE. Under Mark’s direction, Sea Studios has been responsible for developing many new techniques in underwater, macro, and time-lapse photography. He has a specialization in deep sea videography and has developed deep sea imaging systems for various companies and research institutes. Most recently, Mark served as Executive Producer of the 4 hour PBS series and outreach project, National Geographic’s Strange Days on Planet Earth. Leon Silverman
President, LaserPacific Media
VP & Director of Strategic Business Development, Entertainment Imaging Services, Kodak
Leon Silverman joined Eastman Kodak when LaserPacific was acquired in 2003. In addition to his role at LaserPacific, he serves Kodak as the Director of Strategic Business Development, Entertainment Imaging Services, and a Vice President of Entertainment Imaging. For the past 26 years, Silverman has helped introduce new technology to Hollywood. He is currently focused on advanced digital post production methods and technology which will expand LaserPacific's role in the motion picture community as well as Kodak's role in the digital services business. Sandra Stern
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
Lions Gate Television
Responsible for running all business, legal, and administrative aspects of the Lions Gate television division, Sandra Stern spearheads strategy, transactions and negotiations, and continues to explore cost-efficient production options. Thanks to her involvement, Lionsgate has become a significant supplier of content to cable and broadcast networks during the past several years. Stern played a pivotal role in forming the company’s feature length documentary unit whose first film, the acclaimed Grizzly Man, won a top prize at the Sundance Film Festival. Stern has also served as executive producer on Leonard Cohen I'm Your Man and The U.S. vs. John Lennon, to debut at this year’s Toronto Film Festival and is currently playing in theaters around the country. Stern previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Artists Television Group, where she helped create and structure the company and directed its business affairs, legal, finance, administrative, and production operations. Prior to that, she worked for eight years, first as Senior Vice President, then Executive Vice President of the Columbia TriStar Television Group at Sony Pictures Entertainment. From 1986 through 1991, Stern was senior vice president in charge of business affairs and international development at New World Entertainment, where she put together the first ever international co-production for a U.S. broadcast network. David Straus
CEO & Co-Founder, Without A Box
David Straus is Chief Executive Officer of Withoutabox, Inc., the market-leading network for independent filmmakers he created with Joe Neulight in 1999. The only company of its kind, Withoutabox has played a major role in the democratization of the movie business by providing filmmakers tools that empower them to take control of their creative vision. Withoutabox was born from David’s and Joe’s experiences as independent filmmakers, where they learned how difficult it was to gain visibility – as well as compensation – for their work. This inspired them to create a service that addressed the needs of independent filmmakers and festivals. Withoutabox now has nearly 100,000 members, and close to 600 festivals, and provides services that enable independent filmmakers to market, distribute and even sell DVDs of their films themselves. Tracy Swedlow
CEO, Publisher, & Editor in Chief, Interactive Television Today [itvt]
Prior to founding [itvt] in 1988, Tracy Swedlow was chief evangelist at eGroups.com (now Yahoo! Groups); new media editor at PC World; a producer and director for Telemorphix, a pioneering interactive TV company, and a video producer at Steve Michelson Productions in San Francisco. Her writing has appeared in many leading newspapers and trade publications, including the New York Times, the San Francisco Examiner, PC World, Multimedia World and VR World. Topics she has covered include virtual reality, email communities, privacy and technology, online gravesite memorials, and, of course, interactive television. Her work has received awards from the Computer Press Association and the Western Regional Magazine Association. David Vassar
Writer, Producer, & Director, Backcountry Pictures
Recognized as one of the top conservation filmmakers working today, David Vassar has been producing, writing, and directing award winning films and television for more than three decades. A multi-award winning director/writer, his first award came at 24 in the form of a Silver Hugo from the Chicago International Film Festival for Replenish the Earth. Many other national and international awards quickly followed including CINE, the Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Jackson Hole Wildlife Film, and Hawaii Film Festivals, and Emmy™ awards. In 1980, his feature documentary, Generation on the Wind, was nominated for an Academy Award™, Best Documentary Feature. David was a primary director NBC’s television series, Unsolved Mysteries, and for Time Life’s, Lost Civilizations, which garnered him another national Emmy Award™. David produced, wrote and directed the groundbreaking destination film, Spirit of Yosemite which utilized state of the art high definition post production and projection technologies; a first for the park service. Save Our History – Yellowstone, followed, and he has recently completed the centerpiece advocacy film for Environmental Defense, Discover Hetch Hetchy. David is currently in post production on a series of three HD programs for the new Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park and is developing a documentary feature film with the Sierra Club, Voices of the American Earth, highlighting the dramatic lives of America’s greatest conservationists. Rex Wong
CEO, DAVE.TV
Rex Wong is a successful Internet and IT entrepreneur and investor. He formerly worked for Applied Semantics, the creators of AdSense, and Accelertech, where Mr. Wong served as Accelertech's Founder and President. Before joining DAVE.TV as CEO in 2005, Mr. Wong founded X2 Corporation, a digital lifestyle consumer electronics company, and also served on the Board of Directors of China Genetics, Adegy and Citation Publishing. Prior to that, he served as President of Envision, a regional computer retail chain located in Southern California, Executive Vice President for Microcom Computers, Managing Director of the Bureau of China Trade and Investment, and Editor-in-Chief of China Watch and China Watch Online. Wong is a member of Emmy Advanced Technology Committee, Monte Jade, the Interactive TV Alliance (ITA), and the Media Entertainment Technology Alliance. Rex is a featured speaker and panelist at events such as the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Red Herring, Digital Hollywood, DEMXPO, NATPE, and VON.
WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS
Greg Boren
Engineer, Panasonic Broadcast Mike DesRoches
Sales Support Engineer, Sony Electronics
Not your typical Systems Engineer, Mike is as dynamic as he is follicly-challenged. Currently supporting HDCAM-SR, HDCAM and all XDCAM-related systems for Sony in the Western Region, Mike has worked closely with the broadcast and production community for over 10 years. Previously, he held the position of Product Manager for the XDCAM Optical Disc-based system, and now is back home in Orange County, CA. Ironically, promoting and supporting the "HD Revolution" usually keeps Mike on the road and away from his sanctuary in the OC. Therefore, his home-away-from-home is speaking with people in the industry about the benefits of working in the realm of HD, as well as incorporating file-based workflows. Leigh Herman
Product Manager, Sony Electronics Orlando Luna
Senior Systems Manager, Pro Video, Apple
Orlando Luna is a Senior Systems Engineer for Apple Computer. Orlando's has been both a film/photography creator and educator for over 15 years. He founded Luna Studio (est. 1987), a multimedia organization in Miami, in which Orlando was engaged in film, video, and photography. Orlando has produced photography for the NY Times, Nike, Newsweek and MTV. Recently, he edited the full length documentary "Wheelchair Champions," and co-created and edited the short form comedy "Handstand." Orlando is one of the first Editors to become an Apple Certified Professional Trainer. Steve Mahrer
Director of Engineering, Panasonic Broadcast
Over the last 15 years, Steve Mahrer has held various positions with Panasonic. Currently, he serves as Director of Engineering, but has prior work experience ranging from camera designer to overall camera generalist. Steve helped to pioneer the Panasonic VariCam and often presents at conferences, such as NAB and SNPTE. During the workshop sessions, Steve will discuss HVX200, the HDX900, and the VariCam. Originally from Isle of Jersey, UK, he now resides in New Jersey, USA. Jeff Merritt
Product Line Business Manager, High Definition/Cinema Products
Panasonic Broadcast and Television Systems
Jeff Merritt has been involved with broadcasting and production industries for more than 30 years, concentrating on operations and engineering. Following four years on active duty in the Air Force with Armed Forces Radio and Television, he worked with TV stations in their transition from film to video for news and production. Among many domestic and overseas assignments, he served in Desert Storm/Desert Shield documenting the military war efforts. Jeff has held positions as Operations Manager for a group of radio and TV stations, Senior Videotape Editor for Walt Disney Company including the Disney Channel, Fox Television Network, and was the Director of Postproduction for E! Entertainment Television, as well as Director of Production and Operations for Channel One Network. He has been instrumental in bringing to market such innovative products as Panasonic’s HD3700 multi-format/multi-standard D5-HD VTR, the first truly Universal Format Converter, and DLP HD Cinema projectors. Jeff has been the national product line business manager of High Definition and Digital Cinema products for Panasonic Broadcast and Television Systems Company for more than five years. Jeffrey Morse
Creative Technologist, Apple
Jeffery Morse is an award-winning producer, editor, trainer, and image gatherer. He has taken to calling himself a “creative technologist,” as he often walks the line between the technological and creative side of production. Apple Certified in Final Cut Studio and Aperture, Jeffery specializes in post-production workflows and training for video and digital photography. He is also the founder of Deepfield.net, a multimedia production company that designs, produces, and implements a variety of media from Flash-based websites to videos and interactive DVDs. Deepfield.net recently finished a Fawlty Towers Retrospective for John Cleese’s One-man Show. On the training side, Jeffery has worked with companies such as CNN, Sony, BMW, Bunim-Murray Productions, Weynand Training International, DVExpo and Apple Computers. For Apple he is a lead trainer for both Aperture and Final Cut Pro. Dhanendra Patel
Senior Product Manager, Sony Electronics
Prior to working for Sony, Dhanendra Patel worked for the BBC Television Center for 10 Years as a Senior Studio Engineer. Upon moving to Los Angeles in 1987, Patel joined Ikegami as Sales Engineer, servicing the West Coast. He then worked for Direct TV, before finally moving into Broadcast Cameras as Senior Sales Support Engineer for Sony. Currently, he is Senior Product Manager for Cinealta products. During workshop sessions, Dhanendra will discuss the HDW-F900R Cinealta camcorder,with several new features and highlights.
This page will be updated daily as speakers are confirmed. The current list is subject to change.
Updated: 10-27-06
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