SMPTE And USC Sponsor Technology Seminar May 20, 2000

""How New Digital Media Distribution To The Home Impacts Hollywood"" To Feature Panelists From Universal, Columbia TriStar Interactive, MPA, Etc.

12-May-00

Do upstart dot.coms and new technology entrepreneurs threaten traditional content providers? What role will Hollywood, the primary provider of entertainment product to the world, play in the new era of digital content delivery? As significant media alliances such as AOL/Time Warner speak to a new digital order, The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) and the University of Southern California will sponsor a day-long seminar, ""How New Digital Media Distribution to the Home Impacts Hollywood,"" examining these issues and further enabling the industry to make digital transitions. The seminar will take place at USC School of Cinema-Television's Norris Cinema Theatre on Saturday, May 20, in Los Angeles, California, with registration beginning at 7:30am, the program from 8am to 5:30pm. The morning session begins promptly at 8 am. with a welcome and demonstration of high-bandwidth streaming images. The first session, an overview entitled ""The Future Of The Home Entertainment: Defining The Opportunities And The Challenges Of The New Digital World,"" will be presented by Jerry Pierce, Senior Vice President, Technology for Universal Studios. A primer on the underlying technology of digital distribution and delivery, entitled ""Understanding The Pathways,"" follows from Thomas MacCalla, Jr., Associate Executive Director of USC's Entertainment Technology Center. A panel on ""Upstarts & Start-Ups: Challengers To Traditional Hollywood Production & Distribution Models"" will be led by Jeannine Parker, President and Chief Innovation Officer of The J Parker Company, and will include such panelists as Yoram Roth, Chairman of Rotor Communications. The final morning session, ""The Technology Of Creating & Distributing Digital Media To The Home,"" unites five experts from the fields of video streaming, interactive TV and animation to discuss this core issue. Led by Jon Healey, TV technology reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, the panel discussion will include Scott Crowder, Senior Vice President, Technology Services for InterVU, Mike Edmunds, Vice President of Engineering for Shockwave.com, Alex Thompson, President of Mixed Signals Technologies and Phil J. Won, President of 4DL America Inc. Following a 12:30pm lunch, during which exhibition demo areas will be open to all attendees, the afternoon session begins with the panel discussion ""How Will Studios And Networks Meet The Challenges And Opportunities Of Digital Distribution?"" Moderated by Jim Korris, Executive Director of USC's Entertainment Technology Center, the panel will include Tim Chambers, Director of Technology at Columbia TriStar Interactive. ""Reality Check: Show Me The Money,"" examining how profits can be ensured in the age of digital content distribution, will be led by C. Bradley Hunt, Chief Technology Officer of Motion Picture Association, and feature such panelists as Lark Allen, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Business Development for Wave Systems, as well as an executive from DivaTV. Led by Leon Silverman and Charles S. Swartz, the final discussion, ""What's Next? Industry Predictions And Audience Q&A,"" brings together panelists from throughout the day to share their vision and address attendee questions. The demo area will remain open until the conference ends at 6:30pm. Registration is $125, $100 or $50 for non-members, members or students members, respectively, of SMPTE, AES or ITS. For more information and registration, contact Herb Farmer, USC School of Cinema-Television, 213 740 2921, fax 213 740 2920 or e-mail hfarmer@usc.edu.

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