DVD Video Group Brings Hollywood Perspective To IRMAís DVD í99 Conference
On behalf of the DVD Video Group, senior executives from top Hollywood studios and leading consumer electronics manufacturers will be keynoting and participating in a range of panels at the International Recording Media Association (IRMA) DVD í99 Conference August 4-5, 1999 at the Universal City Hilton and Towers, Universal City, California. To kick off the conference, Ben Feingold, President, Columbia TriStar Home Video, will provide the keynote address ""Why DVD And Why Now?"" at 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday, August 4. Feingold will share his insight on the broad creative opportunities presented by the format, as well as the strategic implementation of the technology, the development of manufacturing and authoring capabilities and the execution of key sales and marketing strategies. Immediately following the keynote, DVED Video Group Chairman Emiel Petrone will moderate a panel discussion on studiosí marketing strategies for DVD-Video. DVD Video Group members Jeff Fink, President, Sales, Marketing and Distribution, Artisan Entertainment; Sandy Friedman, Head of Worldwide Operations, DreamWorks Home Entertainment, Ken Graffeo, Senior Vice President, Marketing and Sales, Universal Studios Home Video; and John Powers, Vice President, DVD Market Development, Worldwide, Warner Home Video will discuss their current plans for optimizing DVD-Video marketing campaigns. ""We are seeing the tremendous impact of DVD-Video on the home video market and are eager to continue promoting the format by sharing our insight on the creative marketing techniques employed by Hollywoodís studios and major consumer electronics manufacturers,"" said Emiel Petrone, DVD Video Group Chairman and Executive Vice President, Philips Entertainment Group, Worldwide. ""We are pleased to bring Hollywoodís perspective on DVD-Video to IRMAís manufacturing-based conference."" Other conference highlights include a presentation by Mike Fidler, Senior Vice President, Marketing, Consumer Audio/Video Products Group, Sony Electronics and DVD Video Group Vice President/CFO. Fidler will examine the current state of DVD software and hardware sales in North America as well as present forecasts for the second half of 1999. Fidler speaks Thursday, August 5 at 9:20 a.m. Other studio executives who will speak on various panels throughout the conference include Mark Atkinson, DreamWorks Home Entertainment; Francis Gyermek, Executive Director, Technical Services, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment; Mark Halperin, Executive Director, Universal Studios Home Video; Mike Mulvihill, Executive Director, Post Production, New Line Home Video; Garrett Smith, Vice President, Digital Mastering Operations, Paramount Home Video; and Mike Stratford, Executive Director, DVD Marketing, Columbia TriStar Home Video. The DVD Video Group is a Los Angeles-based, industry-funded nonprofit corporation that exists expressly to promote consumer awareness of the benefits of DVD-Video and to provide updated information to the media and the retail trade about DVD-Video players, movies and music videos. The International Recording Media Association (IRMA) is the advocate for the growth and development of all recording media and is the industry forum for the exchange of information regarding global trends and innovations. For more information, a detailed conference schedule, session highlights, or a registration form phone Recording Media InfoFax, IRMAís 24-hour fax-back service, at 800 934 4573 and request document #304, or visit IRMAís Web site at www.recordingmedia.org and register online, or phone IRMA at 609 279 1700.