The American Film Institute, has announced its inaugural technology showcase, State of the Art – Innovation, Storytelling and Technology, with curated and sponsored discussions. Events will take place November 6-13 in Hollywood, California at the Dolby Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatres, the Egyptian Theatre and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The technology showcase runs November 10-12.
“Dolby, the festival's newest partner, enables us to bring our audiences and filmmakers an extraordinary movie-going experience in a world-class venue and provides the festival with a theater where we can launch this engaging forum on technology and storytelling,” said Jacqueline Lyanga, director, AFI Fest. “This year at the showcase we'll be putting a spotlight on the evolution of Weta Digtital’s technology, DreamWorks Animation’s new PrEMO software, and Dolby's next-generation sound technology, Dolby Atmos.”
Here's a list of the curated presentations:
The Evolution of Weta Digital – Monday, November 10
This presentation will explore the history of how Weta Digital's artists have evolved their technology and techniques over the last 20 years and focus on an in-depth case study of the innovation in performance and effects as seen in DAWN OF THE PLANET OF APES. Panelists include Weta Digital Visual Effects Supervisor Dan Lemmon.
New Tools: Behind the Scenes of How to Train Your Dragon 2 – Tuesday, November 11
At DreamWorks Animation, the animators have a new tool at their disposal: PrEMO, built on the Apollo Platform with support from HP and Intel, which enables them to manipulate the movement and expressions of characters with unparalleled fluidity and freedom. The use of PrEMO has resulted in a new kind of animations, first brought to life on the screen for How to Train Your Dragon 2. Presenters include writer/director Dean DeBlois and DreamWorks Animation's Chief Technology Officer, Lincoln Wallen.
Sponsored Presentations:
Welcome Address from Dolby – Sponsored by Dolby Laboratories – Monday, November 10
The Technicolor Sponsored Keynote Address – Monday, November 10
Technicolor's Production Services' President, Tim Sarnoff, will deliver the keynote address.
Technicolor, a revered name in entertainment, is approaching its 100th year of operations. Over the last century, Technicolor has reinvented itself at strategic crossroads of change – the latest being around the industry's move into digital – while bridging an ever-expanding range of production workflows, as emerging global viewing platforms proliferate. The company has remained current by staying true to a few strategic core values: its enduring commitment to serving storytellers and their creative process.
The Sound of Imagined Worlds – Sponsored by the Dolby Institute – Wednesday, November 12
Filmmakers tend to concentrate on the visuals of their imagined worlds, but what about the sounds? Spend time with leading sound artists Erik Aadahl, Will Files, and Skip Lievsay as they present clips and talk about the imagined worlds of recent blockbuster films Godzilla, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and Noah, and learn about how technologies like Dolby Atmos help filmmakers immerse their audiences in fully realized environments with detailed soundscapes. Moderated by Dolby's Stuart Bowling and Glenn Kiser.
Free individual tickets to AFI Fest screenings, galas and events are available to the general public online at AFI.com but only the Cinepass Express pass will provide priority entry to the Tech Showcase, as well as access into the Cinema Lounge. These and other AFI Fest Passes are on sale now at AFI.com/AFIFest, and AFI Members receive special discounts.