2025 HPA Tech Retreat Reveals Additional Unmissable Programming and Activities

On its 30th anniversary this year, one constant of the HPA Tech Retreat is its unique and consistently engaging programming that goes hand in hand with unparalleled networking. After announcing details of the Wednesday and Thursday program for the Retreat, HPA has released details for Monday's TR-X. The popular TR-X session on February 17th will spotlight innovative solutions in affordable production, featuring case studies, panel discussions, and a keynote address. Leading creatives and tech technologists will share their real-world insights on how to achieve outstanding production results despite limited resources.

TRX has been curated and managed by HPA Board Member Mark Chiolis along with fellow board member Craig German. The duo kicks off the day, runs the program, and closes the discussion before breaking for a networking and cocktail reception.

Michael Cioni is one of the best-known and insightful creative technologists and one who constantly innovates. Cioni will present a Monday keynote entitled Disruptive Pixels: The Big Power of Small Budgets. The keynote promises a new wake-up call for the industry as the rules for media and entertainment are being rewritten - again - and a new class of tools and technology may disrupt the production through post infrastructure. He's always informative, frequently inspiring and unfailingly interesting, this keynote cannot be missed.

The afternoon continues with The Art of Filmmaking: Mastering Affordable Film Production, moderated by Fox Entertainment's Lina S nchez-Salamanca with panelists including Tahirah Foy from Arsenal FX Color; Brian Tran of Day For Nite; Kiera Williams from Kettle; and Starry Ye of Hwy 99 Filmworks. This promises to be an insightful and practical discussion of the art of creating high-quality films without breaking the bank. The panel features 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.

Renard T. Jenkins (I2A2.io) moderates Case Study: Finding Production Efficiency through Technical Advancement, a panel discussion featuring Rachel Joy Victor of FBRC.ai and Denys Krasnikov of Vidby. The production pipeline within media entertainment has seen foundational shifts in its infrastructure, all in a short time span. In that same timeframe, the 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.

In the session, Nimble Approach: Leveraging iPhones in Professional Production, moderator Erik Weaver will take us through the latest ETC R&D short that demonstrates how iPhones can be used effectively in professional live-action shoots, offering a cost-efficient, agile solution without compromising quality. The discussion will dive into the technical side of shooting with iPhones, covering essential considerations like data pipelines, lensing options, and other critical aspects of production. Interested in executing seamless workflows, optimizing image quality, and making the most of this nimble, cutting-edge tool in high-end filmmaking? Whether shooting on a budget or exploring new creative possibilities, the iPhone can elevate your production game. Produced by Carin Mazaira, Leica Geosystems. Panelists will include Dane Brehm, Cinetegral Technologies and Martin Christien, Iodyne

Sports Video Group's Jason Dachman leads a real-world discussion of affordable sports production with Get in The Game: Creative Strategies to Make Sports Productions More Affordable, featuring panelists: Brandin Grams of The Rowing Channel; David Shapiro from Pixellot; and Nick Busto, NBC Sports. 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, and opportunities for additional down-market live-event coverage have opened up.

Lori H. Schwartz from Story Tech moderates The Art of Cost-effective Techniques for High-End Productions, which will feature filmmakers Kathryn Brillhart, Alex LoCasale, Christopher Nichols, and Angela Victor as they share perspectives on achieving high-end production quality in tight budget constraints. 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.

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

For more information, visit hpatechretreat.com

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