By Debra Kaufman
The HPA Tech Retreat is always a must-attend event and this year's - the 29th annual Retreat - is no exception. With robust signups already, there are still tickets available, but don't wait too long since attendance is capped at 700 people and the event always sells out. The HPA Tech Retreat 2024 will take place from February 18 to 22 at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage.
The first sign that this year's Tech Retreat would be particularly exciting was the wealth of compelling pitches to be part of the program. This year we got 132 pitches for sessions - and unfortunately there wasn't a dud among them, says Mark Schubin who has guided HPA Tech Retreat programming for over 20 years. Typically, a lot of the proposed sessions don't make the cut, but this year it was a tragedy to have to reject so many worthy ideas.
The first day, Monday, is the annual TR-X, which will focus on Extreme Production [link to recent article?] and, on Tuesday, the Super Session will unfold with its usual flair. Tuesday (through Thursday) launches the Breakfast Roundtables, another popular Tech Retreat platform. As of today, the Round Tables have been filled, with more than 75 people signed up to lead the conversations on a rich array of topics. In the Innovation Zone, attendees can enjoy demos and conversations with 60 curated technology companies.
For the main conference portion of the Tech Retreat, two major themes dominate: Artificial Intelligence and the MovieLabs 2030 Update. On Wednesday, the AI sessions will take a deep dive into the technology's role in revolutionizing media production from conceptualization to final cut. Schubin reported that HPA President Seth Hallen took on the task of programming the AI track of the main program, which consists of three sections, and a final period for discussion and Q&A.
The first section on Setting the Stage for AI includes presentations by EdenBase Daniel Doll-Steinberg and Entertainment Technology Center's Yves Bergquist and DPP's Mark Harrison's talk on AI for Media: What Does Good Look Like? . The second session, on AI and Creativity, with a look at the future of cinematic storytelling, starts with Barbara Frost Grant and Paramount's Tony Guarino expounding on the studio perspective of AI and content creation. Also in this session, Concept.art's Christian Canterell talks on using GenAI as a screenwriting partner and preproduction assistant, and Curious Refuge's Caleb Ward will address the business angle of a successful future state for AI tools and AI content. Third, for AI in the Workflow, Avid's David Colantuoni will focus on enhancing creative decisions with AI generated content recommendations; Fraunhofer-Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS Siegfried F el will discuss multi-language generation of movie content, and Cuebric's Pinar Seyhan Demirdag will demystify AI in the supply chain.
Thursday morning focused on the update of MovieLabs 2030, with MovieLabs' Mark Turner's report on where we are on the path to 2030. Avid's Richard Duke will talk about bringing the studio in the cloud' to fruition. Next, Turner, with Perfect Memory's Guillaume Rachez will talk about implementing the MovieLabs Ontology for Media Creation - How and Why, and, finally, with Imagica Entertainment Media Services, Akii Seino, Turner will talk about workflows based on 2030 Vision.
Metadata mania will be the central theme of the next set of 2030 sessions, beginning with MovieLabs' Jim Helman enumerating the challenges in the current landscape. The Rebel Fleet's Mike Urban will describe how his company used MovieLabs OMC for metadata on Season 2 of Our Flag Means Death. With Google's Toby Scales and Paramount Global's Dalia Spingarn, Helman will discuss OpenMetadataIO, an open standards initiative. The last MovieLabs 2030 theme will focus on interoperability, a key to the creative benefits of the 2030 Vision, with a talk by Helman who will then also moderate a panel.
Thursday afternoon, the Tech Retreat continues with exploration of a diverse range of topics. Schubin points out two presentations that demonstrate the scope of the Tech Retreat's programming. Adobe chief technology officer of digital media Ely Greenfield will address responsible innovation in the Age of generative AI, looking at how to identify deepfakes via content provenance. Fielding Graduate University doctoral candidate Holly Devon will untwist the rope of character identification. She's done the research on what works and what doesn't to get audiences to identify with characters, says Schubin.
Among the many other presentations is the annual panel moderated by the International Cinematographers Guild's Michael Chambliss, this time with Small HD's Greg Smokler. Other topics include will include what to expect at CES 2024; NeRFs, sound, quantum dots and color imaging with Charles Poynton, a presentation from the Academy Software Foundation on open source software and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences on the new developer release of ACES 2.0
It's shaping up to be a banner year for HPA Tech Retreat; great speakers (as usual) and topics that are incredibly important to those who work in media and entertainment.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
09/06/2026
Media buyers and sellers can now compare YouTube reach from computer, mobile, an...
09/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/06/2026
A project aimed at modernizing scheduling operations across Mediaset's channel portfolio
Mediagenix, a global leader in smart content solutions to profitab...
09/06/2026
tvONE, an ACT Entertainment brand, debuts its most powerful video processor ever built: the 4RU CALICO PRO (C7-PRO-4200), at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N6813). Engine...
09/06/2026
Composer and Conductor Eric Whitacre to Receive Honorary Doctorate at Berklee Va...
09/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/06/2026
Technology collaboration to validate AMPP and Lawo HOME orchestration integration, showcasing Dynamic Media Facility principles in practice.
Grass Valley and ...
09/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming solutions, today announced that Axel Springer SE, international media and technology company, has deployed Playe...
09/06/2026
LiveU, the global leader in live IP-video solutions, today announced a landmark deployment with the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) that has brought Video ...
09/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
09/06/2026
Two Alumni Win Tony Awards Mike Morris and Cedric Leiba Jr. won awards for Best Orchestrations and Best Play, respectively.
June 8, 2026
By
Tori Donahue
...
09/06/2026
Enni Continues to Rely on Arvato Systems - And Will Be Using AEP.EnerS4 Billing Solution
Arvato Systems to implement transformation project for SAP S/4HANA Ut...
09/06/2026
These special programmes will highlight RT 's connection with the Irish diaspora
This year, RT is marking 100 years of public broadcasting in Ireland with...
08/06/2026
The two execs discuss the goals and the challenges of building a huge multi-cult...
08/06/2026
This industry legend has been a road warrior since the early '90s and is, today, a lynchpin on College GameDay
The sports-production industry continues to ...
08/06/2026
DAZN has agreed a multi-year rights partnership with Extreme Fighting Championship (EFC), expanding its global combat sports portfolio.
DAZN will broadcast EFC...
08/06/2026
As fans move across broadcast, streaming, social, mobile and creator-led platforms, and they expect every angle, in real time, TVU Networks has released a new e...
08/06/2026
Infront has further strengthened the 2026 Diamond League's international bro...
08/06/2026
Grass Valley has announced the appointment of Sam Craig as Vice President, Global Pre-Sales. Based in the United States, Craig will lead Grass Valley's glob...
08/06/2026
SMPTE has announced its summer 2026 education lineup covering IP networking and SMPTE ST 2110, including two standalone courses, a 13-week boot camp, and a hand...
08/06/2026
Sportradar Group AG has announced a multi-year global agreement with Kalshi, a p...
08/06/2026
FIFA and Gamefam have announced the launch of a FIFA World Cup 2026 event on Roblox, running June 5 through July 31, 2026. The event centers on FIFA Super Socce...
08/06/2026
A collaboration of NHL Productions, Monumental Sports, and Michael Levitt Produc...
08/06/2026
CBS Sports production staffer Bryce Adair has died at the age of 31 after sustaining injuries during a car accident on Wednesday while in Ohio working the the P...
08/06/2026
Behind The Mic provides a roundup of recent news regarding on-air talent, including new deals, departures, and assignments compiled from press releases and repo...
08/06/2026
WMT Digital today announced the launch of WMT Fan Intelligence, designed to unif...
08/06/2026
The Heat are the seventh NBA team to air their games over-the-air next season...
08/06/2026
Paramount and UFC have announced an expansion of their media rights partnership making Paramount the exclusive home of UFC Numbered Event main cards in Canada ...
08/06/2026
The Qatar Football Association (QFA), in cooperation with Sponix and broadcaster...
08/06/2026
Project B has announced the appointment of Host Broadcast Services (HBS) as Offi...
08/06/2026
The Buckeyes now produce and stream upwards of 200 sports events annually with a...
08/06/2026
At Spotify, our commitment to the LGBTQIA community is year-round. Through GLOW, our global music program, we celebrate and amplify the contributions of queer ...
08/06/2026
Get Hands-on With Keyboard & Synth Brands
GearExpo UK wouldn't be complete without some synth action, and we've got some of the industry's most ...
08/06/2026
50 popular in-ear monitoring system profiles added
The latest update for IK Multimedia's headphone-correction system has just arrived, and introduces ca...
08/06/2026
Manny Marroquin signature cans upgraded with SLAM Technology
The flagship model in Audeze's Manny Marroquin Signature Series has just been treated to an...
08/06/2026
Air domain supremacy redefined - New counter UAS, space solutions and directiona...
08/06/2026
he BBC and BritBox have announced that Edward Bluemel (We Might Regret This, My ...
08/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
08/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
By Debra Kaufman
