FMX 2016 kicks off in Stuttgart next week, running April 26-29, and program announcements are still rolling in from the organizers. Just days ago, Anne Kolbe, the Executive Vice President of Visual Effects at Warner Bros. Pictures, and Kathy Chasen-Hay, Senior Vice President of VFX at Lionsgate joined the lineup for the week-long event based on the theme “Blending Realities.”
Both Kolbe and Chasen-Hay will each share their perspectives on the state of entertainment as part of the Studio Insights track curated by Dave Gougé (Weta Digital). Plus, Jennifer Yuh Nelson, the first female director to helm an animated feature film – namely Kung Fu Panda 3 – for a major Hollywood studio (DreamWorks Animation) will be joined by Steve Martino (director for The Peanuts, Blue Sky) and Kevin Margo (Construct, Blur Studio)for a director’s panel on the relationship between directors and technology.
Also on tap for animation at the event: Max Boas and Raymond Zibach (DreamWorks Animation) take the FMX audience behind the scenes and delve into the creative design process of Kung Fu Panda 3. Two-time Emmy winner Nick Cross, animation director James Cunningham, and creative director and director Philip Hunt partake in sharing their unique stories as part of the “Wild & Strange” track. Shelley Page (DreamWorks) and Ron Diamond (Acme Filmworks Inc.) return to present their animation highlights from the last year.
For visual effects insights, check out: The “VFX in Commercials” track, featuring insights into the latest advertising coups: Diarmid Harrison-Murray takes the audience through the whole range of MPC’s creature craftsmanship. Jan Stoltz (TRIXTER Commercials) explains the work on the Check24 commercials. Andy Chlupka and Max Zimmermann (FIFTYEIGHT 3D Animation & Digital Effects) describe the challenges of developing the Tassen films. The track on “VFX for TV” assembles Mat Beck and Brian Ali Harding who talk about the work of Entity FX, one of the studios behind the visual effects of TV series such as Vampire Diaries and The Walking Dead. In addition, Thilo Ewers (Pixomondo) provides insights into The Shannara Chronnicles. Joern Grosshans (Mackevision) also elaborates on Shannara Chronicles and Games of Thrones. Erasmus Brosdau (Film Engine), the creative mind behind The Lord Inquisitor project, and Andreas Feix (MPC) deliver talks about “Fan-Made Projects.” Mike Seymour’s Virtual Humans Forum encompasses presentations by Dr. med. Peter Maloca (MP), Pascal Bérard (DR) and Haarm-Pieter Duiker and Brian Karis (Epic Games) as well as a Virtual Humans Forum Workshop (Christopher Nichols, Chaos Group Labs; Christophe Hery, Pixar; Dr Thabo Beeler and Brian Karis).
The virtual reality programming includes: Ted Schilowitz (20th Century Fox) as well as Craig McPherson and Chris McClintock (The Third Floor) join Jacquie Barnbrook (The VR Company) via Skype to give an insight into the creation of The Martian VR Experience. (Sony Computer Entertainment) talks about the difference between VR and other forms of media storytelling. Jake Black(Create Advertising) describes how Create Advertising was asked to create a VR experience for Zemeckis’ The Walk. Steffen Kottkamp (Mack Media) and Professor Thomas Wagner (VR Coaster GmbH) dissect the VR experience that they designed for the Europa-Park, and Trevor Tuttle (BOSA) analyzes the design for Dubai’s upcoming theme park Motiongate. Guido Voltolina (Nokia Technologies) illuminates the technology behind VR storytelling from camera lens placement to synchronized audio. Assistant Professor Victoria Abrash shares her perspective as a performing arts professional. Yehuda Duenyas’ (Mindride) talk “Becoming Superhuman- Techno Transcendence” elaborates on the synergetic relationship between transcendence and technology. Terrence Masson (Building Conversation), Keith Miller (Weta), Andrew Cochrane (Mirada) and Andrew Daffy (DAFFY LONDON) expound on new VR business models.
FMX 2016 is offering over 300 events — visit www.fmx.de for more information.
