Wednesday, November 13th, 2019

1:50 PM – 2:40 PM

Session I:  Haas Conference Center, Room 172-173

The Immersive Media Think Tank: AR-VR-MR - The Expanding Vision of an Industry
Christina Lee Storm, Vice President of Business Operations, Strategy, & Emerging Technology, Advanced Creative Technology, DreamWorks Animation

Laura Hertzfeld, XR Partnerships, Yahoo News/Verizon Media Group

Patrick Costello, Senior Director of Business Development, Qualcomm

Diego Prilusky, Head of Intel Studios, Los Angeles, USA

Philip Lelyveld, VR/AR Program Manager, USC Entertainment Technology Center

Ted Schilowitz, Futurist in Residence, Paramount Pictures

Julian Sarmiento, Chief Creative Officer (CCO), Iconic Engine by Digital Domain

Peter Csathy, Founder & Chairman, CREATV Media, Moderator

Laura Hertzfeld is the director of the Yahoo! News XR Partner Program, which is bringing immersive content from a variety of premium news organizations to Verizon Media Group. A 2019 John S. Knight Journalism Fellow at Stanford University, Laura recently completed research on the intersection of art, immersive technology, and journalism. This work built off her role as director of Journalism 360, an immersive storytelling initiative supported by Google News Lab and Knight Foundation. Before venturing into the world of XR, Laura worked in television and digital media as a senior producer on “Larry King Now” and at NBC, where she won an Emmy for her work on the 2016 Rio Olympics. She started her career on the original Yahoo News team and was an editor at Entertainment Weekly/EW.com and PBS.org. Laura has reported on politics, business, entertainment, and lifestyle topics at a variety of outlets, including NPR, Rotten Tomatoes, and Los Angeles Magazine.

Julian Sarmiento - Chief Creative Officer (CCO), Iconic Engine by Digital Domain: Julian started his career 19 years ago in the entertainment industry. Since then, he has contributed in multiple areas of computer graphics from creative to technology in some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters. Some of the works include Oscar-nominated Monster House, I'Robot, Oscar winner- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Pacific Rim and over 25 more features. His background as a technical and creative director has led him to some great roles in the areas of technology and innovation. His extended knowledge of CG, VFX, 3D, Stereo, VR, AR, MR, LBE, UI/UX, Mobile, Direct Manipulation, IoT, Computer Vision, Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain served him as the foundation for all his interactive and immersive work. As Executive Creative, he is responsible for conceptualizing, creating and directing shows for multiple platforms; from the story, to technology and into final execution. While working very closely with clients and partners in order to create and execute unparalleled experiences.

Patrick Costello, Senior Director of Business Development at Qualcomm Technologies Inc., is responsible for building partnerships with strategic multimedia partners in the sports and entertainment verticals.  In support of Qualcomm’s XR business, Patrick leads engagements with film studios, sports leagues, OEM’s, and ISV’s to drive content partnerships and traction for Qualcomm’s broader technology portfolio. Prior to joining Qualcomm, Patrick led business development for Kyocera Wireless in emerging markets like India, Indonesia, Thailand, and other markets in MEA and SEA.  Following completion of his International Relations degree from the University of San Diego in 1995, Patrick obtained his MBA from San Diego State University.

Christina Lee Storm is Vice President of Business Operations, Strategy, and Emerging Technology at DreamWorks Animation. She is Head of the Advanced Creative Technology group, whose goal is to advance DreamWorks IP into new forms of immersive creative content on all platforms using emerging technologies including AR, VR, real-time rendering, virtual production, and motion capture. She has recently produced/executive produced 2 VR projects for DreamWorks “How to Train Your Dragon” franchise. An award-winning producer, Christina has also worked on Oscar-winning films The Artist and Life of Pi, and short documentary Life After Pi. Christina is on the Board of Governors for Advanced Imaging Society and Executive Committee for Diversity & Inclusion. She has served on the Producers Guild of America’s National Board of Directors and as the guild’s Treasurer. Identifying the importance of supporting women in the area of STEAM, she is part of DreamWorks Animation’s TECHWomen Advisory Committee.  Christina balances being mother, wife, and passionate storyteller for all media.

Diego Prilusky, Head of Intel Studios, Los Angeles, USA: Diego Prilusky is the head of Intel Studios, overseeing technical direction, creative direction and day to day operations of the immersive media studio in the Los Angeles area. This includes driving innovation and adoption of volumetric video technologies and production techniques, as well as the business and partner strategies required to achieve the Studio’s growth and profit objectives. Prilusky has a deep background in product design, film making, animation, and visual effects. Prior to Intel, Prilusky was one of the early founders and VP of product at Replay Technologies, a technical pioneer in large scale volumetric video capture for live sports. He was responsible for product strategy and key partner roll-outs that ultimately led to Replay’s acquisition by Intel in Q1 2016.  Prilusky also held creative leadership roles at Framestore CFC in London and Ilion Animation Studios in Madrid where he designed and created visual effects and animation for feature films. Prilusky holds a Master of Design from the Bezalel Academy of Art Design in Israel as well as a BS in Computer Science from the College of Management Academic Studies in Israel. He has multiple Sport Emmy award nominations and won the 2015 award for Best Technology

Phil Lelyveld manages projects and guides the strategy of the Entertainment Technology Center (ETC) within USC's School of Cinematic Arts.  The USC ETC, which is funded at the CTO level by the six major studios plus consumer electronics and internet companies, is a think tank and research center that brings together senior executives and thought leaders from the entertainment, consumer electronics, technology, and services industries, as well as USC faculty, to explore and act upon topics and issues related to technical aspects of the creation, distribution, and consumption of entertainment content.  Phil is currently running an Immersive Media Challenge, which asks students to pitch ideas for engaging experiences that could be possible or commercially viable in the 3-5 year timeframe, and articulate reasonable assumptions for how we get ‘from here to there (Tomorrowland, not Fantasyland).'

Peter Csathy is an internationally recognized media/music/entertainment/tech expert and futurist — and business and creative force. He has spent his career working with passionate teams pushing the boundaries of ground-breaking media, music, entertainment and tech innovation and developing transformational content & entertainment business partnerships and consumer experiences. Peter founded CREATV Media with that kind of passion, commitment, innovation and fearlessness top of mind. Those are CREATV Media’s clients & partners. Peter’s career spans both “traditional” media and “new” media (with unique expertise and relationships to bridge those worlds). He has negotiated deals in excess of $3 billion and has a deeply powerful global network of executives, entrepreneurs, investors & influencers. Peter has served as CEO & President of multiple media/tech companies that have achieved successful exits. He also spent years as a senior business executive in the major studios. Csathy is a Harvard Law graduate and critically-acclaimed author who is regularly featured in the leading press.