Schedule
(Download Schedule)
Thursday, Oct 13th - Opening Reception
6:30 – 8:30: Leonardo Exhibits/University Displays/Awards
Enjoy an evening of food, networking, displays, awards and incredible technology exhibits at the new Leonardo.
Begin the Summit by experiencing the excitement and innovation that is part of the new Leonardo center in down town Salt Lake.
Utah's leading digital media universities and colleges present their latest student work at hosted exhibits in the Leonardo. Interact with students and professors as they enthusiastically share the results of their hard work and accomplishments in the digital media field.
Join with us in recognizing the significant success achieved by this year's recipient of the Utah Digital Media Leader Award. Enjoy their background story and learn as they share what has contributed to their success.
Enjoy an evening of food, networking, displays, awards and incredible technology exhibits at the new Leonardo.
Leonardo Exhibits
Begin the Summit by experiencing the excitement and innovation that is part of the new Leonardo center in down town Salt Lake.
Enjoy two floors of interactive exhibits and demonstrations that embody the artistic expression of technology. The Leonardo is a captivating Sci+Tech+Art Museum with incredible technology & digital media exhibits. (Note: The 2nd floor exhibits will only be open until 7:00. Please arrive early to see it all!).
University Displays
Utah's leading digital media universities and colleges present their latest student work at hosted exhibits in the Leonardo. Interact with students and professors as they enthusiastically share the results of their hard work and accomplishments in the digital media field.
Awards
Join with us in recognizing the significant success achieved by this year's recipient of the Utah Digital Media Leader Award. Enjoy their background story and learn as they share what has contributed to their success.
Friday, Oct 14th - Summit
7:30 AM - 8:30 AM: Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30 AM - 9:20 AM: Digital Media Acceleration Strategy
Scott Anderson, President, Zions Bank.
Lt. Governor Greg Bell, State of Utah.
Matthew Holland, President, Utah Valley University.
T. Craig Bott, President/CEO, Grow Utah Ventures.
Jon Dean, Executive Producer, EA Salt Lake.
Brent Adams, Director for Center of Animation, Brigham Young University.
Speakers:
Alan Hall, Chairman, Grow Utah Ventures
Scott Anderson, President, Zions Bank.
Lt. Governor Greg Bell, State of Utah.
Matthew Holland, President, Utah Valley University.
T. Craig Bott, President/CEO, Grow Utah Ventures.
Jon Dean, Executive Producer, EA Salt Lake.
Brent Adams, Director for Center of Animation, Brigham Young University.
Topic:
The craft, art, science and technology of digital media has exploded to where it now influences virtually every business across all industries. But what is the future of this industry? What are the factors driving its growth? And particularly, what is Utah doing to accelerate the expansion of this industry.
Our panel presents a vision for the future as well as detailed strategies on how Utah intends to grow this industry. The Utah Digital Media Acceleration Strategy, resulting from twelve months of effort by industry, academia and the public sector working will be publicly released.
9:30 AM - 10:20 AM:
Directing Marcus Fenix: The Rise of Virtual Production Through Gears of War
Vernon Wilbert, Commercial Director and Visual Effects Supervisor, Digital Domain and Mothership
Directing Marcus Fenix: The Rise of Virtual Production Through Gears of War
Key Note Speaker:
Vernon Wilbert, Commercial Director and Visual Effects Supervisor, Digital Domain and Mothership
Vernon has worked on 13 feature films including The Fifth Element, Robot, and Fight Club, and dozens of commercials for brands including Saab, Pepsi, Levi's and Old Spice. He collaborated with director Joseph Kosinski to pioneer the process of in-engine creation of video game trailers for Gears of War's "Mad World," and developed a virtual production process for Gears of War's "Dust to Dust" .
Moderator:
Brent Adams, Director for Center of Animation, Brigham Young University
Topic:
Virtual production, the ability to 'shoot' CG stories like live action, has evolved considerably in the past few years; not just in feature filmmaking, but also in commercial production. Vernon Wilbert will trace the evolution of virtual production in games marketing through his own work on trailers and spots for Gears of War: "Mad World," "Rendezvous," "Last Day," "Ashes to Ashes" and "Dust to Dust".
10:35 AM - 11:25 AM: The Social Community Experience, Transforming 'Our' game' to 'Their' game
Key Note Speaker:
Joe Shoopack, Director of Artistic Development, Sony Online Entertainment Studios, San Diego CA and Austin TX.
Joe has worked with Sony since 1997 developing Massively Multiplayer Online games and has shipped over 50 game titles on multiple game platforms.
Panel Members:
Clark Stacey, EVP, Strategy & Business Development, Smart Bomb Interactive.
Moderator:
Craig Caldwell, Professor, University of Utah, USTAR (Utah Science Technology and Research).
Topic:
Massively multi-player online games have pioneered creation of online gaming communities. So what does it all mean, not just for the players but the developers and producers? How does community drive game design and content delivery strategies? This discussion presents insights garnered from online gaming experiences of leading companies.
This discussion presents insights garnered from online gaming experiences of leading companies.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Special Lunch Event – Startup CrowdPitch
Host:
T. Craig Bott, President/CEO, Grow Utah Ventures
Details:
Think you've got a good idea for a digital media business but all you need is money? Listen in as three emerging innovators in digital media pitch their business to a panel of investors. Join us for an exciting Grow Utah Ventures CrowdPitch event. Learn what investors are looking for in a good "deal". And watch how the presenters handle the tough questions.
Help pick the winner by investing your "CrowdCash" in the company of your choice.
1:10 PM - 2:00 PM: Going Mobile into the Cloud- The Impact of Untethered Technologies
Key Note Speaker:
Donald Mustard, Founder, Chair Entertainment Group/Epic Games
Panel:
Tom Mikota, Factory Studios
Moderator:
Steven Roy, Associate Vice President for economic development, Utah Valley University, USTAR Director
Topic:
Transitioning to mobile platforms can be a bit daunting, even to the most seasoned. But if you can pull it off, the rewards are significant.
Like consumers, the cloud has created vast new opportunities for mobile work flow using essential technologies and accessing critical tools anywhere, anytime.
This shared presentation will give you an inside view of successful mobile strategies. It will also introduce you to the exiting new horizons the cloud is making possible in digital media production.
2:10 PM - 3:00 PM: From Premium to Freemium: Impact of Analytics on the Creative
Key Note Speaker:
Denise Remhof, Senior Product Manager, Publishing, Playfish, Electronic Arts Interactive
Panel:
TBA
Moderator:
Ben Bell, Executive Producer, EA Salt Lake
Topic:
You are wondering, "How can it possibly work?- giving away the game for free".
Game developers across the industry are asking the same thing. How can we transition from the premium, shrink wrapped product to a constantly changing, on-line free product and make any money?
Customer analytics is the key- knowing how to identify that one percent that will pay to play and how to capture their loyalty. Our panel shares state-of-the-art insight to this fascinating new practice that melds the stats with the creative to achieve astounding success.
3:15 PM - 4:05 PM: The Opportunity of the Unexpected
Key Note Speaker:
Doug McBride, Art Director, Microsoft Game Studios.
Topic:
What if consumers see it differently than you do? What if they open the box and tweak the circuits in ways you hadn't thought of? Adjusting quickly to consumer preferences can be the difference between a huge success and failure.
Learn how Microsoft adapted its strategies for the hugely popular Xbox and Kinect products to seize even greater opportunities in the consumer market. Something we all need to know how to do.
4:15 PM - 5:05 PM: Funding Your Digital Media Company
Key Note Speaker:
Robb Kunz, Managing Partner, VentureBlue Capital
Panel:
Alex Lawrence, Angel Investor, Vice Provost: Innovation & Economic Development, Weber State University, Director, Technology Outreach, Northern Utah (USTAR). Kent Thomas, Founder, Advanced CFO Solutions.
Topic:
Second only to your brainstorm for a new innovation or technology is funding the venture. Investment capital is needed to launch the business, produce the feature, and sell the service.
What is the current state of investment capital and is there any out there? And what interest do investors have in digital media? How can I generate their interest and what do I need to do to get funded?
Our keynote and panel help answer these questions and more. What they say will definitely help you raise those funds.
5:20 PM: Closing Reception & GEEX Gaming Expo
Location:
South Town Expo, Just across the street.
Join us for a final opportunity for casual networking as we close out the Summit at the GEEX Gaming Expo over at the South Town Expo center.
Enjoy food, beverages and complimentary entrance to the GEEX show with your PushButton pass. Wander among the many exhibits presented by leading game and digital media companies. And of course, play a few games.
Saturday, Oct 15th
9:00 AM – 11:59 PM: GEEX Exhibit Hall Open
This premiere gaming and electronics expo will showcase the latest games, development tools, platforms, art, and services. Explore innovative game consoles, mobile devices, computers systems and the games, applications, services, and the tools built for them. Participate in a wide array of console and PC tournaments with large tournament stages and professional shout-casting.
This premiere gaming and electronics expo will showcase the latest games, development tools, platforms, art, and services. Explore innovative game consoles, mobile devices, computers systems and the games, applications, services, and the tools built for them. Participate in a wide array of console and PC tournaments with large tournament stages and professional shout-casting.
NOTE: Exact times are subject to change.
