New Zealand companies will be featured at a panel session as part of the SIGGRAPH conference Tech Talk series, held this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center, August 10-13. Hosted by NZTE, the session, "Middle Earth: Imagination Made More Real" provides a presentation forum for New Zealand companies and will be moderated by Dr. Steve Upstill, a founding member of Pixar Animation Studios and a recent New Zealand immigrant.
Dr. Upstill will lead representatives from Academy-Award winning visual effects facility WETA Digital; software developer Right Hemisphere; Sci-Tech Award-winning software developer Massive and several others in a panel discussion and presentation of their respective technologies and productions. In addition, WETA Digital will give a presentation of its effects work on THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING. The Tech Talk will feature presentations from Stephen Regelous, founder of Massive Software, Dr. Mark Billinghurst from HIT Lab, Matt Aitken from WETA Digital and representatives from several of the other above-mentioned companies.
The Tech Talk will be held on Aug. 11 from 4:00-6:00 pm in Hall G, Room 1. NZTE will also be exhibiting at SIGGRAPH along with Computer Animation Technologies (CAT), Massive Software and Media Design School at booth #1958.
Eleven companies from New Zealand will be represented at this year's SIGGRAPH. In addition to WETA, Right Hemisphere and Massive, the list includes computer interface research lab, HIT Lab NZ; ARANZ, developer of handheld scanning devices; animation software developer CAT; effects studios Oktobor and Albedo; computer arts educator, Media Design School; and visual communications companies Truescape Visual Reality and Urban Voyage.
New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) is the New Zealand Government's trade and economic development agency. Using its global network of staff NZTE works with businesses to help grow their capability, profitability and international competitiveness. The organization also develop relationships with the international business community, helping buyers and investors access New Zealand products, services and investment opportunities. For more information, visit http://www.nzte.govt.nz/section/13318.aspx.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks
