As pre-production, production and post-production methods blur, so too do traditional craft roles.  Today more than ever, the roles of visual effects professionals, production designers, animators, cinematographers, editors and even wardrobe and makeup artists are starting to converge.  How can one maximize their creativity in this new infrastructure?  How does one move fluidly between narrative, hybrid and animation?  And what do creative professionals need to know as the entire process shifts to a more blended world?  What roles will be part of production in the future and how early in the process do such decisions need to be made?  How does all this change impact business decisions?

THE MADONNA APPROACH: The Only Constant is Change
The industry is in a state of flux.  Traditional barometers are being knocked about by globalization, creative mandates, technology advances and financing challenges.  The list is long. 3D – shoot in 3D, convert to 3D or remain in 2D, and how to capitalize on the trend.  International Opportunities and Tax Incentives – open satellite offices or partner up with another company abroad.  Animation v. Hybrid v. VFX – better to remain with one core service or diversify to attract more business.  The Hub Approach – become or remain a behemoth company or offer centralizing management of outside services.  Creating Your Own Content – assessing risks, rewards and new distribution options.  Standardization – files, formats, pipelines, positions.  Company Size – does size matter. Niche Expertise – be the ‘go to’ company with one great strength or diversify your company’s skill sets.  Being Green – is addressing environmental concerns financially feasible.

The panel will discuss a myriad of topics and look at how companies and individuals can stay relevant, make good decisions and stay ahead of the next trend.  How would you approach the above concerns?  A brief Q&A will follow.

VES Board Chair Jeffrey A. Okun adds, "It is of the utmost importance that we focus the entire entertainment industry on our collective future.  It is time to work together to insure that we, as a community, will be here to inform, create and operate within this new future.  Now is the time to understand where it is going, to stop thinking of what we used to do, how it used to be done, and look forward to explore how to do it now, well and profitably.  In short – prepare for thriving in the new paradigm future!”

For more information and go to: http://www.visualeffectssociety.com/production-summit-2010

About the VES
The VES is a non-profit, professional, honorary Society dedicated to advancing the arts, sciences and applications of digital visual effects and to upholding the highest uniform standards and procedures for the visual effects profession.  Headquartered in Los Angeles, the VES is a global organization and has Sections in Australia, London, San Francisco Bay Area and Vancouver.

The VES is the entertainment industry's only official organization representing the extended community of visual effects practitioners including supervisors, artists, producers, technology developers, educators, PR/marketing specialists and studio executives.  Its 2,300 global members contribute to all areas of entertainment from film, television and commercials to music videos, games and new media.  The VES strives to enrich and educate its members and the entertainment community at large through many domestic and international events, screenings and programs.  Visual effects professionals constitute a vital creative force in content creation and are literally shaping the future of entertainment. www.visualeffectssociety.com.