This is the current class listing for DV Expo. Check back for further developments. Monday, October 20 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Interactive Storyboarding Marcie Begleiter Develop your storyboarding skills for interactive media. Whether your interest is in gaming, edutainment, industrial, or reference titles, the ability to communicate visually is essential. This seminar will cover mapping, information flow, storyboarding, document creation for peer critique, and low-tech prototyping for presentation. This is not a class in the usage of software; it is a class in the strategies of communication. Topics covered include a slide presentation on information design, breaking down the plot summary, treatment or script, node mapping, visual metaphors, icons, mind mapping, film and its relationship to screen design, the camera as a character, using the storyboard in the interactive flow chart, 3-D storyboarding, creating relationships in design/concept groups, brainstorming a metaphor, information design for the participant's current project (or one provided in the workshop), and concept pitching. This workshop is for designers, programmers, directors, and other members of interactive product development teams. FD1 After Effects for Film and Video Trish Meyer Join us for this full-day workshop and explore why Adobe After Effects is an essential tool for broadcast video designers, special effects artists, 3D compositers, and multimedia designers. Since its release four years ago, Adobe After Effects has become the industry standard for 2D motion graphics and compositing on desktop computers. Originally written for the Macintosh, it is now also available for Windows NT. You'll gain a thorough understanding of the major features of the program as multi-layered compositions are built by one of the authors of Adobe's own After Effects Classroom in a Book and the DV columnist for motion graphics. This session will cover: importing video, film clips, and elements created in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and 3D animation programs; animating layers using keyframes and creating complex motion paths; trimming, time-stretching, and frame blending video layers; masking layers; compositing elements to create deep, multilayered looks and cool effects; using standard manipulation and third-party filters, as well as multiple filters; mattes and alpha channels; and After Effects' powerful "nesting" feature. As a prerequisite, attendees should have basic Mac skills. Photoshop or basic After Effects experience is helpful. FD2 Producing Video for the Web Nels Johnson Master the challenges of web-based multimedia, specifically desktop video assets. Streaming web video will get most of the attention, but downloadable video and animation will also be covered. Specific subject areas include: capturing video for web deployment, editing and compressing web-based video, who the major players are in the streaming video arena, when it's appropriate to offer download-only video clips, dealing with cross-platform issues (Mac vs. Windows), how to post streaming video clips on a website, dedicated servers vs. "serverless" products for delivering streaming video, and setting up studios for producing web video assets. This session is for multimedia professionals migrating from CD-ROM production to web media production, as well as webmasters seeking to deliver media clips from existing web sites. FD3 Independent Video Production: Creative Financing and Marketing Techniques Michael Wiese This no-nonsense seminar will cover everything including developing, financing, producing, and distributing your video programs. Everyone dreams of being an independent producer: developing their own ideas, raising financing, and producing programs which are successfully distributed in the U. S. and abroad. If you have this dream, this session is for you. This seminar will cover a wide range of hard-to-get, "must know" information for independent videomakers ranging from how to find investors, sponsors, and co-producers to effective marketing techniques to get yourself and your project recognized in an ever-crowded marketplace. The session will share tips on strategies for raising financing, finding distributors, and avoiding the pitfalls found in the so-called "standard distribution contract." FD4 Tuesday, October 21 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Type: Not Just for Reading Anymore Jeff Boortz, moderator Bill Dawson/Two Headed Monster Elaine Cantwell/3 Ring Circus Christopher Wargin/Smog, panelists Attend this session to explore the changing role of Typography. Expressive Typography whether illustrated, deconstructed, densely layered, three dimensional, or animated, is everywhere. No self respecting commercial, main title, brochure, or network packaged executed in the last two years would feel complete without it. But does anyone bother to read it all? Are we expected to? Is the communication f information still the primary role of written language in the "Information Age", or has typography slid into the sad role of frivolous decoration? 011 Creating and Managing Digital Video For CD-ROM Titles Leslie Safarik and Laurence Tietz Master the creation and management of digital video for use in CD-ROM titles for the Windows and Macintosh computer platforms. The speakers will discuss methods to work creatively and effectively within the design constraints of the medium. Issues of data rate, frame rate, spatial clarity, and color depth will be addressed in detail. The session will examine several projects created for consumer titles and business-to-business presentations. 012 Audio Basics Tim Tully Here's your chance to get a sound foundation in sound.This session will focus on the hardware, software, and techniques involved in recording, editing, processing, and post-producing the sound that accompanies video. This will include the effective use of microphones, double systems, digitizing analog audio, synchronizing audio to video, sweetening the production audio, and maximizing it for use in a digital desktop environment such as the Internet or CD-ROM. 013 Pay no attention to the man behind the computer... Scott Billups In this session, veteran cinematographer and visual effects creator Scott Billups will reveal the seven easiest ways to break into film and video production with your computer. You'll take a look at some recent film and broadcast projects that exemplify these industry secrets, and then you'll take a peak behind the silicon curtain to discover how they were created. If time permits, we'll also take a look at the various personal production platforms available and examine both their advantages and shortcomings. 014 Repurposing Animation and Video for the Web Jerry Lewis Gain insight, opportunities, and case studies on the key issues shaping the future of animation and video. The changes from analog to digital, proprietary to open, expensive to affordable have allowed virtually everyone to create and distribute media (content) that was previously only available to highly trained (and highly paid) technicians and artists. The masses now have the ability to create and distribute digital video to a larger audience than ever before because now they have access to the inexpensive tools for creation and manipulation of text, graphics, animation, and digital video and can easily distribute this media to the world via the World Wide Web. Topics covered will include proliferation of powerful computers, video capture boards, hard disk arrays, and robust software solutions; compression technology, enabling high performance on the desktop; democratization as technology is becoming accessible to many; demand for content fueled by the proliferation of cable television, direct broadcast satellite, and, increasingly, the Internet; cost effectiveness through affordable technology and the ability to repurpose content; and Windows NT, which is now a viable platform. 015 Tuesday, October 21 10:30 a.m.-12:00 noon Introduction to After Effects Taz Goldstein Here's an easy-to-follow introduction to the sometimes intimidating world of After Effects, an extraordinary animation/ compositing/special effects package from Adobe Systems. Anyone interested in altering film or video on a Macintosh or NT-based PC should not miss this class. It will cover the program's unique interface and broad spectrum of powerful features. If you've always wanted to see what After Effects is about, you must come. You won't regret it. Bring a pen and pad. 021 Multicasting Nels Johnson Establish a meaningful context for multicasting, as opposed to traditional unicasting. Topics covered include why multicasting is important (and inevitable), who the multicast players are (software and hardware companies), how to set up a basic multicast environment, differences in multicasting on the LAN vs. the Internet at large, the role of the MBone (Multicast Backbone) and how it works, creating content suitable for multicast, how to find an ISP that offers multicast service, and how soon the technology will be commonplace on Windows and the Mac. The session is aimed toward people new to multicast technology but who posses a working knowledge of multimedia and basic PC networking experience. 022 Approaching 2000:The Way We Work CANCELLED Lori Pate and panel Take a look at the design industry today and how creatives are using digital technology in the corporate, independent, and design/production setting to produce interactive, print, and on-air design. The explosion of digital technology has afforded a whole new set of parameters by which we are creating (and demanding) ways to work. This class will explore organizations that support the use of digital technology, as well as vendors and products. 023 The Ins and Outs of Successful Digital Non-Linear Film Editing Barry Silver Learn the nuts and bolts of digital non-linear film editing from production through printing the telecine. Topics covered will include preparation of the digital media, which systems to use for which job, how to conform a show, how to prepare for the negative cut, and how to produce your answer print. Additionally, we will talk about standard film opticals and digital film and video effects: lighting, composing, and compositing, as well as exploring some of the new software currently available.The session will also focus on successful film finishing techniques from an assistant's point of view. We will concentrate on productivity techniques, error-correcting software solutions, solving problems before they occur, and the care and maintenance of the hardware and software. Attendees can be at any level, from novice to expert, but should have some knowledge of the film or video editing process. 024 Digital Storytelling Joe Lambert and Nina Mullen Become a better storyteller! The best use of any tool of communication is to provide meaning, whether it is the human voice, the written word, the painted image, the moving image, and now computer-generated multimedia. While the tools and delivery systems of our stories have changed dramatically, we, as humans, still respond to a good, well-told story. Through the use of several successful digital projects, this session will present a variety of conceptual approaches to digital storytelling. 025 Tuesday, October 21 1:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Broadcast Design Basics Flavio Kampah Master the unique challenges of broadcast design. Using examples of successful design projects as the basis of discussion, the session will explore creative ways to approach the design process and techniques for creating a design environment flexible enough to accommodate unanticipated elements and serendipitous mistakes. 031 Digital Video Primer Tim Myers, Josh Rosen, and Randy Ubillos You can save money and get the latest technology without committing to a single vendor. You can now build a powerful, productive, professional non-linear editing and effects system with open system technologies. But with this freedom comes many choices. In this session, we will review the current state of the marketplace. We will tell you what to look for and how to buy an open system that really works. We'll discuss QuickTime, digital video boards, editing and compositing software, hard drives, alternative storage, and more. On the software side, we'll review the necessary features to take you to new levels of productivity. We will also show you tips and tricks for working with video in compressed formats for broadcast and multimedia output. We'll also review how to add a great soundtrack to your digital movies using DECK II--a powerful multitrack editing and mixing tool for audio which allows you to easily synchronize and chase edits to a QuickTime movie. Your new soundtrack can easily replace the original audio in your movie (you can also choose to maintain the original soundtrack). You can also mix multiple tracks and apply audio effects in real time without the need for expensive external DSP processing boxes. And if you still need to work in the analog world, this session will show you how to synchronize to SMPTE time code. 032 Blue and Green Screen Fundamentals Paul Vlahos Anyone interested in learning about the creative possibilities with blue and green screen technology will find a wealth of knowledge in this session. Discussions will cover lighting, camera, materials, pre-production planning, post-production techniques, pitfalls, and any other topics that arise with audience questions. This session is appropriate for attendees at all levels. 033 Put Your Video on the Web John Geyer We're going to cut through the hype with a start-to-finish demonstration of how to make your video web-ready. The Internet offers new opportunities to deliver video in ways never before possible. This session will help you understand the issues involved, from selecting the right technology to optimizing the quality of your presentation.Nobody has been doing Internet video for very long. This session is for people who are just getting started. You will leave with a good understanding of the "tape-to-browser" process. 034 Pricing Tactics for Professionals Robert Brenner Pricing is where you win or lose in a battle for market share. This session deals with tactical actions that business owners can take to maximize profit and return on investment. It's a no-holds-barred, down-and-dirty, tell-it-like-it-is rules of engagement for winning battles in business trenches. Topics include when to charge by the hour and by the job; when and how to reduce price; when and how to raise price; how to handle objections to your higher price; how to know when to turn down a job; smart ways to use coupons, rebates, and special offers; how to deal with bottom fishing by low price buyers; and how to handle cut-throat competitors. 035 Tuesday, October 21 3:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Utilizing Computer Graphics as Props Todd Marks, Alex Mann, and Harold Mann See how computer and video graphics are created and used on-set in feature films and television. Attendees will learn what hardware and software tools work best, what makes for an effective on-screen graphic, and the trials and tribulations of working in a fast-paced, stressful production environment. Attendees will get a sneak peak at some new film graphics, along with some behind-the-scenes stories and adventures from past projects. 041 Screenwriting in the Ultra Low Budget Filmmaking World Mark Pirro This course will show you the ins and outs of writing screenplays catering to the low budget home video and cable television markets. Working with the technology that is available today, you will learn how to create commercial stories for features that you can conceivable produce yourself for less money that most production companies spend on catering. Also, you will learn many of the best ways to market your screenplay; the advantages and disadvantages of sending it to the studios, getting an agent or producing it yourself. You will leave this class raring to go out and make that movie! 042 Nissan Pathfinder:A Case Study Taz Goldstein In 1995, a 30-second Nissan commercial was created entirely on a stripped down, barely usable Macintosh over a panicked four-day period. It went on to win the Radius award at the Cannes International Advertising Festival. In this session, the spot's creator, Taz Goldstein, will demonstrate exactly how this and a few of his other pieces were created. Topics covered will include: Adobe After Effects, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Illustrator, basic animation techniques, some cool time-saving tricks, techniques for using CD-ROM clip media, and how to survive for four days eating nothing but Red Vines and Ding-Dongs. Bring a pen and pad. 043 Audio on the Internet Tim Tully Learn all aspects of producing audio and music for the Web, including recording, editing, and processing; the software and hardware required; and the pitfalls and the rewards.The high-pressure push to put multimedia on the Web--in the face of the medium's low data bandwidth--has made Internet video rare and difficult, but not so for digital audio. Technologies such as Progressive Networks' RealAudio, Macromedia's Shockwave Audio, and the audio and MIDI implementation of Apple's QuickTime have made the Web an audio playground. During the session, we'll cover issues of A/V sync, the AC3 compression specified in the standards for both DVD and Digital Television, and its possible role on the net. 044 Optimizing Video for CD-ROM Darren Giles Take advantage of the newest technology and techniques in CD-ROM video to deliver the best possible results in today's market. We will examine the factors that affect digital video quality, and discuss techniques to achieve optimal results. This session is primarily aimed at video professionals with at least a moderate degree of experience in producing digital video. Much of the material will also be useful to those just getting started in this area. 045 Wednesday, October 22 8:30 a.m.-10:0 a.m. Introduction to Media 100 Taz Goldstein Learn how to use the Media100 Rg Digital Video Editing System. The session will cover: digitizing material off videotape, importing stills and QuickTime movies created with other programs, the full Media 100 interface, basic editing tools, audio mixing, titling, and output. There will also be a brief overview of Gaudi HO, the optional 3D transition board. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session in which specific situations and potential problems can be explored. Bring a pen and pad to note some cool keyboard shortcuts. 051 Case Study: Powers of Ten Interactive Eames Demetrios Join us as we revisit the process of creating Powers of Ten Interactive, a CD-ROM based on the classic short film Powers of Ten. Powers of Ten Interactive has six parallel journeys that interweave and connect to give the user a sense of scale, from the quark to the edge of the universe. This case study will address issues of content, design, production, and the like. Major emphasis will be on the notion that content is key to meaningful multimedia design, as well as the challenge and necessity of rewarding the efforts of both novice and specialist with the same product. The session will also explore whether multimedia currently seems afraid of genres beyond games and encyclopedias; in particular, whether the educational uses of the medium can sustain themselves exclusively through purported objectivity or should--in tandem--develop the authorial voice. 052 Designing Computer Animation for Broadcast Video Mike Jennings Understand the design considerations needed to produce broadcast-quality, computer-generated imagery (CGI). The session is intended for 2D or 3D animators with any level of experience who wish to learn what is required to prepare high-quality animations for professional video distribution. Concepts will be demonstrated with a Macintosh, but most concepts apply to any CGI system. Topics covered include television and desktop video technologies and 2D and 3D animation tools. Attendees will learn about using today's animation tools to work around the limitations of (and even take advantage of) the characteristics of television including interlacing, color space, frame rate, and the safe screen areas. The session will also discuss various desktop video and compression technologies, interconnection formats, and tape formats, as well as how to use QuickTime and manage alpha channels in various non-linear editors. Attendees will learn how to design animations optimized for the hardware used and how to optimize tools such as After Effects, ElectricImage, Infini-D, Strata, Lightwave3D, Premiere, and Radius Edit for video output. 053 The Digital Artist/ Filmmaker Interface Van Ling In an industry where artists must learn technology and technicians must learn artistry, this course will approach the interface of art and technology from both directions. We'll give filmmakers a view of the digital resources available to them in all phases of production and give digital artists a broader understanding of how their talents can be better focused on the art of narrative filmmaking. 054 Tools for the Designer: A Review of the Best Tools for 2D, 3D, Digital Video, Web, and Interactive Media Paul Young Why buy two or three tools when one would be better? Well, because at times it is better to use several tools that can work together than to use one tool that is made to "do it all." This session is a good place to start if you have a project in mind but are not sure of what tools to use either for the whole project or part of it. Drawing on the experience of the instructor, who has used the best tools while teaching or producing projects from before QuickTime was released until now, this session will describe the strengths and weaknesses of the software and hardware that have proven to be the most useful to people while producing professional projects.Tool sets covered will include those used for brainstorming, writing, pre-production, production, and post-production, such as non-linear editing, 3D, special effects, and compositing. 055 Wednesday, October 22 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Digital Compositing on the Mac Trish Meyer Gain a functional overview of Adobe After Effects version 3.1. After Effects allows the compositing and animation of an unlimited number of elements. These elements may be text, graphics, animations, video, and/or film of any aspect ratio or frame rate. Elements may be scaled, rotated, positioned, and animated with extreme precision and control. A wide variety of Adobe and third party plug-in filters and effects will also be demonstrated. As prerequisites, attendees should have experience with Photoshop or an equivalent paint package, as well as some animation or video experience. 061 Hardware Configuration of Digital Video Editing Systems Charles F. McConathy Overcome computer bottlenecks in order to produce high quality, flicker-free digital video. The session will cover current high-speed single and multiple processors and those on the horizon, high speed PCI bus technology, and storage and disk arrays as related to digital video editing and audio applications. Subjects include: which PCI cards to use, and in which PCI slots they should be stuffed; 500 MHz dual processors; improved PCI bus speeds; benefits of level 2 and in-line processor cache; thermal recalibration issues; mode page settings and how they help to improve data transfers; the benefits of UltraSCSI; the future of FireWire/1394; Fibre Channel; hardware versus software DV CoDec; 10,000 RPM disk drives; and techniques to shorten rendering times. 062 Understanding Color Space from YUV to Palette Management Guy Wright Here's an overview of color space basics--defining them, explaining why you might want to (or have to) convert from one to another, the problems you're bound to encounter, and how to minimize those problems when you do. Whether you're going from video to computer, computer to paper, or computer to the web, sooner or later you'll have to deal with color spaces. What are color spaces? How many are there? Why are they different? What are the issues moving from one to another? These questions--and more--will be answered at this session. 063 Creating American Bandstand's Logo with ElectricImage and Media 100 Robbie Robfogel Join us as we revisit the creation of the American Bandstand "AB" logo for Dick Clark Productions/World Production's American Bandstand Multimedia Retrospective. The producers of this title needed to get several different logos and animations done within a 36-hour deadline. The logos were delivered on time by using several off-the-shelf digital video tools, the ElectricImage Animation System, and Media 100. This class will take you step-by-step through the design process, utilizing different software packages such as ElectricImage, Media 100, Form Z, Infini-D, Logomotion, Illustrator, and Photoshop. The session will also discuss creative decision processes under a tight deadline. 064 3D Digital Video Effects Workshop Patrick Brennan Here's a "how-to" session for novice and intermediate digital video editors. We'll cover the ins and outs of creating and using 3D digital video effects. Topics include how to move and place images in 3D space; how to create 3D warps such as page peels, spheres, cylinders, swirls, and ripples; how to add 3D light sources and textures to video images; and how to create, save, and reuse traditional broadcast keyframe sequences. This seminar will also touch on video design basics and how to integrate 3D digital video effects without overkill. This session is geared towards beginners, but will also cover tips and tricks from which even experienced users can benefit. 065 Wednesday, October 22 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. The Changing Face of Film Post-Production Steve Cohen Glimpse the significant changes in film-based post-production in recent years and see what's in store for the future. Technical issues, aesthetic issues, and quality of life issues will all be discussed. The session will include a soup-to-nuts explanation of Hollywood film post-production--why it's more challenging now than ever before and why the digital revolution has made editors' lives harder, not easier. 071 The Art and Philosophy of Broadcast Design Dale Herigstad Understand the design process for television graphics, particularly the early phases of concept development. Using examples from several projects, we will analyze how a design idea can grow out of looking at the "given elements." The goal is to let the design solutions come out of a careful look at the problem or task at hand. 072 Writing for Multimedia Lisa Brenneis You'll come away from this session with an understanding of the writer's role in multimedia, the impact of platform technology on the writer's role, and the distinction between multimedia and interactive multimedia. The session will explore how to find a writer and how to get jobs writing for interactive media, as well as the potential and perils of linear and non-linear, fiction and non-fiction writing. The session will also cover the development of a structural metaphor in interactive multimedia (e.g., navigational, geographical, alphabetical). Through real-world case studies, attendees will learn about the evolution of script formats and solutions to the technical constraints of delivery media. Finally, the session will walk attendees through writing tasks involved in pre-production, production, and post-production. 073 DVD-ROM Title Development--The Real Story Mark Ely and panel Explore the current state of the DVD-ROM industry, and other issues that developers need to address. DVD-ROM offers developers a wealth of opportunity with its massive storage capacity, but there are plenty of challenges too. Issues including compatibility with other formats and questions about format specifications have kept many from committing to commercial DVD title development. Also addressed will be the economics of DVD-ROM development and technical issues of incorporating audio and video in a title. 074 Where and How to Learn More about Digital Video, Multimedia, and the Web Harry Mott Find the best schools, books, magazines, people, web sites, and other resources dedicated to teaching you more in your field(s) of interest. Your time and your money are precious. Choosing where to spend them is often like taking a shot in the dark. This session can help you better decide how to make informed decisions to extend your knowledge in a practical and cost-effective way. Are you better at teaching yourself? Then there are many books, web sites, and magazines that can help you. Or are you better at learning in a classroom environment? Then come for a review of schools, from one-night extension classes to full-degree programs given at many universities. 075 Wednesday, October 22 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. CD-ROM Project Management Guy Wright Learn the business side of producing CD-ROMs for mass distribution. Along with some CD-ROM basics such as formatting, premastering, CD-Rs, and some CD-ROM technical background, we'll discuss issues such as packaging, duplication, and distribution. We'll take a CD-ROM project through the entire production cycle and show you how to schedule your own CD-ROM masterpiece. 081 Outputting Computer Graphics to Film--Pitfalls and Problems to Avoid David Hays Gain a solid understanding of the basic fundamentals, pitfalls, and problems found in recording CGI to 35mm and 65mm film, as well as other challenges faced by producers and artists working in this format. Topics include: ideal image resolutions, aspect ratio considerations for theatrical release, and helpful hints for image rendering. This class will cover content and topics aimed at advanced producers. 082 Preparing for Job Interviews Dr.Jo-Ann Fantino-Ruffolo and Cindy Chernow Prepare to be an effective sales rep for yourself! The toughest sales job is pitching yourself, your experience, and your talents to a potential employer. Preparation, presentation, and attitude are the keys. Topics will include: dealing with rejection; resumes; "reels" and demos; networking; building a Power Rolodex; how to bond with a potential employer, agent, and headhunter; overcoming procrastination; getting through the assistants; staying in touch with prospects; and much more. 083 Creating and Integrating 3D/2D into Film and Video Kevin Kutchaver Create and integrate 3D/2D animation for film and video. Topics include turning client logos into 3D in a matter of seconds, creating appealing background layers, optimizing rendering speed and quality, tactics for efficient management of client revisions, and merging 3D and live action. Software used in this presentation will include Illustrator, Photoshop, After Effects, and ElectricImage. The session will show how to make these products work in harmony. This session is geared toward beginning and intermediate users of 3D/2D (PC or Mac) software, but will also cover tips and tricks from which even experienced users can benefit. 084 DVD and Laserdisc Production: The Art of the Special Edition Van Ling Conceive and create value-added programs (aka The Special Edition) like a master. With the growing public and professional interest in filmmaking, the arrival of DVD, and the success of its predecessor, laserdisc, has brought new capabilities and opportunities for re-releasing material with new, value-added material. Topics included will be the art of compositing clips and interviews, as well as how to reveal special effects secrets to optimum effect. The class will also provide a technical and conceptual overview of successful projects. 085 Thursday, October 23 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Writing and Designing for Interactive Entertainment (Games) Roger Holzberg Learn the essentials of game conceptualization and design, styles of game play, using implied vs. actual AI (artificial intelligence), and how to use cheat codes to deconstruct and learn from the designers of great games. Two very different games, both born from the vision of traditional Hollywood filmmakers, will be demonstrated and deconstructed. Conceived by Steven Spielberg, Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair is a full-motion video simulation game featuring Spielberg, Quentin Tarantino, Jennifer Aniston, and Penn and Teller. Outlaws is a real-time 3D action game from Lucas Arts. It is possible that cheat codes for both titles will be leaked at this session. 091 Alternative Animation Forms Gary Schwartz Be immersed in the theory and practice of animation. Attendees will experience the essence of animation as it was invented by moving from simple to complex techniques. Topics include Zoetropes, flip books, drawing-on-film, cut-out, and underlit sand animation. 092 Legal Aspects of the Interactivity Business Charles Kramer The session will examine legal issues unique to interactive businesses, including: the special rules applicable to organizing and operating "virtual companies" whose employees work in different states and interact only electronically; how to obtain the rights you need to use pre-existing materials; problems of online distribution, including (1) trademark aspects of domain name disputes, (2) licensing aspects of multiplayer games, (3) licensing game demos, and (4) making "characters" reusable, protectable properties. 093 An Inside Look at Avid Eric Peters As an insider's guide to Avid, this session will give attendees a look at the state of Avid and its future plans for this world-class non-linear film and video editing system. Tips and techniques for Avid editors will be covered as well as time dedicated to specific questions from the audience. 094 Media 100 and After Effects in Film Effects Robbie Robfogel Learn the tips and techniques used on the blockbuster Batman & Robin. Explore how CGI and miniatures are combined to get a realistic effect as well as the step-by-step process that was used to create the mattes for the effects department.This session will take you through the use of Media 100 and After Effects in the production of this film. It will specifically address Media 100 operation and After Effects matte generation during miniature effects photography. Media 100 was used to digitize footage directly on the set and the footage was then combined with files created with Alias inside After Effects. 095 Thursday, October 23 11:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Writing and Designing for Interactive Edutainment Roger Holzberg Gain an understanding of the issues faced when the writer and designer merge. Two award-winning edutainment titles will be demonstrated and deconstructed during this session. The first title will be the interactive version of The Discoverers, which utilizes the IMAX movie as a "table of contents," merging the movie with Pulitzer Prize-winner Daniel Boorstin's best-selling book. The second title, My First Encyclopedia, is a subject-based encyclopedia for 3-6 year olds. The session will break down the design and writing approaches of the titles, and examine relevant issues including "repurposing" existing content, and designing for the appropriate market. 101 Blue is for Business James Locker Learn how to incorporate blue screen compositing into your interactive applications. Blue screen compositing is a technique in which foreground elements, like actors, are filmed in front of a bright, solid color backdrop (normally blue) and then composited against a new background. This process replaces all the blue background with another image or background plate. Blue screen technology was once limited to the special effects departments at Hollywood studios. This was primarily because shooting on a blue screen set can be extremely expensive and time consuming. Now, however, blue screen compositing has expanded to become a part of the video and high technology domains as well. This session is intended to show multimedia producers and directors that there are ways to do elaborate blue screen work within the budget and timeframe of an interactive business application.Topics covered will be how to shoot foreground elements without first fully establishing the background plate, how to develop a preliminary design strategy for an eventual background, how to incorporate full-screen design and interfaces within multimedia scenes, and how to direct using the "Acting in a Box" method to achieve high impact and realistic streamlined video. The session will appeal to all levels of multimedia producers and directors. 102 Timing Audio and Video Chris Meyer Today many still treat video and audio as two separate elements. Bad audio can ruin good visuals; good audio can cover for substandard visuals. Learn how to create a final experience that strongly resonates with the viewer and increases their desire to experience it again. This course covers how to create visual timing references from audio, how to use audio to provide hints for animation actions, and how musicians can use the "magic tempos" to make editing and animation easier. 103 DeBabelizer Mark Morris This session will introduce attendees to a myriad of product issues: cross platform compatibility, color theory, palettes, resolution, conversions between file formats, scripting, etc. This session will also cover techniques for cleaning up and preparing images for other applications and using DeBabelizer's automated features to create special effects. 104 Make Your Web Site Move: Video and Animation Tools Chris Manners Take advantage of the current video and animation technology to produce increasingly effective web sites. This session demonstrates how to combine video, audio, animation, still images, and graphics to create movies on the desktop for output to the web. Advanced tools to produce and deploy real-time animation on the web are providing new ways to consolidate the process of creating animation files and saving development time. Also, advances in data streaming technology now make it possible to play video files on web pages in real time, thus expanding the ability to develop web sites into a more comprehensive communication tool--and a more interesting experience for users. The "play-as-you-download" technique allows site visitors to view video without waiting for the entire file to download first, and is a technology that is pushing major developers to create dynamic videostreaming plug-ins. Attendees will learn about current web tools and technologies, and review considerations of when, where, and how to best use them. 105 Thursday, October 23 1:30 p.m.-3:00 p.m. Composing 2D and 3D Graphics for Music Videos Sherri Sheridan This intermediate-to-advanced class will teach you how to create compelling music videos full of digital video compositing, and computer animations that synch perfectly with audio. How to use 2D audio-synched elements on 3D objects to create powerful music video computer animations will be demonstrated in detail using After Effects and ElectricImage. Firewire issues will also be discussed along with hardware and software considerations. Blue screening and compositing options will be explored using the Ultimatte After Effects plug-in to get the most professional looking compositing available in the industry today. How to use motion math in After Effects with audio files will also be explained and demonstrated. Creating realistic looking environments in 3D space will also be explored using third party plug-ins (TREE STORM) and 3D depth-of-field effects to match digital video. As a prerequisite, attendees should have a basic knowledge of digital video and 3D animation. 111 Finding the Right People: The Art of the Interview Pamela Kleibrink Thompson Learn how to hire the best and avoid the rest. This session is an introductory course for company owners, managers, and others who are involved in hiring employees. Selecting the right people is the most important aspect of a manager's job, yet few know how to do it well. The employee you hire today will be working with you for months and years to come, yet most hiring decisions are made after a few minutes of small talk. Every employee represents a sizable investment by the company. How do you separate the resume inflaters from the potential stars? Learn how to screen applicants, identify team players, and improve your staff, while building your company's reputation and your own career. Learn techniques for getting the candidate to reveal his or her character, attitude, and suitability for the job. Learn how to get the information most interviewers miss. 112 CD-ROM Schedules and Budgets Philip Hopbell Learn the elements needed to accurately schedule and budget any CD-ROM production. With an emphasis on understanding basic production processes and pathways, this session will be illustrated with sample schedules and budgets taken from actual productions. The session will pay special attention to the importance of responsible forecasting and reporting of real information and will discuss the role of the Project Manager/Line Producer. 113 Digital Desktop Production CANCELLED Margo Chase Get answers to real-world questions about what works when using digitized desktop production.This session will explore the pros and cons of digital desktop production and will address real-world questions surrounding how and what works, using Mac-based software such as Adobe After Effects, and non-linear editing systems like Media100. Content will be geared toward designers working in broadcast, film, and commercial production.114 Desktop Video Production Project Management Dave Hofflich Take a behind-the-scenes look at a major television advertising campaign produced on desktop video.This session will cover the state of desktop production in the commercial industry. Topics include: advantages and disadvantages of desktop vs. Henry/Flame, standards for budgeting desktop productions, scheduling productions, labor pool/salaries, costs and requirements for setting up a digital desktop studio, and advertising budgets vs. website budgets. 115 Thursday, October 23 3:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Case Study:Journeyman 3 Greg Uhler Experience the grueling 18-month development process in only 90 minutes! This session will focus on the development process of the highly anticipated CD-ROM adventure game, Journeyman 3. We will journey through writing, design, modeling, texturing, animation, video, sound, and programming. By the end of the session, you will have a broad understanding of the tools and techniques used in the development process of an immersive CD-ROM game. 121 QuickTime 3.0 in Depth Mitchell Weinstock Attend this session to see how QuickTime 3.0 provides workflow solutions for you. QuickTime 3.0 opens new vistas for the PC and Mac, with a new special effects architecture, built-in SMPTE effects, and Internet delivery options. 122 Motion Capture in a 3D World Thomas Tolles Find out about the basic history of motion capture as well as its integration into the 3D environment via typical 3D software packages. After a sample scene is created in class, motion data will be integrated, giving attendees a real-world example that is relevant to a wide variety of digital video projects. The session will utilize House of Moves data converted to the "Acclaim" file format, which can be read into 3D Studio MAX. 3D Studio MAX will be used to demonstrate the concepts and techniques of integration. As a prerequisite, attendees should have a basic knowledge of 3D software and some computer operation skills. 123 Film, Photography, and After Effects Avi Hoffer Explore the unique look of photo-roto animation. This session will cover the use of photocollage techniques in animation with After Effects compositing. Attendees will learn about matteing 2D and 3D elements, the aesthetics of film grain, digital proxies, photoCD, D1 exabyte transfers, file management, and motion tracking through the use of commercial case studies. 124 Integrating Digital Video with 3D Sets Nathan Vogel Make compositing and 3D sets easier to create and more compelling to view. This intermediate-to-advanced level class will cover acquiring video from a firewire source and then integrating it, via color keying and masking, into a computer-generated 3D environment. Hardware used to acquire digital video and to produce 3D sets, including camera and PCI cards (DV MAX and RenderPix), will be presented and demonstrated. The production environment needed to create these effects, including 3D and digital video software, will also be discussed. Special high-end, third party plug-ins for ElectricImage (TREE STORM, Dante, Image2Mesh, and Tenderizer) and After Effects will be demonstrated. Blue screening, using the Ultimatte plug-in, will be demonstrated in terms of getting the cleanest mattes and best alpha channels to produce the highest quality compositing. As a prerequisite, attendees should have basic knowledge of digital video and 3D animation. 125 Technical ConferenceIExhibiting CompaniesIRegistration Special EventsITravel/LodgingIContact UsIExhibitors Info