VIEW Conference 2023 Presents a Spectacular Lineup of Speakers

VIEW Conference 2023, an annual event that brings together professionals in Animation, VFX, and Games, slated for this October, has just unveiled its lineup of speakers for this year.

Among an impressive roster of speakers is Doug Chiang, an Oscar-winning executive creative director at Lucasfilm, who will present this year's keynote, titled "Old and New: How Star Wars Influenced My Art and Design". Mark Ulano, also an Oscar winner recognized for his work in sound engineering on Martin Scorsese's latest film, will engage the audience with his talk titled "Killers of the Flower Moon: A Deep Dive into the World of Cinema Sound."

The lineup further includes ten directors behind some of this year's highest-grossing animated films and a trio of yet unreleased movies. Additionally, the event will host production-side VFX supervisors from major films like "Barbie", "Oppenheimer", and "Avatar: The Way of Water". Alongside them, you'll find a diverse group of visionary thinkers and industry leaders, spanning various fields of media and technology, from AI and real-time rendering to game design, sound design, music, and more.

Amazing Animation

This year, VIEW Conference is hosting an impressive lineup of ten renowned movie directors, each bringing their unique insights to the event. Among them, Joaquim Dos Santos, the director of "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse," will engage in a discussion about this critically acclaimed superhero sensation alongside Oscar-winning director Peter Ramsey, known for "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse."

Peter Sohn, the director of Disney and Pixar's latest success, "Elemental," will also be in attendance, alongside Jeff Rowe, the director of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem" from Nickelodeon and Paramount. Moreover, Nick Bruno and Troy Quane, directors of Netflix's "Nimona," will join forces with ND Stevenson, the creator of the original "Nimona" graphic novel. Animation legend Henry Selick, the Oscar-nominated director behind stop-motion classics like "The Nightmare Before Christmas," "James and the Giant Peach," "Coraline," and "Wendell & Wild," will also be among the speakers.

Adding to the excitement, four of this year's animation presentations provide a sneak peek into movies so new that some are yet to be released. Kyle Odermatt, VFX supervisor, offers an exclusive Italian premiere of Walt Disney Animation Studios' 62nd animated feature, "Wish." Benjamin Renner, the director, shares insights about Illumination's upcoming animated feature, "Migration." Director Sam Fell presents Netflix's and Aardman's "Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget." Additionally, VFX supervisor Marc Scott reveals the wonders of DreamWorks Animation's forthcoming feature, "Trolls Band Together."

The world of animation is further enriched by talents such as Ted Ty, the global head of character animation at DNEG Animation, and Andreas Deja, a veteran Disney animator and director of "Mushka," who will lead an unmissable 2-hour workshop on character animation. Meanwhile, Carolyn Giardina from The Hollywood Reporter will facilitate a thought-provoking conversation focusing on "Women in Animation." Joining her as panelists are Osnat Shurer, co-CCO of Baobab Studios, media consultant and executive producer Lotte Kronborg Thomsen, Amy Ash representing Axis Studios, and Apollonia Hartmann from Accenture Song VFX.

Blockbuster VFX

This year's lineup of renowned production VFX supervisors features luminaries such as Andrew Jackson, the overall VFX supervisor for Christopher Nolan's record-breaking thriller "Oppenheimer," and multi-Oscar-winner Joe Letteri, the senior VFX supervisor behind James Cameron's groundbreaking sci-fi sequel, "Avatar: The Way of Water."

Moreover, the event unveils the secrets behind the VFX of some of 2023's biggest box office hits. Production VFX supervisors Glen Pratt, Michael Lasker, and Stephane Ceretti share their creative processes in bringing the magic to life in "Barbie," "Spider-Man Across the Spider-Verse," and "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol.3," respectively. Additionally, Marvel Studios VFX supervisor Jake Morrison ("Thor: Love and Thunder") joins VIEW Conference 2023 with a masterclass offering fresh insights into VFX lighting, followed by an exclusive meet-and-greet session.

For devoted "Star Wars" fans, a not-to-be-missed "A Masterclass Conversation about Art and Star Wars" awaits, featuring keynote speaker Doug Chiang. Meanwhile, Hal Hickel, the animation director at Industrial Light & Magic, unveils the mysteries behind Season 3 of the popular streaming series "The Mandalorian" and invites active audience participation with his interactive session titled "Ask Me Anything About Character Animation for VFX."

Visionary Thinkers

VIEW Conference 2023 brings together an array of visionary thinkers and industry experts for this year's event. James Knight, the global director of media and entertainment/visual effects at AMD, is set to participate in our inspirational session titled "The Future of Storytelling," where he joins a panel of esteemed filmmakers. Additionally, James Knight will engage in a discussion with Pixar's Dylan Sisson on "Pixels & Processors: Exploring the Interplay Between Art and Technology in Visual Storytelling," shedding light on the evolving intersection of art and technology.

The spotlight at this year's conference is on "AI," and VIEW Conference presents a series of panels delving into this phenomenon. Topics include "AI and Education," featuring Neil Peplow, director and CEO of London Film School, Terrence Masson from NYC's School of Visual Arts, Lotte Kronborg, Head of Studies at BFA Animation, and Gray Marshall, Chair of Visual Effects at SCAD. The discussion continues with "Out of Distribution: Thriving Creatively in the Age of AI," a thought-provoking keynote presentation by artist and creative technologist Scott Eaton. Heidi Wang, senior vice president at Wacom, addresses the legal aspects of copyrights in her talk titled "Copyright and Strategies to Protect Your Digital Artworks."

Other notable panels to watch out for this year include "Showcasing Africa's Future," which brings together the creators of "Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire," a Disney+ sci-fi anthology envisioning the future from an African perspective, featuring original short films by the continent's top filmmakers. The panel includes the show's directors and producers, such as Anthony Silverston, Tendayi Nyeke, Tshepo Moche, Ng'endo Mukii, and Oscar-winning executive producer Peter Ramsey. Environmental concerns take center stage in "Filmmaking's Role in Healing Our Planet," featuring panelists like Aardman Animations' Simone Giampolo and Brenda Ximena Roldan Romero from Axis Studios.

Deep Dive Workshops

Additionally, VIEW Conference 2023 presents a comprehensive program of hands-on workshops, covering a wide range of subjects. This year's standout offerings include immersive sessions on AI, featuring luminaries like John Gaeta, the Oscar-winning VFX supervisor known for his work on "The Matrix." The workshops delve into multiple facets of animation, ranging from art direction and stylization led by Almu Redondo to Trent Claus's enlightening exploration of facial anatomy for digital artists. Renowned composer Bruno Coulais conducts a workshop focused on composing music for animated features, while Mark Ulano imparts his extensive expertise in sound design.

Beyond these creative sessions, the conference opens doors for students and emerging creatives to engage with industry professionals, offering opportunities such as portfolio reviews, mock interviews, and more. Educational themes take center stage in panel discussions, with topics like "The Future of Education" being explored. Notably, the event unveils the latest iteration of Pixar's RenderMan software, with Dylan Sisson at the helm of this exciting presentation.

VIEW Conference 2023 takes place from October 15 to October 20 in Torino, Italy. You can learn more about the event and its speakers here.

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