1. technology and computing
2. software
3. graphics software
4. animation

Session – Creating Rocket Raccoon: Framestore’s VFX on Guardians of the Galaxy
How the team at Framestore created Rocket Raccoon and animated the fury ball of anger in Marvel's blockbuster
Guardians of the Galaxy. You'll also find out the secrets behind the complex digital environments of Knowhere, the
collector’s laboratory and the Kyln Prison. As CG supervisor for the project Mark will be covering the creative and
technical challenges of completing a project of this magnitude.
Speaker: Marc Wilson, Head of CG, Framestore
Session – Brace yourself: the VFX of Game of Thrones and Highly Rated TV Series
Mahmoud Rahnama talks about Pixomondo's involvement in creating visual effects for high-end TV series such
as Game of Thrones, Marco Polo andSleepy Hollow.
Speaker: Mahmoud Rahnama, Manager/VFX supervisor at Pixomondo
Session – Directing Through Art
The 3 panelists have worked their way up to be Art Directors and Executive Producers but the journey getting there
was very different for all of them. During this discussion and presentation, the speakers will talk about the methods
of taking an idea and turning it into a finished product while showing the creative process from concept to final.
Speakers:
 Bennie Terry III, Executive producer at Oddworld Inhabitants
 Justin Yun, CCO/Executive producer at Section Studios
 Daniel Cabuco, Principal artist at Sony Computer Entertainment of America
Session – The Client + Vendor Handshake
Paul McAfee has been a Producer representing interests both on the VFX/Animation vendor side, and on the
Feature Film / TV studio side. This session will touch on what factors contribute to success on both sides of the
“handshake."
Speaker: Paul McAfee, Creative producer at Viacom/MTV
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Session - The VFX of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy - Characters and Environments, from Concepts to Previs to
finals
Marvel's VFX supervisor for Guardians of the Galaxy , Stephane Ceretti, walks you through the creation process for
Rocket and Groot, as well as some of the environments created for the movie. Through a few case studies we learn
more about the shooting process and how a blockbuster like Guardians of the Galaxy , is put together from a visual
effects point of view.
Speaker: Stephane Ceretti, VFX Supervisor at Marvel Studios
Session - Creature Animation and the Importance of Reference!
The presentation will center on structured technique on how to create creature animation and to allow better
understanding of video referenced motion which is used as a baseline in the creative thinking process.
Speaker: Johnny Spinelli, Senior Animator at MPC
Session - Indie and IP Development
How to stay relevant and sell your vision to the world, maximizing marketing tools, platforms and digital
distribution channels to connect directly to your audience and control your IP.
Speaker: Lorne Lanning, Co-founder & CCO at Oddworld Inhabitants
Session - From Hotel Transylvania 2 to Open Season: An Artist's Growth
Michael Kurinsky shares insights and learnings from his experiences as visual development artist on
Sony Pictures Animation's first feature Open Season, art director on the studio's comedy hit Cloudy With
a Chance of Meatballs and his current role as production designer on the upcoming Hotel Transylvania
2, in theaters this September.
Speaker: Michael Kurinsky, production designer at Sony Pictures Animation
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Session - Woman's Creative Impact
A panel where our female guests talk on how women share the development, creation, production of
animation and discuss their personal struggles, triumphs and thoughts of the Animation and VFX
Industry.
Moderator: Anne-Marie Perrotta, Screenwriter and story editor
Speakers:
 Samantha Youssef, Artistic Director at Studio Technique
 Corinne Merrell, Production Designer
 Chloe Grysole, General Manager at Cinesite Montreal
 Victoria ItowTsering, Producer- Feature Animation at Cinesite
 Marie-Claude Beauchamp, President and Producer at CarpeDiem Film & TV
Session - Getting the Job with Real Training and Education!
Are you ready for the workforce? Studio Training and Studio University’s - Why are we seeing
more? What’s the trend and future of learning? How do you keep with up with the demands and
competition of the Industry? Are you learning the right skills?
Speakers:
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Anthony Walsh, Director at Syn Studio
Suzanne Guèvremont, General Manager at NAD
Samantha Youssef, Artistic Director at Studio Technique
David Hubert, Animation and Cinematic Director at Eidos
Emily Paige, Strategy Director & Cofounder at e.d. Films
Session - Visual Effects on the Frontline: Pre-Vis and Post-Vis
An in-depth look at the critical importance of collaborative design in preproduction, on-set shoot and
throughout the director's cut phase of feature films, with highlights from Captain America 2: The Winter
Soldier, Riddick, The Grey and 007: Quantum of Solace.
Speaker: Gunnar Hansen, Freelance visual effects supervisor
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Session - BATTLE ROYALE! Budget vs. Quality in animation
What producers already know, but shouldn't hear.
In this conference we explore the struggles brought on by money and why it shouldn't dictate over quality. We
build a discussion, in groups, where a pretend budget is given for re-enacting an animation production cycle. The
groups will reveal advantages and disadvantages to the scenarios where control over the money helps in
leveraging over standards in the animation production cycle to keep businesses afloat.
Speaker: Ian Johnston, Founder of Too Many Legs Animation Studios
Session - Manage Large Environments
In this session, Dave will demonstrate how the hierarchical layout system in production tools can help
manage large environments.
Speaker: Dave Lajoie, R&D Director at L'atelier animation Inc.
Session - Directors mentoring and teaching the next generation of creative's
A panel on the ins and outs of what is expected in the industry and how each Director looks at the relationship
between artists who are seeking mutually beneficial professional and personal development. Each Director can
offer valuable insight into your career field and can help you decide the best courses of action for situations you
may encounter. This is also a panel that offers insight on how some of the other studio are developing and
investing into their talents.
Moderator: Brent George, Animation Director WB and Dawson 3D Animation Teacher
Speakers:
 Aaron Gilman: Animation Director at Weta Digital
 Jason Ryan: Animation Director at Cinesite
 Ted Ty: Animation Director at L'Atelier Animation
 David Hubert: Animation & Cinematic Director at Eidos (Previous DreamWorks Creature Lead/Supervisor)
Session - Creating mutant warriors and their nemeses: the VFX of X-Men: Days of Future Past
A look at how MPC created a whole band of mutant warriors and their mechanical nemeses for last summer's
Oscar-nominated blockbuster.
Speaker: Anders Langlands, Visual effects consultant at MPC
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