NAB starts this weekend, so we spoke to the organizers and worked out our fxguided tour to get the most out of NAB. With a massive investment in seminars and events, NAB now provides some really cool content discussions and presentations. Check out the talks, the presentations, events and the key parties.

Last year 111,028 people attended from 163 countries, to see some 1,600 exhibitors. This year once again the tribe gathers around the warm glow of technology to view, discuss and kick the tires of the latest in postproduction equipment. Over 16 conferences take place in addition to the exhibits, with topics from Photography to Podcasting to 3D content.

Show floor Preview

The biggest news in the lead up to the show was the withdrawal of both AVID and APPLE. Adobe, Autodesk, daVinci and others will still be popular, but the most interest is focused once again on the RED booth. Red has already annnounced they will have the RED Scarlet camera at NAB (but have also said they will NOT be taking reservations),. But they have since announced that they have three major rabbits to pull out of their hat, and Scarlet is only one of them. Expect huge queues once again.

The south hall again has almost everything we want to see - but the central hall does have the content theatre this year.

Stands we are interested to check out:

Autodesk - Maya and toxik - will they be more integrated ? (SL1420 where Apple used to be - now Quantel & Autodesk)
daVinci - rumors of cool new workflow ( SL 2620 2 doors down from autodesk on the left)
Adobe - Always good demos ( SL3220 Right side one more on from daVinci)
Red - Scralet, need we say more ( SL3820- down stairs next to Adobe - 4 down from Autodesk)
Foundry - Nuke and demos of new plugin technology (SL2624 -now near daVinci - UPDATE)
Sony - F35 camera ( south hall top floor - most of it )
Panasonic - P2 stuff (near Sony)
Assimilate - off the show floor
Plugin Pavilion (SL2128 - behind and beside Autodesk - side wall : Red giant, Digital Anarchy, etc)

Party Party and User Groups

Sunday, April 13

Autodesk Master Classes and User Group

Note that this year all Autodesk events are being held at the Wynn Hotel

Flame Master Class from 9:30am – 12:00pm
Speakers: Tim Crean (SUSPECT), John Montgomery, Mike Seymour and Jeff Heusser (fxguide.com)
Location: Wynn, room Mouton 1


Smoke Master Class from 1:00pm – 3:30pm
Speakers: Brian Higgins (SOL design fx) and Robert Coulin (Dreamwalks)
Location: Wynn, room Mouton 1


User Group from 5pm to 7pm followed by the UG party from 7pm to 9pm
Location: Wynn room Latour
More information on Autodesk M&E at NAB is available here: www.autodesk.com/nab2008






Monday, April 14

fxphd bar camp
Wynn Hotel
Details in the member forums @ fxphd.com



Avid
Hard Rock Hotel and Casino
7pm - 11pm


Motion Media Ball
The Sahara Hotel" Golden Room
Begins at 6pm (dinner at about 7-7:30pm)
The event is brought to you by the International Media Users Group (IMUG) and the AE-List - totally independent, non-profit & volunteer organizations. Open to the public



Tuesday, April 15

RED (RSVP required)
The Westin Hotel (note: initially was scheduled at the Palazzo Hotel)

5-8PM: RED Workflow Event

Guest speakers will discuss workflow solutions, both current and ones in the works. There will be some hands on demonstrations, as well as some general discussion about best practices covering small indy shops all the way up through the high end pipeline.

8PM - 2AM: REDUSER Party



Wednesday, April 16

Final Cut Pro User Group (FCPUG)
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Grand Ballroom
6:30PM till 10:30PM (doors open 5:00PM)
(Last year, more than 1500 people turned out for the event)

Speakers include:
- Apple - Richard Townhill - "Latest about Final Cut Studio"
"Grading the Jaguar XF TV spot with Color" - Alex Bickel and Hal
Wolverton (Eruo RSCG / Outside Editorial)
- JVC - Craig Yanagi and Tim Dashwood - "What's new from JVC and Filming for a Music Video"
- Adobe - Steve Martin - "How CS3 Production Premium can compliment your FCP workflow"
- Blackmagic Design - M. Dot Strange - "We are the Strange"
- Red Digital Cinema - Ted Schilowitz and the Red Team - Footage from Red shooters from around the world will be shown, and the usual RED surprises are bound to happen...
- Wounded Marines Careers Foundation - Inaugural Class
- Phantom High Speed Camera - Noah Kadner
- The Scariest "Editing" Tool You Will Ever See" - Philip Hodgetts

$15.00 for online purchase
- This event is open to the public. Seating is first come first serve.

Presentations

Friday, April 11


Director of Photography
Inside RED Digital Cinema
2:00 p.m.  -   3:30 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center N258

Everyone’s been talking about it... but wouldn’t you like to hear from the Red Digital Cinema Team directly? No need to wait in long lines, with this session you can join Red Digital Cinema for an inside look at the operation and functions of the RED ONE camera system with Ted Schilowitz and Graeme Nattress.

Presenters: Graeme Nattress, RED Digital Cinema : Problem Solver, Ted Schilowitz, Leader of the Rebellion, RED Digital Cinema



Director of Photography
RED On-Set Workflow and Post Production
3:45 p.m.  -   5:15 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center N258

RED Digital Cinema has delivered on the promise of 4K acquisition. Join Graeme Nattress and Lucas Wilson for an insiders look at the post-production workflows for the Red One camera system. Find out how to get the most from the camera and what changes you’ll need to make to your acquisition workflow.

Presenter: Lucas Wilson, Director Business Development, Assimilate, Inc



Director of Photography:
3D Stereoscopic Production and Delivery
5:30 p.m.  -   7:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center N258

3D (stereoscopic) production is once again at a landmark position, and the new 3D is not only intriguing but it is by far the most unique experience one can have outside of the live event. Join industry pioneers, Vince Pace and Ryan Sheridan, along with live 3D projection for this unbelievable demonstration of the next generation in motion picture and film production.

Presenters: Vince Pace, President & CEO, Pace 3D Technologies, Ryan Sheridan, PACE




Saturday, April 12

Podcasting summit: How to Build and Blog to Support Your Podcast
11:45 a.m.  -   1:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center N255
If you’re a podcaster, you should be blogging. In this session you’ll learn about the tools used to build a blog, how to build traffic via search engine optimization on your blog, how to start building community via your blog comments and how to create new revenue streams from blogging.

Presenter: Scott Bourne, President, Podango Productions


Stereoscopic Movie Making
11:00 a.m.  -  12:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center S222

3D image capture have introduced a new set of creative tools for use by the Cinematographer - along with new challenges. Learn about the technical advancements and creative innovations from today’s pioneers in stereoscopic production.

Moderator: Buzz Hays, Sr. VFX Producer, Sony Picture Imageworks
Panelists: Jim Mainard, Head of Production development, DreamWorks Animation, Steve Schklair, 3ality Digital Systems, David C. Seigle, President, In-Three, Inc

Making a Living off Your Podcasting
3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Can you make a decent living off a podcast? In this session we’ll explore the opportunities for advertising but also spend a lot of time exploring how to distribute a free podcast and still make a living. Learn the secret to the success of the Digital Production BuZZ, which stayed in the black for several years before being sold to a new owner. This session will offer techniques that apply to all podcasts.

Presenter: Philip Hodgetts, President, Intelligent Assistance, Inc





Sunday, April 13


Director of Photography
Capturing Metadata for VFX Onset
5:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center N258

Join VFX specialist Dave Stump for a frank discussion on the needs and merits of metadata acquisition on set for special effects work. This ever-expanding area of data management is opening the doors to the post-production world in a manner never considered before.

Presenter : David Stump, Director of Visual Effects & Photography, ASC


Monday, April 14

9:00 to 10:15 a.m.
Keynote Tim Robbins

Academy Award-winning actor and critically acclaimed screenwriter, director and producer Tim Robbins will deliver the opening keynote. Robbins will look at the changing face of entertainment and how new distribution and content creation opportunities will impact Hollywood and other industries.



A Conversation with Anthony Zuiker: Executive Producer and Creator, CSI
Monday, April 14, 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
LVCC, S222

Television is changing as viewers become accustomed to literally hundreds of channels competing for their time. What are the ingredients for developing content that not only captures viewers’ interest, but continues to entertain week after week? How can the Internet and mobile technology enhance a brand, create a new audience and generate additional revenue?

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is doing this today and its creator and executive producer, Anthony Zuiker, has discovered a mix of traditional television and evolving broadband opportunities that are not only working, but also are extremely successful. Zuiker will show how creative ideas, great talent and a healthy dose of risk can open new pathways for existing brands. He will explain why promoting fresh content to a young audience is so important.
Anthony has a fascinating story to tell about his personal path to fame. Zuiker’s trek to the peak of the TV world is as unorthodox as was the impetus for his show. While driving a tram for Las Vegas’ famed Mirage hotel in the late ’90s, he compiled a translation guide to greet Vegas’ international guests in their respective tongues. These efforts caught the attention of Mirage-developer Steve Wynn, earning Zuiker a promotion to the hotel’s advertising division.

"If you follow your passion, the money will follow. Success, in my opinion, involves sheer luck, hard work and humility." Zuiker’s next stop was Hollywood to script monologues for friends’ casting auditions-- one of which morphed into the 1999 feature film The Runner (Courtney Cox, John Goodman). His writing eventually found its way to famed-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who inquired of Zuiker’s interest in scripting television. A month of crime-scene ride-alongs later—including one especially intriguing motel visit—and an award-winning career was born into the TV world of forensic science.

Keynote: Anthony Zuiker, Executive Producer and Creator, CSI


Content theatre : Las Vegas Convention Center Content Theater
Afternoon Sessions in the Content theatre:

Case Study: Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D
Monday, April 14, 11:50 -1:00pm

Eric Brevig, Director, "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D"
Charlotte Huggins, Producer, "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D"
Ed Marsh, Editor & 3-D Consultant
Chuck Shuman, DP
Paul Martin Smith, Editor, "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D"
Moderator
Rob Hummel, President, DALSA Digital Cinema


Case Study: U2 3D
Monday, April 14, 2:00 - 3:00 pm

Peter Anderson, ASC, 3-D DP and VFX Supervisor
John Modell, Co-Founder, 3ality Digital Entertainment
Tim Sassoon, President, Sassoon Film Design
Steve Schklair, CEO, 3ality Digital Systems
Olivier Wicki, Editor, Blue Rock
Moderator: Jim Mainard, Head of Production Development, DreamWorks Animation


Live 3-D Transmission from Los Angeles
Monday, April 14, 3:15 - 3:45pm

Howard Postley, COO/CTO, 3ality Digital Systems
Steve Schklair, CEO, 3ality Digital Systems



Advanced Motion Graphics and Visual FX
Monday, April 14, 2:00 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center N255

Monday, April 14, 2:00PM - 3:15PM
The Art of Match Moving
Presenter: Alex Lindsay, Founder, Pixel Corps

Monday, April 14, 3:30PM - 4:45PM
When to Use Multi-Pass Rendering
Presenter : Alex Lindsay, Founder, Pixel Corps

Monday, April 14, 5:00PM - 6:15PM
Roto and Paint
Presenter: Yan Shvalb, Consultant/Instructor/Founder, VizualFX



Tuesday, April 15,

Spotlight Series

Variety Interviews 'Lost' Creative Team
Tuesday, April 15, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m.
LVCC,S222

Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof, Executive Producers of Lost discuss challenges associated with creating a distinctly original and massively popular television program.

In-Depth: Blogging and New Media
10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center N258

In this session you’ll actually learn how to build a blog using WordPress. This will be a step-by-step approach that shows you everything from creating the blog, RSS feeds, and more. You’ll also learn how to play your audio and video content right inside your blog.

Presenter: Scott Bourne, President, Podango Productions


Content theatre : Las Vegas Convention Center Content Theater
Afternoon Sessions in the Content theatre:

VFX, Animation & New Digital Workflows: Character Animation - CG Technologies Meet Classic Techniques
Tuesday, April 15, Noon
Las Vegas Convention Center Content Theater - Content Central

Digital technologies have not only produced 3-D character animation, they have also impacted other character animation techniques such as stop motion, hand-drawn and flash. In what ways do these character animators use new tools to offer studios more options? How do they maintain their craft’s unique stamp while increasing time and cost effectiveness? A look at how animators unite traditional crafts with new technologies to create great work.
Presented in association with Visual Effects Society

Dave Barclay, Puppeteered Performance Animator, "Perform FX"
Ken Duncan, Owner/Creative Director, Duncan Studios
Don Hahn, Producer, Walt Disney Studios
Kenn McDonald, Animator, Sony Pictures
Michelle Papandrew, Animation Producer, Cartoon Network Studios
Seamus Walsh, Producer/Director, Screen Novelties
Moderator: Carolyn Giardina, Film and Technology Reporter, The Hollywood Reporter



Wednesday, April 16

A Conversation with Alvin Toffler - The Future of Digital Media
Wednesday, April 16, 9:00 - 10:00 am

Alvin Toffler has an unusual gift for defining the trends and forces that shape our future in today's knowledge-based economy. Time magazine wrote that he has "set the standard by which all subsequent would-be futurists have been measured."

Starting with Future Shock in 1970, Toffler accurately forecast the "de-massification" of the mass media, the digital revolution, the success of cable television and the increasing importance of communication. His new book Revolutionary Wealth defines the role of "prosumers," whose work as parents, volunteers, hobbyists, and even consumers, pumps virtual wealth into the money economy.

During this conversation, you will undoubtedly hear thoughts that directly translate to the future of your business. Today's technology revolution is bringing with it opportunities that need to be carefully and cautiously evaluated. Traditional business practices are being challenged by new thinking with advanced instant communication as the catalyst. The true leaders of the 21st century will be those who can learn, unlearn, and relearn.



Super Session
A Million Dollar Look on a Thousand Dollar Budget!
Wednesday, April 16, 1:00 p.m.  -   2:30 p.m.
Las Vegas Convention Center S222/223

Today’s flexible hardware and software are offering opportunities to create high-quality productions for theater and broadcast on very reasonable budgets. If you love to create projects independently, this is the session for you

Executive Panelists
Dave Basulto, CEO, Clarity Pictures
Alex Lindsay, Founder, Pixel Corps
Taylor Wigton, Director of Photography, 447 Productions

Keynote
Stu Maschwitz, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, The Orphanage
Moderator: Brian Valente, Partner, Redrock Micro