Program

As of May 15, 2019 (subject to change)

EVENT SCHEDULE:

8 a.m.: Registration Opens
9 a.m.: General Sessions
11 a.m.: MORNING INNOVATION and TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASES (Breakout Sessions)
1 p.m.: Networking Lunch
2 p.m.: General Sessions Resume
3:30 p.m.: Networking Break/WiTH Registration Opens
4 p.m.: Special WiTH Program Section including WiTH Leadership Awards
6 p.m.: Networking Reception

CONFERENCE SESSIONS:

9 – 9:10 a.m.
Opening Remarks
Guy Finley, President, MESA
9:10 – 9:15 a.m.
Conference Welcome Remarks
Patrick Baca, Chief Technology Officer Entertainment Partners
9:15 – 9:45 a.m.
OPENING KEYNOTE: Mining Google Trends for Entertainment Analytics
Extraordinary insights have been developed from the monitoring, understanding and discovering what’s driving Google’s search trends. Having coined the expression, “Google as the barometer of the world”, Dr. Wu will demonstrate how search tells the truth and predicts outcomes of product sales, advertising marketing campaign, retail strategies and finance.
Qing Wu, Principle Economist, Google
9:45 – 10 a.m.
Blockgraph: The Blockchain Platform for TV Advertising
Data is the fuel powering media and advertising. Presentation will provide insights into Blockgraph being positioned as an “identity layer” for the TV industry by providing a secure platform for sharing information without disclosing identifiable user data to third parties. Benefits of improved planning, targeting, execution and measurement across screens for TV advertising and marketing will be discussed.
Jason Manningham, General Manager, Blockgraph
10 – 10:30 a.m.
Industrializing Story Telling – Film, TV and Online
Insights will be presented for how international media companies have successfully pursued the science of storytelling by utilizing the Emotional Tool Box which is a set of boots-on-the- ground specific problem-solving tools, models, and exercises. The methodology has helped traditional as well as online content creators get to the Heart of the Story where the authentic characters have individuality and dynamic purpose with a powerful emotional connection. A visual map for a character’s emotional journey, along with stories pulled from character rather than rote structure beats, yields a holistic approach to storytelling, marketing and messaging in general.
Laurie H. Hutzler, Chief Executive Officer, Emotional Tool Box
10:30 – 10:45 a.m.
Innovation and Technology Showcase Introductions
Guy Finley, President, MESA
10:45 – 11:15 a.m.
NETWORKING BREAK
11:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m.
MORNING INNOVATION and TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASES:
(Multi-Track, Breakout Sessions)
Industry experts share innovative ideas, processes, or perspectives in an interactive and intimate way with the audience who are free to choose which topic/area they find most interesting. Sessions will address key areas on four separate tracks:
TRACK 1: PRODUCTION, METADATA & ASSETS
TRACK 2: CLOUD, COMPLIANCE & PAYMENTS
TRACK 3: AI, DATA & ANALYTICS
TRACK 4: SECURITY, IDENTIFIERS, & WORKFLOW
TRACK 1: PRODUCTION, METADATA & ASSETS

11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
From Files to Data: Digitization of the Production Office
Studios and production companies are embracing paperless, digital solutions at rapid rates of adoption, with real-time production updates now being accessible through a variety of platforms, including mobile options. These processes are not only increasing productivity and efficiency, but greatly enhancing compliance and security surrounding productions. With the role of budgeting and scheduling being so inextricably tied to script and breakdown, EP has teams who have been working on the next generation of Movie Magic. This new version will naturally serve as an extension of the original vision of Scenechronize—allowing for greater visibility and customizable permissions and control. During this session, we’ll discuss the digitization of the industry, and provide a few insights into some of the exciting innovations EP will be rolling out later this year.
Darren Ehlers, Senior Vice President, Product Management, Entertainment Partners
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
The Metadata Endgame: What is Studio Asset Management?
From script to screen, idea to archive and beyond… Find out how shifting your strategy to metadata-based tagging can empower your studio’s security, give unprecedented control and monetize your archive like it’s 2099.
Steve Cronan, Chief Executive Officer, 5th Kind
12:15 – 12:45 p.m.
How Sony is Leveraging Curated Descriptive Metadata for Competitive Business Value
Come hear how Sony Pictures is investing in descriptive, time-based metadata to better understand their content library. This data first helped drive content discovery and re-use, and now is becoming a key asset to deliver Competitive Business Value through cost reduction and targeted audience engagement. We’ll review the Sony Picture’s team data journey and have a look at how the data is making an impact with a MarkLogic data hub powered demo. See you there!
Jason Lambert, Executive Director, Content Licensing & Metadata, Sony Pictures Entertainment
Matt Turner, Chief Technology Officer, Media and Manufacturing, MarkLogic
12:45 – 1:15 p.m.
Meet Them Where They Are: The Future of Geotargeting Around the Corner and Around the World
Whether you’re targeting content within the confines of a physical space or localizing content for global markets, using time and place data to deliver customers with compelling, targeted content is more important now than ever. This panel will examine micro and macro case studies of geo-targeting and explore the bright future of geo-targeted content and promotions.
Moderator: Chris Cali, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Spark Digital
Panelists:
Brian DeBoer, Vice President, Technology, Fox Networks Group
Justin Kahn, Executive Director, Global Retail, Experience, and Tours Technology, Warner Bros. Entertainment
TRACK 2: CLOUD, COMPLIANCE & PAYMENTS

11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Get it to the Cloud (Evolving Your Edit Pipeline)
You used to be able to air-gap your edit bay, but the scale and volume of content means you need geometrically more capacity. Where will you put it all? The logical answer is the cloud, but what does that do to your asset protection strategy? Learn how to secure your editorial environment to effectively enable cloud-scale workflows in both hybrid and cloud-native architectures, and allow editors to work from anywhere.
Joel Sloss, Senior Lead, Media & Entertainment – Security, Microsoft Azure
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
RIP Sneakernet: Cloud-Enabled Workflows for Complex M&E Environments
sneak•er•net (ˈsni kərˌnɛt) n. Facetious. The transfer of information by manual means (especially when digital alternatives exist). Does this sound like your environment? For a surprising number of media & entertainment companies – studios, networks, streamers – this is still the reality of life. We have heard a lot about moving workflows to the cloud, but how, exactly? Birlasoft has staked out an industry-leading position in the creation of platforms leveraging SaaS technologies to move M+E workflows to the cloud in a number of business-critical areas including Contract Lifecycle Management, Music Clearances and Cue Sheets and Production Deliverables Management. We will be discussing the position our researchers have taken around re-imagining workflows at all levels in the industry – pre-production, production, post-production, marketing, distribution and syndication. It’s truly an exciting space but navigating the complexity and variety of options is challenging and our objective is to bring clarity and simplicity to the conversation.
Kiran Chirra, Senior Director, Delivery, Media & Entertainment, Birlasoft
Raghu Seetharam, Global Head, CRM & SaaS Technologies, Birlasoft
Timothy Sheehy, Assistant Vice President, Media & Entertainment, Birlasoft
12:15 – 12:45 p.m.
Harnessing the Power of the Cloud to Deliver OverWatch League to a Global Audience
Learn how Blizzard Entertainment is utilizing media services in the cloud to scale faster than traditional hardware, adding the agility needed to ship OverWatch League as a global broadcast event.
Kristoffer Harrington, Transmission Manager, Blizzard Entertainment
Corey Smith, Director of Live Operations Broadcast Technology, Blizzard Entertainment

12:45 – 1:15 p.m.
Paperless Payments: Stop lighting money on Fire – Direct Deposit Residuals and Participations Now Available Industry Wide
Exactuals has partnered with Entertainment Partners and SAG-AFTRA to deliver end-to-end digital talent payments. For the first time ever, all 100,000+ SAG-AFTRA members have been invited to register for direct deposit, and EP’s client base has been invited to eliminate paper checks, paper reporting, escheatment, and the costly manual processes associated with delivering millions of payments through the mail. Exactuals has processed more than $200,000,000 in entertainment payments/reporting and is ready to onboard the industry to its highly secure, scalable, and efficient payment engine, PaymentHub. Learn how going paperless will allow your company to keep pace with the rapidly growing volume of talent payments without increasing headcount or budget. Studios integrating directly with Exactuals typically save 60%+ on payment costs and associated labor. Studios can integrate directly with Exactuals or via our partnership with Entertainment Partners. We look forward to sharing our work with you.
Anthony De La Rosa, Executive Vice President of Residuals, Entertainment Partners
Rebecca Green, Director of Customer Success, Exactuals
Mike Hurst, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Exactuals
Wendy Osuna, Product Manager, Film and TV, Exactuals
TRACK 3: AI, DATA & ANALYTICS

11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Intelligent Transformation: How to Build an AI and Bot Strategy for Your Organization
Given that AI has only recently been introduced to the workplace, practical insights on how to embark on an Intelligent Transformation and implement AI in the enterprise is unknown territory for many organizations. Attend this session and get practical advice on how to build and AI and Bots strategy for our workplace. LiveTiles Bot technology will help you improve your business processes, remove mundane tasks and improve the speed and access to information in your organization. Topics to be discussed in the session: popular AI and Bot applications for common business functions; real customer AI and chatbot use cases; building and validating a use case for a Bot in your workplace, and Getting started with an AI strategy – “LiveTiles Chat Bot workshop”.
Dennis Helms, Innovation and Experience Lead, LiveTiles
Milind Potdar, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Hail, Hybrid: A Better Recommendation Engine
Media companies focused on creating digital viewing experiences are standing at a fork in the road in regards to recommendation engines. These engines are a critical component of any user experience—increasing engagement, usage, and time spent with brand. Frontrunners in the space have put a lot of thought and care into creating their engines, and are benefiting from the results. However, most recommendation engines fall short, as does their value to the customer and the brand. This session presents how SoftServe leveraged over 25 years of big data, AI/ML, and human-centric design expertise to create Recommendation Engine 2.0, a hybrid engine that features O.C.E.A.N. personality integration, works on any platform, and integrates with both new and existing engines.
Matt Kollmorgen, Vice President, Digital Strategy, SoftServe
Chip Plesnarski, Media Solutions Lead, Media Advisory, SoftServe
12:15 – 12:45 p.m.
An Intelligent Way to Drive Adoption of Enterprise Analytics using ML/DL/AI
Building on the Big Data revolution from earlier in this decade, organizations are now turning to machine learning and artificial intelligence to make sense of all that data, while simultaneously needing to adapt to ever changing social media channels and increased connectivity made possible by applications that didn’t exist just a few years ago. And yet, somethings don’t change, like the need to have trusted access to governed data, the ability to adopt alongside existing infrastructures the new technologies that provide a competitive edge and, most importantly, a modern analytic environment that promotes adoption by all stakeholders. Organizations need a platform that supports the diverse analytical tool sets that users love with an authoring experience that makes deploying applications to any touchpoint easy and agile. Attend this session to learn how to modernize your analytical capabilities with ML/DL/AI by continuing the conversation on Deep Learning we started at last Fall’s HITS 2018, and see how pervasive, intelligent analytics can transform your business drive and adoption like never before!
Rick Pechter, Vice President, Predictive Analytics, Microstrategy
12:45 – 1:15 p.m.
Predictive Insights at Your Fingertips: A Better Way to Evaluate Content
How can a studio leverage state of the art machine learning, data and cloud technologies today to improve content evaluation precision and workflow speed? By combining best practices from finance, science/tech, and entertainment, Cinelytic’s platform supports industry professionals to maximize content success in these transformative times. Cinelytic reduces executives time spent on low-value, repetitive processing tasks and shift focus to generating actionable insights in real time. CEO Tobias Queisser will take attendees through a live demonstration of the system by running real-time talent and content evaluation scenarios based on current films showcasing the power of the platform.
Tobias Queisser, Chief Executive Officer, Cinelytic
TRACK 4: SECURITY, IDENTIFIERS, & WORKFLOW

11:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Addressing Content Security for Film and Television Productions
The first Content & Cybersecurity Guidelines for protecting film & television productions against cyber and physical theft has been released by the Content Delivery and Security Association (CDSA). It contains everything every producer and crew member needs to know to secure their intellectual property on-set or on-location. The Guidelines were written by a Working Group of executives from Amazon Studios, Amblin Entertainment, AMC, Bad Robot, BBC, Fox, Paramount, Marvel, Netflix, NBCUniversal, Turner, Walt Disney, and Warner Bros., in cooperation with contributing members of the Producers Guild of America (PGA). This session will highlight the key elements and outline a roadmap for a production’s implementation of the guidelines.
Lulu Zezza, Co-Chair, Production Security Working Group, Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA)
11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Trusted Partner Network: App & Cloud Roadmap
One year ago The Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and the Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA) launched a new industry-wide, content security initiative: The Trusted Partner Network (TPN), to elevate the security standards of the film & television industry’s production and distribution supply chain. This session provides a One-Year Update on how TPN’s site security program has progressed and what’s in store for their next phase, app & cloud security, that addresses core technologies for the future of motion picture/television creation and distribution.
Guy Finley, Executive Director, Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA) and Chief Executive Officer, Trusted Partner Network (TPN)
12:15 – 12:45 p.m.
AFI & EIDR: Identifying our Cultural Heritage – Enabling the Future
One of the latest institutions to join the growing ranks of EIDR members is the American Film Institute. As it turns out, AFI has a wider mandate than most people may realize. In this breakout session we’ll hear the inside story on AFI’s evolving contributions to the film industry and American culture.
Scott Bly, Director, Information Technology, American Film Institute
Richard Kroon, Director of Engineering, Entertainment ID Registry (EIDR)
Will Kreth, Executive Director, Entertainment ID Registry (EIDR)
12:45 – 1:15 p.m.
Maturing your Content Protection Strategy: Lessons Learned from New Wave Entertainment
Discussion about lessons learned while developing a mature content protection strategy in alignment with the MPAA and TPN. Rick will describe New Wave’s journey in Content Protection and review the impacts on: Costs/Budget, Technology, Employees, Workflow, and Customer Expectations.
JT Gaietto, Executive Director, Cybersecurity Practice, Richey May Technology Solutions
Rick Nowak, Chief Operations Officer, New Wave Entertainment
1:15 – 2:15 p.m.
NETWORKING LUNCHEON
2:15 – 2:30 p.m.
Quantum Computing and the Future of Entertainment & Content Security
The opportunities that quantum computing holds for innovation in various industries is considerable but many don’t know what lies ahead. This session explains what this raw computing power will mean to our industry and how to leverage quantum computing to provide unhackable encryption algorithms and extending this quantum technology to prove authenticity, authorship, and the distribution method.
Mark Jackson, Scientific Lead of Business Development, Cambridge Quantum Computing
2:30 – 3 p.m.
IT Intersection: Security Transforms the Enterprise
This session looks at how security and the increase in cybersecurity as a cornerstone to any enterprise integration. As our industry and day-to-day business become predominantly cloud-based, data-rich and connected, each business unit is faced with the increased reliance on their security officers to drive innovation while ensuring proper risk management. This session gathers executives to discuss how they are transforming the traditional “IT” approach to building teams, systems and seamless workflows.
Moderator: Guy Finley, President, MESA and Executive Director, CDSA
Panelists:
Eric Iverson, Chief Information Officer, Creative Artists Agency
Martin Mazor, Chief Information Security Officer, Entertainment Partners
Alex Pickering, Global Content Security Director, BBC Studios
Ben Stanbury, Content Security Officer, Amazon Studios and Chairman, Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA)
3 – 3:30 p.m.
CLOSING KEYNOTE: Is That Real? The Threat & Opportunity of Deep Fakes in Our Content Culture
Technology has the potential to topple the truth. And film & television companies are now facing a new era where Deep Fake images can bootleg a celebrity, news cast or even an entire movie, creating an unauthorized, artificial reality that is almost indiscernible to the untrained eye. How do content owners protect their talent, properties, and brands from being counterfeited in an era where the AI/graphics tools are more accessible than ever, and the distribution power is in everyone’s hands?
Nonny de la Peña, Award-Winning Filmmaker & Journalist
3:30 – 4 p.m.
NETWORKING BREAK/WiTH REGISTRATION OPENS

SPECIAL WiTH PROGRAM SECTION AT HITS:SPRING

Women in Technology: Hollywood (WiTH) present this special programming addition to the main-stage at HITS that features the 2019 WiTH Leadership Award presentation ceremony.
4 – 4:05 p.m.
Introduction
Guy Finley, President, MESA
4:05 – 4:15 p.m.
Welcome Remarks
Nadya Ichinomiya, Executive Director, Enterprise Agile Coach, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Co-Founder, WiTH
Rachel Souder-Arguedas, Executive Director, Enterprise Innovation, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Co-Founder, WiTH
4:15 – 4:45 p.m.
WiTH Keynote: Connecting Technology to Emotions in Content Creation and Innovation
In a world where our attention is capacity limited, and possibly our most valuable commodity, empathetic technologies can help us connect with each other and ourselves in the most human ways. Content creators are beginning to adopt these technologies that can be leveraged to influence every part of the end-to-end story-telling process as well as transform the “traditional” approach to creating content. The irresistible possibilities of these technology advances are profound and will lead to innovations in how we are moving ideas into reality. This WiTH Keynote explores the innovative approaches to creating a rich, emotional and connected experience for entertainment consumers as well as the possible intrusive and ethical implications in the data being gathered.
Poppy Crum, Chief Scientist, Dolby Laboratories and Adjunct Professor, Stanford University, Center for Computer Research
4:45 – 5:15 p.m.
Male Allies: Motivation, Benefits, and Tangible Actions
Have you ever wondered why some male executives are strong allies for women in the technology field or workplace? It’s a worthy question. After all, many think that the challenge of increasing the number of women in technology, especially in higher leadership levels, is a women’s issue, and one that men can neither relate to or fix. Yet some men are inspired to be proactively involved in gender diversity & inclusion efforts at the company or even the team level. We’ve invited a panel of men who are proactive champions of gender inclusion in their technology workplaces or business units. During the discussion, we’ll hear the stories of what led these leaders to change the status quo, as well as the variety of actions they took to achieve their results. Find out what context is operating for these senior-level executives, and take your interest in making a difference from conversation to tangible action.
Moderator: Vicky Colf, Chief Technology Officer, Warner Bros.
Panelists:
John Herbert, Chief Information Officer and Executive Vice President, Enterprise & Media Technology, Fox Corporation
Eric Iverson, Chief Information Officer, Creative Artists Agency
Ben Stanbury, Content Security Officer, Amazon Studios and Chairman, Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA)
Introduction by: Davida Lara, Executive Vice President, Payroll, Entertainment Partners
5:15 – 6:00 p.m.
3rd ANNUAL WiTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS CEREMONY

Opening Remarks
Christina Aguilera, Studio Asset Management, The Walt Disney Studios
Introduction to Benefits of WiTH Charity Donations
Alana Wright, Technical Business Analyst, Sony Pictures Entertainment
WiTH Leadership Award Presentations

Nancy Faginas-Cody, Senior Vice President, Enterprise Business Systems, The Walt Disney Company
Presented by: Nancy Baca, Director, Licensing Financial Systems, The Walt Disney Company
Cristina Mancini Jones, Senior Vice President, Head of Customer and Trailblazer Marketing, Salesforce
Presented by: Cybill Miklaszewski, Director, Information Technology, Co-Chair Women in Tech, 21st Century FOX
Theresa Miller, Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Lionsgate
Presented by: Deborah Fiorella, Senior Vice President – Information Technology, Universal Studios Hollywood; Co-Founder TechWomen Los Angeles
Closing Remarks
Guy Finley, President, MESA
6 – 7:30 p.m.
NETWORKING RECEPTION