HPA Hosts 2002 Technology Retreat in Palm Springs

Exploring new and notable accomplishments in technology forproduction, digital media, post production, cinema, and television, the2002 Technology Retreat will take place February 21-23 at the HyattRegency Suites in Palm Springs, California. This year’s event isthe seventh annual Technology Retreat and is hosted by the newHollywood Post Alliance (HPA). For complete schedule and registrationinformation, go to www.hpaonline.com.

The Technology Retreat offers an informal, in-depth exchange ofinformation and brings together technology visionaries and experts,users, manufacturers and broadcasters to share technical knowledge in anon-sales environment. Participants discover how new tools, techniques,and technology will help keep their companies successful in an industryin transition.

“The Retreat offers access to new technology sooner than theNAB show,” states Retreat Committee Chair Mark Schubin, "and it'spretty amazing what we get. We did interlace vs. progressive resolutionexperiments four years ago. Three years ago, we had 72-frame-per-secondvideo. Two years ago, we had surround-sound via headphones and wereexperimenting with concatenated conversions and various displaytechnologies. Last year's datacasting seminar was awesome."

This year’s presentations and panels promise to be just asinteresting, with a wide range of topics and interests to be covered,including new display technologies, MPEG-4, the latest DVDdevelopments, disaster recovery, what manufacturers are planning forconsumers, the latest plans from networks and broadcasters, archivingdemands, iTV standards, forensic video analysis, military imaging andmetadata, unusual PVR applications, accessible media compliance andopportunities, updates on rules, regulations, legislation, and the ATSCdigital television standard, multiple-format HDTV post, Final Cut, filmsimulation in video, shooting HD instead of film, capturing metadata onset, and digital sound mastering that promises to keep volume levelsthe same.

The Tech Retreat is also known for its ground-breaking technologydemonstrations, offered months before NAB. The 2002 lineup of demoswill continue to grow as the Retreat approaches. To date, confirmeddemos include compression for everything from digital cinema to theInternet, comparing film and HDTV shooting, the whole chain of variableframe-rate video, shooting 2.4:1 video without anamorphic lenses, 24paudio technology, and comparing up-conversion before and aftertransmission. There will also be HD lens and accessible-mediademonstrations.

Retreat participants also benefit from face-to-face discussions ontech topics at daily breakfast roundtables, and a break from technologyat the annual softball game.

Organizations participating in the 2002 Tech Retreat include ATSC,American Board of Recorded Evidence, Apple Computer, Azcar, CBS,Advanced Television, and Home Entertainment Gateway Association, CEA,Chyron, Columbia Tri-Star, DemoGraFX, Dolby, Evertz, Filmlook, FletcherChicago, FOX, Fujitsu, Laser Pacific, Matsushita Electric Corp. ofAmerica, Minolta, Media Matters, National Imagery and Mapping Agency,MPEG-4 Industry Forum, Panasonic, Paramount, Pear Avenue, Quartz,Sinclair, Sony, Specs Brothers, Thomson, THX, Tivo, Vertigo, WGBH,Warner Bros., and Westport Media Resources.

The Hollywood Post Alliance is an organization of the professionalcommunity of businesses and individuals involved in the post-productionindustry. HPA is based on the idea that in time of technological andeconomic challenge and opportunity, the post production community canbe better served if the entire industry combines efforts to learn andwork together.