Friday, January 9 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Session B: DH14: DVD - Producing the Enhanced and Definitive Edition - Where Content, Creativity and Technology Triumph It’s exciting and rare when a new creative form appears on the consumer’s entertainment horizon. Sometimes, like the Web and the Internet, it immediately stamps and shouts upon arrival. DVD has arrived more quietly, but is now about to break open an entirely new world of entertainment, information and appreciation. If as it appears, the consumer is not only going to embrace the current film, TV and music blockbusters, there is a back catalogue of films, television, music and other entertainment forms to be mined, to be explored, to be creatively researched and produced, so as to virtually create an entirely new entertainment production and distribution marketplace. DVD is the next big thing. Andy Siditisky, Executive Producer, Buena Vista Home Entertainment Dale (Ty) Roberts, Chief Technology Officer, Gracenote David Anthony, Founding Partner & President, Metropolis DVD Eric Young, President and Executive Producer, Sparkhill Matt Kennedy, co-founder and CEO, 1K Studios Alan P. Blaustein, Chief Executive Officer, Flexplay Technologies, Inc. Mitchell Rubinstein, Executive Vice President, DVD, Creative Domain, Moderator Mitchell Rubinstein, Executive Vice President, DVD, Creative Domain: A pioneer in emerging technologies and their application to entertainment marketing, Mitchell Rubinstein has helped Creative Domain become an industry leader in the exploding DVD market. Leading the agency's award-winning efforts in the DVD field, Mitchell oversees all aspects of menu design, added-value production, and content development. A veteran of more than 20 years in the film, television and multimedia industries, Mitchell received recognition early in his career for designing and producing the first major web site for the United States Postal Service. After serving as Vice President, New Media for DMX Inc., Mitchell joined Graphix Zone as Director of CD-ROM Publishing, where he gained industry acclaim for producing and directing Bob Dylan: Highway 61. The groundbreaking interactive CD earned numerous honors, including a Design Distinction Award from International Design Magazine. In 1996, Mitchell joined The Cimarron Group as President and Executive Producer of the agency's Interactive division, eventually overseeing more than 300 projects for such major clients as Pepsi, Warner Bros., Sony, Microsoft, MGM, Nickelodeon, Universal, CAA, Boeing and ESPN. While at Cimarron, Mitchell executive produced the highly successful and innovative DVDs for Ghostbusters and Men In Black, winning VSDA's coveted "Best Use Of Menus Award" for two consecutive years. In 2001, Mitchell brought his unique talents and DVD expertise to Creative Domain, where he and his team continue to push the technical and creative boundaries of this dynamic new medium. Mitchell possesses a BA from UCLA and an MBA from Georgetown University. Dale (Ty) Roberts, Chief Technology Officer, Gracenote: Ty Roberts is widely recognized as one of the inventors of enhanced CD technology and is accredited with producing the industry’s first enhanced CDs. He joined Gracenote in November of 1998 after the company acquired ION, a multimedia and music technology company that he founded in 1993. Roberts serves as Gracenote’s chief technology strategist, providing technology direction and overseeing the creation of products and services that leverage the power of the Gracenote database to deliver information services. While at ION, Roberts produced the recording industry’s first enhanced audio CD titles, including David Bowie’s "Jump" and "Headcandy" from Brian Eno. He was the company’s lead technologist and innovator in adding multimedia content to traditional audio CDs. ION was also widely recognized as a leading provider of enhanced CD production tools utilized by recording and multimedia development companies. In September 1993, Bertlesmann Music Group created the first interactive record label after acquiring a 50 percent interest in ION. Prior to founding ION, Roberts was a founder and senior manager of LightSource, a software development company that produced multimedia and graphics editing software. Previously, he was a senior engineer at Pixar, where he created several award winning, Apple-based music applications including "Studio Session" and "Jam Session." Roberts is Gracenote’s representative to the Secure Digital Music Initiative (SDMI), organization that is chartered with establishing standards for digital music and music playing devices. Well-known within the music industry community, Roberts has spoken at numerous conferences and events, including CES, Digital Hollywood, Plug-In and ISMIR. Eric Young, President and Executive Producer, Sparkhill: For over 20 years, Eric Young has had great success in various types of theatrical and home entertainment production. Having worked for Buena Vista Home Entertainment developing their DVD division, Young saw an opportunity to parlay his passion for storytelling into documentary filmmaking and in 2000, he launched Sparkhill - a full service production and post-production company. Since then, he has led the field in producing quality bonus material for various A-list feature and television DVDs. As President of Sparkhill and Executive Producer of original programming, Young has developed a client base of filmmakers and major Hollywood studios producing dozens of original behind-the-scenes documentaries and other special features for DVDs such as 24-Season 2, Runaway Jury, The Commitments-Special Edition, Daredevil, The Hours, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea …to name a few. In addition, Young kicked off Sparkhill’s feature film division by directing and producing the independent movie Breathing Hard, which has been honored with eight major awards including: Best Feature at the Texas, Valleyfest, Moab and Ashland Film Festivals, the prestigious Jury Award at the Ajijic Festival Internacional de Cine and the Audience Award at Film Fest in New Haven. Young continues to raise the bar in DVD content while fostering and diversifying the Sparkhill banner with endeavors in film, television and most recently music videos. In 2003, Sparkhill produced the video for rap artists the Boo Yaa Tribe’s hit single, "Bang On" in addition to the concert DVD "Right Now, Live" with jazz artist Charlie Hunter. Matt Kennedy, co-founder and CEO, 1K Studios: In October, 1997 Matt Kennedy took an extensive background in film, television and multi-media production and partnered with long time friend and colleague, Jayson Won to form 1K Studios (1K), a high tech multi-media firm that would provide "value-added" design and interactive services for Hollywood’s biggest feature-film DVDs. As CEO of 1K, Kennedy has played a critical role in the evolution of the DVD industry. From the conception of some of the very first DVD menus (which 1K was arguably responsible for creating), to the development of today’s most elaborate and rich interactive experiences, Kennedy continues to be one of the leading forces of innovation and creative excellence in the DVD industry. 1K’s work has garnered critical acclaim, industry recognition and awards including numerous Video Premiere and DVD Pro Discus Awards as well as International Broadcast Design Association Awards for design excellence. Under his leadership, 1K has grown from two computers set up in Won’s living room, to a leading DVD creative firm with a staff of 50. Won and Kennedy have worked with all of Hollywood’s major Movie Studios as well as with corporate clients like Apple Computer. To date 1K has contributed it’s services to over 2,000 feature film DVD releases including DVDs for nearly 20 of the top 50 all-time box-office-grossing movies (USA.) Prior to partnering with Won to form 1K, Kennedy worked as a consultant in graphic design and animation production, producing on–air network promotional campaigns, commercials, corporate communication videos and web-site design. Kennedy got his first job in Hollywood as an intern at international design firm and digital post-production facility Novocom Inc. After producing on-air design and promotional campaigns for domestic clients, Kennedy was given the task of overseeing the company’s projects in Asia. Before joining Novocom, Kennedy was the Assistant to the Secretary’s Counsel on Drug and Alcohol Policy at the Department of Health and Human Services in Washington D.C. Kennedy graduated Cum Laude from Colorado College with a major in Fine Art. He’s completed post-graduate courses in film and multi-media production at the University of Southern California, UCLA and the American Film Institute. David Anthony, Founding Partner & President, Metropolis DVD: Anthony is a 2003 Grammy nominated DVD producer as well as a founding partner and president of Metropolis DVD, a full-service DVD design and production studio located in downtown New York City. Under Anthony’s guidance Metropolis DVD provides complete DVD production and creative services to companies, including Versace, BMG, Sony, Atlantic Records, MTV Networks and The Guggenheim Museum. Some recent DVD projects produced at Metropolis’ New York studio include: USA Films, Traffic; The Grammy Award nominated, Moby – Play, The DVD; Janet Jackson’s All for You DVD Edition; and Linkin Park’s, Party at the Pancake Festival DVD. An early pioneer of the DVD format, David founded seminal New York DVD design house, Zuma Digital in the spring of 1997 and began producing DVD’s before consumer DVD players were available. As a life-long technophile, Anthony was an executive producer at Wow Digital, producing interactive programming for companies, including Old Navy and Time-Warner. David holds the first ever awarded bachelor's degree in Media Arts from Bennington College. Alan P. Blaustein is the Chief Executive Officer of Flexplay Technologies, Inc., a privately held company that has pioneered the flexible play DVD. A Flexplay DVD is similar to a conventional DVD, except that it has a pre-set viewing window that begins when the disc is removed from its packaging. Flexplay DVDs can be used for a variety of applications including movies, video games, promotions, screeners, music and television programming. Joining Flexplay in 2001, Alan has moved the company from concept to product to commercial reality, and to its current success. Flexplay technology has been used to promote the theatrical release of MGM’s "Die Another Day," and as part of the 2002 and 2003 MTV Latin America VMA Award programs. In September 2003, Flexplay and Buena Vista Home Entertainment successfully launched ez-D - the no return, no late fee movie rental - in four U.S. markets. Alan formerly served as President, Worldwide Corporate Development for About, managing all corporate strategic initiatives including the sale of the company to Primedia in October 2000. A frequent speaker on entrepreneurial topics, Alan is regularly quoted in publications including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, MSN, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter, and has been featured on CNN Headline News and NY1. Alan is an active member of the New York University Alumni Committee and is current finalist in Fast Company’s Fast 50. Alan received his B.S. in Accounting from Binghamton University and his J.D. from New York University School of Law