1) It is definitely a challenge when you’re starting out. My number one action – create work to show. Get out there and partner with people, and whenever possible create spec material for jobs you are bidding on to gain experience. Build up your reel and keep it fresh. You have to put yourself out there, so reach out to those you admire most and have them introduce you to industry people that are like-minded. Finally, showing your willingness to constantly try new things will keep you top of mind when teams are concepting.
2) A good Producer not only works to inspire others but dives in to help solve problems and find creative solutions. Get to know the people you work with, take the time to truly understand their personalities and needs, and look for unique ways to engage with them. That said, you also need to take time to do research, establish a clear point of view and to get excited about new technologies.
3) From the kick-off, ensure that the team is working towards the same goals. Do your research on the technology and make sure that you have the people in place.
That said, embrace what you know but also be prepared to enter the unknown. With new technology, sometimes you have to throw everything out the window and start fresh with experienced participants who are also embracing the unknown by researching, prototyping and constantly learning from new innovations. This was my experience for a recent project using AI. If the goals are focused to map new technologies to conceptually driven work, then the outcome will most certainly delight you, the team and the audience.
4) I recently spent time working with a team developing tools to turn casual conversations into innovative voice experiences. We prototyped using a range of techniques to incorporate voice interaction with devices and explored how complimentary voice actions can initiate music. It was an extremely rewarding project with an amazing creative team.
Director of Interactive Production
KBS
Utah Leaders and Locals Rally To Keep Sundance Film Festival In The State
With the 2025 Sundance Film Festival underway, Utah leaders, locals and longtime attendees are making a final push — one that could include paying millions of dollars — to keep the world-renowned film festival as its directors consider uprooting.
Thousands of festivalgoers affixed bright yellow stickers to their winter coats that read "Keep Sundance in Utah" in a last-ditch effort to convince festival leadership and state officials to keep it in Park City, its home of 41 years.
Gov. Spencer Cox said previously that Utah would not throw as much money at the festival as other states hoping to lure it away. Now his office is urging the Legislature to carve out $3 million for Sundance in the state budget, weeks before the independent film festival is expected to pick a home for the next decade.
It could retain a small presence in picturesque Park City and center itself in nearby Salt Lake City, or move to another finalist — Cincinnati, Ohio, or Boulder, Colorado — beginning in 2027.
"Sundance is Utah, and Utah is Sundance. You can't really separate those two," Cox said. "This is your home, and we desperately hope it will be your home forever."
Last year's festival generated about $132 million for the state of Utah, according to Sundance's 2024 economic impact report.
Festival Director Eugene Hernandez told reporters last week that they had not made a final decision. An announcement is expected this year by early spring.
Colorado is trying to further sweeten its offer. The state is considering legislation giving up to $34 million in tax incentives to film festivals like Sundance through 2036 — on top of the $1.5 million in funds already approved to lure the Utah festival to its neighboring... Read More