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    HPA unveils Young Entertainment Professionals class of 2023

    By SHOOTUpdated:No Comments1146 Views
    Pictured (l-r) are several of the HPA YEP class of 2023: Nicole Harmony, Kara Prichard, Jimmy Zhu, Sarah Xu, Victor Amigo, Maddie Hong, Cassandra Rodriguez, Matt Klein, Luke Birch, Jazmin Freire, Simon Yahn, Haley Kreofsky, Jen Losch, Lauren Balladares, Allison Eilhardt, Jaxon McLennon, Katia Buchneva, Jamie Foley, Erik Mahoney, Alexa Lowndes and Colin Hughes
    BURBANK, Calif. --

    The Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) has unveiled the HPA Young Entertainment Professionals (YEP) class of 2023. The program, which has accelerated the careers of over 100 graduates to date, has evolved into a robust networking, mentoring, and education resource for young professionals working in the industry.

    YEP class members, selected by HPA committee, are encouraged to take advantage of the full spectrum of HPA activities, including the HPA Tech Retreat and HPA Awards. They are paired with advanced career mentors who often become long-term supports as they continue to advance.

    Here’s the YEP class of ‘23:

    • Victor Amigo, Eluvio
    • Lauren Balladares, Freelance
    • Luke Birch, Netflix
    • Ekaterina Buchneva, Sensor Tower
    • Allison Eilhart, ROE Visual
    • Jamie Foley, 495 Productions
    • Jazmin Freire, Black Cake
    • Allyson Geiger, Marvel Studios
    • Maddie Hong, Netflix
    • Colin Hughes, Light Iron
    • Vivian Ip, Independent Filmmaker
    • Rachel Jobin, 6P Color
    • Haley Kreofsky, Freelance
    • Jennifer Losch, Work Editorial
    • Erik Mahoney, Paramount Pictures
    • Kara Prichard, A+E Networks
    • Cassandra Rodriguez, Pixar
    • Erick Silvera, Freelance
    • Sarah Xu, Fox Entertainment
    • Simon Yahn, Technicolor Creative Studios
    • Jimmy Zhu, Scanline VFX

    HPA president Seth Hallen remarked, “Of all the HPA initiatives that bring value to our industry and community, the YEP program is one of the most important. Connecting the brilliant and talented next generation with mentors is critical, and it has been incredibly rewarding to watch the YEPs create their own networks that shape our community. Once again, the members of the 2023 YEP class have impressive accomplishments and important perspectives. I can’t wait to see what they can achieve as they move forward and contribute to the advancement of our industry.”

    Tags:Hollywood Professional AssociationHPA Young Entertainment ProfessionalsSeth HallenYEP



    Ex-OpenAI engineer who raised legal concerns about the technology he helped build has died

    Saturday, December 21, 2024
    Suchir Balaji poses for a photo in Hawaii in 2018. Balaji was a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who died in November 2024. (Balaji Ramamurthy via AP)

    Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26.

    Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products.

    "We are devastated to learn of this incredibly sad news and our hearts go out to Suchir's loved ones during this difficult time," said a statement from OpenAI.

    Balaji was found dead in his San Francisco apartment on Nov. 26 in what police said "appeared to be a suicide. No evidence of foul play was found during the initial investigation." The city's chief medical examiner's office confirmed the manner of death to be suicide.

    His parents Poornima Ramarao and Balaji Ramamurthy said they are still seeking answers, describing their son as a "happy, smart and brave young man" who loved to hike and recently returned from a trip with friends.

    Balaji grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and first arrived at the fledgling AI research lab for a 2018 summer internship while studying computer science at the University of California, Berkeley. He returned a few years later to work at OpenAI, where one of his first projects, called WebGPT, helped pave the way for ChatGPT.

    "Suchir's contributions to this project were essential, and it wouldn't have succeeded without him," said OpenAI co-founder John Schulman in a social media post memorializing Balaji. Schulman, who recruited Balaji to his team, said what... Read More

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