On-set virtual production has been a game-changer for the business of storytelling, from entertainment and sports to news and documentaries. The groundbreaking use of LED volumes, real-time CGI, and other virtual technologies not only has enabled substantial cost savings, flexibility, and efficiencies in production, it also has inspired tremendous leaps in creativity and imagination. Hear from leaders and creators who produce for film, television, video games, advertising, and beyond about the different skills they need on a virtual production set.
Ben Baker, Co-Founder, Virtual Production Specialist, Mesh
Ben Baker (Virtual Production Producer) has had a 22-year career supporting filmmakers on 3 different continents. He has been a Vice President of Studio Services for HBO, Vice President of Post Production at Vice Media and a head of department at Framestore VFX in the UK. He first started in Virtual Production after talking his way into the Epic Games Fellowship, and has consulted in Virtual Production for Amazon Studios, Disney TV, Accenture, and East End Studios. After producing the Virtual Production project FATHEAD for the ETC@USC, he established MESH (MeshVP.com) to build the Virtual Production Department for Francis Ford Coppola's Megalopolis. Mesh is now producing Virtual Production projects for clients worldwide.
Komal Bhukhanwala, Senior Art Director, CBS Sports
Komal has worked in the field of design for two decades in all forms from print, web, UX, Motion, brand design, virtual reality & augmented reality35. She is instrumental in pushing CBS Sports’ forward and leads the charge across the sports landscape in innovation and advancement. Komal, who oversees a team of 35 designers, has pushed the boundaries for what is possible in a live broadcast with the creation and implementation of Romovision, and other virtual technologies.
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Komal has led the charge in implementing Augmented reality and other virtual workflows within the company. She has overseen the integration of in game AR since it was done for the first time at Super Bowl 53. Working in the sports industry for over 15 years, including being a part of CBS Sports through three rebrands, Komal was the also first at CBS sports to design stereoscopic graphics for US open tennis. She is always at the forefront of innovation ensuring that CBS Sports has evolved and stayed in tune with progressing design trends in the industry. Paramount to CBS Sports’ biggest properties, Komal has led the art direction for five Super Bowls, and has designed graphics for all of CBS Sports properties, including the NFL, college football, college basketball, golf, soccer and the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. Her work has been recognized across the sports industry, with Emmy wins for Romovision (2022) and a Wensel for the US open stereoscopic coverage.
As CBS Sports continues to grow and innovate, Komal is a vital figure in that progression. CBS Sports launched the CBS Sports Golazo Network in April of 2023, a first-of-its-kind free, 24-hour direct-to-consumer digital network in the U.S. offering fans unparalleled coverage of all the top domestic and international soccer competitions across the world. Komal and her team successfully launched the complete on-air package for the network, leading the charge from start to finish. Komal also heads a company-wide Virtual production workstream that provides guidance and education to employees across divisions that are looking to add virtual production in their workflows to enhance their storytelling.
Julian Moncada, Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Turbo
Julian is the Co-Founder and CEO of Turbo, a company that has developed a gaming platform to help game developers create and launch games quickly. The platform consists of a game engine and a live services gaming backend, both designed with modern tools and a premium developer experience in mind. Turbo's team is composed of professionals from various gaming companies, including Unity and Cool Math Games.
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Before founding Turbo, Julian was a venture capitalist at Lerer Hippeau, where he invested in software startups, emerging technologies, and next-generation media companies. Some of Lerer Hippeau's notable media investments include Buzzfeed, Axios, Group Nine Media, and Food52, among others.
Following his venture capital career, Julian joined the biotech startup Opentrons Labworks as Director of Corporate Development and Strategy. He then transitioned to a web3 gaming startup, TreasureDAO, where he served as Product Lead. Julian has a diverse background in finance, software development, and sales.
Joseph White, Founder, CarStage; Virtual Production Producer, Fuse-Tg
With 20+ years of senior level production experience, Joseph White has worked with some of the biggest names in the industry, consistently integrating cutting-edge technology in the service of creativity. For the past 3 years he has specifically focused on Virtual Production, successfully completing over 80 projects.
In June of 2021 he co-founded the CARSTAGE in Long Island City, a state-of-the-art virtual production facility, recognized by both the New York State and City film offices as a pillar of the film and tv community.
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As VP of Original Programming at Disney’s Marvel Television, he worked as a create the productions of the series Luke Cage, Iron Fist and The Punisher. Working closely with the filmmakers and executives at Netflix the 2 sides built what was at the time, the biggest thing in television. It was here where Joseph first started looking to virtual production as a means for better storytelling.
In 2001, Joseph was offered and apprenticeship by director Francis Ford Coppola, For the better part of 2 years, he cultivated skills as a creative producer. Collectively pioneering the era’s new HD technology, his team mastered translating Coppola’s vision for his film MEGALOPOLIS into a digital reality.
Coppola paired him with internationally acclaimed cinematographer Ron Fricke
(Baraka, Samsara), and producer Georgia Kacandes (Joker 2, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) Together they created 45 hours of HD -New York footage which Martin Scorsese called “the finest imagery of New York” that he had ever seen. This feat would not have been possible with film. The relationship with Fricke extended to years of international projects. While exploring the potential of Digital filmmaking, he heeded the guidance of George Lucas who advised him “make art with the technology of the day.”
From 2001–2009, White joined Spike Lee’s 40 Acres and a Mule Filmworks as a key member of the creative team. There he refined his knowledge of creative and physical production, working on films, (She Hate Me, Jesus Children of America, Inside Man, Miracle at St. Anna, The 25th Hour), as well as numerous TV spots and PSAs.
White has produced / worked on VFX, Plate capture, Stunt & 2nd Units for ILM, Disney, Fox, Marvel Studios, WB, FX, STARZ, HBO, Cartoon Network, Stereo D, Brainstorm Digital FuseFX, and many more. His resume includes 100’s of commercials, and PSAs for global brands such as Apple, Samsung, Honda, Porsche, Mercedes, Nike. & Grey Advertising. His extensive film credits include: The Happy Worker, Antarctica, Ode to Joy, Truth, Experimenter, Self Less, Don Jon, The Perfect Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Kal Ho Naa Ho, and The Ex.
He credits much of his success to the skills and attention to detail he learned while serving 6 years in the US Marine Corps. As an industry leader, he is excited to share Virtual Production technology with his vast network of filmmakers.
Moderator: Krysti Pryde, Executive Director, Playcrafting
With nearly 20 years in the gaming industry, Krysti Pryde has leveled up to Executive Director at Playcrafting where they provide resources to help indie developers succeed. From consulting on your game to curating valuable events, Krysti Pryde believes in indie developers and small studios. Krysti's goal is to help galvanize the game industry globally, with a focus on NYC of course.
Presented with the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment and SVA Theatre
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
The Center's programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
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