Register Online at http://www.smpte2009.org

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — October 13, 2009 — As broadcasters and filmmakers turn their attention to the creative and revenue-generating possibilities of stereoscopic (3D) entertainment, the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) today announced that Sony Pictures Imageworks’ award-winning 3D artist and technical expert Rob Engle will open its Annual Tech Conference and Expo, providing an in-depth look at the importance, impact, and opportunities of 3D.

The event will take place October 27-29, 2009 at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel, Hollywood, Calif. Engle’s session will take place from 8:30 to 9:45 a.m. on October 27 at the Mann Theater in Hollywood.

The SMPTE fall conference is one of the premier events in the media content and motion-imaging industries. The 2009 conference exemplifies SMPTE’s ongoing leadership in providing education and information about technologies – such as stereoscopic cinema and television, high-definition (HD) TV, digital cinema, and advanced production and post production – that help expand critical industry revenue-generating opportunities. To register for the fall event, please visit http://www.smpte2009.org

A senior stereographer and 3D visual effects supervisor for Sony Pictures Imageworks, Engle recently completed work on the 3D version of the film “G-Force.” He also supervised the 3D adaptations of "The Polar Express," "Monster House," "Open Season," and "Beowulf" — and served as visual effects supervisor on "Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience" and as a stereographer on "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs."

Engle will share his experience in 3D films, discuss the impact of 3D on filmmakers and audiences — as well as barriers to the acceptance of the 3D format, breakthrough genres of 3D, and how 3D home video will evolve. He will also include clips and anecdotes from his personal experiences in 3D filmmaking.

“It has been five years since digital technology revolutionized the creation and exhibition of stereoscopic films with the advent and rollout of digital cinema. Since then, 3D films have dramatically shown how they can connect with audiences and expand the cinematic language,” said Engle.

“Rob’s insights on 3D couldn’t come at a more opportune time for this industry,” said Ken Fuller, SMPTE president. “His vision of how we can accelerate the delivery of 3D entertainment to the home will be of great interest to our colleagues across the media content and motion-imaging industries.”

Event to Focus on 3D, Securing New Opportunities in the New Media Era

The SMPTE Annual Conference & Expo will host numerous panel discussions related to 3D. Technical experts from media leaders such as Dolby Labs, FOX Network, DTS, and RealD will lead a series of 3D-focused technical sessions – including one focused on the multi-view 3D technology required to support glasses-free displays and viewing.

The 2009 Conference and Expo also will host a rich variety of content and technology exhibitions, as well as activities and professional networking events – including a special reception and screening sponsored by Warner Bros. A special seminar – Advanced Media Workflows and MXF – produced by the Advanced Media Workflow Association (AMWA) will precede the Conference and Expo on October 26.

A complete description of the sessions is available at http://www.smpte2009.org/technical-sessions

About Rob Engle

In addition to his 3D work, Rob Engle's broad background in live-action visual effects includes specialties in shot supervision, look development, lighting, rendering technology, and software R&D. He holds an MS CS degree from Stanford University and a BS EE/CS from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Engle is a member of the Visual Effects Society Board of Directors and is an active volunteer for both SIGGRAPH and the VES.

About the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers

The Oscar® Award-winning and Emmy® Award-winning Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) is the leading technical society for the motion-imaging industry. As an internationally recognized and accredited standards-setting body, SMPTE develops standards, recommended practices and guidelines, and spearheads educational activities to advance engineering and moving imagery. Since its founding in 1916, the Society has established close to 600 standards, including the physical dimensions of 35mm film and the SMPTE-time code. More recently, it crafted the Digital Cinema Standards, which paved the way for digital movie theaters. Underscoring SMPTE’s leadership in technology and standards development, the Society received a prestigious technical Emmy® Award in January of 2009 for its work in the development of the MXF and GXF file formats. Headquartered in New York, SMPTE is comprised of engineers and other technical specialists, IT, and new media professionals, filmmakers, manufacturers, educators, and consultants in more than 65 countries. They are joined at SMPTE by more than 200 sponsoring corporations, principal players in content creation, production, and delivery for all platforms and in entertainment hardware and software. www.smpte.org

About the Advanced Media Workflow Association