Fun Films and Serious Games: Digital Media in Utah
Sept. 23 Lunch with Leo Event Features Disney Interactive, Academy-Award Winning Short Movies, Virtual Worlds, Utah-born Technologies, and More
SALT LAKE CITY, Sept. 3, 2009— Digital media—one of the fastest growing industries in Utah—will be the topic of a quick-paced, highly visual public presentation featuring local digital media and animation experts who will illustrate how art and science converge in the creation of captivating films, simulations, and online games.
On Wednesday, Sept. 23, The Leonardo and USTAR will present the next Lunch with Leo event titled “Fun Films and Serious Games: Digital Media in Utah,” from noon until 1:30 pm on the 4th floor of the Salt Lake City Main Public Library. The cost of the event is $25 and includes lunch. Students and the general public are welcome to attend. To register, please visit http://www.theleonardo.org.
The event will be emceed by USTAR's Steven Roy. Featured presenters include:
Jeff Bunker: Studio Art Director, Avalanche / Disney Interactive Studios
Bunker is the Studio Art Director at Avalanche/Disney Interactive Studios. He has worked in the video games industry for 15 years, and has contributed creatively to more than 20 video games. Currently, he is collaborating with Disney Animation Studios and Pixar on games based on their films and original intellectual properties.
Craig Caldwell: USTAR Professor, Digital Media, University of Utah
Caldwell recently headed the largest film school in Australia - Griffith University, Brisbane –known for its interdisciplinary and industry collaboration in film, animation and games. He also worked in 3D technology at Walt Disney Feature Animation and in creative training at Electronic Arts, the world’s largest games company.
Brent Adams: Director, Center for Animation, Brigham Young University
Adams has taught Animation and Design at Brigham Young University for 20 years. His students have won nine Student Emmys and four Student Academy Awards in the past six years for short animated films, including “Lemmings, “Petshop,” and “Noggin.”
Alan Hashimoto: Graphic Design Professor, Utah State University; Author
Hashimoto has created more than 400 nationally published visual design solutions for more than a hundred national and international corporations, advertising firms, and design studios. He is also the author of three editions of “Visual Design Fundaments: A Digital Approach.”
Brett E. Shelton: Professor, Department of Instructional Technology and Learning, Utah State University
Shelton is a professor in the Department of Instructional Technology and Learning Sciences at Utah State University, and the director of the Center for Open and Sustainable Learning. He researches innovative technologies for learning, with a focus on virtual environments and data visualizations.
Lunch with Leo
Lunch with Leo is a series of quarterly lunchtime discussions bringing together exciting local researchers, business and opinion leaders, policy makers and public administrators in interactive discussions with students and the general public about current science and technology topics and how they impact society. Lunch with Leo is a collaboration between The Leonardo and USTAR, with support from the Association for Corporate Growth, Mountain West Capital Network, the Utah Technology Council, the Women’s Technology Council, and Silicon Slopes.
CONTACTS:
Lisa Davis, Communications, The Leonardo, 801/230-9399 or lisadavisslc@att.net
Michael O’Malley, Director of Marketing Communications, 801/538-8879, momalley@utah.gov
The Utah Science Technology and Research initiative (USTAR) is a long-term, state-funded investment to strengthen Utah's "knowledge economy” and generate high-paying jobs. Funded in March 2006 by the State Legislature, USTAR is based on three program areas. The first area involves funding for strategic investments at the University of Utah and Utah State University to recruit world-class researchers. The second area is to build state-of-the-art interdisciplinary facilities at these institutions for the innovation teams. The third program area involves teams that work with companies and entrepreneurs across the State to promote science, innovation, and commercialization activities. For more information, go to www.innovationutah.com or follow USTAR on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Innovationutah.
The Leonardo
Opening in 2011, The Leonardo is a science, technology and art center fostering creativity and innovation in young people and adults. Located in the heart of Utah’s capital city, The Leonardo will offer on-site, on-wheels and online programs that include exhibits, hands-on activities and workshops, classes and special events. For more information, please visit www.theleonardo.org.
