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CineSparks on-demand webinars

Are you an up-and-comer carving out your career in cinema? Want to learn more about the in-demand skills needed, and the trends, technologies, and changes affecting your future in moving pictures? We’ve created this series for you, because Christie® is committed to igniting passion in the next generation of talent and tech pros in the cinema industry.

Learn from visionaries and iconic institutions from across three continents!

Get inspired by their journeys. Learn from their expertise as they share their thoughts on how the industry is changing and what your role as a next-generation filmmaker, animator, sound engineer, technology engineer, screenwriter, cinematographer, etc, might look like.

You'll hear from:

  • Lightstorm Entertainment
  • The Rebel Fleet
  • Women in exhibition
  • Screenwriter Dirk Blackman
  • Director filmmaker Yee Wei Chai
  • BFI
  • TIFF
  • Hollywood Professional Association
  • And more...!

Lightstorm Entertainment

When Technology and Creativity Collide: Join Lightstorm's Geoff Burdick

Geoff Burdick of Lightstorm Entertainment is much more than an “Avatar”: he’s a creative technology whiz with more than 30 years of experience. Watch this webinar, moderated by Christie’s Brian Claypool, where they discuss the trends and models for consuming content that impacts creatives and the different approaches to working in the industry.

62 min

Filmmaker

The rise of hyperlocal content in SouthEast Asian Cinema and the future of cinema technology

Join Singaporean filmmaker Yee Wei Chai as he explores the shifts towards hyperlocal content and discusses the success of hyperlocal films and their deep resonance with audiences. He reveals how these films have captured the hearts of viewers by reflecting on their own experiences and traditions. Yee Wei also shares his thoughts on the technological advancements poised to drive further growth in the coming years. He focuses on innovations such as High Dynamic Range (HDR) cinema, virtual filmmaking, and virtual studios, which are set to revolutionize the filmmaking process and enhance the cinematic experience.

57 min

Panel

From newbie to high-flyer: What it takes to make it in cinema

We meet two self-starters with the vision and tenacity to go from newbies to industry high-flyers over their careers in cinema. Their backgrounds are varied, from their starts as a cinema assistant manager and a research analyst from Kansas, but one thing is for certain: They both have a passion for cinema and entertainment. Join moderator Rebecca Pahle of Boxoffice Pro, in conversation with Mariam El Bach and Dr. Heather Morgan of Alamo Drafthouse as they share what they know about the industry with the next generation of talent and tech in cinema.

56 min

Screenwriter, Educator

Making the Right Mistakes to Stay Relevant in Cinema

Dirk Blackman, writer of “Outlander” and “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans”, details his experiences of success and adaptation in Hollywood. This is your chance to learn the best — and worst — ways to establish and maintain your space in the cinema industry, whether you are just graduating from film school or an industry veteran, as Dirk walks us through how NOT to navigate the current and future state of the industry. Nextgen creatives can expect to gain valuable knowledge to help give them an edge on the competition as they navigate their careers in the film industry.

63 min

Brought to you by Christie

We’re a leading cinema and proAV technology manufacturer. You’ll find Christie cinema projectors lighting up movie screens around the world. As part of the Christie Ignite program to cultivate future generations, we developed the CineSparks Webinar Series to bring together industry veterans and new cinema professionals, to learn, share and inspire.

AI & Virtual Set Production

Virtual production and AI: Enter the new paradigm of filmmaking

Join Edward Dawson-Taylor, founder and head of technology of CG Pro, as he discusses the most practical AI tools and virtual production applications that are completely changing the landscape of filmmaking. Discover how these tools and applications are empowering filmmakers by elevating their creative process, optimizing their production and post-production workflow, and saving them time and money.

58 min

Panel

The future of filmmaking: Streamlining production to post

Join host Christina Lee Storm, an award-winning producer and senior media and entertainment executive, and industry experts Eric Roth, VFX supervisor on “Europa”, and Mike Urban, CEO and co-founder of The Rebel Fleet, as they discuss the evolving filmmaking landscape and explore the future of filmmaking. Learn how they’ve streamlined metadata workflows from production to post and VFX, driving efficiency and collaboration. While they explore the future of filmmaking and how modern technology is transforming workflows, Eric and Mike will share the tactics used to streamline the metadata handover from production into post and VFX that helped Eric build efficient workflows for “Europa”.

62 min

Careers in Cinema

Tech meets cinema: Unlocking technical careers in the industry

The path to success in the cinema industry is as varied as it is exciting, with no single way in. Whether your passion is audio, engineering, IT, there’s a role for you in festivals and cinemas. Join Dominic Simmons, head of cinema technology at the British Film Institute (BFI), and James King, senior technical manager from the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), who dive into the types of roles and skills needed to run these world-class establishments – from the projectionist’s booth to tech support for visuals and audio, to data management, networking, and more.

51 min

Panel

Building teams through cross-generational collaboration

Imagine Gen X, Gen Z, and Baby Boomers all in one team. It's not just a dream, it's the power of cross-generational collaboration. Rossy Eguigure, co-chair of HPA Women in Post (WIP) and owner of Rx Media Productions, Inc., Beatriz Rodriguez, a post-production professional in Hollywood and WIP committee member, and Payton List, director of production and post in the FOX Entertainment Technology Group, share how such “age-inclusive” collaboration enhances problem-solving, strengthens adaptability, and equips teams to tackle evolving challenges while seizing new opportunities.

57 min

Panel

Where are they now? Award-winning NFTS graduates talk about how to succeed in filmmaking

One route to working in the cinema is through film school and the UK’s National Film and Television School (NFTS) is one of the most prestigious in the world, with graduates continually featured in the Oscars, BAFTAs, and festival picks. But what does it take to keep the offers, ideas, and opportunities coming, to build on that great start, and keep being successful? We catch up with a panel of individuals, all recipients of Christie’s Most Promising Student award when they graduated, as they share their advice on success in cinema with you. Moderated by renowned film executive Lizzie Francke, who is head of the NFTS’s Directing Fiction MA program, the panel of NFTS graduates includes colorist Michael Pearce, MA in Digital Effects, Lisa Kenny, MA in Animation Direction, and Andrew Oldbury, MA in Production.

59 min