Expanded programme and offerings in store for 2^nd year of tech event

12 April 2017 (London UK) – HPA has opened registration for the 2017 HPA Tech Retreat UK, presented in association with the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE®). The Tech Retreat attracts a high-level roster of engineering, technology, creative and business leaders who gather to confer on the trends and technologies of the future, while tackling the issues of the present from fresh perspectives. The HPA Tech Retreat UK takes place 11 to 13 July, and is returning to the Heythrop Park resort in Oxfordshire.

The Tech Retreat offers a rare opportunity to spend dedicated time to discuss the media business’ most pressing topics with industry leading colleagues. Part think tank, part conference, and extensively connective, the Tech Retreat creates an engaging and inspiring environment for attendees. As the industry navigates changing media production workflows, the HPA Tech Retreat presents three days of questions, conversation and understanding to place attendees at the forefront of knowledge.

Richard Welsh, SMPTE VP of Education, returns as Chair of the 2017 Retreat. Welsh noted, ‘Last year was a great launch, and we have even more amazing content planned for this year. As before, the subject matter will be uniquely balanced between cutting edge creative techniques and technical innovation. With the addition of Tech Retreat Extra (TR-X), the 2017 Tech Retreat UK will be something extremely special’.

The multifaceted event will take place over three days, inclusive of TR-X, and includes thought provoking conference sessions, daily breakfast roundtables with thought leaders guiding discussions of important topics, and the Innovation Zone, where the latest products, workflows and technologies are available for examination in a curated environment. In addition, the HPA Tech Retreat UK is introducing TR-X, a special, standalone day focused on VR, AR & MR, from the production workflow perspective. Right at the core of HPA Tech Retreats are the numerous networking opportunities throughout the event including lunch, dinner and cocktail events where attendees and speakers meet and converse.

Seth Hallen, President of HPA, noted, ‘As we enter the 2^nd year of this great event, I am looking forward to returning to Oxfordshire to plug back into the conversations there. It’s important to take a few days out of our working routine, to engage and discuss with our colleagues what’s in store for the future. The Tech Retreat brings attendees into the vanguard of our industry. The work of Richard, Jerry, Andrew, and the entire team ensure this year’s HPA Tech Retreat UK will be a valuable and meaningful event for our community’.

Attendees can now register for the Tech Retreat UK at Early Bird rates. New sessions are being added to the program daily.

For more information on the event or sponsorship opportunities, visit hpaonline.com. Information about participating in the Innovation Zone is available here.

---

About the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers^® (SMPTE^®)
For more than a century, the people of the Society of Motion Pictures and Television Engineers (SMPTE, pronounced “simp-tee”) have sorted out the details of many significant advances in media and entertainment technology, from the introduction of “talkies” and color television to HD and UHD (4K, 8K) TV. Since its founding in 1916, the Society has received an Oscar® and multiple Emmy® Awards for its work in advancing moving-imagery engineering across the industry. SMPTE has developed thousands of standards, recommended practices, and engineering guidelines, more than 800 of which are currently in force today. SMPTE Time Code™ and the ubiquitous SMPTE Color Bars™ are just two examples of the Society’s notable work. As it enters its second century, the Society is shaping the next generation of standards and providing education for the industry to ensure interoperability as the industry evolves further into IT- and IP-based workflows.

SMPTE’s global membership today includes more than 7,000 members: motion-imaging executives, creatives, technologists, researchers, and students who volunteer their time and expertise to the Society’s standards development and educational initiatives. A partnership with the Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) connects SMPTE and its membership with the businesses and individuals who support the creation and finishing of media content. Information on joining SMPTE is available at www.smpte.org/join. 

All trademarks appearing herein are the properties of their respective owners.

About the HPA Tech Retreat

The HPA Tech Retreat® is a gathering of the top industry engineering, technical, and creative talent, as well as strategic business leaders, focused on technology, from all aspects of digital cinema, post production, film, television, video, broadcast and related technology areas, for the exchange of information. The HPA Tech Retreat takes place in Palm Springs, California, and Oxfordshire, UK.

About the Hollywood Professional Association
Hollywood Professional Association (HPA) serves the professional community of businesses and individuals who provide expertise, support, tools and the infrastructure for the creation and finishing of motion pictures, television, commercials, digital media and other dynamic media content. Through their partnership with the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers® (SMPTE®), the leader in the advancement of the art, science and craft of the image, sound, and metadata ecosystem, the HPA continues to extend its support of the community it represents. Information about the HPA is available at http://www.hpaonline.com.

Media Contact, HPA:
ignite strategic communications
christine purse | kate eberle
+1 818 980 3473 | chris mobile: +1 323 806 9696
chris@ignite.bz| kate@ignite.bz

Media Contacts, SMPTE:
Aimée Ricca
+1 914 205 2381
aimeericca@smpte.org

Wall Street Communications:
Joyce Cataldo
+1 732 747-0646
joyce@wallstcom.com