iodyne Sponsors Mill Valley Film Festival Technology Panel

Moderator Martin Christien with panelists Mandi Price, Dave Stump, and Diane Pearlman at the MVFF46 Technology Panel

Audio from MVFF46 Tech Panel Balancing Act: Virtual Production Technology in the Creative Process

In the fall of 1978, the very first Mill Valley Film Festival took place, and featured three film tributes, including Francis Ford Coppola’s The Rain People and George Lucas’ Filmmaker. That very same year, a new generation of film technology innovators also landed in Marin County when Lucas moved his growing Industrial Light & Magic visual effects company to its new campus in San Rafael. And to this day, film technology innovation has continued in Northern California at truly unique locations like Skywalker Sound.

With deep roots in the Bay Area and headquarters in Mill Valley, iodyne was very proud to sponsor this year’s 46th Mill Valley Film Festival, bringing to the stage a unique panel explaining the latest advance in breakthrough technology for creative storytelling on film: Virtual Production. The audience of filmmakers, festival-goers, and instructors were treated to an incredible journey through the history of movie magic, with an eye on how to balance the use of the latest Virtual Production technology against the needs of producers and budgetary constraints. iodyne’s unique storage products are already helping innovative filmmakers define unique workflows that incorporate Virtual Production.

iodyne’s Head of Workflow Martin Christien served as panel moderator, and welcomed our honored guests. Joining us for this year’s panel were:

David Stump, ASC, Director of Photography and Visual Effects

With decades of experience as Director of Photography, Visual Effects Director of Photography, Visual Effects Supervisor, and Stereographer, Dave brought unbelievable depth of knowledge on how cameras capture virtual images. Dave is the winner of an Emmy Award, an Academy Award for Scientific and Technical Achievement, an IMAGO Technical Achievement Award and an International Cinematographers Guild Award. His credits include: Little Fires Everywhere, The Morning Show, The Happytime Murders, American Gods, Immortals, Quantum of Solace, Flight Plan, Fantastic Four, X-Men 1 & 2, Into the Blue, Garfield, Batman Forever, Hollow Man, Men of Honor, Deep Blue Sea, Stuart Little, The Sphere, Contact, Batman & Robin, Mars Attacks, Executive Decision, Stargate, and Free Willy.

Amanda Kay Price, Producer

After leaving NBC News as an award-winning Chief Morning Show Editor to pursue work in Hollywood, Mandi’s ascension from a production assistant to a Producer came quickly. Her first big break came as an Associate Producer and Post Production Supervisor on Future Man, a sci-fi comedy series created by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg of Superbad fame, and she hasn’t looked back. She’s served as a producing partner for Reese Witherspoon’s production company, Hello Sunshine, working on the Emmy-nominated limited series Daisy Jones & The Six and Little Fires Everywhere. Amanda also currently serves on the board of Evan Goldberg’s Reel Start organization, introducing high school students to the world of television and cinema.

Diane Pearlman, Independent Producer and Executive Director, Berkshire Film + Media Collaborative

With 30 years of experience in Producing and VFX roles, Diane brought an incredibly unique perspective combining technology and problem-solving to our panel. Her work includes Executive Producer and GM of Mass Illusion, working on films including The Matrix (Academy Award 2000, Best Visual Effects), What Dreams May Come (Academy Award 1999, Best Visual Effects), Starship Troopers, Evita, Die Hard with a Vengeance, Eraser, Judge Dredd and more. Diane also produced the award-winning short film, A Tree A Rock A Cloud, directed by acclaimed actor Karen Allen, and has two other feature films in development.