LOS ANGELES–The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present its 6th annual and first virtual Careers in Film Summit on October 24 and October 31.  

The two-day event will provide college preparatory boarding schools seniors and college students the opportunity to learn about careers in the motion picture industry from Academy members, Oscar-winning and nominated filmmakers and other industry professionals. For those interested in other opportunities like this one, consider applying for high school study abroad.

In partnership with the Academy’s Science and Technology Council, the first day of panel discussions on October 24 highlight careers in science, technology, engineering, visual effects and other post-production careers. The program schedule is as follows:

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. — Visual Effects from Around the World. Visual effects supervisors from Rome, Mumbai, Taiwan, Vancouver, New York, and Los Angeles, Greg Anderson, “Spider-Man 2,” Geeta Basantani, senior compositor, “Spider-Man: Far from Home,” Gaia Bussolati, “Ford v Ferrari,” Sherry Bharda, “War,” and Ahdee Chiu, “The Wandering Earth.” Moderator: Theresa Rygiel, “John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum.”

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. — Color, Sound, and Editorial. Corinne Bogdanowicz, Senior Colorist, Light Iron, Jill Bogdanowicz, co-head of Features Color, Company 3, Lora Hirschberg, re-recording mixer, Skywalker Sound, Kate Morrison-Lyons, Manager, Production Workflow, UCAN Netflix, and Joan Sobel, ACE film editor. Moderator: Producer Shannon McIntosh.

1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. — Science, Technology and Engineering. Abigail Brady, software engineer (2017 Scientific and Technical Award recipient), Andrea Kalas, SVP Asset Management, Paramount Pictures, Brian McLean, Director of Rapid Prototype, LAIKA (2015 Scientific and Technical Award recipient), Rachel Rose, R&D supervisor, Industrial Light & Magic (2017 Scientific and Technical Award recipient), and Paige Warner, digital artist, Industrial Light & Magic (2016 Scientific and Technical Award recipient). Moderator: Barbara Ford Grant, consultant, Movielabs.

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Virtual Production Technology. Girish Balakrishnan, Director, Virtual Production, Netflix, Nomish Bhardwaj, FX technical director, “Puss in Boots 2,” DreamWorks Animation, Adrienne Klotz-Floyd, digital imaging technician (DIT), Carol Alynn Payne, Imaging Specialist, Netflix, and Horst Sarubin, Director, Production Technology, Universal Pictures. Moderator: Annie Chang, VP Creative Technologies, Universal Pictures.

The October 31 Halloween edition features a horror genre theme highlighting animation, music and careers in front of and behind the camera. The program schedule is as follows:

10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. — All Things Animation. Mike Belzer, animator, “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Kendal Cronkhite, assistant art director, “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” Sandra Equihua, character designer, “The Book of Life,” Jennifer Kluska, director/story artist, “Hotel Transylvania” films, Jackie Koehler, lead animator, “The Book of Life,” and Michelle Murdocca, producer, “Hotel Transylvania” films. Moderator: Randy Haberkamp, SVP Preservation and Foundation Programming, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. — Music in Horror Films. John Carpenter, writer/director/composer, “Halloween,” and Jamie Lee Curtis, actor, “Halloween.” Moderator: Mike Muse, host of SiriusXM’s “The Mike Muse Show.”

1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. — Lights, Camera, Action…Boo! Maxime Alexandre, cinematographer, “The Nun,” Rick Baker, special makeup effects creator, “The Wolfman,” Luis Sequeira, costume designer, “It Chapter Two,” Jennifer Spence, production designer, “The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It,” and Checco Varese, cinematographer, “It Chapter Two.” Moderator: Audrey Cleo Yap, multimedia journalist.

3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. — Working Above the Line. Tobin Bell, actor, “Saw,” Gerard Bush, co-writer/producer/director, “Antebellum,” Ian Cooper, producer, “Candyman,” Gerard McMurray, director, “The First Purge,” Christopher Renz, co-writer/producer/director, “Antebellum,” and Terri Taylor, casting director, “Get Out.” Moderator: Mike Muse, host of SiriusXM’s “The Mike Muse Show.”

The Academy’s Careers in Film Summit is supported by a grant from The James Irvine Foundation.  

The event is free, but registration is required to obtain the Zoom access.  For more information and to register, visit Oscars.org/events.