62 INDUSTRY INVENTORY 2019 Wrap-Up
We asked some of our friends about the past year and their hopes for 2020. We learned that the TV industry has a way to go before it fully joins the digital world and that collaboration is the watchword for the future
SIMON DEVEREUX Group head of learning & development at The Mill and director and founder of Access:VFX
MARKELA DEVERIKOU Guarantee vision engineer, NEP UK
Top achievement of the year? How quickly the Q-VFX movement gained traction. Launching at London Pride in the summer, Q-VFX is now a global initiative. Growing our community hub has meant so much to those in the visual effects industry who identify as LGBTQ+. I’m blessed with co-chairing the network, collaborating with an incredible team of grafters who want to make some real change! Your most humblingmoment? The feedback received after our three-day Animation Summer School! The feedback after the event from working-class families and parents of BAME children truly cemented our work, justifying our mission of creating a more inclusive and diverse visual effects animation and games industry. WE’VE TAKEN THE IMPORTANT FIRST STEPS TOWARDS BECOMING A PURPOSE-DRIVEN COMPANY
Best thing you watched? I adored Us , Jordan Peele’s follow up to Get Out . It had so many layers to it, breaking down the human psyche and depicting both our dark political and social climate, while being absolutely terrifying. The man is a genius!
Top achievement of the year? Being the lead guarantee engineer for Winter Love Island. Your most humbling moment? When an esteemed work colleague, who I hold in high regard, complimented my work as an engineer and as a colleague. Best thing you watched? The Handmaid’s Tale . Very powerful and the grading is fantastic.
Your battle cry for 2020? Join the Access:VFX e-mentoring programme as a mentor!
If you could change one thing in the media tech industry, what would it be? More support and financial investment for inclusion programmes and non-profits like Access:VFX! We have the potential to create real change for everyone and build an inclusive future where we all benefit.
Your battle cry for 2020? She believed she could, so she did.
If you could change one thing in the media tech industry, what would it be? The lack of diversity.
CHARLES CONROY VP of gaming, The Switch
Best thing you watched? It’s between the Overwatch League Finals and ESL One Katowice. Your battle cry for 2020? More esports events and pushing the envelope in broadcast! Especially with new tech such as AR/VR, I want to keep driving innovation in broadcast. If you could change one thing in the media tech industry, what would it be? I would definitely increase the use of remote production – both for traditional sports and esports. It really is a fantastic tool.
Top achievement of the year? Supporting ESL One at one of the biggest esports events of the year! Supporting TwitchCon in San Diego was also an exciting time for esports generally and The Switch. Your most humbling moment? Being appointed by The Switch to lead its expansion into esports – it was when I realised the broadcast industry was getting behind professional gaming. It was grounding.
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