London Video Rendezvous - created by DVD Intelligence - is a new event aimed at addressing concrete, practical issues and concerns the authoring/post-production houses, their client publishers and independent distributors face today as they strive to serve a multi-screen, multi-plaform, multi-standard marketplace.

Topics of the event that takes place on 18 June 2012 will range from cloud-based UltraViolet and disc-to-digital service to Digital Copy; from 3D conversion and delivery to glasses-free 3D; from Blu-ray apps to second screen experiences.

"No stone - virtual or physical - thrown at the creative community and their content-owning clients will be unturned," says Jean-Luc Renaud, conference organiser and DVD Intelligence publisher. "It's a fresh arena where the creative community, independent publishers and their service providers engage in frank, plain-speaking, no-holds-barred discussion about developments vital to their livelihood, now."

While cloud-based digital access service UltraViolet is making inroads in the US, it is on the starting-block in Europe. But here, there is resistance in some quarters who believe the case for UV has yet to be made. Jim Taylor, DECE's Head of Technology and Product Development - and the brain behind UltraViolet - will be there. "If anyone can bring reasoned answers to these question marks, it must surely be Jim," says Renaud.

And what is involved in providing a Digital Copy? Edwards Hall, Operations Manager at Channel 4, in charge of producing and distributing all DVD/Blu-ray discs, will share his experience of coping with consumer expectations.

With a 35-year track record in film, TV and new media, Steve Dann, CEO of Berwick Post, will talk about 'good' and 'bad' 3D. Fabien Remblier, co-founder and MD of BeeFree Production, and director of the first French feature-length 3D film, award-winning Une Nuit au Cirque 3D, will look at the post-production side as well.

Andy Evans, MD of The Pavement examines the economics of today's digital, post-production business and where the opportunities lie. Andrew Elia, founder of Arishi Media Technologies, a pioneer in Augmented Reality, will show what AR can bring to packaged media.

Bob Auger, president of Newmerique, saw it all - Videodisc, CD-i, VideoCD, anaglyph 3D, etc. With Electric Switch, he set up one of Europe's first DVD authoring facilities in 1997. Bob will look at how authoring, production, digital facilities and rights owners are expected to provide content into an environment where operators and consumers are increasingly difficult to satisfy.

More speakers will be announced.

A unique feature of this one-day event is the space it provides to showcase novel solutions and applications that push the creative boundaries. The conference takes place at the BFI Southbank (NFT3), fully equipped for 3D and AV services. "Facility houses will thus be able to show their clients the services they can offer, and clients will experience first-hand the potential benefits these can bring," Renaud says. "If someone has developed original services, apps, technologies, I would like to hear from them."

"London Video Rendezvous is borne out of the feedbacks and many discussions I have had over several months with many facilities houses, independent publishers and distributors increasingly alienated from expensive conferences which they can no longer afford to attend and which no longer address their market concern, anyway," says Renaud. "Hopefully, our event will go a long way to remedy that situation."

The conference is followed by a boat party on the Thames.

For details, click on the image

Story filed 18.04.12