HITS Summit: Automation and Integration, the Industry’s Other AI

At the Hollywood Innovation & Transformation Summit (HITS), being held May 22 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, hundreds of the industry’s top technological minds will gather to hear the latest on AI.

Not just around artificial intelligence by itself, but how it’s being used for automation and how it’s being integrated across the media and entertainment supply chain.

• HITS will open with the kickoff discussion “Integrating AI Across Creative Workflows.”

Industry experts will discuss creative workflows and how AI will revolutionize artists’ approach to their craft. The conversation will also connect how technological advancements within any project can be a catalyst for innovation. Whether you create music, VFX, bumpers, trailers, or metadata, your workflows are going to be impacted, in real-time, in the very near future (if they are not already!).

Learn how creative minds are transforming our industry with current products in the marketplace, one workflow at a time, and learn where they think the AI technology revolution will matter the most.

Guy Finley, president and CEO of MESA, will moderate the panel with Sealand Flynn, head of media and entertainment for Fortinet; Jamie Jones, singer, songwriter, producer and founder of All-4-One; and Matt Wong, singer, songwriter and producer.

• The opening keynote, “Unlocking the Value of Your Data with AI,” comes from Aaron Levie, co-founder and CEO of Box, interview by Guy Finley, president and CEO of MESA. The future of work will be powered by AI, presenting challenges and opportunities for organizations to both integrate this technology effectively and understand its impact on their structure, culture, and security posture.

Join Finley and Levie for this fireside chat that will explore the top trends in AI, discuss its transformative impact on work, the industry and reveal strategies for unlocking unprecedented productivity through automation of workflows of your most critical business processes.

Attendees will then have several breakout sessions to choose from:

Security

• “Keep Your Content Secure in an AI-powered World,” with Manoj Asnani, VP of product management, security and compliance for Box. For media and entertainment, keeping content secure is an evolving challenge. New technological innovations and emerging threats alter the security landscape on an almost daily basis. The rise of AI within the creative and business world, manifested through a number of AI-powered solutions, creates an opportunity to fundamentally change how The Media & Entertainment Industry protects its most mission-critical content. Join a group of industry peers to discuss how to understand the new opportunities and challenges presented by AI, adjust your security strategy to capitalize on the new AI landscape, and leverage AI to empower your security posture across the M&E supply chain.

• “Zero Trust: Partnering for a Secure Future” with Terri Davies, president of the Trusted Partner Network, and Spencer Stephens, SVP of production technology and security for MovieLabs. This session discusses how TPN is collaborating with MovieLabs to bring Zero Trust and CSAP to their global assessment program to measure security preparedness in the supply chain. Join this fireside chat to learn more about the importance of Zero Trust in your software development and architecture.

• “AI Red-Teaming: Unmasking the Vulnerabilities in Large Language Models” with Caesar Sedek, managing director of cybersecurity and privacy for Grant Thornton. Explore AI Red-Teaming, focusing on cybersecurity testing of Large Language Models (LLMs).

We’ll discuss prompt injection attacks and security flaws in LLMs like ChatGPT-4, Copilot, and Bard. The session uncovers two attack strategies: attacking the model and the developer. We’ll highlight basic security hygiene and practical measures against prompt injection attacks, including input validation, encryption, data minimization, access controls, and auditing responses. Join learn how to leverage LLM benefits while safeguarding data.

AI and Advanced Tech

• “Riding the Next Wave of VFX.” Animation, visual effects, and virtual production have offered technologically advanced techniques for content creation. Combine these tools with the power of AI and the recipe for content creation moves forward to a new world of creators. As visual effects companies are faced with more to do, increasingly complex workflows (with “co-pilots”!), and new UGC-oriented tools that seem to take the mystery out of very complex, learned skills, our industry is on the precipice of many new ways to create incredible content for less. Tune in to this session for a deep dive into the realities of a cloud-shaped, AI-driven future for the purveyors of movie magic. ICVR’s Sinan Al Rubaye, chief experience officer, and CEO Ihar Heneralau, along with John Canning, director of developer relations for AMD, will discuss.

• “Tech Check: How ‘Drive Chip and Putt’ Hits the Green Every Time.” Drive Chip and Putt is a free, nationwide youth golf program brought to life through a partnership between the USGA, the PGA of America and Augusta National Golf Club. With requirements including event registration, player and event admin, plus live scoring across digital and analog screens, Drive Chip and Putt is the perfect example of the power of structured content organization and real-time workflows and automation.

In this session, you will also see how this same structured data approach has been applied to support other live events at scale for golf and all major sports. Join us to learn how the CMS behind the program powers 450-plus annual events that lead to the season-closing tournament finale the week before the Masters Tournament. Chris Hutson, principal product manager for Brightspot, will present.

• “The Next Tech Supercycle: What Will It Mean for M&E?” Technology cycles don’t repeat, but they often rhyme. Tech cycles from the transistor to the PC have transformed the business landscape, elevating some players to global dominance while rendering others completely obsolete. What tech will dominate the next era, and how can M&E players harness them to increase revenues and market cap? This session will look at the likely trillion-dollar opportunities and threats in the next decade. Seth Shapiro, founder and managing partner for D[a]2: Digital Asset Advisors, will take the stage.

Data and Localization


• Kicking off at 11:30 a.m. PT is “EIDR in Content Provenance and Authenticity.” This session sees EIDR’s managing director Hollie Choi discussing the various concepts and applications of the EIDR ID in the international supply chain as it relates to content provenance and authenticity. As AI increasingly becomes an agitator for complexity within contracts, and IP rights are being challenged, this session looks at how the supply chain will adapt and adopt identifiers to integrate AI respectfully for all parties.

• Next is “AI: Assisted Insights with MicroStrategy One.” Learn how AI fused with Business Intelligence can empower the analytical feedback loop to bring more perspectives and understanding to film development and the media and entertainment industry. MicroStrategy’s AI + BI platform can enable your creative developments further with ease.
Chris Seven, senior associate sales engineer, and Cuong Bui, principal sales engineer, will discuss.

• And finally, there’s “Birds of a Feather: Localization and LMT.” This session shares an update on the developments taking place with the Language Metadata Table (LMT). There are now more than 310 unique language codes and 50 language groups included in LMT, all approved. Following this update the discussion turns to the status of the localization industry, how the industry expected to perform this year, and how will it navigate the continued advancements in voice technologies whilst retaining that human creative element which is so important in retaining the true essence and authenticity of the original.

Localized content is responsible for a huge share of the revenues which are generated for a film or TV series and its importance cannot be underestimated. The Content Localisation Council strives to bring this community together on a regular basis to raise awareness and share learnings across the global media and entertainment industry. Join to learn more about the important work being done and how to get involved.

Caroline Baines, senior client services director for MESA leads the discussion with Yonah Levenson, LMT co-chair, Nicky McBride, chief revenue officer for Iyuno and vendor chair for the Content Localisation Council, and Scott Rose, CTO of VSI and technical director for the Content Localisation Council.

• Women in Technology Hollywood (WiTH) will host a workshop luncheon with the theme “AI Governance.”

This workshop will discuss guidance and policy for AI usage within the organizations of attendees. Leveraging public-facing information speakers will offer a guidance model that is similar to a PMO function.

Key topics addresses include:

• What do think an AI Governance program objectives should be?
• Who are your major stakeholders and understanding their implications
• What are the criteria against which you measure an AI project?
• Caution on creating LLM’s
• What risks or issues might you have to mitigate as part of the AI Governance program?

Iseabail Lane, board member with the WiTH Foundation and Nina Skorus-Neely, WiTH Foundation secretary and digital advisor for Microsoft, will lead the discussion.

• As part of HITS the Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business will bring the Entertainment Evolution Symposium (EES), featuring a series of presentations demonstrating the latest disruptive technologies the industry is facing.

The EES portion of the program will begin with opening remarks by the Pepperdine Graziadio Business School’s Nelson Granados, executive director, Doug Warner, co-director, Amy Zwagerman, program manager, and Claudio Ludovisi, assistant dean, marketing, strategy, and corporate relations.

• They’ll be followed by a kickoff panel with the creators of entertainment and media site “The Ankler.” They’ll give attendees their unique perspective on how disrupted the business REALLY is and where we can find our center as Hollywood reacts to the game-changing technologies on its doorstep. Writers Elaine Low and Sean McNulty lead the daily conversation online and have their ear to the ground across many communities (greenlight, creative, tech, packaging, etc.).

Their insights into what the heartbeat of Hollywood is saying are grounded in truth.

• The EES opening keynote “AI in the Age of Media Disruption” will be presented by Nitin Chawla, head of finance, strategy, and operations for Warner Bros. Discovery. Step into the mind of an entertainment CFO and unlock the secrets of AI’s game-changing impact on every aspect of the entertainment business. From safeguarding intellectual property to nurturing talent relationships and optimizing production and marketing, experience firsthand how AI transforms the industry landscape. Join for a captivating journey where finance meets innovation and discover how AI revolutionizes entertainment finance while unleashing unparalleled creativity and growth potential.

• “Media-ocrity at its Finest!” will feature James Altucher, Altucher Trader, investor, writer, and entrepreneur in conversation with Carmi Zlotnik, president of TV for Legendary Entertainment.

• Also on the EES agenda is the keynote conversation “Unlocking Content Discovery (and Consumers) with AI” with Fay Kallel, director of GenAI innovation for Prime Video.

How do we upscale discovery and drive the future of customer satisfaction through AI-driven experiences? How do we use GenAI as a tool for our consumers that their activities and interactions are levered by your LLM to create a new experience?

Explore how cutting-edge artificial intelligence technologies are reshaping interactions, personalizing services, and anticipating needs like never before.

Join as Kallel delves into AI as connective tissue for innovative technology that reshapes the landscape of customer engagement, ensuring unforgettable experiences that set your brand apart. Learn the latest and stay ahead of the curve as we revolutionize your approach to customer relationships.

• The heads of WiTH will host the discussion “The Road to SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit.” This session introduces the most recent nominees to the WiTH Foundation board of directors and launches the WiTH Leadership Awards and SoCal Women’s Leadership Summit. This full-day event is co-located with the Infinity Festival and takes place on Nov. 7 in Hollywood. WiTH’s Christina Aguilera, Nadya Ichinomiya, Theresa Miller, and Skorus-Neely will take the stage.

• The session “Creatives Approach to Accepting AI” will feature Kartik Hosanagar, John C Hower professor for the Wharton School at Penn and founder of Jumpcut Media, and Matt Panousis, co-founder and COO of MARZ. As more advanced technologies become easier to use, and increasingly available, how will this impact the true “creative” and how will his art evolve? This session presents viewpoints from artist, educator, and practitioner as an evolution no matter what craft.

• “Advances in AI for Marketing: Speed and Efficiency” features Ludovisi and Frederick Vallaeys, CEO of Optmyzr. Unlock the potential of AI-driven marketing with a focus on speed and efficiency. Explore how AI tools supercharge marketing efforts, delivering rapid insights, and optimizing campaigns with unmatched precision. Hear as they delve into the future of marketing, where AI-driven strategies propel brands to new heights of success at unprecedented speeds.

• Next is “Shattering the Status Quo: AI-Powered Inclusive Innovation in TV Advertising.” In this dynamic session, industry leaders and visionaries will explore groundbreaking strategies and creative approaches that challenge conventional norms in television advertising. Delving into the intersection of innovation, inclusivity, and AI technology, our panelists will share insights on how to captivate diverse audiences through forward-thinking initiatives. Discover how embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion can serve as catalysts for innovation in TV advertising, reshaping the landscape with cutting-edge AI applications.

Attendees will gain actionable insights and inspiration as speakers explore ways to break barriers, spark change, and redefine the narrative in reaching audiences through inclusive practices powered by AI. Filiz Bahmanpour, board member for the Women in Technology Hollywood (WiTH) Foundation will moderate with Halleh Kianfar, inclusive analytics and contextual video data for Gracenote; Alena Morris, senior director of product marketing for PubMatic; and David Thomson, executive global product and design leadership for Momentum Design Lab and HTEC Group.

• Then in the panel “AI & Intellectual Property,” legal and creative professionals will aim to provide the rundown of where we are, the gaps, and whether we can have a harmonious relationship with AI systems.

By exploring the potential benefits and risks associated with AI in IP management, identifying innovative approaches to enhance IP protection, and legislation’s role in safeguarding and promoting the fair use of intellectual property.

Rosemary Ampuero-Jacobs, WiTH board Member and professional development alumni advisor for New York University Foundation will moderate with Luisa Huang, COO, co-founder, creator, and producer at Toonstar; Ghen Lara Long, international lawyer with the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences; and Evette Vargas, writer, director, storyteller, producer, and co-founder at Indigo Reign Films.

• The closing EES keynote will be “The Generative AI Revolution” with Jen Hollingsworth, chief commercial officer, and Daniel Pinar, director of business development, Flawless. Welcome to the dawn of the Generative AI Revolution, where creativity knows no limits and innovation knows no bounds. They will unveil the extraordinary potential of Generative AI, where imagination meets technology to shape the future of design, art, entertainment, and beyond. Don’t just witness the revolution — join this session to be a part of it!

HITS Spring is presented by Box, with sponsorship by Fortinet, SHIB, AMD, Brightspot, Grant Thornton, MicroStrategy, the Trusted Partner Network, the Content Delivery & Security Association (CDSA) and EIDR, and is produced by MESA in partnership with the Pepperdine Graziadio School of Business.

To register, click here.