Inspiration of the Best: FMX Conference 2019
There seems to be no events worldwide where more important names from the film and effects industry appear that at FMX, the Film and Media Exchange conference which took place in May this year in Stuttgart. This year’s conference motto was „Bridging The Gap“. Everyone interested in film and storytelling should visit this event at least once in his or her life. For me, this event is a means to recharge my batteries with ideas and creativity. It brings me back on track and enables me to work towards a goal in a focused way while also getting back to the winded roads of creativity.
As a little teaser I would like to recommend a video to show what is possible today: Two Israeli ex-soldiers have founded a company based on machine learning to develop a system that is able to put any dialogue in the mouth of any person or being. This is demonstrated in the following video along John Lennon’s “Imagine”.
Unfortunately, I cannot provide any pictures of my own, mantra at the conference was:
“Recording devices are strictly forbidden during this presentation”
Nonetheless I’d like to share a few insights in single topics and my favorites. Maybe one or the other thing is exciting and useful for you the same way it was for me.
My Personal Highlight
One personal highlight was none of the big names and studios, no, it was Bobby Chiu, founder of schoolism.com and the “Imaginism Studios”. He collaborated in productions such as “Alice in Wonderland” or “Men in Black”. His fantastic hermaphrodites are already legendary and I recommend a Google picture search.
At the conference, it was not the big names or his extraordinary abilities as an illustrator that impressed me, it was what with his words that he reached me. With the huge inspiration, his biography and the long way to success he really has a lot to say.
Machine Learning and Digital Human Beings
It was fascinating to see on which level of technology we already see the production of virtual people today. Especially the Unreal Engine showed it in an impressive way and, above all, in real time:
Virtual Reality, Motion Capturing and the Latest Technologies
If the tight schedule allowed, visitors could get information on the big market place where 33 enterprises provided and showcased their latest products and services. To only mention a few, there were companies such as Epic Games, Chaos Group, Maxon Autodesk, Unity, Avid, Substance (Adobe), Wacom and ZEISS. Enriched by practical workshops and master classes the program offered a lot to discover and learn.
Numbers, Names and Highlights:
- More than 4,000 visitors
- 280 international speakers
- Recruiting hub with 28 companies (Industrial Light & Magic, MakeVision, Framestore, Illumination Macguff, Pixomondo, The Mill etc.)
- 19 universities
- Lucasfilm: Doug Chiang
- Weta Digital, Matt Aitken — Alita Battle Angels, Avengers Endgame
- Industrial Light & Magic: Birdbox
- RodeoFX: Fantastic Beast: The Crimes of Grindelwald
- Trixster: Hellboy
- Rise VFX: Captain Marvel
- And many more
You see, I could continue to report and write forever but blogs should not be too long, right ;-)
Finally, I recommend the official summary video of this year’s event to share a few moments and impressions of FMX 2019.
Don’t forget: Nicht vergessen:
“Save the Date for 2020”: https://fmx.de/home/
Want even more?
