PANEL: New Technology in Content Creation

 

Sunday, January 22 • 3:00PM - 4:00PM
Norwalk Public Library - Upstairs Program Room
1 Belden Ave, Norwalk, CT

Moderated by: Justin Matley

Featuring: Garrett Beltis, Evan Kelman, and Matt Miller

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is coming at us fast and furious. But what really is AI? How is it, among other new production tools, shaping the work we do as film, TV, and content professionals? You’ll hear from accomplished producers, artists, and engineers using the latest tech everyday - widening the possibilities in what you watch and listen to everyday. Learn what’s out there, what’s changed, what’s to come, and most importantly: how you can utilize these tools in your own work.

 

Panelists

  • Garrett Beltis

    Beltis’s passion for visual media and storytelling has led to pursuits in television, documentary film, animation, and puppetry. He is currently a Senior Producer at Nickelodeon Digital Studios, a member of the Producers Guild of America, and a volunteer with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America. Since joining Nick in 2019, he created a SpongeBob-branded puppet series that has over 54 million views collectively. This current role came after spending 5+ years cutting his teeth at World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), during which he also earned his MBA from Southern New Hampshire University. He’s continued his education through improv, sketch comedy and script writing courses at the Upright Citizens Brigade.

  • Evan Kelman

    Kelman is a New York City filmmaker with a passion for creating emotionally powerful experiences for audiences. His New York University thesis narrative, BANDITO, held its World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival in 2015 and was awarded with the 2015 Wasserman Award for Best Directing from NYU. Kelman returned to Tribeca in 2016 with ONE GOOD PITCH, which he co-wrote and produced. In the summer of 2016, Kelman produced the narrative short, HOMING IN, which screened at the British Film Institute. Kelman's first feature film script, WITH THESE EYES, was awarded a 2016 Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Writing Award. His latest short film WHERE THERE'S SMOKE held its World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival 2017, marking a third consecutive return as a writer/producer, and second as a director. WHERE THERE'S SMOKE won the Grand Jury Award for Best Short Film (Live Action) at the Edmonton International Film Festival, and qualified for the 2019 Academy Awards. Kelman’s latest feature screenplay, BARRON’S COVE, was announced as a semi-finalist for the Academy’s prestigious Nicholl Fellowships for Screenwriting and also appeared on the 2021 Black List. BARRON’S COVE is currently in post-production with a world renowned cast including Garrett Hedlund, Brittany Snow, Stephen Lang and Hamish Linklater, with Mandalay Pictures producing.

    As a freelancer, Kelman has directed content for a multitude of brands including Foot Locker, Converse, Uber, Chevrolet, Gillette, Marchon, Golden Nugget Casino, and Coppertone. His award winning commercial, "The Push" for Foot Locker, aired alongside the New York City Marathon. His multi-spot commercial campaign for Biotene won a 2020 Gold Telly Award. In 2022, Kelman was inducted into the 20th Annual SHOOT New Director’s Showcase.

  • Justin Matley

    Matley is an award-winning Post Sound/Re-Recording Mixer, Sound Designer, and Music Director & Supervisor for the broadcast, news, motion picture, and advertising industries. He owns Black Oak Sound, an audio post production company based in Norwalk. His projects have won Academy, BAFTA, Emmy, Cannes Lion, and Promax awards, just to name a few, and are featured across dozens of international festivals, broadcast networks, and digital media. Justin is also adjunct faculty at the University of Connecticut, Department of Digital Media and Design, where he teaches coursework in sound technology, and is a News and Documentary Emmy voter. Serving his community, Justin is on the Board of Directors of local news website, Nancy on Norwalk; is the Founder of the local education organization, the Norwalk Parents Initiative; is on the Leadership Committee for the Norwalk Film Festival; and is on the Community Advisory Council for the School+State Finance Project. He's an avid Red Sox fan, skier, mediocre tequila drinker, amateur gardener, and lover of most things outdoors. Above all, his most important roles are as a husband and father to two amazing girls.

  • Matt Miller

    Miller found his love for television and post-production while at Full Sail University. After working at multiple post studios recording talent, including Kevin Bacon, Elijah Wood, and Ethan Hawke, he spent 8+ years working at WWE as an Editing Producer. Currently he is a Producer at Nickelodeon Digital Studios which primarily focuses on the Big Nick Cartoons such as SpongeBob, Avatar, and TMNT.