Today, the //ADAPT Conference is thrilled to announce additional speakers to the //ADAPT 2007 Conference line up. Presenting are world renowned artists and visual effects supervisors Ed Smith and Mark Breakspear of Rainmaker Entertainment Inc. With visionary Phil Tippett as keynote, outstanding speakers, and exclusive behind the scenes looks at the best films and AAA videogames of the year, //ADAPT 2007 is the place to be.
The //ADAPT 2007 Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Montreal from September 24th to September 28th, 2007. An estimated 2500 people from around the world are expected to attend the industry's second annual creative event focused on inspiring and teaching advanced digital art production techniques for film, visual effects and videogame development. The program includes over 40 digital art masters, an Art Expo, a Theatre, a Job Fair and much more.
Rainmaker, an award-winning visual effects, 3D animation and post-production company with a 28 year history of technical excellence and outstanding service in feature films, television, games and commercials is the largest animation and visual effects company in Canada with three divisions: Rainmaker Animation, Rainmaker Visual Effects and Rainmaker Post. With the inclusion of recently acquired Mainframe Entertainment, Rainmaker creates 3D animation for the feature film market and is the industry leader in CG animation for television and direct-to-DVD family entertainment.
Academy Award winner Ed Smith has distinguished himself over the past two decades as one of the leaders in the entertainment and media services industry. Having contributed to more than 200 projects throughout his career, Smith has joined Rainmaker to produce Escape From Planet Earth for The Weinstein Company. Most recently he was one of the Executive Producers on the Academy Award winner Happy Feet. Smith's credits include work on the following films: Catwoman, Cats and Dogs, Soldier, Space Jam, Waterworld, Mission: Impossible, Terminator2: Judgment Day, Matrix sequels Reloaded and Revolutions, The Empire Strikes Back, Raiders of the Lost Ark, ET: The Extra Terrestrial, Return of the Jedi, Indiana Smith and the Temple of Doom, Indiana Smith and the Last Crusade, and many more.
Mark Breakspear, one of Rainmaker's premier visual effects supervisors, will be presenting with Smith. Breakspear is known for the innovative techniques he devises to solve visual effects challenges. His credits include: Blades of Glory, The Da Vinci Code, Star Trek: Insurrection, The Devil's Advocate, Ronin, Breakfast of Champions, Election and What Dreams May Come, which won an Oscar for best visual effects in 1998. Breakspear's other visual effects supervisor credits at Rainmaker include Stargate Atlantis and The Collector.
Together, their presentation will discuss "Filmmaking is a large sandwich…A conversation on choosing the right ingredients, and how the final taste is what you'll remember." They will also bring to mind some of their recent projects, showing some ingredients that went into the mix, but above all, how taste was always the final enabler to achieving results.
"Mark and I are really looking forward to this," says Ed Smith. "ADAPT is really emphasizing the artistry that pervades our industry. I think that's why they've had such a terrific response from presenters as well as attendees in just two years of existence. Emphasizing the passion that we all share for our work is the key to staying enthusiastic for me."
Exploration Passes are available at a reduced rate until August 24th; $249.00USD for general attendees and $224.00USD for students. Access includes the Special Feature Presentations, 2D/3D Plus Program, the //ADAPT Theater, and the //ADAPT Art Expo, the Job Fair and social activities open to all attendees. In addition, attendees with a Full Conference Pass, 2D or 3D Masters Pass also have full access to the Exploration Program.