ETC the “Place to Be”
They just might replace the double doors at the entrance to the Pittsburgh Technology Center with a revolving door the way visitors have been flocking to the ETC this semester.
So far over the past year, special guest speakers to the ETC have included:
Peter Van Ruden, Vice-President for Themed Entertainment for Sesame Workshop, Inc., and Anna Housley, from Sesame Workshop’s Education & Research Dept, visited the ETC to discuss how the Children’s Television Network transformed into Sesame Workshop, and to seek synergies between Sesame Workshop and the ETC.
Dan Irish, who was responsible for all aspects of the Myst product line including Myst, Riven, realMyst, and Myst III: Exile, encompassing fiscal responsibility, the overall production schedule, video shoot production, and acting as the primary contact for third-party developers Presto Studios, Inc. and Cyan, Inc. Dan was here to discuss the business aspect of the game industry.
Paul Robinson, currently Creative Director at Konami, who has been a Lead Designer on many video games (Full Spectrum Warrior at Pandemic, for one), and in his other life is a TV writer (Star Trek, DeepSpace 9, Farscape, and many others). Paul lectured on Story Structure New and Old.
Richard Marks,now manages R&D Special Projects, where his research focus has been studying real-time video input to the PS2, including Man-Machine Interfaces and Physical Simulation. Marks developed the technology for EyeToy, which hassold over 4 million units worldwide since it launched in 2003.
Reb Beach, 80's heavy metal guitarist and rock icon, conducted a seminar on writing and recording rock and roll music. Reb's seminar included performances of songs from his latest fusion jazz CD and 'behind-the-sceens' stories of the recording industry, being a renowned guitarist, having 'big hair', and touring the country.
Tracy Rosenthal-Newsom, Senior Producer, and Greg LoPiccolo, Vice-President of Product Development, from Harmonix, an independent game development company based in Cambridge, MA, specializing in music-based videogames renowned for groundbreaking design innovation. Tracy and Greg introduced Harmonix to the ETC proper even as they already have one ETC student, Ross Popoff, interning with them this summer.
Magy Seif El-Nasr, an Assistant Professor in the School of Information Sciences and Technology at Pennsylvania State University, where she is also the co-director of RAEL (Real time Aesthetics and Experience Lab).
Phil Lindsey, Director of Exhibits and Design, and Steve Snyder, Vice-President of Exhibit and Program Development, from The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia who were here to discuss internship and employment opportunities in the interactive museum exhibit arena.
As far as organized group meetings, early February welcomed the Young President’s Organization (YPO) of Pittsburgh hosting an event titled Propelling Entertainment Through the Arts and Technology at the ETC. This event, held in conjunction with Steeltown Entertainment, featured ETC Co-director, Don Marinelli, sharing the podium with screenwriter Carl Kurlander (St. Elmo’s Fire, Savedby the Bell). Don and Carl discussed the ways in which each group is trying to enhance the growth of entertainment initiatives in Pittsburgh.
Shortly thereafter, the Carnegie Mellon University Board of Trustees held their semi-annual dinner meeting within the confines of the Entertainment Technology Center. This major event was the first time many of the university’s Board of Trustees had visited the ETC firsthand. Students welcomed trustees into their project rooms and explained the breadth of work being undertaken in the center this semester.
ETC Co-Directors, Randy Pausch and Don Marinelli, also delivered a rousing speech to the trustees in which they highlighted the unique educational opportunities provided within the ETC.
