Archive notice: This article was originally published on November 7, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The new technical possibilities are changing not only production workflows in film, television, advertising and computer game development – completely new areas of work are also emerging in industry and science as well as architecture due to improved computer performance and new software tools,” explained Gerald Böse, Managing Director of Karlsruher Messe- und Kongress-GmbH.
KMK are organizing the digital creation days together with DIGITAL PRODUCTION. “The digital creation days reflect these developments around the industry of computer-generated visual worlds.” The roughly 800 visitors can choose from a trade exhibition with highly specialized exhibitors or from 50 different workshops. Böse promoted the Karlsruhe technology region: “Here, peak scientific achievements combine with entrepreneurship,” said Böse. Alongside the educational offerings in the IT sector, companies such as 1&1 have established themselves in Karlsruhe. Around 20,000 specialists are currently working in more than 2,500 companies in the IT and media industry in the Karlsruhe technology region. That is a great potential of skilled workers.
Effective networking
“The new digital technologies come with a multitude of new possibilities. As a result, workflows often change in daily production, and new processes have to be introduced,” said Jürgen Pfister, project manager of the dc days at DIGITAL PRODUCTION. “Anyone who wants to succeed with digital media productions has to retool – above all, exchanging experiences with colleagues is important.” The digital creation days start here and thus represent a new platform for the community. “The practice-oriented workshops discuss new technologies, solution approaches, business fields and marketing potential in detail. In the recruiting area, companies can present themselves and speak with potential applicants,” Pfister explained.
The animago AWARD, one of the most important prizes for animation and post-production, offers a comprehensive overview of the technical possibilities in the production and post-production sector with its numerous submissions. Jürgen Pfister stated: “We see optimal conditions for effective networking precisely in the combination of workshops, recruiting area and animago AWARD.” And further: “Professionals come from the German-speaking industry and report on their daily work on the projects.” Although it was important to keep an eye on the big Hollywood productions, American workflows could not be mapped onto daily work in this country due to the different budgets.
Beyond the horizon
The extensive workshop program was compiled by Thomas Gronert of missing link. At the editorial deadline, 48 workshops and two discussion sessions had been finalized. The workshops address topics from the areas of creative business, computer games, computer graphics/animation/compositing, broadcast/film/TV, industrial design and architecture. “We want to bring users of computer graphics together across industries,” said Thomas Gronert. “There are already some specialist events and events within the individual industries – but so far, hardly anyone looks beyond their own horizon at these trade events.” Gronert continued: “The workshop program of the digital creation days will highlight synergies between the different areas and encourage participants to exchange ideas across topics and, in the best case, start new projects.” In selecting the presentations, Gronert concentrated on the German-speaking market. “We are deliberately doing without presentations and making-ofs of major Hollywood productions in the program. There are already enough events for that. We want to present topics from which participants benefit directly because they are comprehensible to them in Germany.”
Germany as a strong location
“Unfortunately, many events are often dominated by international productions, so that no genuine comparison with German productions is possible. The digital creation days initially want to show what is produced and created in the domestic market. An as-is analysis, so to speak, in order then to face the world,” explained Michael Dalock-Schmidt, Marketing Manager at Avid. Avid is the main sponsor of the digital creation days. “Germany is still, and now even more than two or three years ago, a good location for creative people.” Avid had been convinced above all by the concept of the digital creation days, which is close to real life. “Qualified employees are the most important thing in an industry that is so strongly characterized by creative drive, creativity and innovation as ours,” said Dalock-Schmidt.
The course has been set for a successful event on November 8 and 9. At the same time, the animago AWARD, the industry’s most important prize, takes place in Karlsruhe on November 8.
Further links:
- animago
dc days
