Panel Video: Tech @ The Movies

Here's some video taken at an event in Cambridge, MA last month called "Tech @ The Movies." It focused on the role that Massachusetts companies are playing (and have played in the past) in the technological evolution of the movie industry. Organized by MassTLC and hosted by UK Trade & Investment; thanks to Dan Bricklin for shooting it. Description and cast of characters below.

Massachusetts companies have played a pivotal role in the evolution of Hollywood. Movies might still be in black-and-white -- and we might never have had "The Wizard of Oz" -- if not for Technicolor, founded by Massachusetts entrepreneurs. And Avid Technology won an Oscar in the 1990s for introducing computers to the movie editing process. You'll hear from a panel of technology innovators who're changing the way movies get made in the 21st century -- helping directors create special effects or helping movie fans buy their favorite pics in digital form. Journalist Scott Kirsner will introduce the panel with a short, illustrated overview of his new book Inventing the Movies, which tells the heretofore untold technological history of Hollywood -- including the stories of Avid and Technicolor.

Panelists:

- Jim Flynn, Founder & CEO, EZTakes and iArthouse

- Jeff Kleiser, CEO, Synthespian Studios; Visual Effects Artist on "Fantastic Four," "X-Men: The Last Stand," and "Tron"

- Patrick McLean, Senior Product Manager, Avid Technology

- Katherine Hays, CEO, GenArts

- Dave Waller, Founder, Brickyard VFX

Avid's non-entertaining new CEO

Avid Technology, which sells systems for video and audio production, announced Gary Greenfield as its new CEO. He succeeds interim CEO Nancy Hawthorne and former CEO David Krall.

Greenfield doesn't seem to have much of a link to the entertainment industries that Avid serves; his most recent gig was at a Maryland business-to-business software company called GXS, and Greenfield is also an operating partner at the buyout shop Francisco Partners.

Which makes me wonder whether Greenfield is planning to take Avid private or sell it. Other bloggers are speculating along similar lines.

Solid lists of mobile and video start-ups around Boston

David Laubner runs the great local tech site 93 South. Two cool new postings there:

1. A list of video-related start-ups in the Boston area, including Brightcove, PermissionTV, Avid, and ExtendMedia. (David used to work at Gotuit, one of the video companies on this list.)

2. A list of mobile-oriented start-ups in the Boston area, which includes Enpocket, MobileLime, JumpTap, Skyhook Wireless, and the super-stealthy LocoMobile, funded by General Catalyst.

I think gaming is another area where there'slots of activity. Your next list, perhaps, David?