Future Media Concepts president Ben Kozuch says last year's conference was attended by 1,400 professionals, and this year's is anticipated to be even more successful.
According to Kozuch, the conference is designed for intermediate and advanced software users working in television, advertising, corporate, government and freelance positions. The show's 200 sessions are part of dedicated tracks, each following a specific topic. Like past shows, this year's will concentrate on Avid Xpress Pro, Avid Media Composer Adrenaline, Avid DS Nitris, Apple Final Cut Pro, Motion, DVD Studio Pro and Adobe tools such as After Effects, Photoshop and Premiere Pro. And Kozuch guarantees that all topics have been refreshed and updated so if a pro who attended last year's show wanted to broaden his or her knowledge of a specific tool, the opportunity is there.
The Friday leading up to NAB will serve as a boot camp, allowing attendees to brush up on their beginner skills. From Saturday through Wednesday, 10 rooms will run non-stop, with sessions starting every hour and 15 minutes. None of the classes will be repeated.
NAB Post|Production World Conference will incorporate a number of new tracks this year. A Digital Production track will highlight techniques for shooting, lighting and sound. The "Getting the Most Out of Your HD Camera" track will look at each of the new HDV cameras available today, spending a half a day on each. A "Digital Photography" track will offer insight on capturing, manipulating and delivering images. There will also be a track on "Managing a Digital Facility," as well as a refreshed track on "HD Solutions."
Certification programs will also be offered at the show. Attendees can become certified on Final Cut Pro level I and level II, Motion, DVD Studio Pro, Xpress Pro, Photoshop, After Effects or Premiere Pro with courses taking one to two days, concluding with an online exam. Kozuch says that while each manufacturer is different, typical benefits of becoming certified go beyond just marketing advantages, as users are often user listed on manufacturer Web sites and offered discounts on software.
The show will also feature two keynote addresses. On Saturday, Brokeback Mountain editor Dylan Tichenor will speak and on Sunday, Post's own Ken McGorry will host a Q&A with the Academy Award-nominated editor of Crash, Hughes Winborne.
A number of business development sessions will be offered as well, advising attendees on: how to network, interviewing skills, and how to present their reel.
Two additional conferences will piggyback with this year's NAB Post|Production World Conference in Las Vegas. The NAB Podcasting Summit will be a two-day event focusing on the business and technical issues that studios and broadcasters looking to break into the podcasting business will face.
The NAB Web and Mobile Development Conference will be keynoted by Adobe's Jim Guerard and will look a the challenges of creating a rich media experience for both the Web and mobile devices.
PDF downloads are available on the show's site, further detailing course tracks, schedules and event pricing.