Are feature films dead?
2024-04-03 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
Between the addictive quick bits of entertainment on Tik-Tok, Instagram and YouTube, do kids even care about the movies anymore? Do ever-shortening attention spans spell the end of the full length movie — espeically in a theater? Filmmaker and ex-head of product for Netflix, Todd Yellin sits down for chat about the future of the movies.
For almost every generation up to this point, movies were the thing. Whether they were star-studded blockbusters or more intimate indie fare, heading to the cineplex was a weekly ritual.
But that time may have passed. With the rise of streaming, movies can be enjoyed from the comfort of home, or a new generation seems to find all the entertainment they need from a smartphone and an infinite supply of clips, memes, highlights and more.
In this fireside chat, we’ll sit down with Todd to discuss the state of movies, the new era he helped usher in at Netflix, and what it’s like trying to make a movie on your own in today’s market.

About the Speaker
Todd Yellin, as head of product, helped lead the charge to transform Netflix from a US DVD-by-mail service into a global entertainment company that revolutionized the way movies and TV shows are created, distributed and consumed. He was responsible for leveraging vast amounts of information and best-in-class user interfaces across numerous viewing devices to create an easy, compelling way for Netflix members to find something great to watch. Todd also oversaw member acquisition, studio technology and partnerships. He and his teams continually applied the latest in machine learning and AI technology to maximize the end-to-end Netflix experience for content creators and consumers.
At the end of 2022 he left Netflix, after 17 years to return to his writing and directing roots. He is currently an independent filmmaker, based in Northern California, working on his second feature film. Before joining Netflix in 2006, he wrote and directed Brother’s Shadow. He is also a former documentarian. For British TV, he filmed Tibetan refugees escaping over the Himalayas from China to India, and smuggled footage of political oppression out of Myanmar. Prior to his Asian adventures, Todd received an MFA in film production from USC.
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How to Find an Executive Coach
2024-04-08 11:00 - 12:00 | https://openwater.group/event/how-to-find-an-executive-coach/
There is a lot of buzz around professional coaches nowadays. It’s no wonder. In a chaotic business world, a coach can help you focus on you. A coach can highlight your strengths, work on areas for improvement and help you think bigger about yourself.

But how do you find the right coach?
Which coaching certifications are important and what do they mean?
Where is the best place to find one?
Do you even need an executive coach?

To help answer these questions and more, we’re sitting down with Kristin Kobey, an ACC certified product and leadership coach. We’ll discuss how to start your search for a coach, things to look out for (and to avoid), and what to expect from your coach.

How to Start Your Own Podcast
2024-04-10 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Podcasts! Everyone’s doing them — and you should too! Seriously, podcasts are the perfect platform to host engaging chats, showcase your expertise, and elevate your professional brand. Best of all, they are easy to do. Much easier than you think.
Whether you’ve always wanted to start a podcast, or never considered one because you thought it would be too hard or maybe you have a podcast that you want to make better — then you should definitely join us for this webinar!
In this chat, we will talk with Conor Kilpatrick and Josh Flanagan, Co-Founders of Great Northern Media. Their immensely popular iFanboy comics podcast has attracted millions of downloads since it’s launch way back in 2006 and remains a top podcast decades later. Not only are Kilpatrick and Flanagan pioneers in the podcast space, they’ve seen it all as the industry has grown into the pop culture mainstay.
After attending this free webinar, you’ll have all the knowledge you need to start your own podcast, including:

What equipment you need to get started
Where to host your podcast online
The realities around monetizing your podcast
What makes a great show that people will tune in for each episode

You won’t find better guests to talk about the nuts and bolts of independent podcasting and how to build something that lasts.
About the Speakers
Conor Kilpatrick and Josh Flanagan are Co-Founders of Great Northern Media, which produces the long-running hit podcast, iFanboy. Kilpatrick and Flanagan were early in the podcasting space, launching their first show in 2006. Along the way they have produced more than 1,400 audio podcast episodes, hundreds of video episodes, been acquired, gone independent and built a thriving community of thousands of paying subscribers.

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How Videogames are Booming and Busting
2024-04-17 12:00 - 13:00 | Virtual
Between consoles, PCs and mobile devices — there’s never been a better time to be a gamer. The fun of videogames is very serious, very big business. One market projection released in January of this year has the videogames market hitting $189.3 billion in 2024. That’s a lotta bills for those spritely bits.
But it’s not all boom times for games industry. There have been a steady parade of mass layoffs across just about every company in the biz.
So what’s going on?
To help us make sense of the current and future state of the videogames business, we’re chatting with Eric Kress, who, in addition to being an executive videogame veteran and Principal at Gossamer Consulting Group is also one of the best hosts of one of the best videogames podcast out there — Deconstructor of Fun.
Whether you fire up your Xbox on a regular basis or have a child full-on into Fortnite, this podcast will give you everything you need to know about what’s going on in the world of videogames.
About the Speaker
Eric Kress is Principal at Gossamer Consulting Group, which provides primary research on worldwide console and mobile markets. It delivers proactive insights into current trends in the market place and identifies opportunities for investments. With a deep industry expertise Gossamer monitors trends in the interactive space including emerging technologies to better position its industry and investor clients.

Link to Webinar

What is the Future of Television?
2024-04-24 12:00 - 13:00 | https://openwater.group/event/what-is-the-future-of-television/
Has any industry gone through as much upheaval over the past decade as the TV business? From the transition to streaming, to the dominance of Netflix to studios’ current reckoning with profitability — the tale of the TV business is actually worth its own TV show.
To better understand the current and future state of TV, we’re sitting down with pre-eminent tech journalist, Janko Roettgers, who has chronicled the many twists and turns that have happened for the television industry. In this chat, we’ll go over who the key players in the space are, what they’ll need to succeed, and what that means for TV watchers.
Let’s just say this webinar is definitely must-see, appointment viewing.
About the Speaker
Janko Roettgers writes Lowpass, a weekly newsletter about the intersection of technology and entertainment, including AR, VR, streaming and more. He also contributes to Fast Company, The Verge, The Information and other publications. Prior to launching Lowpass, Roettgers used to be a senior reporter for Protocol, Variety and Gigaom.

Link to Webinar

OpenWater HR Panel: Doing More with Less
2024-04-26 12:00 - 13:00 | https://openwater.group/event/openwater-hr-panel-doing-more-with-less/
It’s a refrain that is becoming all too common in the corporate world — do more with less — especially in the workforce. To better understand this massive HR trend, join us this Friday, April 26 at noon PT for the OpenWater Doing More With Less HR panel featuring experts and operators on the frontlines wrestling with these mandates.
Panelists include:

Mai Ton – Founder, EMP HR Consulting
Samantha Rist – VP People at Hiya
Shirley Braun – Founder, Swift Insights

We’ll discuss topics including:

The push and pull of experience versus corporate cost
The great talent stagnation
The rise of gig and fractional employees

This panel promises to give you an inside look at the workplace trends impacting your job (or job search) right now.
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