Conference News: What I learned this week – May 3, 2019

Less Drama in LA: C21Media is the self-described “Home to The International Entertainment Community,” and hosts several media/entertainment events throughout the year, most notably their Content London event in November. A few years ago, C21 entered the US market with their Drama Summit West, a Los Angeles gathering meant to connect the US and international drama business to facilitate new production, coproduction, finance and creative partnerships. In 2019 C21Media will aim to broaden the US content by rebranding the Drama Summit to Content LA (for consistency with the London event). When the event happens on 17 May 2019, Content LA will examine what the next five years has in store, and how changes in the entertainment business will impact writers, producers, channels, distributors, agents and financiers.

No Time to Play: The organizers of the Intentional Play Summit, a San Francisco Bay Area conference that explores games and emerging technologies that promote experiential learning and social impact, has announced that they no longer have the bandwidth to continue the conference. Stay tuned as to whether they bring it back in the future.

TheGrill Gets a Makeover: In order to celebrate its 10-year anniversary TheWrap is making big changes to TheGrill, its flagship conference. The event, which is normally held in the fall, will move to the London West Hollywood and take place on 5 June. Not only have the date and location been updated, but the conference agenda is also getting a Hollywood-style makeover. TheGrill will offer three tracks concentrating on Technology, Innovation, and Entertainment. And the biggest change of all? The only way to get a ticket is to subscribe to TheWrap’s WrapPro service.  For an idea as to what will be on the agenda click here.

Speaking Opportunity: Big Data LDN, one of the UK’s largest Big Data and Analytics events, will return to the home of Big Ben and Parliament from 13 – 14 November 2019.  It will have nine technical and business-led conference theatres, featuring real-world use-cases and panel debates. Featured topics will include: data architecture; streaming systems; AI use cases; data OPS;modern data management, integration and analytics; customer experience; and cybersecurity issues. If you have a relevant idea to share on stage submit here before the 8 June deadline.  

Lunchtime Learning: Earlier this year, BloombergLive focused its attention on the U.S. education system, convening the leading minds in this space to discuss new scalable solutions being used to improve traditional K-12 public schools. Sessions touched upon new ways of teaching and learning, equality in education, and the role of technology in the classroom. Hear speakers including the President of FIRST, a nonprofit helping young people discover a passion for STEM, the Head of Education for Unity Technologies, and the Philanthropist and Co-founder of the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools.

Coming Up Next Week: “Tech For Better or Worse” isn’t a wedding vow for Silicon Valley grooms or brides – it’s the theme of this year’s The Next Web (TNW) Europe Conference program, 9-10 May in Amsterdam. TNW organizers believe we’re at a crossroads of tech adoption, and now is the time for 15,000 conference attendees and industry leaders to choose a path. At TiECon 2019 (10-11 May; Santa Clara), investors, entrepreneurs, and successful founders take on all stages of the entrepreneurial life cycle and put the spotlight on disruptive startups in security, health, mobility, and more. The HCI Inclusive Diversity Conference, held 6 -7 May in San Francisco, aims to leverage neuroscience, data, and simple behavioral design to make diversity and inclusion part of everyday organizational culture. Meanwhile the booming Seattle tech scene gathers at Bellevue Tech Expo on 8 May, offering keynotes, panels, and career connections. Last but not least, DigiPublish gets underway in NYC on 10 May and features speakers from major media and entertainment outfits, including ABC, Conde Nast, NBC, and Marvel Entertainment.