2024 AIS Evolve Summit Guests

Danny Tomsett is the CEO and founder at UneeQ, a leading company in digital human technology. With a career steeped in innovation and technology, Danny is a pioneer in the field including 6 years deploying generative AI solutions across hundreds of Enterprise brands across the globe. Under his leadership, UneeQ has emerged as a global leader in AI-driven digital avatars, transforming the way businesses and organizations engage with their audiences. Danny's passion for humanizing technology and his commitment to creating authentic, emotionally resonant interactions have propelled UneeQ to the forefront of the industry. Under his leadership, UneeQ was the winner of the Sir Richard Branson ‘Virgin Business Challenge’; along with being selected as an EY Entrepreneur of the Year finalist. He has a successful entrepreneurial track record – developing games at eight years old, and founding and exiting a Telecommunications company he started at 25.
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Darren Frankel brings 35+ years of experience in visual effects and post-production in television and media, to both domestic and international clients. Prior to joining Adobe as Head of Film & Television, Darren was Head of Post Production and Visual Effects for Marvel Television working in both studio oversight and creative capacities. Prior to joining Marvel, he was President of Stargate Studios and was responsible for the day-to-day management of the company overseeing all operations at the ten facilities in seven countries including business development, corporate strategy, technology and financial activities. He was a freelance producer and post producer before joining Stargate. Darren consults for various visual effects companies including Framestore, and recently completed two stints on the Executive Committee at the Television Academy in visual effects. Darren attended Northwestern University and UCLA and majored in Theatre Arts. When Darren isn't working, he's either working out, running or spending time with his wife and their two rescue dogs.
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Dave Taritero is Senior Vice President of Visual Effects and Production for the Walt Disney Company. In this position, Taritero works closely with filmmakers and Disney physical production to define production plan, methodology, budgets and schedules as well as casting and overseeing VFX facilities, teams and shot production on all Disney Motion Picture Group films including Aladdin, Cruella, The Little Mermaid, Maleficent 1/2, VFX Oscar® nominated The Lion King, Christopher Robin, The One and only Ivan, Mulan, The Lone Ranger and Visual Effects Oscar® winning The Jungle Book. Films currently in prep, shoot or post production include Mufasa, Disney’s Snow White, Tron, Moana, and others.

Prior to joining Disney, Taritero was a freelance Visual Effects Supervisor/Producer on HBO’s Boardwalk Empire, leading the Boardwalk team to 2011 & 2012 Emmy® wins for Special Visual Effects. Previously, Taritero served as visual effects producer and additional visual effects supervisor on HBO’s The Pacific earning an Emmy® and a VES award for Outstanding Visual Effects in a Miniseries, Movie or a Special.

Before entering the freelance world, Dave Taritero was senior visual effects producer at Sony Pictures Imageworks where he worked on many films including I Spy, Charlie’s Angels, Click, and Bewitched. Taritero was nominated for a VES award for Outstanding Supporting Visual Effects in a Motion Picture for his efforts on Bad Boys II.

Taritero began his relationship with HBO while working at Pacific Title/Mirage Studios. After completing the visual effects on a number of episodes for the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, his team received an Emmy® nomination for their efforts.

Taritero began his career in visual effects at Warner Brothers Imaging Technology (WBIT) in 1994. Starting as a visual effects coordinator, he quickly rose to visual effects producer, working on numerous commercials and features such as Conspiracy Theory, Eraser and Batman Forever.

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DAVID LEITCH is a prolific director and producer whose high octane, boldly distinctive character driven action tent pole films have grossed over $2.9 billion worldwide. He’s best known for helming the critically acclaimed, box-office smash hits Deadpool 2, starring Ryan Reynolds, Bullet Train, starring Brad Pitt and Sandra Bullock, and Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs and Shaw starring Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham. Leitch made his directorial debut in 2014 with the surprise box-office hit John Wick starring Keanu Reeves, which he co-directed with Chad Stahelski. Leitch also served as Producer on John Wick and as Executive Producer on John Wick: Chapter 2, John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, and John Wick: Chapter 4. His second film as a director was the neon-noir cult classic, Atomic Blonde, starring Charlize Theron and James McAvoy. Leitch, with his wife and partner Kelly McCormick, own 87North Productions, which is both a world-renowned production and action design company and a premier stunt training/design studio with workspace in Hollywood. Under its first-look deal with Universal, 87North’s film The Fall Guy, starring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, was released on May 3, 2024, with Leitch directing and McCormick and Leitch producing. In addition to Bullet Train, 87North is the force behind another one of 2022’s most successful box office hits, Violent Night (Universal), starring David Harbour as “Santa Claus.” Other recent 87North releases include the critically acclaimed Nobody starring Bob Odenkirk and Kate, starring Mary Elizabeth Winstead and Woody Harrelson. The company has a number of exciting projects in the works to be produced by Leitch and McCormick including titles With Love (Universal), Kung Fu (Universal), Versus (Universal), Red Shirt (Amazon), Ruby (Amazon), and sequels for both Violent Night and Nobody. Prior to establishing himself as a director, Leitch spent a decade in the stunt business, ending as the premiere 2nd unit director, stunt coordinator and fight choreographer on such films as The Wolverine, Captain America: Civil War, Logan, and Jurassic World. Previously, he doubled Matt Damon on Bourne Ultimatum and Brad Pitt on Fight Club and Mr. And Mrs. Smith, among others. Leitch is repped by CAA; Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole; and 42West.
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Imaging & Audio specialist, Dominic Glynn has delivered 22 Pixar feature films and countless theatrical shorts to their big-screen debut. Dominic’s purview at Pixar includes binding yet-to-emerge technologies with the creative processes of storytelling. He remains at the forefront of groundbreaking technology launches in cinema and homes including the world’s first DolbyCinema exhibition (Inside Out, Cinemacon 2015), the world’s first cinema release in Dolby ATMOS (Brave) and the worldwide premiere of the first DCI Next Generation HDR cinema releases (Lightyear/Elemental) in 2022/2023. Dominic serves on the SciTech council for the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences and is currently leading Pixar’s endeavors in High Dynamic Range (HDR), mastering and exhibition.
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Doug Higgins is Senior Vice President at Pixelogic, overseeing Global Dubbing and Audio Services. Doug joined Pixelogic in 2017 after spending nearly 10 years at Deluxe. Doug works closely with the technology team and participates in strategic ideation and development of systems and tools for media supply chain optimization. Doug maintains his passion for providing customers with best-in-class post-production media services integrated with next-generation servicing workflows.
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As the founder of market leading Moonshine Post, working with my team of storytellers is a passion – second only to the joys of fatherhood. When I'm not collaborating and leading artists and technicians across the media landscape of studio and streaming feature films, series, and advertisement projects - or making indie breakout films with friends - you can find me (or not) in the backcountry with my family, off grid and enjoying the stars.
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As Head of Production Technology for The Walt Disney Studios, Eddie oversees Production and Post technology for Marvel Studios, Disney Motion Picture Productions, 20th Century Studios and Searchlight Pictures.  He is in his 16th year with The Walt Disney Company, and prior to overseeing Production Tech, was Vice President of Product Development responsible for providing solutions across Disney Studios’ Operations, Distribution, Marketing and Direct to Consumer organizations.  Prior to Disney, Eddie co-founded an IPTV Startup acquired by Siemens in 2005. Eddie is a 25-year veteran of the Media and Entertainment Technology industry and holds over 50 patents in the space. He also has a creative background in editing, animation, compositing and graphic design.
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Gerwin serves as Executive Vice President Cinema at Barco NV. He is an entrepreneur at heart and has advanced image science and technologies for the cinema industry over the last two decades both through tech start-ups and in established media and technology companies in R&D, business development and senior management roles. He joined Barco in 2016 through the acquisition of his start-up company that innovated in the fields of computer graphics, computational imaging and laser projection. Gerwin studied engineering in Germany and received a PhD in Computer Science (Graphics) from the University of British Columbia, Canada.
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