Media Production & Technology Show 2024 Preview
Posted on Apr 28, 2024 by Samara Husbands
London Calling
The Media Production & Technology Show is back this May – here’s our curated guide to the best of the seminars & stands
As the only home-turf show for the UK’s broadcast media, production and technology sectors, MPTS is an unmissable chance to see the latest gear, make contacts and learn about the most important trends shaping our industry.
Spanning pre-production, production, virtual production, post, distribution, audio and AI, it draws in more than 12,000 punters each year, serving up a lively mix of talks, exhibition stands and networking.
Look Who’s Talking
Taking place 15-16 May at London Olympia, this year’s edition promises an exceptional line-up. With over 100 sessions led by experts, attendees can anticipate discussions on the latest technologies and innovations crucial for media professionals to embrace.
The organisers assure the show’s most electrifying seminars yet, with appearances from creators of the most talked-about content of the year so far. “The scale and breadth of our content programme – and the fact all sessions are free to attend – makes this one of the most accessible events for the industry,” shares event director Charlotte Wheeler. “Each session is expertly curated to ensure the programme reflects the current challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
”It doesn’t matter which part of the industry you work in – whether you’re a freelancer or employed by one of the big broadcasters – you are welcome to come to MPTS to benefit from the networking and learning. As the UK’s only trade show for the industry, there is nowhere else like it for uniting on this scale on an annual basis.”
Marked firmly in our diaries is the State of the Nation: Production – a panel discussion surveying the landscape after a tough year for the industry.
Featuring Daniel Nettleton, creative director and co-founder of Bandicoot TV; Sarah Stevenson, head of development of Yeti Television; and Dhanny Joshi, managing director of Big Deal Films, the hot topics will be strategies for staying competitive, the opportunities on the horizon and adapting to new production methods.
Also look out for the keynote spotlight on the sound design behind The Zone of Interest. Welcoming Oscar and BAFTA winner Johnnie Burn to the stage, it’s a chance to hear about the audio legend’s journey to the top of his field, and his unique sonic approach to this and other films including Poor Things.
Also on the audio front, a masterclass with composer Benjamin Kwasi-Burrell will delve into the intricacies of music composition for film and TV, unlocking the creative processes and techniques essential for success.
We’ll be making a beeline for the post-production talk on The Gallows Pole, which explores creating a workflow to support the creative vision.
The Residence Pictures team behind the show will share the unique workflow they deployed to overcome the challenges of grading a period piece, shedding light on its naturalistic, painting-like palette.
The team from Mr Bates vs The Post Office is sure to gather a crowd, sharing a production masterclass on how they brought this incredible true story to life. Joined by former sub-postmistress Jo Hamilton, the discussion will observe the power of local content, including strong scriptwriting, casting and production.
Sustainability remains a hot button topic for MPTS, and this year BAFTA albert will lead a series of sessions dedicated to exploring how our sector can be greener. Covering production, post, VP and technology theatres, highlights include We’ve Got the Power, which explores planet-friendly ways to power your set, and Planning for 2030, which will explore what new sustainability targets might mean for the supply chain.
Also back on the agenda is AI, with one talk raising the question: how can production companies use generative AI both ethically and legally?
Speaking of which, Que Sora Sora will delve into OpenAI’s controversial new text-to-video model, Sora, considering whether we’re dealing with a game changer for moving image creation, overblown hype and scaremongering, or the beginning of a new opportunity.
Continuing the theme, Generative AI and the Art of Storytelling in Production will reveal how new tools are disrupting traditional methods of conveying a narrative, with a panel of experts weighing in on how the industry can effectively harness ChatGPT, Sora and others of their ilk.
We’re also looking forward to diving into the world of VP at this year’s MPTS, with panel discussions on integrating VP into traditional filmmaking, and a conversation with some leading women in the field including Niki Whittle (business development director at MOOV), and Stacia Pfeiffer, a creative technologist and futurist.
Keep reading for our round-up of what not to miss on the show floor!
Holdan
Stand G60
Discover an unparalleled showcase of production, post-production and IP streaming solutions curated by Holdan, featuring industry leaders such as Atomos, Birddog, Samyang, Xeen, Blackmagic Design, Mark Roberts Motion Control, Studio Network Solutions, Panasonic, Kondor Blue, Datavideo, Epiphan, Roland and Sonnet Technologies.
A team of experts – alongside representatives from renowned manufacturers – will guide you through Holdan’s offerings and address your enquiries on 4K, HDR, NDI and IP production workflows.
Scan
Stand E45
Scan Pro Video, part of Scan Computers International, is the UK’s leading manufacturer of PCs and equipment for professional video production.
With over 30 years of award-winning IT service under its belt, the company provides video workstations, laptops, monitors, media and storage to editors, digital artists, colourists, DITs and the wider digital creative industries. Stop by at Scan’s MPTS booth and you can also say hi to Nightsky Studios and Final Pixel Academy to learn more about 3XS virtual production systems, experience a professional LED wall, and join educational sessions delivered by the Final Pixel team.
Aputure
Stand H33
Aputure’s LED lights are loved by DOPs and lighting technicians all over the world. Discover why at MPTS – where you can explore the company’s range of high-output fixtures and easy-to-use modifiers, getting advice and seeing what’s new.
Recent additions include the Aputure INFINIMAT line, Sidus One, and Sidus Link Pro. INFINIMATs add a popular new form factor to the Aputure ecosystem, building on the popular flex light mat form factor, but add full-colour tunability, pixel-mapping, inflatable diffusion and the ability to be connected together to make larger panels.
Likewise, Sidus One and Sidus Link Pro expand the Aputure ecosystem by giving all Aputure users console-level cue-based actions and now the ability to control even non-Aputure lights through CRMX with the same app.
Atomos
Stand G60
MPTS gives visitors that couldn’t attend NAB the chance to see two brand-new products from Atomos, which will be holing up at the Holdan booth (G60). Atomos Ninja Phone is a 10-bit video co-processor for iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max that lets you record to 10-bit Apple ProRes or H.265 from professional HDMI cameras.
The Apple display boasts a 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio and supports Dolby Vision, HDR10 and HLG. It can display 11 stops of dynamic range with a brightness of 1600 nits.
Excitingly, Atomos will also be showing Sun Dragon, the world’s first-ever sun spectrum, five-colour HDR LED production strip lighting system with wired, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. With Sun Dragon, filmmakers can adapt their lighting to any set.
Instead of a fixed form, it is a flexible strip of five-colour LED lights. It’s easy to mould Sun Dragon to any shape, controlling reflections and shadows with precision that’s not possible with traditional fixed-shape lighting.
Deity
Stand F20
Launched by a TV location sound mixer back in 2018, Deity Microphones has a simple mission: to bring great products that get the job done to filmmakers and content creators of all skill levels.
The brand has offerings in wireless audio, on-camera microphones, lavaliers and more, with a global operation that spans Europe, America and Asia. Explore the range, chat to the team and discover why Deity’s products are so well-loved at this year’s MPTS.
Bebob
Stand G20
Bebob will present a powerful portfolio for cameras and lights at MPTS, with highlights including the MLmicro: a 14.4v battery with hot-swap, buffer function and multiple output connectors.
This product is perfectly equipped to expand the possibilities of compact cinema cameras such as the new Sony BURANO.
In addition to purely powering the camera or monitor with a capacity of 43Wh, a continuous load of 15A/150W can be supplied for up to 20 minutes – enough time to swap the battery. It even serves as a hot-swap buffer for lighting; the integrated USB-C 45W output enables it to power notebooks or smartphones on-set.
Fans of the Bebob Micro series can explore some powerful additions to the family: the new V240micro and A240micro batteries. The new Bebob CUBE 1200/700 is a multivoltage on-ground battery with output power of 700W – ideal for powerful lights such as the ARRI SkyPanel X21, Sumomax or Vortex8.
Roe Visual
Stand B50
Don’t miss out on a visit to ROE Visual’s stand, where you can check out the brand’s latest LED displays and experience on-demand demos, getting up close with cutting-edge tech tailored for broadcast studio environments.
Among the featured products is the Ruby RB1.9BV2, a fine-pitch LED panel featuring a high-contrast black LED. Boasting a wide colour gamut with a bit depth of 16 bits, this LED panel delivers stunning visuals with exceptional clarity. With a refresh rate of 7860Hz and a scan ratio of 1/8, the Ruby RB1.9BV2 is engineered to provide a seamless performance for all broadcast environments.
Additionally, ROE Visual will showcase the Black Marble LED floor, a highly sought-after solution for live events, broadcast productions and XR stages.
The Black Marble BM2, which is available in a 2.8mm pixel pitch, features a smooth, matte finish that helps minimise reflections, making it ideal for any broadcast and XR stage applications.
Hawk-Woods
Stand D10
“We’re thrilled to be part of MPTS this year, with our booth located at stand D10. We are excited to showcase our signature range of battery power solutions that cater to a wide range of media production needs,” says the Hawk-Woods team, which will be exhibiting its long-standing line-up at the show.
Visitors can check out the 14.4v and 26v V-Mount batteries, B-Mount batteries specially designed for ARRI equipment, and replacements for BP-U and NP-F batteries, alongside the brand’s robust, large-capacity floor batteries.
This year, you can also enjoy a look at Hawk-Woods’ latest innovation – the new 1000Wh 26v Rampart floor battery.
Specifically engineered for powering 26v equipment through a nominal 26v XLR 3-pin output, it also features an XLR 4-pin output for a regulated 12v supply, making it a versatile tool for on-location productions. Hawk-Woods is accepting pre-orders for the Rampart via its website.
This preview was first published in the May 2024 issue of Definition.
