Q&A With Event Director Of The Media Production Show

Charlotte Wheeler, Event Director of the Media Production Show, talks about the upcoming show.

What is the Media Production Show?
Now in its third year, The Media Production Show (MPS) is a two day annual event showcasing the latest technology and talent across the Media and Entertainment industry.

This year's event takes place on 12-13 June 2018 at London Olympia, and is ideally timed for some of the biggest names in the industry to present their services and ground breaking technologies, many in their first UK outing.
Media Production Show also features a free to attend seminar programme packed with high-calibre content from some of the biggest names in the industry, sharing their valuable insight, knowledge and creativity.
Media Production Show is hosted and organised by Media Business Insight (MBI), the publishers of industry titles including Broadcast, Screen International and Shots. I have been producing events for the broadcast industry for over 14 years and the team's collective depth of experience, passion for the media and entertainment industry, and carefully built long-term relationships with key industry individuals and companies ensure we have the spirit and determination to produce an unmissable event for the UK creative industries.

What can visitors to Media Production Show 2018 expect to see?
Every year we strive to reflect the state of the industry, ask the questions that people want answered, and look ahead to the next set of challenges.

We have also launched several new areas this year:

The Digital Disrupters Theatre explores how technology is changing content delivery and consumption, with testimony and opinion from experts in the fields of VR, AR, AI, SVOD and much more.

The new Live Production Theatre offers a hands-on experience of the latest live production technology, as well as some incredible stories from live event producers.

The Audio Theatre cover topics including ADR, sound on location, sound in post, technical seminars and audio case studies from recent film and TV projects.

The Production Services Village will welcome a wide variety of international production service providers.

Technology continues to have a huge impact on the creative process of making content, from drama to factual and documentaries to live studio productions. MPS will explore how technology has advanced the images we see and content we watch, such as 4K capture, physical special effects, VFX, editing and sound. From pre-production through to content distribution, you will find an exhibitor, sponsor or seminar that will be relevant to you. We have always attracted strong brands.

Does Media Production Show see itself as a show for Production or Technology?
Definitely both! Producers need to be aware of technological trends and formats, for instance understanding the data storage and post-production implications of shooting in 4K; just as engineers need to have an understanding of what producers are trying to achieve with the content they are creating.

Media Production Show offers an amazing opportunity for these seemingly disparate worlds to come together and understand that they are working towards the same goal of producing exciting, informative, creative content.

Why are trade shows important for the broadcast, film and television community?
Online research is fantastic; forums, blogs, vendor websites all offer great insight; but nothing beats actually meeting a company representative face to face who can explain the products in real terms, or hearing industry experts sharing their experiences and being able to ask them questions.

With people pressed for time and budgets as never before, overseas travel can be prohibitive for many, so it's increasingly important to have a UK event where people from all sectors of the industry can converge to share knowledge, discuss their experiences and learn from each other.
Media Production Show continues to deliver relevant, informative, inspiring and educational content to warrant people taking the time to attend; it offers a chance to not only get hands-on with the gear, but also hear from the people creating and delivering content in the real world.

What kit can I see at the show?
While we can make an educated guess based on the 50+ exhibitors in attendance, including Blackmagic Design, Avid, Panasonic, Canon, Editshare, Cooke Optics and Aspera, to some degree your guess is as good as ours! The Media Production Show is held six weeks after NAB in Las Vegas, where traditionally all the main manufacturers launch their new products and upgrades – so MPS is ideally timed for these brand new products, technologies and services to be seen for the first time in the UK. We’re excited to see the latest box-fresh systems on the show floor.

We also have many of the leading resellers and distributors in attendance, including XTFX, CCK, Jigsaw24, Digibox, Holdan and Global Distribution to name just a few.

Plus, we urge visitors to take some time to visit the smaller stands – this is often where you will find a genius gadget or fledgling technology that is set to revolutionise the industry, or at least make life a little easier on set or in post.

To find out more about the Media Production Show, and register to attend visit: mediaproductionshow.com.

This article is also available in the April edition of Broadcast Film & Video.