Updates from the Ridgecrest Regional Film CommissionFall UpdatesWith film production resuming across California, the Ridgecrest Regional Film Commission has been thrilled to welcome shoots back to the region, including a project for Netflix UK. We are continuing to monitor the COVID-19 situation in the region, and have been thankful that numbers have stayed relatively low in Ridgecrest compared to other parts of the county.We will continue to monitor and abide by all state, county, and city regulations, and are following the recommendations put forth in the "Proposed Health and Safety Guidelines for Motion Picture, Television and Streaming Productions During the COVID-19 Pandemic" by the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee Task Force. You can read those guidelines in pdf form here. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns at the number or email address below. -The Ridgecrest Regional Film CommissionDuring these unique times, we have had to make many adjustments in the way we market and promote the Ridgecrest Regional Film Commission. We are now pivoting to a more web-based approach, and are excited to be launching a new marketing campaign with TheWrap.com!TheWrap is an award-winning Hollywood news and media site, focused on investigative reporting, columns, criticism, and feature-writing in the entertainment industry. In the coming months, you'll see banners, features, and newsletter content from us across the site. Featured Project: HolesDid you know Disney's Holes was filmed in Ridgecrest? Due to the heat inside the holes, actors underwent training with stunt guide to help keep them safe while filming in such unique circumstances. Release Change - Top Gun: Maverick (Summer 2021)Top Gun: Maverick shot on location at the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake as well as Inyokern Airport and Cuddeback Dry Lake Bed. Tom Cruise also shot motorcycle scenes along a stretch of road in south Ridgecrest, as seen in the trailer above. We are beyond excited for the world to see these locations on the big screen, but due to COVID-19 you will have to wait a bit longer. The release has been pushed from December 2020 to July 2021. Location Spotlight:Inyokern AirportAn ideal location for productions requiring an open-air environment with an unobstructed natural background. Paved runways and taxiways can be used for ground vehicle and aircraft scenes, including high-speed operations. Recently used to shoot scenes for Top Gun: Maverick.The Ridgecrest Regional Film Commission is available 24/7 Call us at 760-375-8202 or email us at enalagan@filmridgecrest.comCopyright © 2020 Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, All rights reserved.RACVB NewsletterOur mailing address is:Ridgecrest Area Convention and Visitors Bureau643 N. China Lake BlvdRidgecrest, Ca 93555

If you require any quotes for your projects during this time of preproduction or for future film under development, please let me know, I would be happy to help. Scroggins Aviation has the largest selection of production ready helicopters and aircraft mockups. We have put new cleaning protocols in place to insure our assets are thoroughly clean prior to shipping, as well as the use of UV-C light cleaning on select assets. No matter where you are at, we also offer services throughout the U.S., Canada, Australia, UK and beyond.A few of our film creditsBad Boys for Life, Hobbs & Shaw, Jumanji: The Next Level, Jurassic World, Triple Frontier, Bumblebee, Deadpool 2, Dunkirk, SULLY, Spiderman: Homecoming and FLIGHT. Visit IMDb for our list of credits.Contact me directly for pricing.Doug Scroggins IIIFounder/CEO702-776-8363 ext. 101702-348-7731 cellDoug@ScrogginsAviation.com/nav>

For the Kentucky Derby Red Carpet Party! Airing 3-4pm EST on KNECT tvProduced by Emmy Awards Producer Kent Speakman Founder KNEKT tvEmmy the Mini Horse has BIG Dreams in Hollywood! Emmy the miniature horse will give you tours of mansions in Los Angeles and visit your crew to bring therapy hugs much needed during this time!(last year the producer of Showtime's L Word a shoot that we booked admin century modern home in LA, Producer invited Emmy down to the set and 100 crew gave her hugs and had a lesson about therapy horses)LOCATION CONNECTION, INC.(818) 422-8127 cell(310) 376-9797www.locationconnection.com

Leading Augmented Reality Services Company Adds Experienced Leader Who Previously Held Posts with Brainstorm, AT&T and Apple, Inc.Glastonbury, CT, August 24, 2020 - Sequin AR, a leader in augmented reality services, has appointed Brad Rumler as the company's new Vice President of Sales. In this newly created position, Rumler will lead Sequin AR's sales and business development efforts further into existing and new market sectors for its augmented reality and virtual production solutions, including Sequin AR's Glimmer Virtual Control software and related service offerings. Additionally, Rumler will also help further develop and expand Sequin's Partnership Channels.Rumler joins Sequin AR with more than 25 years of experience, primarily within the Australian, U.S., and Canadian markets, holding in-house positions with top technology companies working across the disciplines of graphics, broadcast, VFX, and IT. Prior to joining Sequin, Rumler most recently served as Vice President of Sales for Brainstorm, a real-time graphics solutions company that collaborated with global broadcasters and studios in the U.S. and Canadian markets."Brad is the ideal person to lead our sales efforts into the future, said Robert DeFranco, Sequin AR's Co-founder and Chief Executive. "The COVID-19 pandemic has, without question, increased the need for virtual production, virtual sets, and augmented reality across multi-media platforms. We are confident that Brad's expertise will be vital in helping our clients navigate these new technological waters, and getting these clients back into new waves of production more quickly than they may have believed possible.Adds Rumler, "I'm thrilled to be part of the team at Sequin AR after having worked with them as a solution provider for last year's Billboard Music Awards for Madonna's performance which won multiple awards. Having spent the last seven years successfully growing revenue and expanding the client base for a real-time graphics software company, I intend to position Sequin AR as the industry leader for augmented reality creative, real-time VFX production, broadcast production, system integration, and consulting services."ABOUT BRAD RUMLER:Before joining Sequin AR, Brad Rumler was Vice President of Sales/U.S. & Canada, for Brainstorm U.S., Inc. (2013 to 2020). In that post, he provided dynamic, real-time 3D graphics, augmented reality, and virtual set solutions to clients based across the U.S. and Canada, including many of the world's top broadcasters. Earlier, he was the Sales & Marketing Director (U.S. and Canada) for Toolson Air USA, where he helped launch that new distribution company and sales channel, featuring its "TV Station in a Mac" concept.From 2010 to 2011, Rumler was a Mobility Applications Consultant for AT&T, where he ensured that AT&T team members were trained on and employed best solution selling practices to drive sales of mobility application solutions. During 2003 to 2010, Rumler was a Senior Account Executive/Broadcast & Post-Production, with Apple, Inc. First based in the U.S. covering 25 states, and later in Sydney, Australia, for Apple, Rumler leveraged relationships with key channel partners to secure a high volume of new broadcast and post-production clients.ABOUT SEQUIN AR:Founded in 2019, Sequin AR is a creative Augmented Reality content company based in Glastonbury, CT. The company provides augmented reality creative, real-time VFX production, broadcast production, system integration, and consulting services to a broad range of clients working across all media platforms, around the world. Among the company's milestones to date: Providing viral AR content (which netted over a billion views) for Madonna in conjunction with her 2019 Billboard Music Awards performance.Represented by top Hollywood talent agency ICM, Sequin AR has a proven track record of increasing production value for its projects, and of providing new narrative possibilities for audience engagement, while saving on production costs.Sequin AR was founded by Lawrence Jones and Robert DeFranco. The men previously worked at The Future Group, where their projects included the flooding visualizations for The Weather Channel, and an AR-enhanced performance by K/DA at the 2018 League of Legends World Championship Finals. The duo also received an Emmy nomination for the augmented reality work they did for the 2019 Super Bowl. Additionally, Jones and DeFranco worked with Epic Games Unreal Engine, the company behind the successful Fortnite video game.To learn more about Sequin AR's augmented reality and virtual production solutions and services, please visit https://www.sequinar.com//nav>

THE 2020 LOCATION MANAGERS GUILD INTERNATIONAL AWARDSTHE LMGI AWARDS are an internationally recognized celebration of the outstanding contributions of location professionals in television, commercials and feature films. The Awards spotlight our craft, honoring productions in which the creative use of film locations set the tone, enrich the character and inspire the narrative. Film commissions are celebrated for their exemplary service and additional honorees include recipients of the Eva Monley, Humanitarian Award, Lifetime Achievement and Trailblazer Awards.Submissions were up by 60% this year, dramatically increasing the competition in all categories. We received over two hundred qualified international submissions, each one a winner, successfully illustrating the art of locations. Refining these submissions to a field of finalists was arduous and challenging. We heartily applaud them all - and wish each and all of the nominees below the best of luck!

Dear Friends,I'm so happy to announce that we're back! Our sales and service team are at work 8:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday. And we are happy to serve all of your grip equipment needs-from product orders and technical questions, to service and replacement parts. Need us? Please call, email or contact us on social media. We're here to help!We've ramped up manufacturing and enhanced our stocking capabilities with increased warehouse space, now stocked with thousands of different products ready for your production needs. If we don't have what you need on the shelf, our in-house manufacturing can get it done in a matter of days or weeks depending on the gear.Plus, we're taking safety precautions in everything we do. We've installed dividers, placed sanitizing stations around the factory, issued personal protective equipment and spaced workers out to comply with CDC guidelines. Additionally, we've trained and appointed a Covid-19 compliance officer to help ensure that both staff and customers are as safe as possible. Speaking of safety, you might want to check out our new Sheet Adapter Kit. lt's great for building custom dividers to protect against virus transmission onset, plus it comes in handy when you least expect it for utilizing standard grip equipment. And, please don't forget to check out the latest tools and tips from Matthews University. We're adding content each week.Stay safe! Stay healthy! Stay positive!

FilmLA resumed coordination of film permits starting on Monday, June 15. Please see our latest Production Alert and growing list of areas reopening to filming.As we reopen, in order to allow time for government review and community notification, the earliest available filming date for low-complexity shoots will be Friday, June 19.By order of state and local authorities, on-location filming was shut down in the City and County of Los Angeles from March 20 through June 11, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.On June 5, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that counties throughout the state could begin reopening to film, television and commercial production starting on June 12A modified health order from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health followed on June 12, authorizing filming to resume.The LA County health protocols applicable to film production are now available from the County's website. These protocols must be agreed to as a condition of film permit release.Governor Newsom's decision followed the June 1 release of new Health and Safety Guidelines, prepared by the Industry Wide Labor Management Safety Committee (IWLMSC) Task Force. These guidelines serve as a resource to the industry. You may access those Safety Guidelines here.

Some states are starting to re-open their businesses while California is expected to follow suit starting May 9^th and will be following the four stages (and we are not talking sound stages) as outlined by Governor Newsom and his administration:• Stage 1 (where we started) is making sure essential workers are consistently safe in their work environments. • Stage 2 (starting May 9^th) would allow lower-risk businesses and public spaces to re-open with modifications to allow for distancing. This means factories, more-spaced out work stations and non-grocery retail stores with curbside pickup. • Stage 3 is for higher risk business like hair salons, gyms, movie theaters and sporting events without fans. • Stage 4 would allow concerts, conventions and sporting events with fans to re-open.So, how will all of this affect YOUR business' operation or Production Company going forward? Depending upon which stage your business falls under, your day-to-day operation may continue to function remotely for a while longer or may need to start planning on how to operate "under one roof" while keeping employees safe. Besides being affected by the stage time-frame (since these are sequential - stage 3 & 4 could be months away), there are other factors that might hinder your business' efficiency. Let's look at ways on how the premier technology rental company serving the entertainment industry, eTech Rentals, can help you overcome these additional challenges so you can operate productively and effectively until business returns to the "new normal".Can't Find Latest Mobile TechnologyIt has widely been reported that the virus outbreak in China has affected technology manufacturing sectors including phones to laptops, iPads to gaming consoles. This could be a problem if you and your team need the latest and greatest tech equipment especially if you are working on a high-end graphics project or FX editing. One way to overcome this challenge is to consider renting technology equipment, and eTech Rentals, the leading technology rental company in Los Angeles, can get you the technology you need.eTech Rentals offers the newest MacPro for rent at competitive rates, and can deliver same-day in Los Angeles. If your production team has a hodge-podge of mobile technology, why not get your staff the same models on a short-term basis? We rent laptops, and our rental inventory is stocked with the same make and model with bulk rate pricing. Of course, if you are planning on setting up a new production company for your latest project, eTech Rentals can assist with that too! We know the entertainment business and have partnered with many production companies and are experienced in setting up production office equipment rentals. eTech Rentals will make sure that the technology you need is set-up and ready to go when and where you need it. Missing Essential Home Office EquipmentAs your staff has finally adjusted to their remote office environment, have they expressed frustration about having poor WiFi or needing a piece of equipment that isn't available at their home? If so, there are some easy fixes to these annoyances. To improve connectivity at home/remote office, rent 5G wifi for your staff. eTech Rentals, a wireless internet rental provider, carries the newest 5g hotspot product, that offers incredibly fast internet speeds with quicker uploads/downloads and no buffering. Now, that's a way to improve employee productivity!Does your accounting or legal team need to physically print documents and they don't want to use their own personal printer? eTech Rentals has printer rentals available today and ready to deliver in Los Angeles. So, don't wait another day to take care of this for your staff and get it off their To Do list!Rescheduling of Events/Film FestivalsWe know that many global events were cancelled due to COVID-19. But what if you want to showcase a short-film or animated film to a select group in the next couple of months? One possible solution is to host a virtual meeting or film festival. By creating a live streaming event, you can create a unique online experience for film-goers. Not sure how to put on a virtual event in Los Angeles? eTech Rentals is now offering video streaming services. Learn more about video conferencing rentals and ask us about our live-streaming solution which provides a safe alternative to in-person events.Planning for the Next Phases with Technology RentalseTech Rentals can help you plan your next steps as California starts the process of re-opening for business. We have a large portfolio of name-brand technology rentals in stock and ready to deliver, same day in Los Angeles. If needed, we can custom configure our gear to your company standard and remotely manage, if you want.In addition, we are committed to the health and safety of our employees and customers. eTech Rentals offers the newest technology in top condition, and rigorously cleans all equipment upon return and prior to delivery to your location. We also have a contact-free delivery option.Give eTech Rentals a call today at 877-738-3246 or email us at rentals@etechrentals.com to learn more about our rental products that can help your business or production company continue to operate efficiently and productively.Contact Details:eTech Rentalswww.etechrentals.com(p): 877-738-3246(e): Rentals@etechrentals.com

Renowned Visual Effects industry veteran Helena Packer, currently marking her 30th anniversary year working within the VFX arena, is currently working to enhance the next era of the visual effects field by developing new tools which will utilize the powerful advancements in digital technologies offered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Packer explains how her new AI path came into play: In 2018, Raja Koduri, Chief Architect at Intel, approached her, asking if she would like to consult with Intel on the company's research and development of AI. For Packer, it felt like a natural fit, as she has been working to bridge technology with art throughout her entire career. During the past two years, Packer has had the opportunity to collaborate with some of the best minds currently working in AI, including Jason Yang, Co-Founder & CTO at Dgene.Packer, who sits on the Executive Committee of AMPAS, and also serves as Chair of the Diversity Committee for AMPAS' VFX Branch, is presently seeking new ways to make content creation easier and more gratifying through the incorporation of AI. "On the professional level, there is, at the moment, a huge surge in content production," Packer says. "AI offers a way to experiment and iterate that the VFX pipeline currently in existence doesn't --because of time and money. On the consumer level, there has also been a huge surge as well. Three hundred hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute! New AI tools will surely give consumers new ways by which to expand their creativity."As part of her research, Packer has traveled all over the world, and has seen first-hand how storytelling is both universal and a basic human form of expression. "In Malaysia, I saw women in hijabs making movies with their iPhones, and in India, people told me that filmmaking was in their blood," she says. "I learned that since the first cave paintings, human beings have been trying to leave their mark and tell their stories through whatever medium has been available to them during their era."Packer cites as her inspiration a quote from President John Quincy Adams: "I am a warrior, so that my son may be a merchant, so that his son may be a poet." "I hope AI will follow this trajectory and will easily allow people to express themselves with a new suite of digital AI tools. Imagine being able to create new, never before seen environments based on one's own life experiences and imagination. The possibilities are truly limitless!" Packer concludes.Raja Koduri, Intel's Chief Architect and Senior Vice President, said, "I first met Helena during the production of Indian VFX blockbusters 'Baahubali' and 'Baahubali 2.' She was recommended as one of the top VFX supervisors and leaders in Hollywood, and well versed in working across global teams. More recently, I had an opportunity to collaborate with her again as we began exploring ways to leverage AI technology to help accelerate VFX and content creation. Helena's breadth and depth in the VFX pipeline, and her quick grasp of the technology involved, played a huge role in helping us understand and develop roadmaps by which to accelerate the integration of AI into production pipelines. Helena is a rare blend of leaders - one who understands art, people, business and technology. Hollywood is fortunate to have her."Adds Dr. Jason Yang, Co-Founder/CTO at DGene, "For those of us coming into film-making from a technological point of view, it is imperative to have a visual artist of Helena's stature join in our quest to research and develop new AI tools that can be easily understood and integrated into the visual effects pipeline. Helena has the VFX chops down to a science, and has always been curious about the next 'new thing' that is coming down the digital highway. Her help in our goal of digitizing the world using new AI software will be invaluable not only to DGene, but to the entire entertainment industry."Regarding Packer's work with AI, four-time Oscar winning VFX industry veteran Richard Edlund, who has served as a Governor of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences (AMPAS), is chairman of their Visual Effects Branch since its inception, and for twelve years was founder and chairman of the Academy's Scientific & Technical Awards Committee, said, "I've known Helena Packer for 29 years, and she has consistently proven herself to be a unique voice within the visual effects arena. She has tremendous skills, both creatively and technologically, and understands how to tell a story through the use of imagery. I'm confident that she will become an important asset in the development of the burgeoning artificial intelligence industry, helping to make those new digital tools available to storytellers everywhere."ABOUT HELENA PACKERHelena Packer is currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of her work within the visual effects industry. During the course of her highly successful career, she has garnered numerous major industry awards, contributing unique and acclaimed visual effects to dozens of feature films, episodic TV series, commercials, and music videos. Packer, who sits on the Executive Committee of AMPAS, also serves as Chair of the Diversity Committee for AMPAS' VFX Branch.Beginning her VFX career in 1990 as a Visual Effects Artist for the hit TV series "Twin Peaks," Packer worked for the next nine years as a Digital Compositor with such top companies as R!OT Santa Monica ("The Last of the Mohicans"), Helena EFX - her own banner - ("Tank Girl," "House on Haunted Hill," "What's the Worst That Can Happen?", "Joe and Max," and "Young MacGyver,"); and Boss Film ("Air Force One"); while also contributing VFX work to commercials for Coca-Cola, Sunkist, Hyundai and Miller Beer.In l999, Packer launched Whodoo EFX, providing a creative environment in which clients and artists alike could work together to develop new and exciting visual effects for a wide range of projects. The company was comprised of a pool of highly successful and award-winning professionals, with Packer serving as president and Visual Effects Supervisor./figcaption>Whodoo EFX contributed VFX to "The Singing Detective,' "X2: X-Men United," "The Stepford Wives," "Failure to Launch," "Anamorph," and Charlie Wilson's War," to name just some notable film and TV projects.In 2011, Packer teamed with VFX icon Richard Edlund to launch duMonde Visual Effects, a post-production studio based in New Orleans. DuMonde provided services such as visual-effects supervision, 3D matte painting, compositing and on-set coordination of visual effects. Among DuMonde's feature film projects was the hit SONY feature film "21 Jump Street," and the action/comedy feature "Barely Lethal."/figcaption>In 2017, Packer joined forces with director Kevin Donovan to produce a variety of VR/AR, independent films, documentaries, select TV projects including limited series, and commercials. The duo produced a live action/CG PSA featuring global superstar Jackie Chan and three animated CG pangolin mammals - the PSA promoted protection of the endangered pangolin species on behalf of the international animal advocacy group WildAid and The Nature Conservancy Group. Packer and Donovan also produced 10 additional PSAs for WildAid, including spots featuring talking elephants and rhinos. Among these PSAs were those starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, James Cameron, and "Transformers" star Josh Duhamel.As an independent Visual Effects Supervisor, Packer has additionally worked on the TV series "Crossbones," "Quantico," "Ice Fantasy" and "Legion," and on feature films including "The Last Face," "Pitch Perfect," "Grudge Match," "Bullet to the Head," and "Benji," among many others.