InclusionFX #6 Full Live Panel
Panel Information
Our goal is to unearth those unsung “Black Unicorns” who spin their magic in the shadows while working tirelessly to bring their talents, passion and vision to light. We want to let the world know that we are here. We aim to inspire and educate the next generation of artists by sharing our unique stories.
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This panel will focus on those amazing journeys.
We will be live on Twitch.tv and YouTube.
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Wellington (New Zealand - Wellington) - Sunday, 15 August 2021 at 12:30:00 p.m. (NZDT UTC+12 hours)
Los Angeles (USA - California) - Saturday, 14 August 2021 at 5:30:00 p.m. (PST UTC-7 hours)
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InclusionFX #6 Panelists
Audrea Topps Harjo
Audrea Topps Harjo has worked in the entertainment industry for over twenty-five years. She has worked for Sony Pictures (CONTACT) Cinesite (X-MEN 2), Electronic Arts, WETA Digital (RISE OF THE PLANETS OF THE APES), James Cameron’s Lightstorm Entertainment (AVATAR SEQUELS).
She is currently in development on numerous project and resides in Washington, DC
Chairperson for the NZGDA
Chelsea is the current Chairperson for the New Zealand Game Developers Association, the national industry body for games and interactive media. She is also a Producer at CerebralFix Ltd, a Christchurch-based game studio that creates mobile and digital location-based experiences for clients like Disney, Universal, DreamWorks, and Pixar
Raqi Syed is a writer, visual effects designer, and researcher. She is co-director of the award-winning film experience MINIMUM MASS.
Her practice and teaching focus on the materiality of light, hybrid forms of non-fiction and genre storytelling, and using media archaeology and software studies methodologies to better understand contemporary practices in VFX.
Writer, Sculptor, Indie Game Dev
Nate Tamblyn (he/they) is a transgender Writer, Sculptor and Indie Game Dev. His work focuses on creating validating content for queer and diverse audiences. Nate has a background in Fine Arts, with a passion for Graphic Novels including his crowd-funded, published book NOTHING FITS. Currently Nate is working on SHELFLIFE, a queer coming-of-age RPG supported by the NZFC.
Indie Game Dev
Thomas Barrer (he/him) is a queer Indie Game Dev from a Fine Arts background who creates works with an LGBTQIA+ storytelling focus. Thomas is passionate about supporting screen industry newcomers, and recently mentoring Game Design students from the Utrecht School of the Arts. Currently he is working on SHEFLIFE, a queer coming-of-age RPG supported by the NZFC.
Senior VFX Producer
Lauren F. Ellis has built a diversified portfolio of entertainment projects through the years, having most recently produced for top series like MARVEL'S WandaVision and HBO's OZARK.
As Senior VFX Producer with Industrial Light and Magic, Ellis strives to educate and inspire those seeking to pursue a career in the industry, especially young women
Actor
Janina Gavankar is most known for her diverse acting career in television, film and major video games, such as The Morning Show, True Blood, The League and Star Wars: Battlefront II. In 2020, she was seen starring opposite Ben Affleck in The Way Back, and soon you’ll see her opposite Riz Ahmed in Invasion, as well as Cate Blanchett and Jack Black in Eli Roth’s Borderlands.
Janina Gavankar and her creative partner Russo Schelling wrote and directed the elevated horror short film, Stucco, which currently has 33 million views across YouTube alone, and has won many festival prizes, including a Special Jury Award at SXSW 2020.