Author

Robert Scott

Director, Marketing & Strategic Communications

Rob is a media consultant, freelance writer, and communication professor currently based on the East Coast. He oversees communication planning and brand awareness for ETC, following 14 years as managing editor of the ETCentric news portal and daily email alert. He joined ETC in 2008 for our live reporting from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) and has since been involved with our publishing initiatives, annual CES coverage, and the cross-industry Interoperable Master Format tech specification. As a consultant, Rob has worked with an array of industry innovators in digital cinema, media asset management, content distribution, and various business and creative strategies involving digital technologies. Rob was formerly with the New Technology & New Media department at The Walt Disney Company where he managed online and video communication initiatives. He earned his MFA in Film Studies & Screenwriting from the University of Miami and studied multimedia at the American Film Institute. His professional background includes corporate communication, entertainment media technologies, and film and video production.

8 stories

AnnouncementSep 2, 2026

ETC Welcomes Wendy Aylsworth as Board Chair

Industry veteran and award-winning media executive Wendy Aylsworth — CEO and CTO of Walden Pond technology consultancy — has been named the new chair of ETC’s executive board. Aylsworth has an impressive history developing entertainment technology while serving leadership positions at Warner Bros. and The Walt Disney Company. She also has a distinguished track record providing strategic board guidance for numerous organizations, including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS), Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, Hollywood Professional Association (HPA), American Society of Cinematographers (ASC), and the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE), among others. As the next chair of ETC’s executive board, Aylsworth replaces Michael Wise, former CTO of Universal Pictures.

AnnouncementsAug 31, 2026

ETC Unveils New Website, Social Media Plans

The Entertainment Technology Center launched a strategic marketing and communication initiative this year to reimagine its brand, industry interaction, online presence, and knowledge-sharing efforts. The first step involved shuttering the ETCentric daily news portal and designing a new website with a focus on ETC film projects, research, special events, and related news.

PeopleMay 26, 2026

ETC Remembers Industry Leader Jerry Pierce

The Entertainment Technology Center lost an exceptional friend and Hollywood a true tech visionary when Jerry Pierce passed away April 12. Jerry was a former senior vice president at Universal Studios where he helped guide the transition from film to digital cinema projection. He was instrumental in the advancement of key areas such as DVD, high definition, electronic sell through, and copy protection. Jerry was chairman of the Inter-Society Digital Cinema Forum (ISDCF), which he helped form in 2006, and technical advisor for the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO).

ResearchMay 21, 2026

This Week in… Artificial Intelligence: 5/21/26

Elon Musk lost a landmark lawsuit against OpenAI when a federal jury and judge found that he waited too long with claims against Sam Altman. The decision clears the way for an OpenAI IPO as major players in the AI sector – including Anthropic and SpaceX – are preparing to go public. Google unveiled a new AI-powered design and image app for Google Workspace called Pics. And AI is making its way to smart TVs. Samsung’s 2026 lineup, for example, expands enhanced AI features across numerous models.

ProjectsMay 20, 2026

This Week in… Virtual Production: 5/20/26

At the Cannes Film Market, Mandela Pictures and Oceanus Media Global debuted stills from the mystery horror film “Bisikan Desa Gringsing: Whispers of Fatimah” — a three-way co-production between Indonesia, Singapore, and Malaysia that uses virtual production technology. Creative software developer Foundry unveiled new developments on its Nuke Stage application for end-to-end virtual production, in-camera visual effects, and high-resolution playback. And Beeble’s node-based AI compositing environment Canvas is designed for complex visual effects, post production, and virtual production workflows. These stories and more in this week’s top virtual production news.

ResearchMay 20, 2026

This Week in… Media Production and AI: 5/20/26

Filmmakers at the Cannes Film Festival are making the argument that AI tech should serve filmmakers, rather than replace them, stressing the creative benefits of artificial intelligence. “Hell Grind,” screening at Cannes, is billed as “the world’s first 90-minute sci-fi heist feature film produced entirely using Higgsfield AI.” Cannes also includes a collection of AI-generated shorts created from magazine photos published years ago. And startup TrueShort — which produces AI vertical videos intended for smartphones — has raised $12 million from Khosla Ventures, WndrCo, General Catalyst, and others.

EventsApr 27, 2026

ETC’s Synthetic Media Summit Charts AI Playbook

ETC@USC hosted its second Synthetic Media Summit on March 6, convening media and technology leaders to identify AI applications and chart a detailed playbook for an AI-augmented future for human creativity. ETC partnered with Carnegie Mellon University, United Talent Agency, and Machine Cinema to deliver this timely, compelling event. While the Summit was closed to the press and presented off the record, we had an opportunity to speak with Yves Bergquist, director of AI in Media at ETC and the event’s organizer, about what’s next for artificial intelligence.

EventsApr 26, 2026

This Week in… The 2026 NAB Show: 4/26/26

NAB returned to Las Vegas with a focus on broadcasting, content creation, and monetization. While registration numbers were down overall – at 58,000+, according to NAB – it’s worth noting that 48 percent were first-time attendees. Broadcast tech entrepreneur Thomas Riedel’s acquisition of ARRI created buzz on the show floor, while product highlights included the Canon CN30 lens for wildlife, sports, and documentary production; new 100G versions of Blackmagic URSA Cine cameras; and DJI’s highly-anticipated Osmo Pocket 4 camera. We have video highlights from B&H and others.