Menu

ETCentric Signs Off, Wishes Happy Holidays to Our Readers

By
December 12, 2025

Today marks the end of an era as ETCentric concludes its daily publishing after more than 14 years and nearly 17,000 posts. As we recently reported, it has been our great pleasure to provide this service to our valued members and we are very proud of our accomplishments and commitment to serving the M&E community. In addition to wishing all our readers a wonderful holiday season today, the editorial staff at ETC would like to thank our community for their loyalty and numerous contributions. Our next chapter in knowledge-sharing and fostering innovation begins January 5 with the launch of a new, more dynamic ETC website, which will serve as the first phase in our refreshed communication initiative. We look forward to working with all of you in the new year. Until then, happy holidays to you and your loved ones. Continue reading ETCentric Signs Off, Wishes Happy Holidays to Our Readers

ETC Updating Info Exchange, Will Shutter ETCentric Next Week

By
December 5, 2025

The Entertainment Technology Center at USC launched ETCentric in March of 2011 as a news and commentary forum designed to provide our community members with the most vital information impacting media and entertainment. Over the years we experimented with a variety of delivery methods, eventually settling upon an online portal and associated daily email alert, teamed with a social media presence, highlights of ETC projects, and live reporting from key industry events. While it has been our great pleasure to provide this service to our valued members, we now find ourselves in a different era, one that features a much wider collection of targeted news services and social media tools that serve similar objectives. With that in mind — and as a key part of our larger initiative to refocus information-sharing on ETC projects — we have decided to shutter ETCentric and The Daily News Brief in their current forms and launch a new, more dynamic ETC website on January 5. The final day for ETCentric will be Friday, December 12. Continue reading ETC Updating Info Exchange, Will Shutter ETCentric Next Week

Consistency Is Key: Lessons on Generative AI via ‘The Bends’

By
September 23, 2025

In less than three years, generative AI has evolved from an experimental toy to a regular presence in studio pitches, previs workflows, and even the festival circuit. Yet one challenge has stymied the full adoption of generative AI in long-form storytelling: establishing and maintaining control over outputs. This challenge also fuels many of the anxieties surrounding the use of artificial intelligence in media production. How can artists maintain their creative voice when a machine is doing all the artistic work, and often doing so with inconsistent results? The Entertainment Technology Center at USC set out to tackle these and related challenges with a new film project, “The Bends.” Continue reading Consistency Is Key: Lessons on Generative AI via ‘The Bends’

ETC’s CES 2025 Report: Focus on AI Innovation & Integration

By
March 11, 2025

CES 2025 welcomed over 141,000 attendees from around the globe to Las Vegas. With more than 4,500 exhibitors, including 1,400 startups, and more than 6,000 media attendees, CES highlights the innovation and technology trends addressing global challenges and shaping the future. This year’s show focused on artificial intelligence, unveiling a wave of innovative offerings — whether practical, visionary or experimental. Among the show’s major trends were AI integration across all industries, shifting demographics and purchasing patterns (with Gen Z the one to watch), sustainability and security, and smart devices and smarter homes. ETC@USC attended the conference for live reporting on products and services. Our post-show report features extensive coverage and perspectives related to key creative, business, and technology areas. Continue reading ETC’s CES 2025 Report: Focus on AI Innovation & Integration

ETC Releases Final Section of Virtual Production White Paper

By
July 17, 2024

The Entertainment Technology Center@USC has released the fourth and final installment of its case study, “Fathead: Virtual Production & Beyond.” Chapter 4 of the four-part white paper is titled “Key Contributors: Process Pipelines,” which summarizes key findings of the production and recommended best practices moving forward. “Fathead” — directed by c. Craig Patterson and produced by Erik Weaver, ETC’s director of adaptive production — was shot at Amazon Stage 15 in Culver City as an experiment in virtual production, in-camera VFX and collaborative, cloud-based workflows. Continue reading ETC Releases Final Section of Virtual Production White Paper

Top Stories
More News