Burbank, CA – HD EXPO announced that they will be producing both an HD EXPO and a “VariCamp” Workshop in the Midwest. The EXPO will be held on Tuesday May 17th 2005, on the eighth floor of the Film Row Cinema Complex at Columbia College. The VariCamp Workshop will be held Friday, May 20th through Sunday, May 22nd 2005 at Resolution Digital Studio in Chicago.

The EXPO is a one day gathering for the production, entertainment and advertising communities to meet and share ideas and technology. The day will be filled with panels, speakers, and mini-workshops. The evening events include a cocktail reception mixer.

“With two HD EXPOs in Los Angeles annually, a third traveling EXPO makes sense with the fast assimilation of this technology. The Midwest was a logical stop for us as Chicago is the second largest U.S. advertising community and the city’s influence of using High Definition for acquisition and finishing. At the HD EXPO in Los Angeles March 3rd 2005 we produced a panel ‘The Ad Business Goes HD’. Ken Yagoda moderated and Panelists included Rocky Morton, Samuel Bayer, Elma Garcia and Jesse Dylan to name a few. The response was tremendous! Bringing this information and content to the HD community of the Midwest is our goal.”-Kristin Petrovich, CEO/Founder

The “VariCamp” is a three-day intensive HD Workshop designed for Directors of Photography and Cinematographer surrounding the Panasonic VariCam HD Camera. The three days include lectures, a hands-on, color lab, density lab and motion lab. The workshop is taught by notable industry professionals; Bob Primes-ASC, Michael Caporale, Matt Siegel, Ryan Sheridan, C.R. Caillouet Jr., and Gary Adcock.

“We have produced over a dozen “VariCamp” Workshops in the last 2 and a half years with our largest attendance in Chicago in November 2004. With the presence of HD and the Varicam Camera stronger then ever in the Midwest, we felt returning to Chicago, as our first city on the “VariCamp” Workshop tour 2005, was logical”-Kristin Petrovich CEO/Founder

HD EXPO developed the “VariCamp” workshops surrounding the Panasonic Varicam camera in order to encourage the use of High Definition technology within all areas of production. Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C, Dallas, Denver and Connecticut have been home to some of the “VariCamp” over the last two and a half years. 2005 will take HD EXPO Workshops to Connecticut, Orlando, Chicago, Seattle, and Los Angeles. Annual sponsors of the “VariCamp” are Fujinon Lenses, IDX, Schneider Optics, and Telecast Fiber. In addition to the national Gold Sponsors, many local Gold Sponsors support the workshops such as Fletcher Chicago, Resolution Studio, AMP Filmworks, Occidental Studios, Sonalysts Studios to name a few.

HD EXPO and Panasonic’s objective is to educate the production community on the users application of the Varicam camera in order to expedite the acceptance, assimilation, use, rental and/or purchase of the Panasonic AJ-HDC27V nationally. Both HD EXPO and Panasonic believe that the need for more resources is becoming increasing important; therefore the need for education about the technology and equipment is vital. “The quality of these workshops is outstanding for our products because the attendees are those who are genuinely interested in this technology.” states Jeff Merritt, Product Line Business Manager of Panasonic.

HD EXPO creates a unique High Definition community through content-driven and education events where both film and video industry professionals learn more about high definition related products, services and issues. HD EXPO is the first in the nation to produce high definition events of this genre and magnitude. HD EXPO stimulates interest in and increases exposure for participating sponsors/exhibitors; unites HD related events, meetings and user groups under one banner; enables people to share technology, to mix within the industry and to engage in hands-on education.