H. Loren Nielsen
| H. Loren Nielsen | |
|---|---|
| File:Loren Nielsen.jpg | |
| Born | 1957 (age 66–67) Los Angeles |
| 💼 Occupation | Entertainment technology consultant |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Philippe Hartley |
H. Loren Nielsen (born 1957, Los Angeles, CA) is a leading entertainment technology consultant who spearheaded the entertainment industry’s transition from film to digital cinema.[1] As co-founder and president of Entertainment Technology Consultants (ETC), Nielsen spent 23 years facilitating the introduction of breakthrough visual technologies in cinema including 3D and HDR.[2] In January 2018, she joined Xperi Corporation as its Vice President of Content Relations and Strategy to focus on emerging audio technologies. Nielsen now works with filmmakers, studios, and cinemas around the world to deliver immersive sound experiences using DTS’ object-based immersive sound format, DTS:X.[3] She is active on numerous boards and committees, and co-founded two mentorship programs.
Biography[edit]
H. Loren Nielsen’s parents are Waldemar Robert Nielsen and Shirley Jean (Leigh) Nielsen. One of eight children, including three step-sisters, Nielsen was born in Los Angeles, California and raised in Ojai, a small city tucked into the mountains of Ventura County. She studied dance from an early age, and began her career in performance arts in 1978 when she left UC Davis’ economics program to accept a position with the Bill Evans Dance Company, a professional troupe in Seattle, Washington. After four years in the Pacific Northwest, Nielsen moved to Los Angeles in 1982 to dance with Princess Cruises. Nielsen’s transition to the entertainment technology industry occurred in 1986. While working as a waitress at Bobby McGee’s, she met Bob Kremel, an executive with American Video Communications, who later became a mentor and offered Nielsen her first technology job selling video projection systems to the military and aerospace and educational companies.
Early career in entertainment technology[edit]
At American Video Communications, Nielsen’s experience selling projection systems by the likes of Electrohome – which would later become Christie Digital – introduced her to leading engineers in the field, including Matt Cowan. Nielsen’s front row seat to emerging technologies made her an early advocate for digital projection and distribution, and in 1990 she was hired by RKO Pictures to explore an electronic cinema solution before the project was scrapped when it became apparent that digital projectors were still years away from being able to deliver the quality, color-depth and brightness of film projectors on cinema-sized screens. Nielsen switched her focus to distribution, and joined Technicolor in 1992. There, she founded Technicolor Entertainment Services, and partnered with Airborne Express to disrupt a 75-year-old monopoly of 35 millimeter film print distribution, consolidating and modernizing film print distribution to movie theatres.[4]
Entertainment Technology Consultants[edit]
In January 1995, Nielsen was approached by Matt Cowan, about a new digital projector Rank Brimar was developing using Texas Instruments’ DLP technology.[5] Cowan wanted to know if Nielsen could pitch Hollywood on its capabilities. The idea sparked a partnership, and that year Nielsen and Cowan co-founded Entertainment Technology Consultants (ETC) with the goal of acting as a liaison between the technology and creative sectors of the entertainment industry. By 1997, ETC specialized in guiding the introduction of digital cinema technology to entertainment companies, including Viacom, DreamWorks, and Pixar. Nielsen and ETC frequently worked with Paramount Pictures vice president of mastering, Garret Smith, who became a key figure in convincing skeptical directors and cinematographers that Texas Instruments’ DLP technology could deliver the look and feel of film.[6] This included a pitch to George Lucas that convinced the director to release Star Wars: The Phantom Menace in a few select theaters using digital projectors in 1999. The moment sparked a transition to digital cinema.[7] For nearly two decades, with Nielsen as its president, ETC remained at the forefront of the digital revolution, helping studios and movie theaters incorporate a litany of new technologies from companies such as Christie Digital, RealD and Dolby Laboratories, which included laser projection, high dynamic range projection, compression technology, wide color gamut technology, and 3D.[8]
Immersive sound[edit]
As the visual digital technology sector grew and more experts entered the industry, Nielsen and ETC increasingly consulted for companies developing new audio formats. In January 2018, Nielsen accepted an offer with one of her clients, Xperi Corporation/DTS, to become its Vice President of Content Relations and Strategy. Nielsen now manages DTS’ cinema business, demonstrating its immersive sound format DTS:X, which envelops audience members in a sound field so that it feels like they are right in the middle of the scene they are watching. Nielsen works with filmmakers, studios, and cinemas across the globe to evangelize DTS:X technology.[9]
Organizations and mentorship[edit]
H. Loren Nielsen is a member of multiple boards and committees, including the International Cinema Technology Association. She also prioritizes mentorship, and has given back by being involved with educational programs for young professionals, especially women. She co-founded the Hollywood Professional Association’s Women in Post program and HPA’s Young Entertainment Professional program. Nielsen continues to advocate for diversity and inclusion in Hollywood. A full list of associations, boards, and mentorship programs she is involved with includes:
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences: Academy Gold - Advisory Committee
- DEG – Canon Club Advisory Board Member & Mentor
- Hollywood Professional Association - Board of Directors
- HPA’s Women in Post Co-Chair
- HPA’s Young Entertainment Professionals - Co-Founder & Mentor
- Infinity Festival Monolith Awards for Technology – Committee Member
- International Cinema Technology Association – Board of Directors
- USC Entertainment Technology Center Immersive Media Challenge - Mentor
References[edit]
- ↑ Sychowski, Patrick von (2019-08-07). "Digital Cinema at 20: Celebrating the Pioneers of a New Technological Revolution". Retrieved 2019-12-07.
- ↑ "ICG Magazine July 2014 - The Interview Issue". ICG Magazine July 2014 - The Interview Issue. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
- ↑ "H. Loren Nielsen Joins Xperi as Vice President, Content Relations and Strategy". Boxoffice. 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
- ↑ Carrison, Dan (2003). Deadline!: How Premier Organizations Win the Race Against Time. Amacom. ISBN 978-0-8144-2677-7. Search this book on
- ↑ Sychowski, Patrick von (2019-08-07). "Digital Cinema at 20: Celebrating the Pioneers of a New Technological Revolution". Retrieved 2019-12-07.
- ↑ "Industry Vets Matt Cowan and Garrett J. Smith Join Entertainment Technology Consultants in Key Roles". Sound & Video Contractor. 2013-10-23. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
- ↑ ""A Race for Bragging Rights": How 'Star Wars' vs. Harvey Weinstein Launched the Digital Cinema Era". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
- ↑ "ETConsultants". ETConsultants. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
- ↑ "H. Loren Nielsen Joins Xperi as Vice President, Content Relations and Strategy". Boxoffice. 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2019-12-07.
Further reading[edit]
Focal Press Books, Understanding Digital Cinema. Co-authored chapter with Matt Cowan.
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