THE SLOAN SEMINAR

The AFI Conservatory has hosted a number of leading scientists and professionals within the entertainment industry through the annual Sloan Seminar. At the seminar, a recent film or television show is screened, followed by a discussion with the filmmakers, science advisors, or scientists/engineers related to the film/tv show's topic. The Seminar gives AFI Fellows a chance to interact with leading scientists, engineers, and film community professionals. Additionally, the Sloan Seminar is an opportunity to inspire new science/technology ideas for the AFI Fellows to use in their own films. The parameters, guidelines and deadlines for the Sloan Awards are also discussed during the Sloan Seminar.

Previous Seminars:

2013 Guest: Andy Serkis, actor, filmmaker, performance-capture expert Topic: Performance capture, acting, new technology in filmmaking Screening: Clips from THE LORD OF THE RINGS, KING KONG, RISE OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, and THE HOBBIT
2012 Guest: Leonard Mlodinow, writer on MACGYVER and STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION Topic: Writing for film and TV, writing popular science, and games development Screening: STAR TREK and MACGYVER Episodes
2010 Guest: Vince Gilligan – Creator of BREAKING BAD Topic: A discussion of the story and science of one of the most compelling shows on television with its creator, Vince Gilligan. Screening: BREAKING BAD Episode
2009 Guest: Randy Olson – former marine biologist and current filmmaker Topic: The truth about global warming, using comedy to get hard science topics to the public, and the transition from scientist to filmmaker. Screening: SIZZLE: A GLOBAL WARMING COMEDY
2008 Guests: George Walczak – AFI Screenwriting faculty and NASA Solar System Ambassador Joan Horvath – JPL rocket scientist, science consultant, and author of What Scientists Actually Do Topic: Dramatizing science topics and a scientist's day-to-day life for the screen, using the film CONTACT as a reference. Screening: CONTACT
2007 Guests: Chris Paine – Writer/director of documentary WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR? Dr. Marilyn Raphael – Climatologist and professor at UCLA Topic: Global warming and the future of sustainable energy. Screening: WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR?
2006 Guests: Allen MacDonald – Writer/co-producer on CSI, and a previous AFI Sloan Award recipient. Richard Catalani – Writer/co-producer/senior technical advisor (former crime scene investigator) on CSI. Cheryl Heuton – Writer/executive producer/creator of NUMB3RS. Nicolas Falacci – Writer/executive producer/creator of NUMB3RS. Topic: Science in primetime dramatic television shows. Screening: Episode of CSI
2005 Guest: John Underkoffler – Futurist and science/technology advisor on MINORITY REPORT Topic: Privacy and future technology Screening: MINORITY REPORT
2004 Guest: Erik Arbuthnot – Technical advisor on CROSSING JORDAN and LA County Coroner Topic: Forensics and storytelling Screening: Episode or CROSSING JORDAN
2003 Guests: William Lange – Research Specialist at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute Topic: Furthering understanding or the deep-sea floor Screening: Never-before-scene footage from Woods Hole deep-sea exploration