GRASS VALLEY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Green Screen Institute today announced a collaborative initiative to spur innovation in the emerging VR and AR markets, incorporating an accelerator and investment program for startups, a co-working space for established corporations, and planned programs including vocational training.
“We believe extraordinary creativity occurs in peaceful, natural environments outside the hustle & bustle of major urban centers,” said Jon Gregory, managing partner of the Green Screen Institute and executive director of the Nevada County Economic Resource Council. “Green Screen provides a nurturing environment for creators and technologists to push the envelope of today’s most exciting communication and entertainment medium.”
Green Screen boasts an advisory board of industry professionals who bring diverse expertise to Institute stakeholders. Scott Lenet, president of Touchdown Ventures and advisory board chairman, noted, “We’re excited to assemble VR and AR authorities from venture capital firms, accelerators, media companies, hardware platform manufacturers, and other relevant ecosystem leaders who all see something special happening in this sector.”
The Green Screen Institute today announced the following executives have joined the organization’s advisory board:
- Susan Amat, CEO of VentureHive;
- Gail Becker, President of Partnerships at Edelman;
- Melinda Booth, Executive Director of the Wild & Scenic Film Festival;
- Dan Castles, CEO of Telestream;
- Adam Draper, Founder and Managing Director of Boost VC;
- David Fields, Head of Acquisitions & Investments at Tornante Company (Michael Eisner’s investment fund);
- Richard Hilleman, Chief Creative Director of Electronic Arts;
- Adam Rockmore, SVP of Marketing at Fandango;
- Ajay Singh, Investment Principal, Samsung Global Innovation Center;
- Robyn Ward, Head of New Media Ventures at United Talent Agency; and
- Hamet Watt of Upfront Ventures.
Additional advisory board members will be announced at the Nevada County Economic Development Summit on April 7, 2016.
Green Screen brings together VR/AR startups and stakeholders with a local community of skilled technical professionals who have deep expertise in broadcast video and a vibrant artistic community of film and music creators and curators.
Nevada County is home to some of the world’s leading artistic festivals. “We have the Nevada City Film Festival, with its focus on independent films; California WorldFest, a leading stage for world music; and the Wild & Scenic Film Festival, the world’s top environmental and adventure film festival,” said Melinda Booth. “These festivals provide a natural venue and test bed for creators developing virtual and augmented reality content and technology.”
The accelerator provides technical, educational, and financial support in a three-month summer program for creators exploring VR and AR. The program includes:
- Access to VR & AR platform equipment and production facilities;
- Private and community workspaces with access to co-working lab tenants;
- Proven accelerator curriculum leading to a demo day with investors;
- Startup legal and accounting services; and
- Housing provided for teams of up to three.
The Green Screen Institute’s co-working lab is a shared facility for established companies and universities with an interest in the development of the VR and AR ecosystem. These established groups will share space with Green Screen’s accelerator class, enabling participants to forge relationships with each other and with cutting edge content developers.
Applications for the Green Screen Institute Accelerator will be accepted beginning on April 29, 2016.
For more information about the Green Screen Institute, please visit greenscreeninstitute.com, or contact Jon Gregory at jon@greenscreeninstitute.com.
For continued updates on The Green Screen Institute, follow them on Twitter at @GreenScreenInst.
About The Green Screen Institute
Located in the California Sierra Nevadas near Lake Tahoe, the Green Screen Institute provides collaborative virtual reality and augmented reality programming, including an accelerator for startups and a co-working space for established corporations. Situated in picturesque Nevada City, the Institute offers a retreat-like environment where creators, technologists, and business leaders can innovate “behind the green screen” of nature.