MODERATOR
Justin Owen Rawlins is an Academic Associate faculty member in the Communication and Digital Media Studies program at Ontario Tech University, and an Associate Professor of Media Studies and Film Studies at the University of Tulsa. He is the author of Imagining the Method: Reception, Identity, and American Screen Performance (University of Texas Press, 2024).

PANELISTS
Eileen Kennedy is Durham Region’s Film Commissioner with the goal to support film and television production and attract film-related investment to Durham through key partnerships with the film and television industry, government agencies, educators, locations, and local businesses. In this role and as Chair of the Film and Television Advisory Committee, she produced: Guide to Filming in Durham; Durham Region International Film Festival; Durham Locations Portal; Film and Television Career Fairs; marketing videos and location familiarization tours; the Fannibal Fest tourism event “On Tour with Hannibal”; and facilitated film crew rates with the Durham Hotel Association. To champion change in film and television production, she raises awareness of and supports sustainable production through her roles as an Ontario Green Screen Advisory Committee member and Ambassador.

David Hardy is a seasoned veteran in the Film & TV production industry with 30 years of experience and a deep commitment to advancing sustainability within the sector. Since 2007, he has dedicated himself to transforming industry practices through his extensive network across Canada, the US, and the UK. David’s influence is felt through his roles as a Charter Member of both Reel Green (BC) and Ontario Green Screen, as well as his participation on numerous sustainability advisory committees. Currently, David is Chief Market Development Officer and a Principal at Hone, a pioneering company introducing the world’s first internal combustion hydrogen generator and hydrogen delivery service tailored specifically for the Film & TV production industry. This groundbreaking technology represents a significant step towards reducing the carbon footprint of film and television productions.

Marian Wihak is an award winning multi-disciplinary designer-artist working in film, television, theatre and visual art. She has won 4 Awards for Best Production Design, and has been nominated numerous times, including a 2020 Canadian Screen Award Nomination Best Production Design for her work on STAND! Marian is passionate about amplifying Circular Design and Sustainability within the film industry, sitting on numerous committees and panels to this end, and embracing those strategies within her work as a Production Designer.

Peter Miskimmin is the GM of Wise Acres, a one-stop-shop for production services in Canada (props, set dressing, costumes, greens, backdrops, rigging & production support equipment) with a commitment to sustainability through up-cycling, turning one show's trash into another's treasure.

Naomi Akabe is a media artist, writer, and creative researcher interested in science fiction and sociotechnical imaginaries of caring labour. She is currently pursuing a PhD in Screen Cultures and Curatorial Studies (Film and Media, Queen’s University), where she is thinking about motherhood and technologies of care, environmental media, and outer space futures. Naomi’s films have premiered at festivals such as Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival and Kingston Canadian Film Festival, and her writing is soon to be published by Silver Press, Mattering Press, and KOSMICA Magazine. Naomi also co-runs Séance Centre, a record label and publisher.

Spencer Idenouye is the Virtual Production Lead at SIRT. As part of a collaborative team, Spencer is creating an integrated virtual production studio for training, applied research and commercial services. He provides leadership and expertise in applied research and technical research for the movie, television and gaming industries, and is focused on the application of VR technologies. Spencer’s education is extensive: A Masters in 3D animation, BFA in Media Arts & Digital Technologies and two post-graduate diplomas in Directing and Editing in Advanced Television and Film and Computer Animation Digital Visual Effects. His expertise includes directing, editing, VFX artistry, cinematography, digital content production and motion capture.

Jason Hunter is the Senior Manager of the Mixed-Reality Capture [MRC] Studio at Durham College. He brings a rich experience in digital media production to drive innovations in content creation for Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Mixed Reality (XR) and Virtual Production (VP). Passionate about pushing the boundaries of storytelling, Jason specializes in translating traditional techniques into immersive mediums and virtual production applications. He is dedicated to shaping the future of immersive media through compelling narratives and impactful experiences.