KENNESAW, Ga. | Nov 9, 2018

Students showcase virtual reality and high-tech projects at entertainment industry conference

Kennesaw State will host the 2018 FutureX Live conference, the largest augmented reality, virtual reality and mixed reality conference in the Southeast, on Nov. 16 at the University’s Marietta Campus. KSU is the first university to host the conference.

Sponsored by Moxie, a modern marketing solutions company, and KSU’s Joel A. Katz Music Entertainment and Business program (MEBUS), FutureX spotlights the creative possibilities in the music, film, television and gaming industries. This year’s theme, “The Future of Entertainment,” offers a day-long program including student-driven technology showcases, discussions by industry leaders, and an augmented-reality concert by recording artist Leah Culver.

Working with Culver’s team, students from KSU’s Computer Game Design Development program are providing the coding and character animation for the concert. Meanwhile, students in the MEBUS program have worked throughout the semester to develop business and promotional opportunities for the performer.

“FutureX Live is where creativity meets commerce – content creation coming together with the business of entertainment. This is exactly what we are teaching our students in the MEBUS program and the one of the primary reasons why we wanted to host this exciting conference,” said MEBUS Director Keith Perissi. “Our involvement in FutureX Live also provides our students with hands-on learning opportunities and the chance to meet and network with industry leaders.”

Scott Tigchelaar, the president of Raleigh Studios, and Dan Rosenfelt, president of Third Rail Studios, will be among the guests for “The Future of Digital Entertainment,” the first of the conference’s two panel discussions. The second, “Branding Marketing Sales Strategies,” will include nationally recognized brand ambassador Connor Blakely and entrepreneur Chaka Zulu, who manages rapper and actor Ludacris and is co-founder of the record label Disturbing Tha Peace.

“With Atlanta poised to be a globally recognized hub for entertainment, innovation and technology, FutureX Live is about bringing the community together to showcase the world-class talent, education and capabilities,” said Justin Archer, executive vice president of marketing and innovation for Moxie, MRY and Zenith.

In addition to entertainment industry representatives, Kennesaw State faculty will share their expertise. They include Adriane Randolph, an information systems associate professor and the director of the Brain Lab in KSU’s Coles College of Business; MEBUS instructor Beth Keener, who has appeared on “The Walking Dead”; and Terry Loe, professor of marketing and professional sales and co-director of KSU’s Center for Professional Selling.

For more information about FutureX Live and a complete list of guest speakers, click here.

– Paul Floeckher

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 45,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.