Meet Brian Gaffney

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Brian Gaffney a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Brian, thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?

My optimism comes from experience. I have broad experience base across the industry that I serve, which is the media and entertainment industry, and the knowledge of how it works gives me hope that even though we constantly change our technical approach to story telling, the fact remains we will always want to tell and share stories. This understanding provides me hope that I can continue to evolve through these changes and stay at the forefront of the creative technology. This optimism spills over into my personal life as well as I too look to the history of my relationships and how they ebb and flow and I know that I can maintain happiness with the life I have created and this makes me optimistic about all opportunities and changes that I will experience.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

As the Vice President of the Software Product Division at MTI Film, I bring over three decades of experience in the media and entertainment industry, driving innovation and excellence in post-production and restoration solutions. My journey has led me through pivotal roles at industry giants like Unity Technologies, Technicolor Creative Services, and Autodesk, where I’ve been instrumental in developing groundbreaking, award-winning technologies. At MTI Film, I’m excited to lead the strategic enhancement of our software offerings, including AI assisted art tools, ensuring we remain at the cutting edge of the industry.

Beyond my work at MTI Film, I am deeply passionate about the arts. I serve as the Digital Director at the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley, where I champion the integration of technology and the arts to enrich our community’s cultural landscape. Additionally, I am honored to be on the Board of Directors for the Visual Effects Society, the Television Academy, and SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) where I contribute to shaping the future of visual effects and broadcast standards.

My work is driven by a love for both technology and the arts, and I’m dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in storytelling, both professionally and within my community of the Conejo Valley. This is why I love the Arts Council of the Conejo Valley’s scholarship programs, like “Hang with the Best”, that help encourage and enable students to start showing their art from the 6th grade onwards. These programs allow us to start mentoring these young artists on the opportunities within the art world.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

The three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are a strong technical background, extensive customer service experience, and an empathetic personality. My technical foundation has allowed me to navigate the complex and ever-evolving landscape of the media and entertainment industry. The years I’ve spent in customer service have honed my ability to understand and meet the needs of both clients and colleagues, while my empathetic approach has enabled me to build strong, collaborative relationships with artists and engineers.

For those early in their journey, I recommend focusing on continuous learning to build a robust technical skill set, as it’s the foundation of any successful career in this industry. Cultivating customer service skills is equally important, as they will help you better understand the needs of those you work with and serve. Finally, developing empathy will allow you to connect more deeply with your team and collaborators, leading to more meaningful and productive relationships. Balancing these three areas will help you grow both professionally and personally.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

The biggest obstacle and new creative challenge across my current technical roles, as well as for the artists I work with, is the rapid impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI is transforming the landscape of media and entertainment, introducing both exciting possibilities and significant hurdles. For technical professionals like myself, the challenge lies in staying ahead of the curve—continuously learning and adapting to AI advancements to ensure that we are leveraging these tools to enhance creativity rather than replace it.

For artists, AI presents a dual-edged sword. On one hand, it offers new ways to create, automate, and innovate; on the other, it raises concerns about the loss of human touch in art and storytelling. Balancing the efficiency and capabilities of AI with the irreplaceable value of human creativity is a complex and ongoing challenge. It requires a collaborative approach, where technologists and artists work closely together to integrate AI in ways that complement and elevate the creative process rather than diminish it. This is the frontier we are navigating, and it demands both technical agility and a deep respect for the artistic spirit.

As I stated, I am optimistic and my advice to those concerned about AI taking their job is that AI won’t replace your job but someone who knows AI will!

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Image Credits

All photos by Brian Gaffnney

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