Report from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Science and Technology Council

Annie Chang is the co-chair of the Academy Science and Technology Council. As the vice president of creative technologies at Universal Pictures, Annie is responsible for developing strategies and designing innovative next-generation workflows across film and emerging immersive media experiences. Prior to joining Universal Pictures, Chang was the VP, Technology for Marvel Studios and held various roles at the Walt Disney Studios. During her career, she has chaired many industry-leading committees and has been honored with numerous industry awards including being named on The Hollywood Reporter’s list of top “Hollywood Innovators” in 2020. In 2021, Hollywood Professional Association honored Chang with the HPA League Honor of “The Catalyst” which recognizes a leader who has successfully inspired and sparked positive change and innovation in entertainment as a “mover and shaker,” and TVNewsCheck recognized Chang with their Women in Technology Futurist Award.

Theodore E. Gluck is the chair of the Technology History Subcommittee. Theodore E. Gluck is currently the Director of Library Restoration and Preservation at Visual Data Media Services after 30 years with the Walt Disney Studios. He received his master’s degree in film studies from Boston University. During his tenure at Disney, Gluck worked with film operations, distribution, foreign language dubbing, and library restoration. Gluck worked on the restoration and preservation of more than 30 animated feature films, over 100 animated shorts, and several live-action features, and coordinated the digitization and preservation of a significant portion of the Disney’s nitrate negatives of animated classics. A long-standing member of SMPTE, BKSTS and AMIA, Gluck has also lectured and written extensively on the history of cinema technologies, including widescreen processes, the development of Technicolor, and multi-channel stereo sound formats.

Leslie Iwerks is the chair of the Public Programs and Education Subcommittee. Leslie Iwerks is an Oscar- and Emmy®-nominated director and producer. She is the granddaughter of the Academy Award® winning Disney animator/co-creator of Mickey Mouse, visual effects pioneer and Disney Legend, Ub Iwerks, and the daughter of Academy Award® winner and Disney Legend, Don Iwerks. For two decades, Leslie has created enterprise documentaries (Superpowered: The DC Story, The Imagineering Story, Ella Brennan: Commanding the Table), along with environmental and social issue documentaries (Selling Lies, Recycled Life). Leslie has filmed on all seven continents, and her work can be seen across multiple streaming platforms. Leslie is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Documentary Branch, the Directors Guild of America, the Producers Guild of America, the Television Academy, and serves the USC School of Cinema Television Alumni Council. Leslie currently serves as the CEO & Creative Director for Iwerks & Co.

Jeffrey Taylor is the chair of the Technology and Research Initiatives Subcommittee. Jeffrey Taylor began his entertainment career over 39 years ago designing custom music recording consoles, then moving into post-production and software development at The Droid Works, a division of Lucasfilm Ltd. followed by technology development and management work at Walt Disney Pictures Animation Group and Sony Pictures. Taylor currently serves as the vice president of Corporate Cinema Services at Universal Studios.

Andy Maltz is the senior vice president of the Science and Technology Council and its founding head of staff of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Science Technology Council. A SMPTE Fellow, Maltz serves on the organization’s Motion Imaging Journal Board of Editors. He also chairs ISO/TC 36 Cinematography and is a founding member of the Academy Software Foundation governing board.