TU CSG Faculty Attend OKMPA Conference
Faculty from The University of Tulsa’s Computer Simulation and Gaming (CSG) program recently attended the Oklahoma Motion Picture Alliance (OKMPA) Annual Conference and Pitchfest+, an event that brought together filmmakers, animators, producers, musicians, and creative professionals from across the state and beyond.
The conference featured panels and networking sessions with top industry leaders, including executives from Sony Pictures, ShadowMachine, Team Downey, Vertical Entertainment, and Innovative Artists. Discussions centered on the evolving landscape of film, television, music, and interactive media, and how new technologies continue to blur the lines between these industries.
For CSG faculty, the event offered valuable insights into how game development skills are increasingly crossing over into film, animation, and visual effects production. One of the most impactful takeaways came from Angie Izquierdo, Creative Director at ShadowMachine (the studio behind Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and BoJack Horseman), who emphasized that nearly all of her animators now work within Unreal Engine. She noted that experience in any 3D game engine has become a highly sought-after skill in modern animation pipelines.
Events like OKMPA’s Pitchfest+ highlight the growing synergy between game design and film production, both fields grounded in creativity, storytelling, and technology. The CSG program looks forward to continued engagement with Oklahoma’s expanding creative industries and exploring new pathways for collaboration and student opportunity.
