SVG College Sports Summit Q&A: Harvard’s Imry Halevi

This year’s SVG College Sports Summit is rapidly approaching. SVG has assembled a distinguished group of college sports-video experts and television executives as speakers to share their expertise and help move the entire industry to the next level.

Imry Halevi, Harvard University

Leading up to the two-day event, SVG will check in with key members of the program to discuss their involvement and what they hope the Summit will accomplish, as well as to impart some initial pieces of advice.

One of the more revolutionary thinkers in college video production, Imry Halevi moved to Harvard University this year to take over as director of multimedia and production, the first such position in the Ivy League. At the College Sports Summit, he will speak about the latest tools and technology in video production and how the Ivy League is preparing for the launch of its digital network this summer.

Why are you involved with the SVG College Sports Summit?
I think the College Sports Summit is a unique opportunity for everyone in our industry to meet and share ideas and best practices. It goes far beyond equipment. It’s about how we approach our work, and the value we place on creating the best production possible with any budget. I am happy to be involved with the summit, mostly to provide myself with the opportunity to learn from my peers and colleagues. I’ll be sharing some of my experiences on one panel and contribute to the conversation, but, just as much, I am involved with SVG to learn from others and improve myself and my work.

In what ways have you seen the SVG College Sports Summit evolve with the rapidly changing climate of college sports?
With the rapidly decreasing cost of production equipment, I have enjoyed seeing the College Sports Summit evolve to include and highlight different scopes of broadcasts, from full network shows to student-run online streams. I think this inclusion, the ability to learn from both large and small productions, has really allowed the Summit to grow and include producers, directors, and content creators from the entire spectrum of college athletics.

What are you most looking forward to at this year’s Summit?
I am looking forward to seeing how, or if, any new, emerging technologies are adopted by the industry. From 3D to 4K, some of these have been adopted (or at least experimented with) by the big networks. Are there any colleges out there looking to invest in 4K instant replays? Are 4K cameras destined to be the new standard? I’m very interested to hear what my peers are thinking.

You are speaking on the workshop panel that will discuss the latest in video-production technologies. What’s one piece of advice you have for an athletic department looking to boost its live-video offerings to fans?
My one piece of advice regarding equipment is not to be shortsighted. Investing in the right equipment at the start allows you to grow your production and improve it with time, without the need to replace equipment frequently. I’ve heard of several colleges looking to purchase SD equipment in the near future, since all they can afford to do right now is SD productions. I think that a long-term view could help in understanding that it’s cheaper to buy the right equipment once, instead of trying to get rid of obsolete equipment later. Finally, I would add that professional, engaging productions are possible at any price level. It’s more about attention to detail and a commitment to storytelling. That’s how you get fans and viewers, rather than buying the most expensive camera or switcher on the market.

The SVG College Sports Summit (May 29-30, Hyatt Regency, Atlanta) is the top professional-networking event for learning about anything and everything in collegiate sports production.