NAB Show Invites HBO’s ‘The Last of Us’ Creative Team to Discuss Series’ Artistic Direction
Washington, D.C. — NAB Show will host a session presented by American Cinema Editors that highlights the incredible creative forces behind HBO’s “The Last of Us.” In “American Cinema Editors Present HBO’s The Last of Us,” from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. on Sunday, April 16, the series’ executive producer Craig Mazin and members of the creative team will discuss the meticulous art of editing, cinematography, visual effects (VFX) and sound behind the hit series.
Moderator Carolyn Giardina, tech editor at The Hollywood Reporter, will be joined by Mazin, editors Timothy Good, ACE, and Emily Mendez, cinematographer Ksenia Sereda, VFX supervisor Alex Wang and sound supervisor Michael J. Benavente.
In addition to his role as executive producer, Craig Mazin is also the multiple Emmy® award-winning co-creator, writer and director of “The Last of Us.” Previously, he served as the creator, writer and executive producer of HBO limited series “Chernobyl,” for which he won Golden Globe, BAFTA, Writers Guild, Producers Guild and Peabody awards.
During “The Last of Us,” Timothy Good, ACE, was primarily responsible for editing the first season finale and the acclaimed third episode, featuring the characters Bill and Frank. In addition to editing a wide variety of TV series and miniseries, including ABC’s “When We Rise,” Netflix’s “The Umbrella Academy” and Fox’s “Fringe,” he has also worked on classic series such as the original “Gossip Girl” on the CW and Fox’s “The O.C.”
While working on “The Last Of Us,” Emily Mendez rose from assistant editor to co-editor alongside Good for four episodes. She has also worked on the editorial teams for “The Umbrella Academy,” Fox’s “The Resident,” Hulu’s “Light as a Feather” and Fox’s “Rosewood.”
Ksenia Sereda was listed as one of the “20 Cinematographers You Should Know at Cannes 2019” for her work on “Beanpole” – the same Russian drama film for which she received her first Asia Pacific Screen Award nomination. Before “The Last of Us,” she worked on films such as “Little Bird,” “Petersburg. A Selfie,” “House on Clauzewert’s Head” and “Acid.”
A 20-year veteran in the film and television industry, Alex Wang has worked for several leading VFX studios, including Digital Domain, DNEG and Industrial Light & Magic. Having started out in the early 2000s as a digital artist for films such as “The Day After Tomorrow” and “Tron Legacy,” Wang became a VFX supervisor for “Deadpool” in 2015 and, in recent years, has worked on prominent projects such as “The Last of Us” and “Jurassic World Dominion.”
In addition to “The Last of Us,” Michael J. Benavente counts Hulu’s “Under the Banner of Heaven” as one of his most recent projects. An Emmy winner for The History Channel’s “Houdini,” starring Adrien Brody, Benavente sits on the Sound Branch Executive Committee of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
About NAB Show
NAB Show, held April 15 – 19, 2023 in Las Vegas, is celebrating its centennial year as the preeminent conference and exhibition driving the evolution of broadcast, media and entertainment. It is the ultimate marketplace for next-generation technology inspiring superior audio and video experiences. From creation to consumption, across multiple platforms, NAB Show is where global visionaries convene to bring content to life in new and exciting ways.
About NAB
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America’s broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at www.nab.org.
About The Last of Us
THE LAST OF US takes place 20 years after modern civilization has been destroyed. Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal and heartbreaking journey as they both must traverse the U.S. and depend on each other for survival. All of season one is available to stream now on HBO Max.
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