ACE

Upstate Alliance for the Creative Economy

creative economy mixer

Creative Economy Mixer at Collectiveffort: Photo Highlights

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Our February 2020 Creative Economy Mixer was at Collectiveffort in Troy, a new creative agency and workspace whose mission is building and bridging communities. We enjoyed entertainment from The Age, an informative tax workshop (especially for freelancers!) with Kelly Saposnick of Wojeski & Company, food from K-Plate Korean BBQ, beverages from Rare Form Brewing and much more.

  • Collectiveffort is not just a coworking space- check out the other amazing things that happen there:
  • Podcasting: Collectiveffort wants to help you tell your story! Come chat with them during the event at the live Podcast station.
  • Media Studio: Part of what helps to build a great brand is great content. Stop by the media studio to get updated photos for your social media and website.
  • Event Giveaway: One lucky guest received a special gift from the team at Collectiveffort.

 Special thanks to the event sponsors Center for Economic Growth,MVP Health Care,  The Community Loan Fund, Rensselaer County Chamber, and promotional partners Redburn Development, CapGirls, The Collaborative, Troy BID and Rensco Tourism. Event production by 2440 Design Studio.

Creative Economy Mixer Photo Highlights: Pitney Meadows Community Farm

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Last week, we went to Pitney Meadows Community Farm in Saratoga Springs, where we enjoyed food by Merv’s Meatless of Troy and Kaffee House of Saratoga Springs. We had beverages from Druthers Brewing, enjoyed music from the band Folk Song, and had a great panel discussion Led by Crickett Thomas- O’Dell of Workforce Development Institute, with Justine Denison of Denison Farms, Aliza Pickering of Pitney Meadows Community Farm, and Marge Randles of Argyle Cheese Farmers. Check out the photos below.

Creative Economy Mixer Photo Highlights: PS21

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Thanks to everyone who came out to enjoy our Creative Economy Mixer at PS21. We had a great time learning more about the facility, having a tour, and enjoying beverages from Hudson Chatham Winery, and Chatham Brewing. Special thanks to our event sponsors Columbia Economic Development Corporation, MVP Health Care, and Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region and promotional partner CREATE (Council for Resources to Enrich the Arts, Technology and Education).

 

We’ll see you at the next event!

Creative Economy Mixer at Opalka Gallery

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Our March 2019 our ACE #CreativeEconomyMixer was at Opalka Gallery on The Sage College of Albany’s Campus. We saw screenings of amazing Capital Region film projects in the gallery’s Screening Room, including “Safehouse” by Micah Khan of Golden Horde Films and “Zebra” by Lisa M. Thomas of Thin Edge Films. Sam Margolius shared a “behind the scenes” breakdown of a video-enhanced by special effects by visual effects house Branch VFX.

A short tasting menu was featured by Albany-based restaurant UMANA — “Meeting Place for all People” and Druthers Brewing offered a beverage tasting at the event.

In addition to the films, food and drink we also toured the “In Place of Now” Afrofuturism exhibit with co-curator Judie Gilmore.

Special thanks to our sponsors MVP Health Care and the Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region. Photos by Ska City Photography.

Branch VFX Executive Producer Sam Margolius

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Sam Margolius is a forward thinking producer and business executive balancing the hybrid spaces of art, entertainment, technology, production, and marketing. He is a Twenty year veteran of the content world with deep experience working with world-class studios, brands, artists, producers and visionary storytellers in both their core production needs as well as the strategy and implementation of new channels of communication.

 

Sam runs Albany-based Branch VFX which is a STARTUP NY designated company focused on high-level TV and Film projects for Netflix, Paramount, Disney/Marvel, Nickelodeon, etc. and is a sister company to Emmy-Award winning Shade VFX. He recently post produced Terrence Malick’s 360/VR experience, “Together” which debuted at SXSW 2018 and then at The TriBeCa Film Festival and is Executive Producer for the Haagen-Dazs, HTC Vive, Google Daydream 360/VR collaboration, “The Extraordinary Honey Bee“, which was voiced by Constance Zimmer and debuted at the World Economic Forum 2018 in Davos, Switzerland. Additionally, he produced the 2016 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition VR and one of the first ever VR music videos, “Crown” for hip hop supergroup, Run The Jewels, which released on the New York Times NYTVR app and launched at SXSW 2016.

 

Raised in the Catskill Mountains for all of his formative years, he holds a deep respect for the vitality of nature, the importance of sarcasm, and the flavor of whiskey.

Below are two examples of how imagination comes alive in the digital effects that add the finishing touches to a film.

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