New President, New Name, for HPA

Seth Hallen Elected President of Just-Rechristened Hollywood Professional Association

At the HPA Tech Retreat held this week in Indian Wells, CA, the organization made two big changes. First, it changed its name (but not its identifying acronym) from the Hollywood Post Alliance to the Hollywood Professional Association. Second, it announced that Seth Hallen had been chosen by the board of directors to lead the organization, succeeding outgoing president Leon Silverman.

"Seth is a passionate leader with the focus and vision for thefuture that is needed to continue the growth of the HPA," Silverman said in a prepared statement.

Hallen is senior vice president of global creative services at Sony DADC New Media Solutions, and has served on the HPA board since 2007. Silverman will remain on the Board of Directors where he will serve as Past President. 

In other personnel changes, Panavision CFO Bill Roberts is becoming treasurer, replacing HPA founding treasurer Phil Squyres, who remains on the board. New additions to the board of directors over the last 12 months include NBCUniversal Media Senior VP of Studio Post Craig German, American Cinema Editors Executive Director Jenni McCormick, and SohoNet CEO Chuck Parker. SMPTE Past President Wendy Aylsworth was named SMPTE representative on HPA's board.

HPA merged last year with SMPTE, a move that seems to have precipitated a new, broader mission for the organization. "The nature of the work and responsibilities that our community is engaged in has changed, and will continue to change," said HPA and SMPTE Executive Director Barbara Lange in a prepared statement. "After carefully exploring how to address this growth, it became clear that Professional more accurately and inclusively identifies the creative talent, content holders, global infrastructure of services as well as emerging processes and platforms. As an organization, we are dedicated to seeing beyond the horizon to the wider future, and bringing a wide array of individuals and companies into the organization. Our new name and identity makes that statement.”