Session Name: | Women in Game Audio |
Speaker(s): | Corina Bello, Penka Kouneva, Laura Karpman, Paul Lipson, Benedicte Ouimet, Belinda Van Sickle |
Company Name(s): | High Moon Studios, Kouneva Studios, Laura Karpman Music, Microsoft Studios, Ubisoft Montreal, Women in Games International |
Track / Format: | Audio |
Overview: | This panel, led by veteran composers and audio professionals, will present an inspiring discussion about how women cultivate careers in game audio and about the diverse voices women can bring to games. The panel will address a core question: is there any difference between the way a man and a woman composes music? What are the pros and cons of versatility (writing powerful music in many conventional idioms) versus having a unique, distinctive voice? Why is it important for women in the game industry to support each other? How can men help? How can women and men balance issues of work and family? How can women convince decision makers to trust them with big budgets and high stakes? We will examine the challenges of cultivating a career, the required skill sets, and the success stories, along with the political and business savvy needed for a progressive career path. The panelists will also discuss patterns of cultivating careers as a game composer, what has worked for women in other creative tracks (development, design and programming), opportunities for professional growth, navigating the minefields on a high-stakes job, overcoming career stagnation, and branding/re-branding. |