Thomas MacCalla , UCLA MBA, has provided strategic planning, management outsourcing and brokering services to a wide range of entertainment and technology organizations for more than 20 years. He is a results oriented leader, skilled in motivating and developing excellence, and proven in his ability to open doors to new and emerging markets.

MacCalla served as AVP/Director of Entertainment Technology at Pacific Bell where he created a division that established pioneering technology applications that went on to exceed revenue objectives by 50%. With studios such as Disney, Paramount, Sony, and Warner Bros, he pioneered the use of high speed networking for digital dailies, special effects and animation, and the early work in Digital Cinema.  

From 1996 through 2002, MacCalla was the COO of the Entertainment Technology Center at USC. He reported to a board comprised of all six major motion picture studios as well as leading technology providers.  With the goal of exploring new innovations in entertainment technology, ETC worked in on-line media with Cybersand Box, content security, the introduction of the DVR with TiVO, and the development of Digital Cinema.  He led the creation of the Digital Cinema Lab, which became home to Digital Cinema Initiatives’ (DCI) research.

MacCalla was responsible for negotiating and consummating a contract between a major US studio and the Institute for Creative Technology (ICT), a research organization directed by the U.S. Army with emphasis in visual, audio, and artificial intelligence projects, for the purpose of creating a unique application utilizing commercial video game platforms. 

He continues to facilitate an annual tour of entertainment technology, starting in 2003, along with members of the European Digital Cinema Forum 

In his joint venture, Karagosian MacCalla Partners (2003 -2005), and a subsequent consulting association with MKPE (2006-2011) MacCalla developed projects related to digital cinema rollouts, content fulfillment and distribution and anti-piracy. His role in the first major rollout of digital cinema with the UK Film Council as well as the re-introduction of 3D movies to studios and exhibition is well documented.  

MacCalla has worked with clients in the United Kingdom and Ireland to rollout digital cinema and DCP delivery systems.  He continues to be active in the UK and Hollywood brokering agreements for developing production and post-production applications.