Bob walks into my MGM office…

that would be VP of MGM Creative Services, presenting an intriguing proposition: diving into the new format of DVDs. Eager for digital innovation, I promptly agreed.

During that era, DVD technology represented the new frontier of home entertainment, devoid of guidelines or precedents. To address this, I authored a book of standards. During a visit to the Universal City compression center, the programming experts recommended emulating Warner Bros' approach— which essentially amounted to a dull logo. Despite my shock, I proposed that, for simple JPG graphics, we could conjure something extraordinary. This straightforward suggestion revolutionized the industry's norms.

Our menus, released in collaboration with Sony, New Line, Paramount, and others, became a wellspring of inspiration, propelling MGM to spearhead the introduction of animated menus, commentary versions, and groundbreaking special features. Additionally, I pioneered DVD menu Easter eggs, a trend that continues with thousands of examples today.

The ascent of DVDs marked an unparalleled surge in new media. I was honored to be featured on CNN and receive the MGM Employee of the Month award. Over the span of 15 years, our department evolved into a closely-knit family. I am grateful to Bob for his pivotal visit to my office that day.