Dr Ryan Hendricks PhD

Advancing Media Technology Through Human-Centered Innovation and Sustainability

As a media psychologist and industry strategist, I specialize in the intersection of creative media, emerging technologies, and human behavior. With deep expertise in Virtual Production (VP), Extended Reality (XR), and blockchain innovation, I help organizations adopt transformative solutions that redefine how industries create, communicate, and consume media.

Key Services

Media Psychology Consulting: Expert insights into user engagement, technology adoption, and the societal impacts of emerging media.

Strategic Innovation: Navigating the complexities of XR and Virtual Production to help businesses stay ahead of the curve.

Content Strategy + Production: Crafting compelling written and visual narratives rooted in storytelling psychology to captivate and inform diverse audiences.

Research + Analysis: Leveraging data-driven insights to deliver ethical, sustainable, and impactful solutions.

In my work with SMPTE Rapid Industry Solutions, I’ve led strategic partnerships, managed multidisciplinary teams, and spearheaded initiatives that shape industry standards for on-set virtual production and in-camera visual effects (ICVFX). My focus has been on enhancing interoperability, streamlining workflows, and equipping creators and technologists with real-time cinematics and film tools needed to thrive in an evolving media landscape.

Beyond SMPTE, I co-developed CoPiCo (Content Pipeline Contribution)—a decentralized, open-source blockchain protocol and platform. CoPiCo streamlines creative collaboration, accreditation attribution and transparency across production pipelines for motion pictures, music, gaming, live events, and beyond. My team and I are currently testing productions through CoPiCo via Dark Gravity Productions.

As the founder of FilmSR (Filmmakers for Social Responsibility), I combine innovation and advocacy to drive sustainable media production, ethical storytelling, cross-cultural competencies, and belief system enhancement. These initiatives reflect my commitment to leveraging technology and media psychology to empower creators and foster meaningful change.

My work spans collaborations on projects with NBCUniversal, Meta (Facebook), PBS, and the ESPYs, where I craft strategies that solve complex business challenges, advance ethical media production workflows, and promote inclusivity, with a focus on neurodivergence and dyslexia awareness. Whether advancing sustainable storytelling, pioneering AI and XR adoption, or exploring cultural influence in media, I bring leadership, innovation, and actionable insights to every opportunity.

A Personal Note

Beyond my professional achievements, I’m someone who believes in the power of stories and innovation to shape our world. As someone with dyslexia, I've experienced firsthand the challenges and triumphs of navigating a neurodivergent brain in fast-paced industries. This has fueled my advocacy for inclusivity, commitment to helping others unlock their full potential, and reframing dyslexia as a gift. When I’m not working, you’ll find me embracing mindfulness through yoga, pursuing ambitious fitness milestones, or channeling my creativity—whether filming in deep African wilderness terrains or innovating on virtual production stages in urban concrete jungles.