tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70043395399416291762024-03-14T03:56:51.382-04:00PGA NMC BlogPGANMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841401672586929056noreply@blogger.comBlogger64125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-52503485673429006692010-10-05T12:54:00.009-04:002010-10-05T13:14:23.484-04:00TRANSMEDIA STORYTELLING - THE NEW ENTERTAINMENT PARADIGM<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">TUESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2010</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">7:00 to 9:00 pm</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Theresa Lang Center</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">The New School</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">55 West 13th St. at 6th Ave.</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">New York City</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Refreshments will be served. Members are strongly encouraged to bring qualified</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">prospective members as their guests.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Special thanks to Terra Fossil for providing premium wines for PGA East events.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">To RSVP for this event, please visit:</span></div><div><a href="http://transmedia.eventbrite.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">http://transmedia.eventbrite.com</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Event hosted by The Producers Guild of America, New Media Council, New York Chapter.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Transmedia development, production and implementation is now fully in practice at the highest levels of companies such as Disney, Saban, Microsoft and Mattel. Around the world, visionaries are generating stunning multi-platform endeavors based on the principles of transmedia. Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, is the world’s foremost expert at developing entertainment properties and premium brands into highly successful transmedia franchises. He has worked on such properties as Pirates of the Caribbean, Avatar, Coca-Cola’s Happiness Factory, Halo, Transformers and the upcoming,Tron Legacy. In this, his first Master Class after this September’s revelatory TED talk in Geneva, Switzerland, Jeff will candidly share his latest experiences in the field, expanding upon the vanguard technique of funding, planning, creating and producing highly engaging story worlds that maximize both the creative potential of your work, equity participation and subsequent revenues. Case studies will include analysis of some of the biggest entertainment franchises of today, and the discussion</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">will include advice on how to apply these concepts to your own projects, large or small, fact or fiction.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">JEFF GOMEZ</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">CEO, Starlight Runner Entertainment</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, is the world’s foremost expert at developing entertainment properties and premium brands into highly successful transmedia franchises. As a creative consultant to Fortune 500 companies, he contributes strategic planning and production for the cross-platform implementation of content.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Jeff conceived, co-wrote and produced one of the most successful transmedia storylines of the decade with Mattel’s Hot Wheels comic books, videogames, web content and animated series. He has gone on to work with such franchises as Pirates of the Caribbean and Tron Legacy for The Walt Disney Company,James Cameron’s Avatar for 20th Century Fox, Halo for Microsoft, Happiness Factory for The Coca-Cola Company, Transformers for Hasbro, and most recently Men in Black 3 for Sony Pictures.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Jeff is a member of the Producers Guild of America (PGA) East Executive Committee and serves on the national board of the PGA New Media Council.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Additional Speaker:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">BRENT WEINSTEIN</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Head of Digital Media, United Talent Agency</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Brent is one of the leading figures in the digital media industry, helping develop content deals for broadband, videogame, and mobile platforms. He formed the digital media practice at United Talent Agency in 2003, where he leads a team of dedicated digital media agents to identify and evaluate opportunities for UTA clients: actors, writers, directors, producers, and recording artists, in addition to many business-to-business and consumer-oriented technology and corporate clients. Brent, with UTA co-founder and partner Jeremy Zimmer, also formed UTA Online, a dedicated broadband division that finds and represents the next generation of web-based content artists. In 2007, Brent served as the CEO of 60Frames, a privately-held, venture backed company dedicated to financing, ad sales and syndication of original professionally produced entertainment content for the internet. The company was incubated by</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">United Talent Agency and Spot Runner, an innovative internet-based advertising agency.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">During his tenure at UTA, Weinstein made digital media deals for many of the best known artists in entertainment, including Johnny Depp, Jack Black, Jim Carrey, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, as well as top digital media artists such as Big Fantastic (“Prom Queen”), AskANinja (askaninja.com), and others.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Prior to joining UTA in 2001, Weinstein practiced corporate and business litigation in Los Angeles and Irvine, California. He is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where he earned a Bachelors degree in Business Administration, and the University of San Diego School of Law.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">For the most up-to-date information on the PGA New Media Council East, please visit the blog at</span></div><div><a href="http://pganmc.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">http://pganmc.blogspot.com</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">For more information about the PGA and to access a membership application, please visit: </span></div><div><a href="http://www.producersguild.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">http://www.producersguild.org</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">Previous events from our event series can be accessed in both webcast and podcast format at:</span></div><div><a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/pga"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;">http://www.scribemedia.org/pga</span></a></div>Gary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-47677098203922847992010-09-22T08:12:00.011-04:002010-09-22T08:36:19.504-04:00PGA and NYTF Autumn in New York Cocktail Reception<span style="font-weight:bold;">The Producers Guild of America New Media Council East<br />and the New York Television Festival</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">PGA NMC <br /><br />and <br /><br />New York Television Festival</span><br /><br /><br />Invite you to<br />Autumn in New York Cocktail Reception<br />Wednesday, September 22nd<br /><br /><br />7:00-9:00 pm<br />Tribeca Cinemas<br />54 Varick Street<br /><br />YOU MUST BE A QUALIFY PGA MEMBER TO ATTEND EVENT<br />For information on becoming a PGA MEMBER please go to <a href="http://www.producersguild.org/?page=why_you_should_join">Producer's Guild of America Website<br /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Wine provided by Terra Fossil Terra Fossil<br />Beer provided by Stella Artois Stella Artois</span><br /><br />Join industry colleagues and PGA members as we celebrate the new season in New York, the New York TV Festival, and the autumnal equinox*<br /><br />*the autumnal equinox is officially at 11:09 pm EST on 09/22/10PGANMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841401672586929056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-33285879416596088502010-04-30T17:04:00.012-04:002010-04-30T17:26:51.608-04:00SOCIAL MEDIA AND NON-FICTION FILM PRODUCTION PANEL:<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 1px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 1px; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">SOCIAL MEDIA AND NON-FICTION FILM PRODUCTION PANEL</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thursday, May 6</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">MPE Penthouse </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">432 West 45th St. btwn 9th & 10th Aves </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">7:00pm - Doors Open </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">7:30pm - Panel Begins </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Refreshments will be served </span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; "><span style="font-weight: bold; ">PGA members only</span><br />(to become a member of PGA please go to <a href="http://www.producersguild.org/join-us/who-can-join/">producersguild.org</a>)</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Social Media is omnipresent, but is it the new marketing wonder weapon? This panel discussion with</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">documentary filmmakers and experts in social media will show and tell how filmmakers can use social</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">media to market and promote their films at all different stages of production. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A social media consultant will provide a brief 101 of social media, including the most important</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">social media sites, demographics and statistics, and offer some tips and tricks to set the scene for</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the panel discussion to follow. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Using examples from different documentary and non-fiction productions, the audience will hear first</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hand how filmmakers:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><div><ul type="circle"></ul></div><div><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tap into existing fan bases, create new fans, and build engagement and awareness. </span></li></div><div><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Help find financing for their film and reach out to potential audiences. </span></li></div><div><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Get the message of their film out across the country and into the world, beyond the traditional film community. </span></li></div><div><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Create buzz and revenue opportunities.</span></li></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Moderator</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size:13px;"><b>CRIS POPENOE: Producer, New Media Council</b> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size:13px;">Cris Popenoe is a creative executive and entrepreneur who over more than 30 years, has innovatively combined content, commerce, and social engagement into media. She has produced numerous award-winning digital media projects, including online videos, mobile and online apps, and games. She's been a digital media maven for as long as there's been digital media and in recent years has focused on the intersection of video, social media, and monetization. See her website, <a href="http://www.icebase.com/go2.shtml?GzONJccIwn6rfWeX/3a95a92d139383e9/f501791c5d9a5a4a/gary@gibiteca.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); ">www.dawn-productions.com</a>, for details.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size:13px;"><b>Panelists</b><br /><b>AMY KALAFA: Filmmaker, Producer</b><br />Amy Kalafa is an award-winning filmmaker specializing in health and wellness communication. She's also a certified health coach, organic farmer and mother of two. Amy's production credits include Dr. T. Berry Brazelton's parenting show, "What Every Baby Knows", PBS specials, "Our Nation's Health: A Matter of Choice" and "Healthy Aging", as well as the Reiner Foundation's, "The First Years Last Forever". She has produced food and health segments for the Emmy nominated "Martha Stewart Living" series and has appeared as a guest chef on PBS's, "Cultivating Life." She also worked as a writer / producer / editor on the past three seasons of the James Beard award-winning series, "Lidia's Italy". Since 2005, she has spent her "spare time" spearheading a project that is both a movie and a movement, "Two Angry Moms," a documentary about greening the school food environment that has received numerous festival awards and major national media coverage. <a href="http://www.icebase.com/go2.shtml?GzONJccIwn6rfWeX/b7528d2a2c5fe044/f501791c5d9a5a4a/gary@gibiteca.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); ">www.angrymoms.org</a>, <a href="http://www.icebase.com/go2.shtml?GzONJccIwn6rfWeX/2d26d5a281f6780d/f501791c5d9a5a4a/gary@gibiteca.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); ">www.angrymoms.groupsite.com</a> </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size:13px;"><b>SHALINI KANTAYYA: Filmmaker, Producer</b><br />Combining biting social commentary with a dash of commercial appeal, filmmaker and eco-activist Shalini Kantayya finished in the top 10 out of over 12,000 filmmakers ON THE LOT, a Steven Spielberg Fox television show in search of Hollywood's next great director. The mission of her production company, 7th Empire Media, is to create a culture of human rights and a sustainable planet through a wildly imaginative media of the highest professional quality. A William D Fulbright Scholar, her award-winning film, a DROP of LIFE, a futuristic sci-fi flick about the mounting global water crisis, has been used as an organizing tool in over 40 villages across Africa. <a href="http://www.7thempiremedia.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); ">www.7thempiremedia.com</a><br /><br /><b>MARK MORI: Filmmaker, Producer</b><br />Mark Mori is an Academy Award® nominated documentary filmmaker and Emmy Award® winning TV producer. Through his shingle, Single Spark Pictures, Mori has produced hard-hitting and memorable documentaries and television series, garnered film festival screenings, theatrical distribution and television broadcast worldwide. Mori's latest project, the documentary film Bettie Page Reveals All is the authorized bio of the pin-up legend and is currently in post-production. Mori is using Google, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, myspace, flickr and other social media sites to reach Bettie Page fans worldwide, drive traffic to his website and build an audience for and monetize the film. He’s also using social media and online distributors including Amazon, iTunes, Hulu, Netflix, Neoflix, Indieflix to advertise and distribute his Emmy winning doc, Kent State: The Day The War Came Home and his Academy Award nominated doc, Building Bombs. <a href="http://www.icebase.com/go2.shtml?GzONJccIwn6rfWeX/65d94be8786c5e83/f501791c5d9a5a4a/gary@gibiteca.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); ">www.bettiepagemovie.com</a><br /><br /><b>MARISELA RIVEROS: Multimedia Producer, Social Media Consultant</b><br />Marisela Riveros is an award-winning producer with ten years of experience in broadcast journalism. She transitioned into developing social media strategies through her company, Reverie Media, when colleagues asked her to better understand Facebook, Twitter, Digg, blogs, etc., and build their online presence. She is a twitterer with a strong know-how of building communities and engaging audiences online. Her social media work focuses on designing social media strategies for clients like journalists, musicians, non-for-profits and small business, to maximize ROI and build brand equity. <a href="http://www.icebase.com/go2.shtml?GzONJccIwn6rfWeX/c838291881508ec1/f501791c5d9a5a4a/gary@gibiteca.com" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(42, 93, 176); ">www.mariselariveros.com</a></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></div><table bg="" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" border="0" width="580" style="color:#f4f4f4;"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" align="center" valign="top" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-family:arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></span>Gary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-50000135209363145022010-04-21T13:21:00.001-04:002010-04-21T13:25:17.583-04:00GAMES FOR CHANGE: PRODUCING TRANSFORMATIONAL VIDEOGAMESThe PGA New Media Council East Presents<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">GAMES FOR CHANGE: PRODUCING TRANSFORMATIONAL VIDEOGAMES</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Monday, May 3, 2010 at 7:00p</span>m<br />This Event Is Open To Everyone.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Theresa Lang Auditorium</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The New School</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">55 West 13th St. at 6th Ave.</span><br /><br />The Games for Change movement – spurred by the growth in ‘Serious Games’ and intelligent conflict-resolution games – is now a full-fledged subgenre that has backing from the United Nations and other international bodies. Games for Change – or G4C – is a movement and community of practice dedicated to using videogames for social change. Games for Change is also the name for the non-profit organization which builds a support framework and shared resources for individuals and organizations using digital games for social change.<br /><br />This session will include some of the leaders in the Games for Change movement, who will demonstrate some of their works, as well as discuss how G4C producers can join in with a growing community of online, console, and mobile developers for the next generation of progressive videogame creativity.<br /><br />Panelists include:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Asi Burak</span>, executive producer, <a href="http://www.gamesforchange.org">Games for Change</a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eric Zimmerman</span>, <a href="http://www.ericzimmerman.com">independent game developer</a> (and founder, GameLab)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">David Martz</span>, Vice President of Business Development, <a href="http://www.muzzylane.com">Muzzy Lane</a><br /><br />Panel moderated by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris Pfaff</span>, Chapter Chairman, <span style="font-weight: bold;">PGA New Media Council East</span><br /><br />Wine and refreshments will be provided.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">RESERVATION INSTRUCTIONS</span><br />-RSVP by visiting <a href="http://pganmceast2.eventbrite.com/">pganmceast2.eventbrite.com</a>Gary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-41288187898810962102010-01-31T22:19:00.002-05:002010-01-31T22:24:13.583-05:00BRICK CITY – A NEW MEDIA MARKETING CASE STUDY Wednesday, February 3<span style="font-weight: bold;">BRICK CITY – A NEW MEDIA MARKETING CASE STUDY</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wednesday, February 3</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6:00pm </span>- Networking mixer with wine and light refreshments<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7:00pm</span> - Programming begins<br />57th Street Screening Room<br />140 W. 57th St. btwn 6th and 7th Ave<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PGA members only</span><br />(to become a member of PGA please go to <a href="http://www.producersguild.org/join-us/who-can-join/">producersguild.org</a>)<br /><br />The PGA East Diversity Committee; Documentary Committee and NMC East celebrate Black History Month with the team behind the groundbreaking Sundance Channel documentary BRICK CITY. Originally aired in September, 2009 as a five-part documentary series, it examines the city of Newark, New Jersey during a pivotal year in the renaissance mayoral administration of Cory A. Booker, whose 2006 election signaled a new chapter in the city’s fortunes. As the mayor and his allies fight to make the city safer and stronger, the lives of Booker, citizens on the front lines, and key figures re-making the city – from developers to reformed gang members and youth mentors – create a compelling portrait of a critical moment in American urban history.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">BRICK CITY</span> (recently nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special) featured a bold new media marketing campaign - spearheaded by Sundance Channel VP Digital Media & Creative Development Jeff Kunken - that created a virtual community around the bold project, which was created and directed by award-winning filmmakers Mark Benjamin and Marc Levin.<br /><br />Panelists:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">MARK BENJAMIN</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">MARC LEVIN</span> – Executive Producers/Directors, ‘Brick City’<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">JEFF KUNKEN</span>, VP Digital Media & Creative Development, Sundance Channel<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">KEITH MCQUIRTER</span>, Co-Producer, ‘Brick City’ (PGA East member)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">DESIREE PETERKIN-BELL</span>, Director of Communications for the City of Newark, Mayor Cory A. Booker<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">JOHN STAUB,</span> EVP of Marketing at Cornerstone Media<br /><br />Moderator:<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">JENNIE BOURNE</span>, PGA NMC East memberGary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-83985828150227114812009-10-26T13:57:00.006-04:002009-10-26T14:02:38.807-04:00BRAVE NEW (OPEN) WORLD: A PRODUCER’S PRIMER ON THE LATEST OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">From </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wikis</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to Ruby on Rails; How to Produce Content the Open Source Way</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Tuesday, November 10, 2009 from 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Theresa Lang Auditorium</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br />The New School<br />55 W. 13</span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">th</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> Street<br />New York, NY 10011 </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC</b></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><a href="http://pganmceast.eventbrite.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE CLICK HERE</b></span></span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Open Source software revolution, long the province of computer</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">scientists and software developers (e.g., LINUX, Mozilla), now offers a</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">wide spectrum of free, open source tools ranging from wiki builders to</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">video and audio packages. Companies ranging from </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ning</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">KickApps</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> have</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">benefited from the move to flexible, modular applications. New media</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">producers are now the beneficiaries of an innovative movement that</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">offers continuously improved software – thanks to the open source</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">community – that can deliver lower costs and high-quality features for</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">web and mobile apps; video editing and distribution; audio recording,</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">and collaborative applications.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This session will provide a snapshot of the open source software</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">movement’s key features for those producing in the virtual world.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Panelists include:</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">•</span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ron </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Yetkutiel</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Kaltura</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> (open source video)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">•</span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Tatum Lade, Diversion Media (open source web; Ruby on Rails)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">•</span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ted </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Metcalfe</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, Lime Bits (open source audio)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">•</span></span></span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Rony</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Greenberg</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Funambol</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> (open source mobile)</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Panel moderated by Chris </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Pfaff</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, Chapter Chairman, </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">PGA</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> New Media Council</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">East</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wine and refreshments will be provided.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For more information about the </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">PGA</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> New Media Council and to access a membership application, please visit:</span></span></span><a href="http://www.pganewmedia.org/" style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">http://www.pganewmedia.org</span></span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:130%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(90, 90, 80); font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">For more information about the </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">PGA</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> and to access a membership application, please visit:</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><a href="http://www.producersguild.org/" style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">http://www.producersguild.org</span></a></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 0in; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 8px; padding-left: 0px; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Previous events from our 2005-2009 event series can be accessed in </span></span></span><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">webcast</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> format at:</span></span></span><a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/pga" style="text-decoration: underline; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">http://www.scribemedia.org/pga</span></span></span></a></span></p></span></span></span></div>Gary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-76309580246166260472009-09-28T10:30:00.005-04:002009-09-28T10:45:42.978-04:005th season of NMC East programming begins CORE CLUB EVENT Magnify.net founder and CEO Steve Rosenbaum<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" border-collapse: collapse; font-family:arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">This coming year – 2009-2010 – marks our 5th season of NMC East programming, and we are very pleased to bring our membership and guests some of the leading digital media producers, executives, and industr gurus through our event series which, as always, is recorded and webcast <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">for posterity by Scribe Media (</span><a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/pga"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">www.scribemedia.org/pga</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">).</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A Conversation with Steven Rosenbaum, Documentary Filmmaker and CEO of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Magnify.net.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wednesday, September 30 at 7:00pm</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The Core Club</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">66 East 55 Street, between Madison and Park Aves.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The explosion of user-generated video content both professional and amateur has spawned a new generation of video archive and curation tools that offer a wide range of filters for producers and viewers alike. The melding of editorial and filtering has created a new metric for how the public views news and actualities today, the most discussed piece of video may not be shot by a professional news crew, but produced and or captured by an amateur. As the mainstream media races to catch up to the shifting video viewing habits of a voracious public appetite for video,companies ranging from Mediaite to Weather.com offer new ways to</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">syndicate and cull video for a wide range of tastes and applications.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Steve Rosenbaum, a noted documentary filmmaker and CEO of New York based</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Magnify.net, will discuss the landscape for video curation, and talk</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">about his company's video publishing platform, which enables the integration of user generated video into company websites and provides tools for building video communities.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">STEVEN ROSENBAUM, CEO, MAGNIFY.NET</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Steve Rosenbaum is an award winning documentary film director and producer who, together with his wife and business partner Pamela Yoder, has also created the CameraPlanet Archive, the largest compendium of 911 related images and videos, which was recently contributed to the September 11th Memorial and Museum. Steve directed the acclaimed 7 Days in September, a documentary that examined the effects of the World Trade Center attacks on New Yorkers.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Steve created the first audience participation TV series of its kind MTV Unfiltered and was an early proponent of merging off line and online content. He has produced a wide range of films, documentaries, and web projects for the likes of A&E, CNN, Discovery, HBO, MSNBC, and many others.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">As CEO of Magnify.net, Steve has helped develop tools that engage,embrace and facilitate media creation, sharing, and discussion. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America New Media Council East.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Moderator: CHRIS PFAFF, President, Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC; board delegate, PGA New Media Council</span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <!--EndFragment--> <table border="0" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr><td face="arial, sans-serif" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.75pt; padding-right: 0.75pt; padding-bottom: 0.75pt; padding-left: 0.75pt; "><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p></span>Gary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-42571946848467372192009-05-11T12:56:00.005-04:002009-05-11T13:01:27.133-04:00BUILDING DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT BRANDS: HOW TO PROFIT IN THE MULTI-PLATFORM UNIVERSE<!--StartFragment--> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Producers Guild of America New Media Council East Presents the 2008-2009 Panel and Salon Series</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">***EXCLUSIVE MEMBERS ONLY EVENT***</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wednesday, May 20, 2009</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">BUILDING DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT BRANDS: HOW TO PROFIT IN THE MULTI-PLATFORM UNIVERSE</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">A Conversation With Fred Seibert, President & Executive Producer, Frederator Studios</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The development of profitable digital media ventures relies as much on knowing when the next wave will hit as it does on creating sustainable revenue models.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In some respects, the first decade of the 21</span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">st</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">-century belongs to the media entrepreneurs who have the foresight to create new digital brands that build a trusted, satisfied audience that can attract revolving advertising and syndication revenue streams.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Fred Seibert is a hyphenate producer who has done as much to create today’s New York media landscape as any single individual: music producer, cable television programming pioneer, agency executive, cartoon producer, and Internet television executive.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Frederator Studios has produced award-winning hits such as ‘The Fairly Oddparents,’ ‘ChalkZone,’ and My Life as a Teenage Robot, while creating hundreds of new characters for Nickeloden at the Random! Cartoons and Oh Yeah! Cartoons sites.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">His latest venture, Next New Networks, has aggregated micro-networks – including the likes of BarelyPolitical.com – with the stated goal of creating 101 new networks over the next three years.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">He has helped launch brands as massive as MTV, rekindled such cherished icons as Hanna-Barbera, and produced Grammy-nominated jazz records while developing a portfolio of work that continues to evolve.</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In his own words, he “just can’t seem to stop living!”</span><span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Fred Seibert, President & Executive Producer, Frederator Studios</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Fred Seibert makes cartoons and television networks.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">In 1998 former Hanna-Barbera Cartoons president Fred Seibert formed Frederator Studios, an independent television production company. He is the executive producer of seven animated series on Nickelodeon’s networks: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Fairly Oddparents,</span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ChalkZone</span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">My Life as a Teenage Robot</span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival</span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! </span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(with Susan Miller), </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Oh Yeah! Cartoons</span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, and </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Random! Cartoons</span></i></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. He is a founder of Channel Frederator, the world’s first cartoon podcast, and Next New Networks, a company launching 101 micro-TV networks.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:top"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Seibert began his career in college radio, produced jazz records, and started in television as the first creative director of MTV: Music Television. He co-founded Fred/Alan Inc. with Alan Goodman as the first branding agency in television, where they created Nick-at-Nite and relaunched Nickelodeon as the #1 network in cable television.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:12.0pt;vertical-align:top"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Moderator: Chris Pfaff, President, Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC; board delegate, PGA New Media Council</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">This event takes place at The Core Club in New York City.</span></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">***YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA TO ATTEND THIS EVENT!***</span></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><a href="http://www.producersguild.org/join-us/">CLICK HERE </a></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="text-decoration: underline;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><a href="http://www.producersguild.org/join-us/">INFORMATION ON BECOMING A MEMBER OF </a></b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b><a href="http://www.producersguild.org/join-us/">THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA</a></b></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;color:black;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Previous events from our 2005-2008 event series can be accessed in both webcast and podcast format at: </span><a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/pga"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">http://www.scribemedia.org/pga</span></a></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Verdana;font-size:11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <o:p></o:p></p> <!--EndFragment-->Gary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-53832475579798960362009-05-11T09:27:00.000-04:002009-05-11T09:30:45.510-04:00HOW TO PROFIT IN THE MULTI-PLATFORM UNIVERSEProducers Guild of America New Media Council East Presents the 2008-2009 Panel and Salon Series<br /><br />***EXCLUSIVE MEMBERS ONLY EVENT***<br /><br />Wednesday, May 20, 2009<br /><br />BUILDING DIGITAL ENTERTAINMENT BRANDS: HOW TO PROFIT IN THE MULTI-PLATFORM UNIVERSE<br />A Conversation With Fred Seibert, President & Executive Producer, Frederator Studios<br /><br />The development of profitable digital media ventures relies as much on knowing when the next wave will hit as it does on creating sustainable revenue models. In some respects, the first decade of the 21st-century belongs to the media entrepreneurs who have the foresight to create new digital brands that build a trusted, satisfied audience that can attract revolving advertising and syndication revenue streams.<br /><br />Fred Seibert is a hyphenate producer who has done as much to create today’s New York media landscape as any single individual: music producer, cable television programming pioneer, agency executive, cartoon producer, and Internet television executive. Frederator Studios has produced award-winning hits such as ‘The Fairly Oddparents,’ ‘ChalkZone,’ and My Life as a Teenage Robot, while creating hundreds of new characters for Nickeloden at the Random! Cartoons and Oh Yeah! Cartoons sites. His latest venture, Next New Networks, has aggregated micro-networks – including the likes of BarelyPolitical.com – with the stated goal of creating 101 new networks over the next three years. <br /><br />He has helped launch brands as massive as MTV, rekindled such cherished icons as Hanna-Barbera, and produced Grammy-nominated jazz records while developing a portfolio of work that continues to evolve. In his own words, he “just can’t seem to stop living!” <br /><br />Fred Seibert, President & Executive Producer, Frederator Studios<br /><br />Fred Seibert makes cartoons and television networks.<br /><br />In 1998 former Hanna-Barbera Cartoons president Fred Seibert formed Frederator Studios, an independent television production company. He is the executive producer of seven animated series on Nickelodeon’s networks: The Fairly Oddparents, ChalkZone, My Life as a Teenage Robot, The Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! (with Susan Miller), Oh Yeah! Cartoons, and Random! Cartoons. He is a founder of Channel Frederator, the world’s first cartoon podcast, and Next New Networks, a company launching 101 micro-TV networks.<br /><br />Seibert began his career in college radio, produced jazz records, and started in television as the first creative director of MTV: Music Television. He co-founded Fred/Alan Inc. with Alan Goodman as the first branding agency in television, where they created Nick-at-Nite and relaunched Nickelodeon as the #1 network in cable television.<br /><br />Moderator: Chris Pfaff, President, Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC; board delegate, PGA New Media Council<br /><br />This event takes place at The Core Club in New York City.<br /><br />***YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA TO ATTEND THIS EVENT!***<br /><br />Previous events from our 2005-2008 event series can be accessed in both webcast and podcast format at: <a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/pga">http://www.scribemedia.org/pga</a><br /><br />For more information about ScribeStudio Productions, please visit: http://<a href="http://www.scribestudio.com/">www.scribestudio.com</a>.Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-6173789726903819352009-04-16T17:19:00.003-04:002009-04-16T17:25:02.221-04:00New York Web TV Meetup - April 2009New York Web TV Meetup - April 2009 - A Conversation with Fred Seibert of Frederator and Next New Networks<br /><br />The New York Web TV Meetup is a monthly event devoted to celebrating and supporting innovation in the exploding digital entertainment industry and bringing together the dynamic web television community. Each month, we’ll take an in-depth look at the processes and people behind some of the most successful entertainment products created for broadband distribution, followed by networking with industry peers, artists, executives, producers, and up-and-comers.<br /><br />Stay up-to-date on Web TV happenings in New York City by <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-York-Web-TV-Meetup/64619728013">joining their Facebook Group</a>.<br /><br />April 2009 Event<br />Fred Seibert is a media and marketing sensation whose influence has shaped the future of entertainment. He's also a good friend to Tilzy.TV.We're excited for an in-depth conversation followed by mixing and mingling with some of New York City's movers and shakers of online video and Web TV.<br /><br />When: Tuesday, April 21, 2009 6:30 PM<br /><br />Where: NYU's Cantor Film Center - <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&rls=en&oe=UTF-8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=36+e.+8th+st.+new+york,+ny&fb=1&split=1&gl=us&cid=0,0,5573371967705969120&ei=hoDjSZ2oL5fqlQf37LXgDg&sa=X&oi=local_result&resnum=1&ct=image">36 E. 8th St</a>.<br /><br />More about Fred Seibert<br />As MTV's first creative director who went on to remake Nickelodeon, run famed animation studio Hannah Barbara, create digital and television animation studio Frederator and found a next generation television network, Next New Networks, Fred is a creative visionary with big insights and a bigger personality.<br /><br />Fred's career in his words:<br /><br /><em>Does it seem strange for a former jazz cat to morph into a TV executive, and then turn into a cartoon producer who sets out to pioneer the new frontier of video on the Internet?</em><br /><br /><em>Not to me.For me it's all part of a very clear continuum. I'm attracted to community, to places where disenfranchised people find what they love, and find each other and get creative. I'm attracted to heart and soul and humor, and to things that are wild, weird and unpredictable.</em><br /><em></em><br /><em>I guess you could say I'm attracted to crazy. With any luck I'll have a few more crazy lives to add to this document in the years ahead.</em><br /><br />We're looking forward to seeing you there, and meeting and talking with you and other members of the NYC's dynamic online video community.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.10ton.tv/"></a><a href="http://www.pganewmedia.org/pnm/"></a><br /><a href="http://www.foryourimagination.com/"></a><br /><a href="http://www.nytvf.com/"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytvf.com/"></a>Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-22931520841306288002009-04-11T22:16:00.002-04:002009-04-11T22:19:32.214-04:00<div align="center">Producers Guild of America<br />New Media Council East<br />Presents the<br />2008-2009 Panel and Salon Series<br />****EXCLUSIVE MEMBERS ONLY EVENT**** </div><div align="left"><br />Wednesday, April 22, 2009 </div><div align="left"><br />HARVESTING A GREEN CHANNEL IN THE MULTI-PLATFORM AGE<br /></div><div align="left">A Conversation With Laura Michalchysyn, President and<br />General Manager, Discovery Communication’s Planet Green<br /></div><div align="left">The urgencies represented by rapid climate change have created a veritable flood of media addressing solutions to the problems wrought by greenhouse-gas emissions. However, to date, only one major cable television network represents the growing eco-lifestyle community. Launched in June, 2008, Discovery Communication’s Planet Green delivers multi-platform content – ranging from expert tips on how to go green and online forums – from a<br />24-hour cable channel with more than 250 hours of original green lifestyle programming and the web sites PlanetGreen.com and TreeHugger.com.<br /></div><div align="left"><strong>Laura Michalchyshyn, President and General Manager, Discovery Communications’ Planet Green </strong></div><div align="left"><br />Laura Michalchyshyn is responsible for all aspects of the creative and business strategy for Planet Green, Discovery Communications’ multi-platform businesses including the 24-hour television network. As chief editorial executive, she manages the overall direction of the network, including programming, operations and content development, as well as interfacing with ad sales and affiliate sales to further develop the brand and its appeal to advertisers, operators and viewers.<br /></div><div align="left">Prior to Discovery, Michalchyshyn served as executive vice president and general manager of Sundance Channel where she was responsible for day-to-day operations, including program development, creative strategy scheduling and marketing both on- and off-channel. Since joining Sundance Channel in 1995, Michalchyshyn doubled original programming hours and tripled the number of programming hours on the network overall. Under her leadership Sundance Channel was the largest aggregator of independent films on television acquiring as many as 250 films in a given year.<br /></div><div align="left"><strong>Moderator: Kendall Allen, PGA NMC East Executive Committee Member; Founder, Influence Collective, LLC<br /></strong></div><div align="left">A leading digital media and marketing executive, and a member of the PGA NMC East’s executive committee, Kendall has led online content development and campaigns since the web’s inception. She helped found Thrive, an AOL/Time Inc. joint online venture in the mid-‘90s, and held top positions at USWeb/CKS and EuroRSCG Circle, while based in San Francisco. Kendall was a founder of Fathom Online and a director at iCrossing. She recently built out the agency and creative studio at Incognito Digital and has gone on to establish her own business advising publishers and agencies in digital channel development – Influence Collective, LLC. Her career roster of clients includes Ask Jeeves, Chandon, Intel, Intuit, VOOM, American Express, Fairmont, Colgate-Palmolive, Bloomberg, Haier America, OKI, Fox, FX, Carolyn & Co. Media and ‘mktg.’<br /></div><div align="left">Recognized as a leader in media circles, Kendall is a weekly contributor to MediaPost, as well as a regular speaker at digital media and marketing conferences, including Search Engine Strategies and Ad:Tech. She is a periodic lecturer at New York University and serves on the board of the Ad Club of New York Digital Marketing and Media Council and on the Ad Council for the Association for Downloadable Media. Kendall also serves on the Board of Directors of 212NYC, where she oversees the Professional Development programming series.<br />Wine and light refreshments will be served during a networking mixer prior to the programming.<br /></div><div align="left"><strong>This event will take place at the Core Club in New York City.<br /></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>****YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.****<br /></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>Previous events from our 2005-2009 event series can be accessed on the web at:</strong><a name="0.1__Hlt101094274"></a><strong> </strong></div><div align="left"><a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/pga" target="_blank"><strong>http://www.scribemedia.org/pga</strong></a><strong><br /></strong></div><div align="left"><strong>For more information about ScribeStudio Productions, please visit: http://</strong><a href="http://www.scribestudio.com/" target="_blank"><strong>http://www.scribestudio.com/</strong></a><strong>.</strong> </div>Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-58278271146292739412009-03-14T20:18:00.003-04:002009-03-14T20:27:30.118-04:00Curated Screening with College Humor TV<a href="http://www.tilzy.tv/meetup" rel="bookmark">Big Screen Little Screen - The New York Web TV Meetup</a><br /><br />Curated Screening with <a href="http://www.collegehumor.com/">College Humor TV</a>…<br /><br />featuring…<br />Ricky Van Veen, Founder and Editor<br />Sam Reich, Director of Original Programming<br />Jake Hurwitz, Writer and Star<br />Amir Blumenfield, Writer and Star<br /><br />When: March 19, 2009 6:30 PM<br /><br />Where: <a href="http://www.dromnyc.com/" target="_blank">DROM</a> @ 85 Avenue A<br /><br />Presented by Tilzy.TV in association with <a href="http://10ton.tv/">10Ton</a>, <a href="http://www.pganewmedia.org/pnm/">The Producers Guild of America New Media Council</a>, and <a href="http://www.foryourimagination.com/">For Your Imagination</a>, the event is an opportunity to meet and engage movers and shakers in the digital entertainment industry, a community dedicated to growing, exploring, and innovating with a dynamic new medium.<br /><br />If you’d like to present at or host Big Screen Little Screen, please email us at info(at)tilzy(dot)tv.<br />PLEASE <a href="http://web.meetup.com/46/">RSVP AT THE BIG SCREEN LITTLE SCREEN - NY WEB TV MEETUP PAGE</a>Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-80763111474521496892009-03-09T22:36:00.000-04:002009-03-09T23:00:11.085-04:00The Power of TransmediaPGA NMC East member Jeff Gomez featured on forbes.com<br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/03/jeff-gomez-advertising-leadership-cmo-network_starlight_runner.html">http://www.forbes.com/2009/03/03/jeff-gomez-advertising-leadership-cmo-network_starlight_runner.html</a><br /><br />On the Record with…<br />JEFF GOMEZ<br />The Power of Transmedia<br />Interview by Laurie Burkitt<br /><br />Though these may be dark economic times, there are certain executives with extraordinary insight and unique approaches who are achieving striking results for their companies. Each week, Forbes.CMO will spotlight one of these visionaries and fire off questions designed to keep you ahead of the curve.<br /><br />Transmedia is a word that has been buzzing both Hollywood and Madison Avenue, but very few seem to have a handle on what it means, or the potential of its value proposition. For our premiere column, we turn to Jeff Gomez, CEO of New York-based Starlight Runner Entertainment for answers.<br /><br />A self-described “transmedia storyteller,” Gomez is a producer who specializes in developing and extending entertainment and advertising properties across multiple media platforms. His clients include The Walt Disney Company, Microsoft, Hasbro and perhaps most notably, the Coca-Cola Company.<br /><br /><strong>What exactly is transmedia and how did you become interested in it?<br /></strong><br />Simply put, transmedia is the art of conveying a rich message, theme or storyline to a mass audience using multiple media platforms in concert. Each part of the story is unique and plays to the strengths of each medium, and the audience is often invited to participate and somehow interact with the narrative. We first saw the term used in this way by M.I.T. professor Henry Jenkins in his book Convergence Culture.<br /><br />In today’s interconnected world, young adults, teens and even kids have become so comfortable with media technology that they seem to flow from one platform to the next. The problem is that their content is not flowing with them. As a discipline, transmedia provides us with a foundation for the development, production and rollout of entertainment properties or consumer brands across all of these platforms. Transmedia creates the flow.<br /><br />As a mass audience we’re too savvy and too impatient to experience the same content over and over again. There’s too much out there to enjoy. Repurposing sucks! I actually learned this as a kid living in Hawaii in the 1970s, and being exposed to psychedelic Japanese pop culture. The creators of cartoons and kidvid like Ultra 7, Kikaida and Galaxy Express 999 were allowed to turn their stories into animated TV series, toy lines, live events and feature films.<br /><br />But instead of repeating the plots over and over again for each medium, the creators would continue and expanded their storylines, generating dazzling mythologies and complex narratives. The act of chasing, collecting and searching for new parts of the story made me a participant. I became immersed in these worlds. This was early transmedia storytelling, and man, I knew right there what I wanted to do when I grew up!<br /><br />Well, it turns out that yesterday’s “cult” is today’s cool.<br /><br /><strong>What gives transmedia its unique power? How do you distinguish it from concepts such as branded entertainment?</strong><br /><br />What’s so powerful about transmedia implementation is that it maximizes the potential of your story or message, while both building intense brand loyalty and opening up multiple revenue streams.<br /><br />The loyalty is derived from giving fans more of what they want from your story: more character background, more story mythology, more opportunities to dialog with the story’s creators and with one another. When you know that Samuel L. Jackson will be playing Nick Fury in the next nine Marvel super hero movies, you’re delighted because this ties that whole universe together. It’s a richer and deeper entertainment experience for the fan.<br /><br />Revenues may be increased dramatically, because you are furnishing fans with more product. The storylines of major films like The Dark Knight, Wolverine and Watchmen are being supplemented by direct-to-DVD animation releases, each of which are selling quite well. The Watchmen videogame serves as a prequel to the movie and contains “valuable” story developments that fans want to know about. New stories set in the same world are alluring, as opposed to repurposed content, so the products become more attractive and in many cases more lucrative.<br /><br />We’ve seen this with such properties as Hannah Montana, Lost and Heroes, but we’re also seeing it with Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble. It’s a growth industry, and it’s an exciting time to be a part of it.<br /><br />I think it’s important to point out that transmedia storytelling is not branded entertainment. Branded entertainment drives product awareness by sort of tacking the brand onto something else, like whatever brands you’re seeing on The Apprentice. On the other hand, transmedia builds brand mythology, placing the brand front and center and building narrative around it, like the various tie-ins we saw around The Matrix franchise several years ago. Branded entertainment comes and goes in a flash, but transmedia storylines are timeless because they are built on a foundation of classic narrative structure. They’re good stories. Finally, the owner of the brand pays for branded content, but transmedia entertainment is designed to generate revenue because it’s content that the audience wants.<br /><br /><strong>What’s the short history of transmedia?<br /></strong><br />After the Industrial Revolution, the printing press allowed for ideas and stories to be spread to much larger populations. Thousands of people were reading Stoker’s Dracula or Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. With radio, new elements were introduced into the mythos of these narratives. Perry White, Kryptonite and the term “faster than a speeding bullet,” for example, all became a part of Superman from the 1938 radio serial.<br /><br />After World War II, the Japanese government promoted the cooperation of manufacturers, suppliers and distributors to spur economic recovery. They called this keiretsu. This is what allowed for popular comic strip characters to easily jump across various kinds of media in a concerted fashion. By the ‘60s and ‘70s, this became a sleek machine that exported pop entertainment globally from Godzilla to Gigantor to Speed Racer.<br /><br />I wouldn’t be the only one to be turned onto this. George Lucas has often acknowledged Japanese cinema for inspiring Star Wars, but I dare say he was also fascinated by keiretsu and Nippon’s pension for celebrating and rewarding creators of cross-platform story epics. He shrewdly held back the rights to his characters and merchandising from 20th Century Fox and launched what would become the prototype for transmedia storytelling in America.<br /><br />But the true actualization of transmedia arrived in 1998 with a weird website called The Blair Witch Project, nearly a year before the release of the film. Was it real? A hoax? Our curiosity and our dialog made us participants in the narrative, and the whole thing exploded, making the film one of the most profitable in history. Transmedia requires an interactive component.<br /><br />Transmedia has often been used to promote TV shows and movies, things that already have a story built into them, but how does it work with products?<br /><br />It’s true, since Blair Witch we’ve seen some progressive television and film execs and producers use transmedia techniques to engage mass audiences. JJ Abrams used the Internet, books and comics to build on the storylines of Lost and Cloverfield, as did Tim Kring on Heroes and Warner Bros. on The Dark Knight. All of these had strong stories to start with, and fans were offered (and often paid for) a “deeper dive” with this additional content.<br /><br />We’ve also seen companies like Procter & Gamble use transmedia techniques such as extending soap opera narrative. In 2007, P&G commissioned Guiding Light: Jonathan’s Story, a novel that revealed the adventures of a major character that had been mysteriously absent from the show. The book was a media sensation and became a New York Times best seller.<br /><br />But we’re also seeing transmedia elements in the marketing of consumer products and advertising. With “The King” campaign from Burger King a few years back, for example, audiences became engaged with this bizarre character, watching the commercials, purchasing and playing the videogames. Profits soared for the chain.<br /><br /><br />Then there’s Victoria’s Secret, a somewhat looser but still quite valid example of transmedia narrative. We start with the mystique of the original catalog, but then the models take on personas all their own. We follow their glamorous and sometimes scandalous lives through the tabloids, on the web and on television. Like living fantasies they’re adorned with the iconography of the angel wings in print ads and commercials. We follow them into their own annual TV specials, and ultimately back into the catalogs and retail stores. A thriving empire has been built here not so much on lingerie, but on story.<br /><br />In 2002, my company Starlight Runner was tasked to create a storyline around 35 die-cast metal Hot Wheels cars for Mattel in tandem with the line’s 35th anniversary. It had never really been done before. We worked with the company to discern the essence of the brand and watched how kids played with the toys before inventing an elaborate racing universe and driver characters that embodied the messages and themes of the brand. The story was successful, sales across the entire line increased dramatically, and over the next three years five computer-animated movies were released, a videogame, a comic book series, new playsets and an elaborate web site.<br /><br /><strong>How do you know transmedia works? What numbers do you have to prove it?<br /></strong><br />Well, Mattel sold an awful lot of Hot Wheels DVDs! The entire product line derived a significant revenue bump over those three years. These are hundreds of millions of additional dollars for a franchise that had frankly gotten a bit dusty in the past decade.<br /><br />Heroes 360, the online component of the Heroes TV series multi-platform campaign, generated an additional $50 million in advertising revenue for NBC-Universal, according to Fast Company magazine, and that doesn’t include sales of hundreds of thousands of hard copy graphic novels and prose fiction all set in the universe of the show.<br /><br />Then there is Happiness Factory from the Coca-Cola Company. A few years back, Coke consolidated its global advertising with Wieden+Kennedy. The agency’s Amsterdam office came up with “The Coke Side of Life” campaign and one of the commercials featured a wild fantasy world of characters and creatures that existed inside a Coke machine. The computer animation by PsyOp was gorgeous, hilarious and a tiny bit subversive.<br /><br />The commercial was called Happiness Factory and it was the highest rated Coke commercial in history. People loved it, and Coke wanted to somehow continue working with the premise. Starlight Runner was called in to do some of this creative development and generate multiple touchpoints for the property. Coke had us come up with a transmedia storyline designed to last for years.<br /><br />The initial rollout in the later half of 2007 was a smash. A second, extra-long commercial was created that vastly expanded the world of Happiness Factory and gave us characters we could connect with. We worked on an elaborate international web site with AKQA that allowed you to become an employee of the factory. Coke joined with its distributors in countries around the world to customize the way people would connect to the property based on culture and budget. There were comics in Brazil, mechanical installations at shopping malls in Denmark, costumed characters lumbering around in Japanese supermarkets, all tied into “event” airings of the four-minute narrative on television.<br /><br />At last year’s Media 360 conference keynote, Jonathan Mildenhall, Coke’s VP Global Advertising and Creative Excellence, announced the campaign had boosted global volume sales of Coke by 4% and Coca-Cola’s share price from $42 to $60 over Happiness Factory’s initial transmedia rollout period. Although “The Coke Side of Life” campaign is now over, Happiness Factory is tapped to play a central role in the company’s new “Open Happiness” campaign. So the Kissy Puppies will be back!<br /><br />[Editor’s note: You can see the Happiness Factory commercials at http://www.coca-cola.com/hf]<br /><br /><strong>Why was Coke interested in transmedia? </strong><br /><br />Mildenhall has said that he was searching for ways move away from brand interruption and boost brand engagement for his company’s flagship product. After the original Happiness Factory scored so well, he started looking for ways to extend the property. But right now, advertising is not built to stretch a story beyond a minute or two.<br /><br />After learning about our work, Mildenhall had Starlight Runner present our “Blockbuster Worlds” seminar to his exec team in Atlanta, and he immediately embraced transmedia as a strategy for Coca-Cola. The results have made him one of the most vocal and articulate advocates of the process.<br /><br />Tell us about your work for Coca-Cola and where it is going. How are we going to see Coke’s narrative develop and in what forms of media?<br /><br />Working on Happiness Factory for Coke was both challenging and quite a thrill. All we had to start with was the commercial, and we were tasked with building an entire fictional universe around it, with a rich history, dozens of characters and wild adventures yet to come. <br /><br />Starlight Runner has a proprietary technology that facilitates the rapid development and implementation of transmedia properties, and we put it to use on all fronts here. Our first task was to immerse ourselves in the brand. Coke is a part of Americana, with its own archetype and mythos. We needed to make certain that was reflected in all aspects of the narrative. Wieden+Kennedy then showed us about how their “Coke Side of Life” campaign romanced the brand, and we took those themes and imagery into account.<br /><br />As with most of our clients, our first major milestone for Coke was a franchise Mythology. This is a visually impressive guide to the people, places, history and devices of the fictional universe. We get into the cultures and mysticism, messages and themes, everything you need to know to produce dozens, even hundreds of hours of content from this world.<br /><br />For Coke we also produced a transmedia rollout “blueprint,” strategizing how Happiness Factory can play across comic books, videogames, outdoor interactive ads and other media across the globe over the course of the next several years. We’re only scratching the surface so far, but the vision is truly ambitious. I’m also hoping we’ll see a stronger presence here in the U.S. soon.<br /><br /><strong>Where else are we likely to see your work in the future?<br /></strong><br />We’re tremendously fortunate to be working with some of the biggest properties in the world. We’ve worked on Avatar, the upcoming James Cameron science fiction, which is going to blow people away. We have a great client in Disney, where we’re working on the Bruckheimer film Prince of Persia and will hopefully be returning to the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise with the fourth film. There is Halo for Microsoft.<br /><br />Starlight Runner is also expanding its consumer product work. We’ll be speaking with the CMO’s of major brand owners, as well as with the big agencies here in New York as more of them convince their clients that transmedia narrative is both inevitable and, if done right, can be hugely profitable.<br /><br />As for the future of transmedia storytelling, I think it’s going to become a true art form. If movies are a grand piano, that’s fantastic, you can create beautiful concertos with that one instrument. But if you take movies, television, the Internet, and any combination of other media, you are assembling an orchestra of sorts. The symphonies you can create are almost beyond imagination. To me this is the true potential of transmedia.Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-27504222145457091782009-03-06T12:57:00.017-05:002009-03-06T13:07:00.883-05:00Animation and Non-Fiction Filmmaking Event<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">The Producers Guild of America</span></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: center;">New Media Council</div><div style="text-align: center;">presents the</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: center;">2008-2009 Panel and Salon Series</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: center;">ADMISSION IS FREE! BUT AN RSVP IS REQUIRED. </div></span><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight:bold;">RSVP</span> to: <a href="email://rsvp@pga-ny.org">rsvp@pga-ny.org</a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>TIME</b></div><span style="center"><div style="text-align: center;">7-8:45 PM panel, followed by a wine and cheese reception.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>LOCATION</b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Theresa Lang Auditorium at The New School </div><div style="text-align: center;">55 W. 13th Street, Second Floor </div><div style="text-align: center;">Between 5th and 6th Aves. </div><div style="text-align: center;">New York City</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wednesday, March 18th, 2009</b></div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: center;">WHAT'S UP, DOCUMENTARY?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Animation and Non-Fiction Filmmaking </div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The increasingly popular use of animation in documentary and non-fiction filmmaking will be examined in this panel discussion sponsored by the New Media Council of the Producers Guild of America East and the New York Film/Video Arts Council. Producers, directors and animators will show clips and discuss a range of projects, explaining how and why they chose to use animation, the positives and negatives in terms of time, budget and skill sets, and the artistic or interpretive contributions animation can bring to a project.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Speakers (alphabetically):</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-weight:bold;">JOAO AMORIM</span> is a Brazilian director focusing on animation and documentary filmmaking. He is currently represented by Curious Pictures, New York. Joao has worked worldwide as an industrial designer, animator, and Animation Supervisor for many years prior to directing. He was the Animation Director for "Chicago 10", Brett Morgen's feature doc. that opened Sundance 2007. He has also directed commercials for BMW, Panasonic, Oceana, among others. He is currently working on ³2012, Time for change², his first feature documentary, highlighting ideas on sustainability and consciousness.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-weight:bold;">BARBARA ATTIE and JANET GOLDWATE</span>R have worked collaboratively since 1990 making widely acclaimed documentaries that have been broadcast nationally and internationally. In 2005 they were awarded the prestigious Pew Fellowship in the Arts. Their newest documentary, currently in post-production, is Mrs. Goundo¹s Daughter, about a Malian mother¹s fight for asylum in the U.S. to protect her two-year old daughter from female genital cutting/mutilation.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-weight:bold;">LISA CRAFT</span>S is an animator whose work is characterized by richly rendered imagery and a quietly quirky sensibility. Her independent animated films have ranged from a meditation on the role creativity plays in the survival of the human spirit, to a funky romp through the land of human sexuality. These works have been shown in Europe, Asia, and throughout North America. In addition to animated films, Crafts also paints quietly disturbing psychological landscapes which capture the dreamlike dissonance of the American roadside.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-weight:bold;">LUCIEN HARRIOT</span> Is founder, director and visual effects supervisor of Mechanism Digital, a full-service production resource in NYC specializing in digital production. 2D/3D animation, visual effects, broadcast design, and green screen shoots. Mechanism's work ranges from commercial to entertainment; their award-winning team of artists, directors, and producers write, design, storyboard, shoot, animate, edit, and integrate visual effects for film, television and new media.</span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><span style="font-weight:bold;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "><span style="font-weight:bold;">CINDY KLEINE</span> is a film and video artist whose prolific career began when she was an undergraduate at The Museum School and at the legendary (and long-gone) MIT Film/Video Section, studying with Richard Leacock and Ed Pincus, and among a legion of future filmmakers in the program, including Ross McElwee, Robb Moss and John Gianvito. In line with Boston peers, Kleine has developed a central body of documentary work which are family dramas: camera visits with her grandmother and her sister, and intense probes of her parents¹ fifty-nine years of a dubious, fractured marriage. Additionally, Kleine has gone outside of family for films about odd artists and off-the-wall musicians; and she¹s gone inside herself for some deeply personal, poetically framed psychodramas about love lost, the spirit gained.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>MARK MARABELLA</b> is an Emmy® nominated executive producer and founder of Marabella Productions. His award-winning, independent production company specializes primarily in current affairs, history, and science programming for Discovery Channel, History Channel, National Geographic Channel and PBS. Mark has more than 15 years experience developing, writing, producing, and directing over 90 hours of factual series and specials that have aired in nearly 100 countries. Prior to founding Marabella Productions, Mark was the series producer and writer of 60 hours of The Discovery Channel's top-rated prime-time series THE FBI FILES for three and half seasons.</div><br />The event will be introduced by documentary filmmaker Howard Weinberg of the Film/Video Council and moderated by digital media producer Trilby Schreiber of the PGA New Media Council East.<br /><br />For more information about the PGA New Media Council and to access a membership application, please visit: www.pganewmedia.org.<br /><br />For more information about the PGA and to access a membership application, please visit: <a href="http://www.producersguild.org/">www.producersguild.org</a>.<br /><br />For more information about the New York Film/Video Council, please visit: <a href="http://www.nyfvc.org/">www.nyfvc.org</a>.<br /><br />Previous events in our series can be accessed in both webcast format at: www.scribemedia.org/pga.<br /><br />For more information about ScribeStudio Productions, please visit: www.scribemedia.org/about<br /><br />.</div>Gary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-71611235805022938722009-02-22T21:46:00.001-05:002009-02-22T21:47:47.405-05:00POLITICAL SATIRE CHANGES THE (NEW MEDIA) WORLDPOLITICAL SATIRE CHANGES THE (NEW MEDIA) WORLD:<br />An Evening with Ben Relles, Founder of BarelyPolitical.com<br />Wednesday, February 25, 2009<br /><br />The political arena has been one of the heaviest contributors to the social media revolution. The 2008 presidential election saw a groundbreaking new media campaign from President Obama, including mobile marketing, liveblogging, and online video, but was also at the epicenter of a groundswell in online political satire, including 'The Last Republican,' endless user-generated parodies of candidates, and one of the most compelling viral video campaigns of all time – 'Obama Girl.' The singular creation of BarelyPolitical.com's Ben Relles, the Obama Girl phenomenon captured the public fascination with candidate Obama and helped lay the foundation for online discourse that, in many ways, rivaled mainstream media's attempts to keep up with "netizens".<br /><br />Ben Relles, founder, BarelyPolitical.com<br />Ben Relles launched his political satire website BarelyPolitical.com with the hit video "I Got a Crush on Obama." In total, he has produced more than 150 online videos, which have been viewed more than 200 million times worldwide. Recently, Ben launched BarelyDigital.com, an online video network satirizing the world of technology. He has spoken at conferences that include: Forbes MEET, Streaming Media East, and NATPE; has guest lectured on college campuses nationwide, and appears regularly on MSNBC, Fox News, and CNN. Born in Wisconsin, Ben was raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After college, Ben co-founded MarketVision, Inc., where he was a partner from 1997 - 2002. Later, Ben received his MBA from the Wharton School, and has spent time working for Omnicom marketing agencies.<br /><br />Moderator: Chris Pfaff, President, Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC; board delegate, PGA NMC<br />A board delegate of the PGA New Media Council since 2006 and a PGA NMC member since 2004, Chris Pfaff leads a consultancy – Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC – that represents some of the leading service providers, audio/video technology firms, networking vendors, and media companies in the world, from PRIMEDIA and Eastman Kodak to Cantor Telecom. A veteran of the venture world, Chris helped launch more than 20 ventures from the Lucent New Ventures Group, including iBiquity Digital; Flarion; Lucent Digital Video, and GeoVideo Networks, among others. In addition, he has helped launch AT&T's Internet strategy; the Viacom New Media division of Viacom, Inc.; Sony Electronics' Digital Betacam format, and Sharp Electronics' LCD product division. <br /><br />7pm – 7:45pm – Networking mixer with wine and light refreshments<br />7:45 – 9pm – Conversation with Ben Relles<br />9pm – 9:30pm – Mixer continues/wrap up<br /><br />The Core Club<br />66 East 55th Street<br />Between Madison and Park Aves.<br />New York City<br />www.thecoreclub.com<br /><br />Space is limited; RSVP required. Please RSVP to rsvp@pga-ny.org. <br />NOTE: PGA members are encouraged to bring a qualified prospective member as a guest. Guests required to reconfirm their RSVP 24 hours prior to event.Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-7363529500827569582009-02-12T14:15:00.005-05:002009-02-12T14:21:03.862-05:00Broadband Video Leadership EveningVideoNuze, in conjunction with NATPE, will hold its Broadband Video Leadership Evening on Tuesday, March 17, 2009, from 6:00-9:00 pm at the Hudson Theater, 145 W. 44th Street in Manhattan. Will Richmond, from VideoNuze, will be presiding.<br /><br />The evening includes a networking reception from 6:00-7:30 pm, followed by a 7:30-9:00 pm panel featuring senior executives (read: not producers) in the broadband video industry, including:<br /><br />Albert Cheng, EVP, Digital Media, Disney/ABC Television Group<br /><br />Greg Clayman, EVP, Digital Distribution & Business Development, MTV Networks<br /><br />Karin Gilford, SVP of Fancast and Online Entertainment, Comcast Interactive Media<br /><br />Curt Hecht, President, VivaKi (Publicis Groupe)<br /><br />Tom Morgan, Chief Strategy Officer, Move Networks<br /><br />Moderator: Will Richmond, Editor/Publisher, VideoNuze<br /><br />For more info <a href="http://www.nyc.videonuze.com">VideoNuze</a>Gary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-5374740703863689882009-02-02T13:36:00.001-05:002009-02-02T13:38:14.794-05:00The Power of Online Storytelling<p>We are pleased to invite you to our first New School event of 2009, which we are producing in conjunction with The Screenwriters Colony and The New School. <br /><br />The ‘Power of Online Storytelling’ events takes place next Thursday, February 5th, from 6:30-8:30 pm, at Wollman Hall, at The New School (65 W. 11th Street, 5th Floor). Enter at 66 W. 12th Street.<br /><br />See the full program invite below.<br /><br />We are pleased to have two NMC East members on this panel – Jeff Gomez, CEO of Starlight Runner (and NMC East member-at-large and NMC Board delegate) and Dina Kaplan, co-founder of blip.tv – and we are quite sure that this will be over-subscribed, so please RSVP today to <a href="mailto:rsvp@thepacificfoundation.org">rsvp@thepacificfoundation.org</a> to request a seat. <br /><br />RSVPs are for one person only. All RSVPs must be re-confirmed to be considered valid. Wine and light refreshments will be served during a networking mixer after the programming.<br /><br /><br />The panel consists of:<br /><br />Mary Feuer, writer ‘LonelyGirl15,’ ‘With the Angels’<br /><br />Jeff Gomez, Starlight Runner, James Cameron’s ‘Avatar,’ Microsoft’s ‘Halo’<br /><br />Kathleen Grace & Thom Woodley, writers, ‘The Burg,’ ‘The All-For-Nots’<br /><br />Amy B. Harris, writer/producer, ‘Sex and the City,’ ‘Puppy Love’<br /><br />Dina Kaplan, co-founder, blip.tv<br /><br />Moderator: Virginia Heffernan, columnist (‘The Medium’), The New York Times</p>Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-68312583563541119022008-12-04T20:53:00.000-05:002008-12-04T20:55:15.547-05:00"FAIR USE vs. FARE USE"Producers Guild of America<br /><br />"FAIR USE vs. FARE USE"<br />The Boundaries of Legitimacy or Theft<br />in Using Other Artist's Work<br /><br />a special joint Workshop from<br /><br />PGA East Documentary and Non-Fiction<br />Committee<br /><br />and<br /><br />New Media Council East<br /><br /><br /><br />Monday, December 15, 2008<br /><br />7pm – 9pm<br /><br />Whether you are doing a documentary film, non-fiction television, or a social network viral video or webisode, if you are using other people's copyrighted materials, this workshop is for you!<br /><br />FAIR USE and LEGAL POLICY of Copyright Material: A workshop panel for PGA members *ONLY*<br />on its use in Film, Television and New Media<br />from one of the foremost experts in the field, DR. PETER JASZI<br /><br />CASE STUDIES, and current application in recent Film, TV and On-line Video:<br /><br />The Producers Guild of America New Media Council East and the PGA East Documentary and Non-Fiction Committee presents a workshop on the future of media policy, and the current changes in Copyright Law that effect the use of video, music and material choices all producers need and have wanted to choose to get their stories across, but have been held back because of the costs of clearances and the hesitancy of what is Fair Use and what is not. The advances in new technology also have created different ways material is used and these areas will be examined as well as the traditional role this material is used in Film and Television. Case studies will be discussed and members may bring up specific ways they are using copyrighted material and the accepted rights and clearances necessary, or NOT necessary, regarding E&O insurance, rights clearances costs, lengths of material accepted for use, and the interpretation of the law accepted in today's world, of the term "Fair Use".<br /><br /><br />The ability to easily create and share online video presents unprecedented opportunities for self-expression, but has at the same time generated significant confusion about what is permissable versus impermissable copying. How does one balance the rights of copyright holders and the rights of those who use content for new, valuable and expressive purposes.<br /><br /><br />Dr. Peter Jaszi having spent many years educating and speaking on "Fair Use" policies for Film and Television, has now turned his attention to Online video, as well.<br /><br />Dr. Peter Jaszi, Professor of Law and Director of Intellectual Property Law Clinic at American University<br />Professor of Law, and Director of Intellectual Property Law Clinic at American University, Peter Jaszi has literally written the book on copyright and Fair Use.<br />www.centerforsocialmedia.org<br /><br /><br />Moderators:<br /><br />Mark Marabella, President, MARABELLA PRODUCTIONS, Co-Chair of the Documentary and Non-Fiction Committee<br />Mark is an Emmy® nominated executive producer and founder of Marabella Productions. He has more than 15 years experience developing, writing, producing, and directing documentaries and television series. The company has produced more than 20 hours of primetime factual programming for the Discovery Channel, The History Channel, The Science Channel, and The National Geographic Channel.<br />Mark is the PGA East Co-Chair of the Documentary Committee.<br />www.marabellaproductions.com<br /><br />Paul Waterman, President, COSMIC SCREEN, LLC; board delegate, PGA New Media Council<br />Paul Waterman is the founder and chief executive officer of Cosmic Screen, LLC, a global production company that specializes in original entertainment programming for digital media platforms. The company’s initial production, ‘7 Sins,’ is one of the first original HD web production made for the syndication market. Paul has produced a large body of live video and studio music productions, ranging from his work with NBC’s ‘Saturday Night Live’ and ‘Late Night with David Letterman’ to productions with Showtime and pay-per-view events with the Rolling Stones, acquiring the use of video segments. He is regarded as one of the industry’s premier performance rights negotiators, and has expanded this expertise into new media production rights management.<br />www.cosmicscreen.com<br /><br /><br />REFRESHMENTS WILL BE PROVIDED.<br /><br />LOCATION:<br />HBO - Conference Room<br />1100 Avenue of the Americas<br />(Between 42nd and 43rd)<br />New York City<br /><br /><br />Space is *VERY* limited to 35 participants so a confirmed RSVP for this event is required.Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-5508620797568285092008-10-21T15:06:00.010-04:002008-12-04T10:36:33.402-05:00MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY-MAKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Producers Guild of America </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >New Media Council East</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Presents the</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >2008-2009 Panel and Salon Series</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Wednesday, November 5, 2008</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >7pm – 9pm</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY-MAKING IN THE 21ST CENTURY: </span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS, IT WILL BE OBSOLETE</span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The convergence of media and technology in the 21st century has led to such accelerated pace of change in the behaviors of consumers that both content producers and device manufacturers have had to adapt in nothing less than a paradigm-shift-per-day schedule. The men and women who help shape government policy for the U.S. media industry are facing enormous challenges in the development of regulations and frameworks for an industry whose audience has seemingly more control than ever before.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">With a new administration entering the White House in January, 2009, and the looming February 17, 2009 digital t.v. switch-over upon us, the landscape for new media is exploding with opportunity – and potential policy headaches galore. From the future of the Internet and Net neutrality to open source development and content syndication and the battle over digital copyright, the environment in which content producers find themselves today is more weighted with intellectual property questions and policy issues than ever before.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">The Producers Guild of America New Media Council East presents a snap-shot of the future of media policy, and the coming changes in Washington’s outlook on the role that new technology plays in media, with some of this country’s leading technology policy experts, including:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eli M. Noam, Professor of Economics and Finance at Columbia Business School</span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>Eli Noam has been Professor of Economics and Finance at Columbia Business School since 1976. In 1990, after having served for three years as Commissioner with the New York State Public Service Commission, he returned to Columbia. He is the Director of the Columbia Institute for Tele-Information. CITI is an independent university-based research center focusing on strategy, management, and policy issues in telecommunications, computing, and electronic mass media. Noam has published over 19 books and 400 articles in economic journals, law reviews, and interdisciplinary journals. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. </span></span><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Justin Hughes, Professor of Law, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>Professor Hughes teaches intellectual property (IP) and international trade at Cardozo School of Law in New York. Formerly a policy expert in the U.S. Department of Commerce (USPTO), his areas of expertise include domestic and international copyright, Internet and new technologies as they relate to intellectual property, trademarks, geographical indications, WTO and TRIPS issues, and intellectual property in developing countries. As Chairman of the Thomson Foundation for Film and Television Heritage, based in Paris, he is active in audiovisual preservation and conservation efforts. At Cardozo, Professor Hughes has been director of the law school’s intellectual property program since 2004.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jonathan Askin, Professor of Law, Brooklyn Law School</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>Jonathan Askin is a Professor at Brooklyn Law School, teaching Telecommunications, New Media and Internet Law. Jonathan is also the Founder and Director of the Brooklyn Law Incubator and Policy Clinic, designed to represent and advocate on behalf of Internet and new media startups and causes. Jonathan is also a communications, Internet and media attorney and consultant, representing clients on strategic business development and policy advocacy.</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>Jonathan is a recognized advocate, lobbyist and thought-leader for the competitive telecommunications, new media and Internet industries. He has sat on the boards of many recognized industry bodies, including the Universal Service Administrative Company and the North American Numbering Council</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ray Beckerman, Partner, Ray Beckerman, PC</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>Ray Beckerman is the president of Ray Beckerman, PC, practicing complex commercial and copyright litigation. Additionally, he supervises litigations and other proceedings taking place in other geographical areas, advises businesses and not-for-profits, incorporates start-up entities, negotiates contracts, and assists in obtaining copyrights and trademarks. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>In 2004 Ray became a 'blogger', first creating the blog "Ohio Election Fraud" relating to the 2004 presidential election in Ohio. In 2005 he created the blog "Recording Industry vs. The People," (http://recordingindustryvspeople.blogspot.com) which collects information about the copyright infringement litigations prosecuted by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) against owners of internet access accounts that are linked to peer-to-peer file sharing. </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Moderator: Chris Pfaff, President, Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC; board delegate, PGA New Media Council</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span>A board delegate of the PGA New Media Council since 2006, and a PGA NMC member since 2004, Chris Pfaff leads a consultancy – Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC – that represents some of the leading service providers, audio/video technology firms, networking vendors, and media companies in the world, from PRIMEDIA and Eastman Kodak to Cantor Telecom. A veteran of the venture world, Chris helped launch more than 20 ventures from the Lucent New Ventures Group, including iBiquity Digital; Flarion; Lucent Digital Video, and GeoVideo Networks, among others. In addition, he has helped launch AT&T’s Internet strategy; the Viacom New Media division of Viacom, Inc.; Sony Electronics’ Digital Betacam format, and Sharp Electronics’ LCD product division. </span></span><br /></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />The New School<br />Theresa Lang Community and Student Center<br />55 West 13th Street, 2nd floor<br />between 5th an 6th Avenues, NYC<br /><a href="http://www.newschool.edu/">www.newschool.edu</a><br /><br />Space is limited so an RSVP for this event is required. This is PGA Member event ONLY!<br /><br />If you are interested in joining to attend this event and other great events please visit the PGA New Media Council </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a href="http://www.pganewmedia.org/">http://www.pganewmedia.org</a></span><a href="http://www.pganewmedia.org/"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Previous events from our 2005-2008 event series can be accessed in both webcast and podcast format at: <a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/pga">http://www.scribemedia.org/pga<br /></a><br />For more information about ScribeStudio Productions, please visit: <a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/">http://www.scribemedia.org</a>.<br /></span>PGANMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841401672586929056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-4803433912329520722008-06-25T23:38:00.003-04:002008-06-25T23:42:19.791-04:00Sony XDCAM EX In Depth<span style="font-family:arial;">Abel Cine Tech, in association with the Producers Guild of America New Media Council and PostWorks, presents their second joint workshop, Sony XDCAM EX In Depth.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Click link to view invitation: </span><a href="http://www.abelcine.com/invites/"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.abelcine.com/invites/</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The Sony PMW-EX3 camcorder will be making its East Coast debut at this workshop.This new model adds more features and greater flexibility to the already successfulEX1 camcorder.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The EX3 adds an interchangeable 1/2" lens system and a hand holdable, ergonomic design to the already impressive specs of the EX1, a 3-chip 1/2" CMOS sensor that records1920x1080 native resolution HD images onto SxS PRO flash memory cards.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Learn about the new features of the EX3, and hear firsthand accounts form filmmakerswho have used Sony's revolutionary XDCAM EX format from production through post.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">DATE: Saturday, June 28, 2008</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">LOCATION: </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Abel Cine Tech</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">609 Greenwich St - 5th fl.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">New York, NY 10014212-462-0100<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">TIME: </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">10:00 am - 12:35 pm, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">1st session </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">1:30 pm - 4:05 pm, </span><span style="font-family:arial;">2nd session</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Please indicate which session you plan to attend. Your name will be on the list for thatsession at the door.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">RSVP: </span><br /><a href="mailto:rsvp@abelcine.com"><span style="font-family:arial;">rsvp@abelcine.com</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">This is an invitation only event. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Admission is free, but space is limited.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">To learn more about the Sony EX1, visit </span><a href="http://www.abelcine.com/store/product.php?productid=1000401"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.abelcine.com/store/product.php?productid=1000401</span></a><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">To learn more about the Sony EX3, visit </span><a href="http://www.abelcine.com/store/product.php?productid=1001002"><span style="font-family:arial;">http://www.abelcine.com/store/product.php?productid=1001002</span></a>PGANMChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00841401672586929056noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-66691671848011540572008-06-18T14:30:00.005-04:002008-06-18T21:49:48.461-04:00Use the Force<span style="font-family:arial;">All fans are equal but some are more equal than others. For any given property, you've got fans… and then you've got superfans. Superfans make up a small percentage of the audience, but can have an impact far greater than their numbers. They're a loyal band of dedicated individuals whose focus and intention can make extraordinary things happen. In cult media terms, they're the Jedis of the fan world. As a transmedia producer your job is to get them to use their power for good and keep them from going to the dark side.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Winning over superfans is the first step toward attracting a mass audience. "But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they." Avoid sparking these emotions at all costs. Honor and respect the property that they hold so dear. Do not underestimate the power of the dark side. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Jenkins</strong>: What are the risks involved in alienating the base of your audience? </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Gomez</strong>: Franchises are built on the energy and loyalty of their hardcore fan bases. While these bases are often a fraction of the size of the total audience, they are indispensable, because they are vocal, passionate and active. A tiny fraction of the genre television series <em>Jericho</em> sent tons of jars of peanuts to the network that had just cancelled the program--moving them to reinstate the series. A small group of fans that gathered at conventions and shared amateur publications centered on the original <em>Star Trek</em> series managed to bridge the period between that series' cancellation and the <em>Star Wars</em>-inspired relaunch of the franchise in the late 1970s. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">When the producers of the television series <em>Enterprise</em> publicly stated that the show was being designed for a much wider audience than previous incarnations of <em>Star Trek</em>, and exhibited this intention by altering the shows music cues, pandering to sexual titillation and (perhaps most egregiously) ignoring at will the established continuity and thematic tone of the fictional universe, the result was a gradual erosion of the franchise's core fan base. Without the approval and loyalty of "Trekkers" there would be no reason for the greater audience to stick around. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The original <em>Crow</em> graphic novel and feature film generated an extremely loyal fan base. But with the second feature, producers chose to ignore the fictional rules and tenets set down by the original work, and so the franchise experienced the first of what would become many fractures. Dubbing the property an "anthology franchise" that could be wildly altered based on the vision of individual artists and storytellers, the producers continued to build and deconstruct <em>The Crow</em> into smaller and smaller pieces, each with its own dwindling following. They chose to place the needs of their artists above the integrity of the mythology of the universe--a mythology that the fan base deeply cared about. The property now languishes in limbo. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Jenkins</strong>: What do you see as the downsides of generating such passionate consumers? </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Gomez</strong>: On the other hand, passion can be blind and judgmental. Fan zeal can threaten to "box in" a property, potentially stunting its growth. It can generate negative "buzz" around a project, which can leak into media coverage and plant seeds of doubt in the general audience base. For example, Warner Brother's upcoming "Justice League" feature film has been the target of fan criticism around story and casting issues. Since then, script and casting choices have been amended. Whether or not this will help the production remains to be seen.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Jenkins</strong>: As some of these genres have become more commercially viable, the San Diego Comic Con has emerged as an important media marketplace. Can you speak to the role this gathering plays in the marketing of your properties? </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Gomez</strong>: Comic Con International in San Diego plays a more and more pivotal role in heralding, marketing and launching new genre efforts. In the midst of negotiating with executives at The Walt Disney Company for a job working with one of their largest franchises, Starlight Runner took them on a tour of the Comic Con exhibition floor. Many of the "worlds" we helped to develop were on spectacular display: Mattel's Hot Wheels universe, the fantasy realms of Magic: The Gathering, high priced back issues of Valiant Comics, and the announcements for new video games and comic books based on Turok and our own "Team GoRizer" at Disney's own booth! Suffice to say, a deal was quickly sealed! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Each year, Comic Con attracts well over 100,000 "gatekeepers," fans of niche, cult or genre entertainment who make it their business to spread the word about the newest and coolest content to their friends and acquaintances both in their home communities and on the Internet. It used to be that one of these gatekeepers would have a circle of five to ten contacts back home to whom he or she would convey what was best about the convention. Now in the age of social networking and pop culture web portals, that number has multiplied exponentially. Add to this the mass media coverage given to Comic Con and content producers can reach untold millions through it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://pganmc.blogspot.com/2008/06/do-no-harm.html">previous Jeff Gomez post</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><em><span style="color:#3366ff;">Jeff Gomez (</span></em><a href="mailto:jeff@starlightrunner.com" target="_blank"><em><span style="color:#3366ff;">jeff@starlightrunner.com</span></em></a><em><span style="color:#3366ff;">), is the CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Inc., a developer and producer of highly successful trans-media projects whose clients include The Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Fox, the Coca-Cola Company, Mattel and Hasbro.</span></em>Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-44344714172130952042008-06-12T22:18:00.002-04:002008-06-12T22:26:26.685-04:00Do No Harm<span style="font-family:arial;">"First, do no harm." This phrase, typically associated with medical professionals, should also be heeded by transmedia producers. In his correspondence with Professor Henry Jenkins, Jeff Gomez asserts that transmedia executions must not compromise the core viewing experience. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Jenkins:</strong> What do you see as the challenges of generating content that appeals to both niche and mass publics at the same time? </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Gomez:</strong> Like any good story, content designed for genre-lovers or niche markets should contain strong characters, evocative issues and clear, accessible through lines. Story arcs must be designed from the outset to feel complete and deliver on their promise. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Also importantly, the audience needs to be able to appreciate and enjoy the content as it is presented solely on the driving platform of the trans-media production. With <em><a href="http://pganmc.blogspot.com/2008_01_21_archive.html">Heroes</a></em>, for example, the driving platform is the television series. Much of the success of the franchise hinges on the audience finding the show exciting, intelligible and complete. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">What the producers of <em>Heroes</em> are doing quite well is in providing fans of the show with a far more expansive experience of the fictional universe of the show on the complementary or orbiting platforms of the trans-media production. This additional content is presented in the form of web sites, graphic novels, prose fiction, etc., and this material all takes place within the canon of the <em>Heroes</em> chronology. So fans are provided with the level of depth, verisimilitude, sophistication and complexity that they crave, but casual viewers are not required to seek it out to enjoy the show. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">When the two approaches cross over, we have seen the potential for pop culture phenomena. The media's coverage of "The Lost Experience" for example, conveyed the fact that there was a greater architecture to the fictional universe of the <em>Lost</em> TV series than was originally suspected. The excitement generated by the trans-media components of the show helped to boost broad interest in it. The same can be said of similar approaches for both the <em>Batman: The Dark Knight</em> and <em>Cloverfield</em> feature films.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Also powerful on the home front, as families gather to watch Heroes, a teen fan of the show might recognize a peripheral character making her first appearance on a given night's episode as one he originally read about in the online comic. So our fan takes on the role of gatekeeper for the show, filling in family and friends on the back story of the character, and giving them a greater appreciation of the show with his "exclusive" knowledge, and making the whole experience more entertaining. In short, depth and complexity are built around the show, rather than weighing it down by presenting it front and center. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Jenkins:</strong> What kinds of trade-offs have to occur in order to broaden the appeal of media properties? </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Gomez</strong>: Studios and entertainment companies are now learning that fewer and fewer trade-offs are necessary to broaden the appeal of niche or "cult media" properties. Contemporary audiences are now primed for high quality genre entertainment across all media platforms. So long as marketing efforts place focus on a driving platform, the launch platform and complementary content can be used to build anticipation, educate audience "gatekeepers" about the property, and enrich the overall experience. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There may be trade-offs, however, when it comes to the level of depth and complexity of the core property and how interdependent the driving platform content is with complementary content. The Wachowski Brothers ran into difficulty with the mass audience reception of the second and third Matrix films, because the films were hard to understand without a working familiarity with the characters and storylines of the orbiting platforms (graphic novels, video games, direct-to-video animation). Hence, at this point in the evolution of transmedia storytelling, it is still vital to present a full and complete entertainment experience within each component of the rollout. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It should be noted that niche productions such as alternate reality games don't tend to bother with these distinctions, trusting the sophistication and intense loyalty of their audience to follow plotlines and story nodes back and forth across multiple media platforms almost indiscriminately. I believe that some day soon, web-based alternate reality games and experiences will evolve into much more accessible and dynamic productions, playing a vital role in transmedia storytelling. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"><a href="http://pganmc.blogspot.com/2008/06/transmedia-crossover.html">previous Jeff Gomez post</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3366ff;"><em>Jeff Gomez (</em></span><a href="mailto:jeff@starlightrunner.com"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3366ff;"><em>jeff@starlightrunner.com</em></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3366ff;"><em>), is the CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Inc., a developer and producer of highly successful trans-media projects whose clients include The Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Fox, the Coca-Cola Company, Mattel and Hasbro</em></span>Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-38888621299066353892008-06-08T22:18:00.004-04:002008-06-08T22:41:37.894-04:00Transmedia Crossover<span style="font-family:arial;">Like any pop culture junkie, there’s nothing I like better than a good crossover – when characters from different realities step into each other’s world. Like when Laverne & Shirley or The Big Ragu appeared on <em>Happy Days</em>. Or when Batman and Spiderman teamed up to take on the Joker. <br /><br />Crossovers happen in real life too. This past fall, I witnessed one of my favorites when <a href="http://pganmc.blogspot.com/2007_10_02_archive.html">Jeff Gomez </a>and <a href="http://henryjenkins.org/index.html">Henry Jenkins</a> met at the <a href="http://pganmc.blogspot.com/2008_01_21_archive.html">Future of Entertainment Conference</a>. Seeing these two transmedia giants interact was as epic and entertaining as any fictional crossover.<br /><br />Prior to the panel discussion, Professor Jenkins had distributed a set of questions to the speakers to help them prepare. Gomez recently decided to revisit these questions and sent his current thoughts back to Jenkins. Events in the transmedia space have progressed so rapidly that he felt it would be valuable to keep the dialog moving ahead.<br /><br />Over the next few days, we’ll be rolling out portions of the correspondence between these two transmedia heavyweights… it will be as entertaining as when the doctors from <em>St. Elswhere</em> crossed over onto <em>Cheers</em> for a drink.<br /> -------------------------------------<br /><strong>Jenkins</strong>: Let's start by examining the concept of "cult media." What does this phrase mean to you, and do you think it accurately describes the kinds of projects you've worked on? Why or why not?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Gomez</strong>: To me "cult media" is exemplified by the slow crumbling of traditional media content aimed at huge swathes of the population, down to the more contemporary approach of designing content to engage subsections of that population or even smaller "niches."<br />My company Starlight Runner works on "cult media" in that we work on projects that already have mass appeal or have the potential to reach mass appeal, but what those projects always have to begin with is a specific genre appeal that almost guarantees an extremely loyal core "niche" audience.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Starlight Runner also consults with movie studios, comic book and fiction publishers, and videogame developers to take their niche or "cult" content and prepare it for extension across multiple media platforms. In this case, we are acting as transmedia storytellers, developing and producing "cult" properties for exposure to a much larger audience.<br /><br /><strong>Jenkins</strong>: The idea of cult media historically referred to films that appealed to a fairly small niche of consumers. But many genres, which once were regarded as cult -- fantasy, science fiction, superheroes -- have emerged as increasingly mainstream. What's changing? What accounts for the mainstreaming of niche media?<br /><br /><strong>Gomez</strong>: There are five factors that seem to be contributing to the "coming out" of cult media:<br />1. Baby boomers and gen-X'ers weaned on the explosion of pop culture spurred by the proliferation of television and movies in the aftermath of World War II have come of age and taken control of the entertainment industry. Naturally, they have a strong desire to recreate what they loved and share it with others who've had similar cultural experiences.<br /><br />2. Genre product such as science fiction serials and horror films, which had been relegated to Saturday matinees and second or third billing in movie theaters, could now be given A-list treatment. The new moguls and visionaries could now apply top grade production value to this content, and hire marquee talent for it, secure in the knowledge that genre fare is more than likely to turn a profit. In the international market, a growing hunger for action and genre content could boost domestic failures into profitability.<br /><br />3. Attention to quality extended to storytelling. Filmmakers, comic book writers, genre novelists and their ilk were better educated and more interested in stories that conveyed better character development and stronger verisimilitude. Star Wars was fueled by the work of Joseph Campbell.<br /><br />4. Genre content became more reflective of the mood and politics of the time, and therefore resonated more powerfully with mass audiences. Note the nuclear spawned monsters of the 1950s, the "acid trip" sci-fi of the '60s, the terrifying "evil children" of the early '70s, the "gee whiz" hope of Star Wars and Close Encounters later that decade, the political morass and moral ambiguity of Battlestar Galactica currently.<br /><br />5. Like no other time in history, devotees of this type of content have complete access to one another via the Internet. Fans whose imaginations are fired by these stories make a deep and lasting connection with them. They become "specialists," intensely knowledgeable of the property, the way that sports fanatics memorize the accomplishments and statistics of their favorite teams. These fans become "apostles" for the property, devoting time, effort and creativity in celebrating the story and characters, collecting ephemera and licensed extensions of the brand, celebrating it with others of their ilk. They form the property's core fan base, which in turn fuels the continued success of the brand.<br /><br /><em><span style="color:#3366ff;">Jeff Gomez (</span></em></span><a href="mailto:jeff@starlightrunner.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3366ff;"><em>jeff@starlightrunner.com</em></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;color:#3366ff;"><em>), is the CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Inc., a developer and producer of highly successful trans-media projects whose clients include The Walt Disney Company, 20th Century Fox, the Coca-Cola Company, Mattel and Hasbro.</em></span><br /></span>Greg Weinsteinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11435641639313123710noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-78664221822379474332008-06-06T13:17:00.004-04:002008-06-06T13:21:47.958-04:00The Future of the Book – A Conversation with Bob Stein Monday, June 23, 2008 7PM<span style="font-weight: bold;">**EXCLUSIVE, MEMBERS ONLY EVENT**</span><br /><br />Monday, June 23, 2008<br />7 pm – 9 pm<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Future of the Book – A Conversation with Bob Stein</span><br /><br />It has been 453 years since Johannes Gutenberg published the first mechanically printed book, and recent developments in electronic ink and more user-friendly mobile displays - including the introduction of Amazon.com’s Kindle reader and Apple’s iPhone - have created a market for electronic “books” that go far beyond ink-on-pulp publications. As the printed page is giving way to the networked screen, the Institute for the Future of the Book seeks to chronicle this shift, and impact its development in a positive direction. The Institute is a project of the Annenberg Center for Communication at the University of Southern California and Columbia University, and is based in Brooklyn, New York.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bob Stein</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Director of the Institute for Future of the Book</span> (<a href="http://futureofthebook.org">http://futureofthebook.org</a>). Stein was the founder of <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Voyager Company</span>. For 13 years, he led the development of more than 300 titles in “The Criterion Collection,” a series of definitive films on videodisc, and more than 75 CD-ROM titles, including the CD Companion to Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, “Who Built America,” and the Voyager edition of Macbeth. Previous to Voyager, Stein worked with Alan Kay in the Research Group at Atari on a variety of electronic publishing projects. In 1996, Stein started the Night Kitchen company to develop authoring tools for the next generation of electronic publishing. That work is being continued at the Institute for the Future of the Book. Stein is also Research Director, Digital Authoring Tools, USC Annenberg Center for Communication.<br /><br />Moderator: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris Pfaff</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">President, Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC; board delegate, PGA New Media Council</span><br />A board delegate of the PGA New Media Council since 2006, and a PGA NMC member since 2004, Chris Pfaff leads a consultancy – Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC – that represents some of the leading service providers, audio/video technology firms, networking vendors, and media companies in the world, from PRIMEDIA and Eastman Kodak to Cantor Telecom. A veteran of the venture world, Chris helped launch more than 20 ventures from the Lucent New Ventures Group, including iBiquity Digital; Flarion; Lucent Digital Video, and GeoVideo Networks, among others. In addition, he has helped launch AT&T’s Internet strategy; the Viacom New Media division of Viacom, Inc.; Sony Electronics’ Digital Betacam format, and Sharp Electronics’ LCD product division. <br /><br />A wine and cheese networking reception beginning will precede the conversation programming. <br /><br />This event will take place at <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Core Club</span> in New York City.<br /><br />Event hosted by the Producers Guild of America New Media Council East.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">**YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.**</span><br /><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" title="Link" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><img src="img/gl.link.gif" alt="Link" border="0" /></span></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Producers Guild of America</span> (PGA) is the premier industry association for entertainment producing professionals working in film, television and digital media.<br /><br />For more information about the <span style="font-weight: bold;">PGA New Media Council</span> and to access a membership application, please visit: <a href="http://www.pganewmedia.org">http://www.pganewmedia.org.</a><br /><br />For more information about the PGA and to access a membership application, please visit: <a href="http://www.producersguild.org">http://www.producersguild.org</a>.<br /><br />Previous events from our <span style="font-weight: bold;">2005-2007 event series</span> can be accessed in web cast format at: <a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/pga">http://www.scribemedia.org/pga</a>.<br /><br />For more information about <span style="font-weight: bold;">ScribeStudio Productions</span>, please visit <a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/about/">http://www.scribemedia.org/about/</a>.Gary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7004339539941629176.post-27967211123772329942008-05-08T12:05:00.002-04:002008-05-08T12:09:34.497-04:00New York: Digital Media Mecca – A Conversation with Chip Austin, founder of i-Hatch Ventures<span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Producers Guild of America </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >New Media Council East</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Presents the</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >2007-2008 Panel and Salon Series</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Tuesday, May 20, 2008</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />New York: Digital Media Mecca – </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >A Conversation with Chip Austin, founder of i-Hatch Ventures</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Though memories of Silicon Alley and the 1990s are receding, the role of digital media in the New York economy continues to gain strength. Even as the recent Wall Street crisis continues to unfold, entrepreneurs and major media companies are creating new businesses, new means of digital media delivery and transaction, and venture capitalists are contributing to this evolving ecosystem of content-driven plays.<br /><br />One such long-standing New York digital media investment stalwart is Chip Austin, founder and partner of New York-based venture capital fund i-Hatch Ventures. Chip has been an active agent in the growth of both the first wave of online ventures, as well as the current landscape of New York-based ventures. Since founding i-Hatch in 1999, Chip has invested in such successful ventures as Vindigo, Dotcast, M:Metrics, and Thumbplay. Previously, in addition to founding Bertelsmann's E-commerce division, Chip was a member of the senior executive team leading the buyout and restructuring of Prodigy Communications and was a co-founder of McKinsey’s & Co.’s interactive practice, where he spent seven years advising Fortune 500 companies on their technology and media strategies. Prior to that, Chip worked at Morgan Stanley and IBM's PC division.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >Moderator: Chris Pfaff, President, Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC; board delegate, PGA New Media Council</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">A board delegate of the PGA New Media Council since 2006, and a PGA NMC member since 2004, Chris Pfaff leads a consultancy – Chris Pfaff Tech/Media LLC – that represents some of the leading service providers, audio/video technology firms, networking vendors, and media companies in the world, from PRIMEDIA and Eastman Kodak to Cantor Telecom. A veteran of the venture world, Chris helped launch more than 20 ventures from the Lucent New Ventures Group, including iBiquity Digital; Flarion; Lucent Digital Video, and GeoVideo Networks, among others. In addition, he has helped launch AT&T’s Internet strategy; the Viacom New Media division of Viacom, Inc.; Sony Electronics’ Digital Betacam format, and Sharp Electronics’ LCD product division. <br /><br />A wine and cheese networking reception will precede the conversation programming. <br /><br />This event takes place at the Screening Room at The Core Club.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:100%;" >YOU MUST BE A MEMBER OF THE PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA TO ATTEND THIS EVENT.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br />Previous events from our 2005-2008 event series can be accessed in both webcast and podcast format at: <a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/pga">http://www.scribemedia.org/pg</a><a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/pga">a</a><br /><br />For more information about ScribeStudio Productions, please visit: <a href="http://www.scribemedia.org/about">http://www.scribemedia.org/about</a>.</span>Gary Greenblatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09054348159481208272noreply@blogger.com0