I have become a bit obsessed with data recently. Numbers on a page don’t mean much to me. I’m very visual which is why I love documentary storytelling so much. But there are people doing things with data that will make your jaw drop. And the storytelling potential of data is something I am currently very interested in. Hans Rosling gave an incredible talk at TED in 2006 – see the video below. And now I have discovered Aaron Koblin,…
I’m part of a Shooting People team teaching a workshop on how filmmakers can best use the web at the Frontline Club in London on Saturday, July 4th. The workshop will include case studies on films that have harnessed the power of the web, tips on using social media, and online strategy and resources for filmmakers. If you’re looking for help distributing and marketing your film online then Digital Bootcamp is for you! I’m working on some lovely slides for…
The Open Video Conference looks like an interesting couple of days for anyone interested in online video and the future of open and participatory culture on the web. From their description: Open Video is more than just open codecs. It’s the growing movement for transparency, interoperability, and further decentralization in online video. These qualities provide more fertile ground for independent producers, bottom-up innovation, and greater protection for free speech online. The conference will showcase awesome cultural works, inspiring talks, and…
Ted Hope’s new blog Truly Free Film is definitely one to add to your reader (if you haven’t started subscribing to blog feeds in a reader I highly recommend it – it saves time and allows you to keep track of loads of blogs and websites in one place. I use Google Reader but there are other options out there). I previously wrote about Hope’s Phoenix Rising speech here and his Truly Free Film blog follows on from this with…
I have been spending the last few days catching up on presentations and panels from the Power to the Pixel conference that took place in London last month – they are now online and free to wach. There’s some great info and ideas here, from Christy Dena on cross-media production, to Arin Crumley on collaborative filmmaking to Jamie King on distribution. If you are feeling worried about how the credit crunch is going to affect independent filmmaking (and let’s face…
Another great event from Own It – The Creators Guide to Going Mobile: a Digital Revolution Made Simple. If you can get to it, this looks like it will address a lot of the questions that we all have about mobile content and how it will pay… Are you thinking of joining the next revolution in digital media and distributing your work through mobile phones or inventing software applications? This seminar will give you an overview of the legal framework…
The GSMA, the global trade group for the mobile industry, and Mofilm, a pioneer of short films for mobile and on-line distribution has announced the first Global Mobile Film Festival with a call for films to international filmmakers. The Global Mobile Festival follows the success of the GSMA’s previous collaborations with the Sundance Film Festival to create the Global Short Film Project. The GSMA and Mofilm are seeking films up to five minutes in length, made both using traditional filmmaking…
Hello all, Am still trying to process the information overload that was yesterday’s very entertaining as well as informative Power to the Pixel forum (continuing today). I will write up the reams of notes that I produced throughout the day, I promise. Liz did say that videos of both days’ sessions would be available shortly so keep an eye on the website. In the meantime, let me make it up to you with an exclusive Shooters’ 10% discount on the…
This is very, very cool: breathingearth.net It is a real time simulation that displays the CO2 emissions of every country in the world, as well as their birth and death rates. Make sure you move your mouse over the countries to check out their stats. I’ve always been obsessed with maps. That’s why I love books like You Are Here: Personal Geographies and Other Maps of the Imagination and I am really interested to see how people are using new…
I have just returned from The Conversation in California where I learned a huge amount about what is possible for filmmakers given the technology (and thinking!) available these days. The good news for those of you in London is that film/tech whiz Liz Rosenthal has produced what I’m sure will be an equally mind-expanding couple of days at this year’s Power To The Pixel – in fact some of the same wonderful people will be there: Lance Weiler, Arin Crumley,…
