The rise of the Web Series

June 27, 2011 Leave a comment

Tomorrow night I attend the screening of Episodes 1 and 2 of the new web series called Relativity.

The concept of Relativity comes from Jonathan Adams at Progressive Pictures. Jonathan was the DOP on my short film I directed The Postcard.

With a fresh, young cast and innovative storylines, Relativity combines action, drama, comedy and science in a thrilling and unforgettable adventure across time.

The story follows four teenagers from different eras brought together by a scientist from the future. As they journey from the age of dinosaurs to the unimaginably distant future, they must work together to solve a mystery that could that could spell doom for the future of mankind.

Relativity is produced by <strong>Feverpitch Entertainment, run by Steve Fanale, who also helped produce The Postcard. I have a small Featured Extra role in Episode two which was a lot of fun.

Watch episode one here:

Web series have been in the press a lot recently.
The sad demise of Hungry Beast was offset with the news that three Hungry Beasties, (Marc Fennell, Nick Hayden and Nicholas McDougall) are launching Coming Sooner, a web series which explores what makes a movie trailer “bad, brilliant or abominable”. Pedestrian TV suggest you watch the trio’s autopsy of the new Twilight trailer below then read on as they discuss the best, worst and most misleading trailers of 2011
http://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/features/hungry-beast-alum-critique-movie-trailers-in-new-w/46239.htm

Both Jonathan Adams and Hungry Beast, have decided that if they cant get funding, they might as well keep produing content to show thier skills and talent.
To me the web series is the evolution of the TV pilot. It offers the opportunity to provide a consistent format at regular intervals, whilst you attract the fanbase, social networking and interactivity. Of course the key words being ‘consistently’ and ‘regular’ as to do a web series requires persistence, budget and discipline.

At the other end of the scale, today I read in Mediawave TV Cat Deeley has launched her own Web TV series called In the Dressing Room.
Each installment of In the Dressing Room features Deeley delivering fashion, beauty tips, and English-accented adjectives to describe her wardrobe, makeup, and hair, as well as an inside look at the process of how she decides what to wear and how to look.
For up and coming producers, the web series.

This show however spins off the successful So You Think You Can Dance show

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Digital Person: Nick Bolton, in Digital Ministry

June 23, 2011 1 Comment

Denise Shrivell (@deniseshrivell) from Mediascope interviewed me for the popular digital Person series in Digital Ministry

Welcome to another Digital People profile where this time I’m pleased to introduce Nick Bolton – Head of Media and Entertainment at internet broadcasting company – Viocorp. Nick shares the interesting story of his path into the digital industry and then Viocorp which has gone from the founding team of 4 in 2005 to a growing staff of 70 now – impressive. Video – and everything under this general umbrella – is recognised as a key growth sector in our industry and Nick offers his views from this perspective highlighting current opportunities, challenges and market forecasts. He also highlights a very useful roll of media resources to stay up to date in this sector. A good read…..

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Evolution of set design and installations

June 7, 2011 2 Comments

Been blown away with the lengths that artists are going to these days to enhance their live set, especially in the electronic genre, where an artist is often locked behind banks of equipment.

Daft Punk set some standards a few years back with their inspiring pyramid set, which I witnessed at Homebush in 2008

This week in Sydney, we’ve had the Superbien boys projection mapping 3D visuals onto the sails of the Sydney Opera House for the Vivid Festival. Viocorp had the honour of live streaming every night from 6pm – 12pm for the duration of the festival into YouTube, the iPhone app and the Sydney Opera Jouse website.

Another artist at the Vivid Festival displaying impressive vision and creativity was Chris Cunningham though the content matter was of a rather different philosophy. Brutal and disturbing (a few people did walk out), I cant say I was entertained or enjoyed it, but was very glad to witness a true artist at work.

In more uplifting uses of video and technology, sees the new ‘ISAM’ installation from Amon Tobin. This short video gives an insight into the creative process behind the build of the set. Bring it to Australia Tobin.

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New model for the music industry?

June 5, 2011 Leave a comment

Never really got the Kaiser Chiefs. They’ve had their moments, but too much mediocrity for my liking. However, the launch of their new album piqued my interest enough to buy their new album
I read about the ‘zero publicity’ launch in an article by Peter Paphides in The Guardian
Burned by past leaks, Kaiser Chiefs release their new album today after exactly zero buildup – and it might well be the world’s first bespoke record. The band explain all

The website is fun, clean, well designed and easy to use. My engagement on the site must have been at least half an hour as I listened to all 20 tracks, and was pleasantly surprised with the difficult choice to choose 10 out of the 20 tracks available to make my album. After some cute artwork deign choices and soon I was automatically linked to my Paypal, where the strong
Aussie dollar meant that I only spent a measly $11 on a new album!

So here’s my album, go check it out:
nickybee99

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Welcome to “The Australian Academy” – good initiative from the AFI

June 1, 2011 Leave a comment

I was impressed with the recent Screen Australia inititives ‘Beyond the box‘ campaign (rating success on eyeballs not $income) and the ‘AllMedia‘ initiative that helps digital content,

Now comes the AFI latest campaign: The Australian Academy
the AFI is reviewing its strategic objectives and programs with the aim of establishing an ‘Australian Academy’. We want to build a more inclusive and refined professional structure that best represents the diversity and talent of our screen industry.

Our objectives are to:

Encourage the Australian public to get to know the Australian film, television and screen content production industries more broadly;
Work with our industry to raise its profile, and promote its productions, both to the Australian public and internationally;
Promote awareness of the history and presence of the Australian screen industry.

Check out this video with AFI Board Members Alan Finney and Sigrid Thornton

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Looking forward to judging the new Mobile Awards

June 1, 2011 Leave a comment

I recently saw a post that 80% of all mobile video is viewed on an apple device! A staggering result but not really that surprising so far, though i think Android will become a dominant force soon.
So it will be interesting to see what devices prevail in the inaugural Mobile Awards that launched in Australia this week. I was honoured to be asked to be on the judging panel.

Delivering online video to mobile is becoming increasingly common, and I am looking forward to seeing how much online video is prevalent in the categories.

This week Viocorp are running our first ever live stream into an iPhone app. We’ve been live streaming to mobile for a few years now, but into an app ws a first.
It’s for the Vivid Sydney Festival

MOBILE AWARDS PRESS RELEASE:
Melbourne, 1 June: The 2011 Mobile Awards launched today
in front of representatives from the mobile industry.

The 2011 Mobile Awards are Australia’s national award programme dedicated to the mobile industry.
The awards cover a range of categories including: Devices, Best Content, Best Content/Application, Best Developer and Innovation in the Mobile Industry.

The awards were launched in Melbourne on the 1st of June and the following day in Sydney.

Nominations for the Mobile Awards can be made from today until the 30 of July through the website www.mobileawards.com.au.

Nominations are expected from mobile content creators, application developers, as well as brands and businesses that have commissioned mobile content or applications.

“The Mobile Awards will showcase the maturity of the Australian mobile industry. Apps, smartphones and tablets have become mainstream, even my 80 year old mother has asked me about apps. Prior awards have focused on the marketing or development, the Mobile Awards focus on the breadth of the mobile market. A nomination in the Mobile Awards is a good way for a business to gain recognition for a new app in a crowded market. ”Mark Bergin, Awards Director

The Best Mobile Application as selected by the chairman of the judging committee will win a cash prize of $5,000 in the 2011 Mobile Awards.

Full details on how to nominate are available at http://www.mobileawards.com.au.

The Awards will be presented in Sydney on the 8th of September.

2011 Mobile Awards
http://www.mobileawards.com.au
http://www.facebook.com/MobAwards
Twitter: @mobawards hashtag: #mobies
Photos from launch event can be viewed here>> http://www.facebook.com/MobAwards

Key dates:
1 June – 30 July 2011: Nominations Open
1 June – 18 August: Voting Period
19 August 2011: Finalists Announced
8 September: Awards Night – Sydney

Mark Bergin, the Awards Director is available for interview.

Media Contact: Michelle Milton: tel: 03 9525 1255; mobile: 04 1718 5458; email: editor@design100.com

The 2011 Mobile Awards partners include: AIMIA, SmartCompany, Viocorp, LaVolta, The Domain, MEGA and Mobile Monday Adelaide.

2011 Mobile Award Judges Include

Joe Di Stefano, Digital Manager, Origin Energy
Homaxi Irani, User Experience Manager, Sensis
Sally Davis, Product Capability Manager, Mobiles – Sensis
Kirsten Mann, Director of User Experience (UX), Aconex
Nick Bolton, General Manager Melbourne, Viocorp
Roger Kermode, Director Business Development, ANZA Technology Network
Dr. Linda Leung, Institute for Media and Learning, UTS
Chris Winter, Manager New Services, ABC Innovation at ABC
David McGowan, Business Director, Nomad
Andy Paterson, Director of Product Development, Kinologica
Sally Mills, CEO, LaVolta Digital
Rob Marston, Regional Director Pacific, InMobi
Pan Demosthenous, Director of Technology, Kinologica
Cameron Wall, Founder, ZapMe Mobile
Oliver Weidlich, Director of Design & Innovation, Mobile Experience
Shane Williamson, Co-Founder, Mobile Monday Sydney
Jennifer Wilson, Director, The Project Factory
Zac Jacobs, General Manager, Tigerspike Melbourne
Tim O’Neil, Joint Managing Director, Reactive
James Giang, Convenor, Android Australia User Group
Wayne Schmidt, Country Manager Australia, Xero
John Sitzler, Senior Mobile Manager, Bigpond Sport
Ben Bickford, CEO, Bionic
Claudia Sagripanti, CEO, Publishers Australia
Sally-Ann Balharrie, Strategic and Company Director, Blueboat
Chris Fiteni, Cheif Strategy Officer, Nucleus Digital Strategy
Alex Young, Director, MOB
Jacinta Bayard, Principal Solicitor & Director, Bayard Lawyers
Adam Beaupeurt, Digital Strategist, Ogilvy
Charles Crouch, Lecturer in eBusiness, Boston University Graduate Program
Mike Kofi Okyere, Head of Performance Advertising AdMob, Google
Liz Sannen, Brand & Advertising Manager, Worksafe Victoria
Marc Laurin, Digital Marketing Manager, VicUrban

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It’s all about me – Intel’s The Museum of Me

June 1, 2011 Leave a comment

Okay so sometimes one can be a bit suspicious of allowing companies to ‘connect’ to my data within Facebook but sometimes you have to throw caution to the wind.

Really like Intel‘s new campaign ‘The Museum of Me’ which creates a virtual museum of your photos, friends, most used words and more.
Its quick and easy, and fits in perfectly with Intel’s brand value proposition of making computing quicker and more effective.

Create and explore a visual archive of your social life at http://museumofme.intel.com/

Here’s mine:

Intel 'The Museum of Me'

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