All posts for category: CFC Media Lab > News

CFC Media Lab Alumnus Explains the Power of Fandom

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David Brisbin, CFC Media Lab Alumnus and Production Designer for The Twilight Saga: New Moon, sheds light onto the influence fans can have on Production Design of a film franchise in yesterday’s article posted on jawbone.tv.

New Media savants have also long kept an eye on the mash-ups, machinimas, lego-film knock-offs, blog sites and other forms of FAN-MADE MEDIA in response to beloved movies — that’s old news too. What I am arguing here is that on New Moon (and presumably other shows shot in 2009) these two strands converged on the back of the current wave of tech tools in the hands of fans. The result is something new: INSTANT FAN-MADE MEDIA.

View the whole article here.

David’s Filmography.

CFC Media Lab Issues CODE Live Press Release

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Check out our official PRESS RELEASE for our co-productions exhibiting at VANOC’s CODE Live festival running February 4-21, 2010 in Vancouver.

Spring 2010 Telus IAEP Application Deadline Quickly Approaching

APPLY NOW - TELUS INTERACTIVE ART & ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM
We’re recruiting for the Spring 2010 session - applications due December 15, 2009.

WIN FREE TUITION
Flex your creative muscle and you could win free tuition with our online contest. Apply now at cfccreates.com/contest

Sheena McDonald, CFC Director of Special Projects | Xenofile Media, CFC Media Lab Alumni Recognized at the Rose D’Or Festival

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We are so proud to announce Sheena Macdonald,  Director of Special Projects, CFC, was presented with the 2009 Honorary Rose Award and Xenophile Media, CFC Media Lab Alumni won the first ever Multi Platform Award at the 2009 Rose D’Or.

Lucerne, Switzerland  – May 5, 2009 – This year’s Golden Rose winners were announced at the Awards Ceremony held on the final evening of the 49th  annual Rose d’Or Festival. Winners were presented with a coveted Golden Rose Award by international stars including Anatole Taubman (Quantum Of Solace), Sofia Milos (CSI Miami) and Jennifer Gareis (The Bold And The Beautiful). The event was hosted by American actor and comedian Maz Jobrani.

Festival Director Urban Frye presented Sheena Macdonald, Director of Special Projects at The Canadian Film Centre (CFC) and writer/producer George Anthony with the 2009 Honorary Rose.

“This award is presented to individuals who have made a significant impact on the entertainment television industry,” said Frye, “Sheena and George have made outstanding contributions during their careers. Their extraordinary achievements demonstrate the value of embracing quality, originality and creativity, and I am delighted to present them with the 2009 Honorary Rose Award.”

MULTI PLATFORM CATAGORY

MI High, Whack The Mole, The MI High Alternate Reality Game
Production Company: Xenophile Media
Broadcaster/Distributor: BBC

Whack the Mole, The MI High Alternate Reality Game, was created to enhance the viewer’s connection to the second season of MI High. Thirteen online episodes linked to thirteen episodes on TV broadcast from January to April 2008.
The interactive experience brings the world of MI High to life; offering viewers the chance to become an MI High Field Agent, literally joining the MI High Team, foiling villains and solving cases of vital importance to the British secret service.

Welcome to the new <stabletalk>

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Welcome to the new <stabletalk>! Chock full of CFC Media Lab goodness, <stabletalk> will keep you up to date on what is happening here, all the exciting things happening with you and even what is going on with other people who don’t live in Canada. Cool hey?

And you, what role do you play, my friend? Well, it is up to you to let me know what is going on with you. What are you up to? What are you working on? Are you looking to hire someone? Need someone to collaborate with? Keep in touch. Write more often. We love hearing what you are up to.  Please reach me here.

2 CFC Alumni Wins at the CNMA Awards!

The CFC Media Lab is proud to announce two alumni CNMA Awards!

Congratulations to:

David Oppenheim / Diamond Road Online - Excellence in News / Information Award -  http://diamondroad.tv/index_tvo.php

Smiley Guy Studios - Excellence in Cross Platform Award - www.oddjobjack.com

The CFC Media Lab would also like to extend our congratulations to all of the CNMA Award winners and nominees for 2008. It is always exciting to get a snapshot of the amazing work that continues to emerge and grow across Canada.

To see all of the award winners and find out more about the CNMA Awards please go to www.cnma.ca

Telus Innovation Fund 2009

FUNDING THE FUTURE OF ENTERTAINMENT

Submission Deadline: Monday February 23, 2009

The TELUS Innovation Fund invests in film, television, and new media projects creating the next forms of entertainment.

The TELUS Innovation Fund, created by the Canadian Film Centre with funding from the TELUS Foundation, provides funding for the production of innovative film, television, and new media content projects. This fund invests in new forms of high-quality, original Canadian content that employ innovative strategies in breaking new ground to reach general public audiences.  The TELUS Innovation Fund supports a minimum of 3 projects per year with funding up to $100,000 for each project.

Launched in January of 2006, the fund was designed to assist projects that explore new ways of approaching entertainment and storytelling; placing Canadian ideas, talent and media at the forefront.

For more information download the TELUS Innovation Fund Guidelines Package at:  www.cfccreates.com

Or contact TELUS Innovation Fund Coordinator
Antoinette di Michele
adimichele AT cfccreates.com
416-445-1446 ext. 208

Please visit the website and see if your project fits our 2008 Guidelines & send this e-mail to anyone who may be interested.

We look forward to your submission!

James Milward / Secret Location win ‘Creative Challenge’ at Boards Summit

We are thrilled to  announce that James Milward / Secret Location- CFC Media Lab Alum has taken top honors, competing in the “Creative Challenge” at the Boards Summit in New York.

James Milward and Secret Location faced tough competition from last years champion, Mekanism, San Francisco and Seattle’s Wexley School for Girls, emerging victorious presenting a deep multi-tiered integrated campaign.

It was a tough race as the Board Summit is ‘THE WORLDS LARGEST COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION CONFERENCE’ and all the big players are there from every agency in the world.

James / Secret Location went up against Jason Harris, CEO and Ian Kovalik, Creative Director from Mekanism in San Francisco, (one of the top digital agencies in the world) (http://www.mekanism.com) and Brian Marr, Managing Director of The Wexley School for Girls in Seattle (One of the hottest integrated agencies in the world) (http://www.wexley.com).

The Creative Challenge focused its efforts on GLASS (http://www.giveaglass.org/Welcome.html) - the advertising/post/production endeavor to decrease waste in the environment and increase clean water supply in the world. Selected companies were given a brief 2 weeks before the competition and then presented creative solutions to the goal of eliminating plastic waste and contributing to clean water resources live on stage at the summit.

After a hard fought 45 minutes and the three presentations, including a grilling from client, Mishawn Williams (Glass) and Judge, Roger Baldacci - EVP & Creative Director, Arnold Worldwide, in Boston (http://www.arnoldworldwide.com), James Milward and his company Secret Location emerged victorious.

This was a stunning defeat as Mekanism were the defending champions, and both Mekanism and Wexley have dozens of employees, creatives and resources to work on the challenge. Secret Location is currently 6 people.

To find out more about Secret Location:
http://www.thesecretlocation.com

Find out more about the Creative Challenge at the Boards Summit in New York:

More about Boards magazine: http://www.boardsmag.com

CFC Media Lab Alumni Success

Eva Riniitze just launched a site for the CBC series The Tudors that uses data visualization (click on ‘Kingdom’ link in nav) as a means to represent the discusion and popularity surrounding both the series and the history. It’s an attempt at a visual way to search topic online. For CBC it represents the first time we’ve really publicly mapped one of our shows.

www.cbc.ca/tudors

<stabletalk> Newsletter - April, 2008

CFC Media Lab community newsletter

< April, 2008 >

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Table of Contents

1.) CFC Media Lab Events
2.) CFC Media Lab Updates
3.) Alumni Updates
4.) Local and non-local Events, Calls & Deadlines                                                                                                                        5.) Jobs                                                                                                                                                                                         6.) Workshops

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++     ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                                                                                                          CFC MEDIA LAB EVENTS
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                                                                                                           CFC Media Lab Annual Survey
We know a lot of you are doing amazing things and would love to hear about it! For those of you who haven’t filled out the annual survey yet please take a couple of minutes to complete it and let us know what you are up to.
iPod Touch contest has been extended! Please fill out the survey to be entered.
Thank you so much to the people who have already sent in their surveys! You are all automatically entered in the draw.
http://www.cfcmedialab.com/survey
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                                                                                                            New Residents + Drinks = Super-fun Party
IAEP Spring 2008 Meet the New Residents Party
They are all awesome. You are all awesome. What could be more fun than to network with other awesome people? That’s right. Not  much. Come on down to The Central on April 24 to meet our new residents and have a drink.
Venue: The Central, 603 Markham Street in Mirvish Village
Date / Time: April 24, 8pm – 1am
Map: http://www.thecentral.ca/info.php
www.thecentral.ca <http://www.thecentral.ca>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                                                                                                               CFC MEDIA LAB UPDATES
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We have another fantastic group of resident for the Spring 2008 session. Their interests and skills range from theatre, music and sound art, programming, wireless networks, wearable textiles, film, interactive art, writing and on and on….They are:
Angella Mackey
Deiren Masterson
Jefferson Wright
Nicholas Longstaff
Patrick Dinnen
Rea McNamara

If you want to find out more about who these phenomenal people are please see attached bios.
Some of their extracurricular activities include:

Moonshine Cabaret w/ DJ ree raw [Rea McNamara]
Every Friday @ Margret (2952 Dundas W - near Pacific Ave.)

More?
A weekly Friday night party spinning post post post post-genre that
Junction asses have shaken to since Dec ‘07. Yeah, we’ve been around.
Also a low-fi fashionista dead supermodels tribute night. Depends on
your ready-to-wear, could possibly be none of the above. Choose your
own adventure.

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Fall 2007 Session Update

The Prototype Preview for the Fall 2007 IAEP residents was a great success, despite the howling storm that decided to descend that night! Three prototypes were presented and have received quite a bit of attention already! Two of the prototypes are in talks with prominent industry players who would like to take the prototypes to exhibit or to market. As well, at several of these recent alumni have landed jobs in the industry. Congratulations are in order for all the hard work they put in during the last session and also for the successes they have begun to rack up!

The prototypes are:

TRANSPORTED delivers a series of video and sound clips, which posit public transportation as a “third space” – a space that is neither home nor work, but where people spend an important part of their lives. These clips are found stories of encounters on public transit, and illuminate the quick insight people have into each other when they travel together. This project aims to convey that commuting can be an adventure, an occasion for human contact and romance. The clips are available for broadcast, podcasts, downloading or will be seen on interactive screens mounted in public spaces.
Created by: Isabella Stefanescu & Carlo Ghioni

Mytime is a set of physical objects that integrates with your computer to represent time.  Each object has programmable characteristics that allow it to function in many different ways. Invent new possibilities to display time. Vary the combination for different effects.
Created by: Simone Maurice, Andrew Mallis, Ulysses Castellanos, Genevieve Godin, Tristen Brown

Greenwave is a facebook application that encourages and facilitates cooperative participation in environmentally friendly team challenges. Greenwave users invite their friends to join them in a commitment to simple actions that make a positive improvement on the environment. Visualizations that illustrate the collective impact of users’ cooperative action will demonstrate that small steps are making a positive impact on the environment.  Challenges range from taking your reusable mug along with you to the coffee shop, to boycotting plastic and paper bags in favor of cloth ones, to giving up the car for your commute to work. It is our hope that by participating in our challenges, users will have fun changing their lifestyle for the environmental good and inspire others to ride the green wave.
Created by: Zan Chandler, Elliot Woolner, Sharon Rotman

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INFP – Late Fragment
“Brilliantly atmospheric, beautifully and lyrically made, “Late Fragment” might’ve been a strong movie, even without the interactive element. As it stands, it could be the prototype for a new kind of narrative experience, that is, if the viewer is up for the challenge. My guess is we’ll be hearing a lot about this movie in the months ahead, as it premieres worldwide on DVD this June or July.”
blog.jaman.com/?p=383
Late Fragment is continuing to receive high accolades as it tours film and interactive festivals worldwide including Whistler Film Festival, Victoria Film Festival, and Kingston Film Festival and Nuit Blanche Montreal. It recently had its US premiere at SxSW in Autin Texas and will be the headliner of the Future Films programme at the 01 Festival in San Jose, California.
MONGREL MEDIA has picked up Late Fragment for domestic distribution and are looking at a DVD release date of July 2008.
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CFC Media Lab Staff
Elliot Woolner is a recent addition to the CFC Media Lab roster. Before graduating from the IAEP Fall 2007 session, he attended the  University of Waterloo, where he earned a Bachelor of Mathematics,  majoring in Computer Science.  He has a wide range of experience as  both a software developer and quality assurance specialist.  In  addition to currently working part time at the CFC, Elliot is  developing applications for Facebook, making Web 2.0 and Social  Network Platforms the focus of his research and work.

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ALUMNI UPDATES
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Congratulations to IAEP Alumni Smiley Guy Studios
 [www.oddjobjack.com] who recently won the Canadian Film and Television Producers Indie Award for Best Convergent New Media!
This was the first annual celebration of Canadian independent producers in film, television, and new media recognized outstanding Canadian producer achievement in ten categories of the film, television and new media industry.
The awards ceremony was the launch event for the CFTPA’s Prime Time in Ottawa - a must-attend industry event with over 600 delegates from all regions of the country. Sold-out each year, Prime Time in Ottawa plays host a broad cross-section of the production industry, as well as broadcasters, distributors, exhibitors, cable and satellite providers, government officials and the national media.
www.cftpa.ca
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                                                                                                                                       IAEP Alumnus ANDREW MALLIS will be exhibiting an artwork as part of the:
5th TORONTO TIMERAISER
HOSTED BY AVI LEWIS
SATURDAY APRIL 5th, 2008
DISTILLERY DISTRICT, FERMENTING CELLAR
DOORS OPEN AT 7:00 PM
PLEDGE WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD (MIN. 20 HOURS)
GOAL IS TO RAISE 7,500 COMMUNITY HOURS!

To find out more….
http://www.timeraiser.ca/en/Toronto-2008
http://www.frameworkfoundation.ca
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++LOCAL & non_local EVENTS, CALLS & DEADLINES
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OGRES, HALFLINGS, NIGHT ELVES AND CHUCK NORRIS
Eddo Stern
Curated by Pablo de Ocampo and Dana Samuel
In conjunction with the 21st annual Images Festival

April 4- May 3, 2008
Opening Reception Friday, April 4, 8pm onward
InterAccess Electronic Media Arts Centre, 9 Ossington Avenue, Toronto
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BreakIT! at FITC Toronto: The Design + Technology Festival
April 19 - 22, 2008, Toronto Hilton, Toronto, Canada

Break your tools. Break your patterns. Break the norm. Break the standards.

New to this year’s program is the FITC “Get-A-Job” event, which takes place Saturday, April 19th at the Toronto Hilton. The Get-A-Job event is open to the general public (no festival pass required) and is organized to connect up-and-coming designers and developers with top Interactive agencies and technology companies. For more information, go to http://www.fitc.ca/getajob.

This is the 7th year for the three-day festival, which also includes a kick-ass Awards show, a speakers’ series devoted to experimental art and programming, a large scale interactive art exhibit as well as some very cool parties.

For more information, or to register, go to http://www.fitc.ca/toronto <http://www.fitc.ca/toronto> .
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Apr. 14 | First deadline for the Android Developer Challenge.
Want to develop applications for Google’s new Android mobile phone platform and make a cool $275,000? Google has put $10 million into a competition to do just that - develop a lot of original cool apps that are highly functional as well as usable. The apps need to access core Android functionality like location-based services, accelerometer and always-on networking. More info at code.google.com/android/adc.html
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Apr. 25 | Deadline to apply to the Product Assistance component of the Canada New Media Fund (CNMF).
This fund provides conditionally repayable advances for the development, production and marketing of Canadian interactive digital cultural content products - in both official languages - that are intended for the general public. See telefilm.gc.ca.
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Bend Over and Submit to InterAccess!
An Open Call for Recent Graduates!
Deadline: Friday April 25th, 2008.
Let us tie you up in an exhibition this summer. Submissions are now being accepted for the 8th annual Emerging Artists’ Exhibition. Since 2001, InterAccess has mounted an annual Emerging Artists’ Exhibition showcasing new media works by post-secondary students and/or recent graduates. This initiative aims to provide students and recent graduates with professional experience and exposure.
We are looking for submissions of electronic, interactive and new media work, including works related to artistic genres such as sculpture, installation, video and performance. Preference may be given to submissions exploring the relationship and/or interaction between human intimacy and technology, although due to the fluidity of an open call the theme is responsive and the curator develops an exhibition related to the submissions received.
www.interaccess.org
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Fresh Ground New Works
Harbourfront Centre’s National Commissioning Programme

Recognizing that some of the most creative and fascinating work being produced across the country today is the result of artists working in different ways and through non-traditional collaborations, as part of our 30th anniversary celebrations in 2004, we launched an exciting legacy programme entitled Fresh Ground new works: funding which aims to be the catalyst for new, collaborative artistic creations incorporating more than one discipline or field, to be presented or installed here at Harbourfront. With the generous support of several individual donors and the Imperial Tobacco Canada Arts Fund, Harbourfront Centre has committed $200,000 toward the creation of a total of ten new, collaborative, multi-disciplinary, Canadian works to date.

This year, Harbourfront Centre is pleased to issue the third Call for Submissions for Fresh Ground new works. Thanks once again to the support of our donors and the Imperial Tobacco Canada Arts Fund, a maximum of five separate projects will be selected to receive $20,000 each toward their creation and presentation during Harbourfront Centre’s 2009/2010 season.

For more information: http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/noflash/freshground/index.php
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Healthcare Perspectives on Digital Storytelling Retreat
May 20-22, 2008
Digital Storytelling is emerging throughout the world as a powerful tool for effectively capturing and sharing stories within the health sector. Many successful and innovative programs for implementing storytelling are underway, but not all are widely known or shared. Join us at a retreat to provide an opportunity for digital storytelling practises to be shared with and amongst health care practitioners, researchers, patients and policy makers. CDS Director Joe Lambert, Canadian Associate Michelle Spencer, and Patient Voices’ Pip Hardy from the UK will lead the dialogue. The goals of this retreat are to highlight initiatives throughout the world using digital stories in their work, bring together policy makers and health providers to build a community of health practitioners interested in partnering and supporting the work of digital storytelling. Provide a very practical and logistical understanding of digital storytelling to those interested in program implementation. The retreat will be held at Bowen Lodge by the Sea on Bowen Island. Located just a twenty minute ferry ride from West Vancouver’s Horseshoe Bay, Bowen Island offers quiet surroundings for boating, fishing, walking, kayaking and beach combing. Downtown Bowen Island is home to over 400 local artists and many galleries. www.bowenlodgebythesea.com <http://www.bowenlodgebythesea.com <http://www.bowenlodgebythesea.com> >

Cost: $595/per person includes registration, accommodation and meals
For more information: please contact Michelle Spencer michelle@storycenter.org. To register: workshop@storycenter.org <mailto:workshop@storycenter.org>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                                                                                               Stories for Change
With more than 200 stories (and more being uploaded every week) and forum discussions on everything from microphone recommendations to tips for recruiting youth for workshops, Stories for Change <http://www.storiesforchange.net <http://www.storiesforchange.net> >  has become a dynamic community of digital storytellers from around the world! If you haven’t visited in awhile, please take a moment to stop by, check out some of our latest additions, share some tips and/or questions on the forum, or even upload a new story.
We are celebrating a part of a new initiative at Stories for Change <http://storiesforchange.net/ <http://storiesforchange.net/> >  of sharing stories on particular themes, to coincide with various international days and celebrations. The goal of this initiative is to highlight both the diversity of voices on the site and the common social justice threads going on in the world of digital storytelling today. Through the initiative, we will be working to connect with other organization’s doing work on specific social justice issues and encourage them to become involved in the Stories for Change <http://storiesforchange.net/ <http://storiesforchange.net/> >  community. For more information, please email: laura@storycenter.org.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                                                                                         JOBS
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CivicActions Seeks Geeks for Good!

CivicActions is growing and we’re seeking passionate, talented and
creative team members to empower our clients - organizations actively
making the world a better place using Drupal in innovative and impactful
ways.

We’re out to protect the environment, advance peace, improve public
health, promote education, champion social and economic justice and
increase human potential. In short, we’re here to empower change in the
world using our knowledge, insight and artistry.

Our client list tells you the kinds of things that are important to us:
Amnesty International, the Witness Video Hub, SolveClimate, Mother
Jones, the Democratic Party, Jim Hightower, the ACLU and the Free
Software Foundation among many others.

We are actively seeking people who want to work from anywhere and as
much as they want (10-15/hrs per week minimum), who are committed to
doing great work for great clients, and who’ll join us in “being the
change” in the process.

Who we’d like to meet:

Project Managers
Drupal Developers / Web Engineers
Application Specialist (able to interface w/ clients, recommend and
configure modules & content types, etc.)
Themers
QA Engineers
Visual Designers specializing in Web 2.0 design. 2.1, anyone?

We’ve got an exciting pipeline of projects (there’s a whole lotta change
going on!), so get in touch with us today!  Visit us at
http://www.civicactions.com/jobs <http://www.civicactions.com/jobs>
CivicActions Seeks Geeks for Good!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++                                                                               WORKSHOPS
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Upcoming Workshops at the Rich Media Institute in Toronto
Our mission is to educate designers, developers and marketers in the rich media industry about the capabilities, software tools, best practices and technologies for the professional creation of digital media. 

Rich media technologies and software have redefined business, entertainment, and personal communications. Our goal is to train developers to produce and deliver content that engages people anywhere at anytime. We constantly push the boundaries of the digital universe. As an institute we provide leadership in software education. We recognize and celebrate excellence in digital media development.

RMI Toronto was founded by industry leader Shawn Pucknell, Director of FITC Events <http://www.fitc.ca/> . RMI Toronto workshops are held at Element156 <http://element156.com/> , the digital media center in Kensington Market in downtown Toronto, Canada.

For more information, course descriptions and ticket sales, please see our website www.richmediainstitute.com or email jackie@richmediainstitute.com

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Registration is now open for the InterAccess Interactive Art Workshop Series: Ag Edition
WORKSHOPS FEBRUARY THROUGH APRIL, 2008

InterAccess’s Interactive Art Workshop Series provides artists with the tools needed to begin exploring the creative uses of technology. Participants gain a solid technical foundation for realizing their artistic vision. Our workshops demonstrate how a computer can communicate with and integrate visuals, audio and electronics. InterAccess emphasizes production strategies for artworks that take place in real space and real time, including performance, interactive installation, audio, video, and kinetic or robotic sculpture and installation.
See interaccess.org for more information about these workshops.