March 2010 Archives

This was one of my absolute favorite TED talks this year. Raghava KK speaks so passionately and genuinely about his life and art. It made me think about how this relates to filmmakers. How are filmmakers' own lives reflected in their films and their audience engagement work? How does one's personal life support and shape their craft? Watch this talk and think about your own intersection of art and reality:

I just attended another TEDx New York.  Today we watched a talk by Woody Norris from 2004.  Check it out here and be inspired:



After seeing this video, we had a discussion that raised the following questions that I think we should all be thinking about:

How do we use these types of inventions, that seem so perfect for military use, for social good? And, for that matter, why isn't this type of genius more prevalent in social change fields? How do we fix that?

Is there an optimal balance between intelligence and ignorance that makes someone a creative genius? Does it take a certain lack of knowledge about a function for someone to create something new? How do we find that right balance in ourselves, in our children and in our work places to inspire new thinking?

Has invention and creativity only just begun? In 100 years will our grandchildren look back and think this was the dark ages? What can we imagine to be possible then?

How does this line of thought translate into media making? How can filmmakers and other creatives find the right balance between old knowledge and new ideas?

This weekend I attended The Conversation at Columbia University.  It was a packed day of discussion about new media distribution strategies, monetization, web tools, social networks and, occasionally, social change.  Thank you to the organizers for putting together a really robust day.  I walked away from the event feeling excited about this era we are in that allows mediamakers to not take "no" as an answer from distributors and other institutions.  Instead, mediamakers can do it on their own and are increasingly finding ways to make this strategy financially viable as well.  For a nice summary of the Tweets from the day, click here.  I look forward to continuing The Conversation!

Another SxSW panel I went to that stuck in my mind was a panel titled How to Create a Viral Video.  I fully intended to do a complete write up here about my favorite take-aways from the session.  But, then I found a great summary online about the session from Tracy Mueller so I decided not to re-create the wheel, but to send you all here instead. To see some of the Tweets from the session, check out #howtocreateviral.  For more about the session, click here.   To pique your interest about the session, check out the video below, one of the more amazing feats of engineering I have seen in a while and a great example of a video gone viral:

Social Games Level Up! Beyond Farmville & World of Warcraft

"What's next for social games? What does it take to build an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) that everyone will play? Can you teach Farmville fans how to play an MMO? Or get devoted World of Warcraft players passionate about a social network game? Susan Wu, CEO and co-founder of gaming industry pioneer, ohai!, shares 5 key lessons learned from launching the company's first next-generation social MMO, City of Eternals."

While this panel description didn't initially pique my interest, I went anyway to see what I could learn.  I walked away with a few tips from the (non-social issue) social gaming experts about how to make an online game successful.  The tips were:

1)  Make it 30 seconds to fun.  People don't want to have to download anything or have any sort of complicated setup.  The game should be accessible anywhere, not just on the one computer they have downloaded the game on.  You should put players in the middle of fun immediately so they can't turn away.  And, along those lines, you should provide value before asking for any real commitment.

2)  Keep it simple.  Games should reveal complexity gradually.  People want to understand what they are doing right away.  This kind of smooth on-ramping helps people make an early commitment.  Games should also give gamers deep game experiences in bite sized time increments.  Gamers should be able to come and go from the game smoothly throughout the day.  For example, on Facebook, gamers play on average 10 minute sessions 4-5 times per day.

3)  Keep it real.  Gamers are looking for real world context and relationships.  Keeping fantasy elements to a minimum helps gamers connect with the game and feel relevant.  Creating links to Facebook profiles of other gamers and other less "fantasy" websites helps as well.

While these tips were given specifically for gaming that doesn't have a social change component, I think social issue gamers would be wise to take heed. 

I just returned from my first visit to the weekly meeting of TEDx New York. It was sort of like a group of addicts that need a hit of intellectual stimulation - and I loved it! Today, we viewed two TED talks, Eva Vertes (TED 2005) and Kary Mullis (TED 2009). Both speakers discussed the scientific breakthroughs they are passionately working on. While both of the talks felt light years beyond my scientific understanding, our TEDx group discussion pulled out a few lessons that I will take with me this week and beyond. Two of them are below:

1) Why does our education system program us to think inside the box and not encourage our children to approach challenges creatively? Both of these scientists have achieved success precisely because they broke with convention and traditional thinking. What if we approached all of our professional and personal challenges by first asking ourselves - How can I break the rules?

2) Both of these TED speakers oozed with excitement and passion for their work - something that so many people can not find. From different generations and backgrounds, they share a driving sense of curiosity and wonder that keeps them connected to their work and joyful about their discoveries. What can we learn from them to bring into our own work to make it more exciting and stimulating every day?

Check out the talks below to extract your own lessons!

One of the memorable panels I went to at SxSW Interactive was Sex Education in a Web 3.0 World.  The panel was a discussion with Shelby Knox, Herb Coleman and Laura Rad.  First, you might be asking, what exactly is Web 3.0?  The discussion leaders defined it as live 2-way (or more) video conversation based communications (think Chat Roulette).  So, how does Web 3.0 affect the way our youth learn about sex and sexuality?  What are the dangers and assets this new wave of communication and learning presents?  Many of the parent attendees in the room expressed their concerns about wishing for their children to grow up healthy and sexually well-adjusted, but with an overwhelming fear of the landmines they face while navigating their online and offline lives.  We also discussed the importance of parents using these new technologies to re-educate themselves on these always evolving issues.  You can find a list of online sex education resources here.  You can follow Shelby Knox on Twitter at @shelbyknox. 

Preach it Jane. This was one of my favorite talks this year at TED. Jane does an exquisite job at connecting global gaming culture with the needs of social change movements. She has re-inspired my interest in this form of creative media and given me a new understanding of its power. I am looking forward to seeing what Jane creates next! Follow Jane on Twitter at @avantgame.

From The Fledgling Fund

I know this shout out is a little late at this point, but I wanted to stop and take a minute to say how much I appreciate the True False Film Festival in Columbia, MO. To the founders, directors, staff, volunteers and attendees, thank you for making this year's festival once again a magical experience. I have already started counting down the days until next year's festival. We, at The Fledgling Fund, could not be more proud to have sponsored this year's panels at the festival. With so many excellent films showing, festival attendees had a lot to talk about in these sessions.

If you haven't experienced True False Film Festival before, put it on your calendar for next year. You will not regret it.

From The Fledgling Fund

At long last, you can now join The Fledgling Fund on Twitter - @fledglingfund
I had been resisting because of Blackberry's reluctance to create a functional Twitter application, but I recently realized at SxSW that I was becoming a social outcast for not being able to tell people what our Twitter handle is.  So, I caved.  Hope to see you in the Twitterverse!

Recently, I have been thinking so much more about how important it is to get out of our silos.  I know this is old news to most people, and I have heard it a hundred times before.  In the last two months, I have been to two wonderful events - TEDActive and SxSW Interactive that both were another slap in the face about how useful it is to think outside of my "creative media for social change" box.  Meeting people who rarely or never think in those terms is incredibly refreshing and energizing.  I can't say that I came back from either of those events with one big epic idea that is going to be a game changer for us at The Fledgling Fund.  I can say, however, that I feel intellectually and socially broadened in a way that I don't necessarily feel when I come back from film festivals.  I also think that there is going to be a time, probably in the very near future, when I realize I am approaching a challenge in a new way or thinking about solutions from a different angle as a result of my recent de-silo-ing.

Stay tuned here for recaps on some of my favorite TED Talks and panel sessions at SxSW Interactive!  But, for now, check both events out online at:  http://www.ted.com/talks and http://www.sxsw.com/interactive

From Fledgling

On March 15th Children of Invention will premiere theatrically in NYC.  The critically acclaimed independent feature film written and directed by Tze Chun will be shown at BIG Cinemas Manhattan. The film which is set in Boston and was shot in and around New York City, had its World Premiere at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival, played over 40 film festivals, and won 15 festival awards, 5 of which were Grand Jury or Best Narrative Feature prizes, including the top prize at the Independent Film Festival Boston and Newport International Film Festival. The film was named one of the "Top 13 Films of 2009" by Hammer to Nail and made several "Best Undistributed Films of 2009" lists.  It has also gained notoriety for its hybrid DIY distribution strategy, including being one of five Sundance films to launch YouTube Rentals. The filmmakers were recently named in Ted Hope's list of "21 Brave Thinkers Of Truly Free Film". Check out this remarkable film about two young children who are left to fend for themselves when their mother gets embroiled in a pyramid scheme and disappears.

If you're not in New York check out the one week engagement of the film at The Downtown Independent in L.A.  Click  here for tickets and showtimes.

From Fledgling

A Fledgling Fund grantee, The Brave New Foundation, which strives to create an open democratic society that encourages rigorous debate, opportunity and justice for all, is offering five veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars a chance to make their own documentaries about the consequences of the wars for them and for those around them.  Read more about the project in the LATimes and visit the Brave New Foundation to learn more.

From Fledgling

Recently, Nancy Schwartzman presented her film The Line at Sex::Tech 2010, a conference on Sex Ed, Technology and Youth culture in San Francisco sponsored by MTV, PopTech, Funny or Die and the National Campaign to End Teen Pregnancy. There, a very interesting intersection of sex educators, filmmakers, tech-geeks, public health officials, youth and activists convened to discuss issues surrounding sexual discourse and education and how discussion can be changed or is manipulated by rapidly changing technologies.  Find out more on the Sex:Tech site and check out Nancy's blog post about the conference.

The D.C. Environmental film festival is coming up. From March 16th -28th the festival will explore the vital connections between food and the environment. Films that focus on the production and transportation of our food will be the at the heart of this years festival, but other films will address the environmental implications of such diverse subjects as the current natural gas drilling boom, mountaintop removal and the mysterious disappearance of frogs. Additional films point to the success of businesses that are adopting green practices and stimulating the growth of clean, renewable energy.

Check out some of the fledgling supported films at the festival and learn more!

"Gasland" on the Festival's opening night: March 16 at 7 p.m. At the
Carnegie Institution for Science (1530 P St., NW, Washington, D.C.)

"Garbage Dreams" on March 27 at 4:30 p.m. At the AFI Silver Theatre in
Silver Spring, Md.

"What's On Your Plate?," the pre-Festival screening for DC public and
charter school students on March 9 at 10 a.m. At the Warner Theatre, 513
13th St., NW, Washington, D.C.

Fresh celebrates the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-inventing our food system. Each has witnessed the rapid transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: food contamination, environmental pollution, depletion of natural resources, and morbid obesity. Forging healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a practical vision for a future of our food and our planet.To celebrate the theatrically opening of the film in the first week of April, Fresh is teaming up with restaurants that support responsible practices.