San Francisco Bay Area New Media Film Festival

The Best of New Media: What’s New, What’s Next…Honoring Stories Worth Telling      

FRIDAY, November 5th, 2010

TRACK ONE

9:15AM          Welcome Address

9:45AM          Coffee Chat with Keynote: Honoring Stories Worth Telling From Multiple Directions with Joanna Drake Earl of Current TV                                                                       We live in a conflux space where traditional Hollywood, Publishing, Games and Media are all intersecting at a faster rate aided by technology, media professionals & consumer adoption.  No matter how diverse our backgrounds or interests are, what we all share and need are great stories. 

                        John Gilles, VP/GM, Code & Theory (Host)

                        Joanne Drake Earl, COO of Current TV 

11:00AM        New Dialogue, Voices & Avenues: Finding Where You Fit In

Within the buzzwords, “New Media”, “Transmedia” & “Cross-Platform” there are a lot of new opportunities for content creators.  Hear what some of Hollywood’s leading Guilds have to say about their involvement & outreach in New Media.  See how storytellers, producers & performers are finding new avenues & opportunities.  

Philippa Burgess, Co-Director of New Media Film Festival-SF Bay Area & Partner at Creative Convergence (Moderator)

Steve Hoffman, CEO of LavaMind and RocketOn (& previous

VP of PGA-NW, San Francisco Chapter)

Melodie Shaw, Lead Organizer, WGA, West

Michael Ajakwe Jr., Founder & Executive Director-Los Angeles Web Series Festival, WGA, Member

Alejandro Franchesci, President, Tempest Digital Inc. 

12:30PM        Challenges & Victories of Producing Content That Can Change the World

Socially Responsible Content (SRC) & Green Production.  What is it? Why are people creating it?  What are the challenges?  What are the benefits?  How do you get the audience to care?  Where are we seeing a difference? How do we know that our efforts are making an impact? 

Susan Johnston, Founder/Director of New Media Film Festival & President, Select Services Films Inc. (Moderator)

Mary Knipple, Board Member of Women’s National Book Association San Francisco Chapter

Michael Larsen, Literary Agent, Larsen Pomada Literary & Co-Founder of San Francisco Writing Conference | SF Writing For Change Conference

Rob Alan Martin, Producer/Director & Creator of PBS’ “The Grand View”

Erica Priggen, Executive Producer, Free Range Studios

2:00PM          Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Presents: The Future of TV

Is broadcast TV dead? Are the days of cable/ satellite providers numbered? What do consumers want? How in the world will they pay for it all?  Find out what's happening as TV & entertainment are transformed by the power and intelligence of computers – Discover what that means for you as a content creator or industry professional. 

John Gilles, VP/GM, Code & Theory, co-Chair 2011 Interactive Media Primetime Emmy Awards Working Group (Moderator)
Ashwin Navin, CEO, Flingo.tv
Amber J. Lawson, Head of Comedy Programming, Babelgum
Jaime Wilkinson, Producer, Star Wars: Uncut (2010 Primetime Emmy Award winner for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Media - Fiction)
Will Wright, Creator - Bar Karma, Current TV

3:00PM          Monetizing The Crowd: Crowd Sourcing, Crowd Funding & Fan Building

                        Technology has changed our lives and connected our world.  Now it gives us an opportunity to tap the crowd, use their wisdom & their wallets to support artists & entrepreneurs.  Learn how these leading edge resources are empowering creative professionals & building bridges into advertisers & audiences.   

Dan Contento, VP of Sales, DIGG (Moderator)

Danae Ringelmann, Founder, IndieGoGo

James DeJulio, Co-Founder, Tongal

Simone Nelson, President, Bay Area Women in Film & Media

4:00PM          Cross-Platform Content Development: Separate Paths, Common Destination

                        Each silo has it’s own culture, rules & contracts. The merging worlds pose many challenges for artists, producers & business affairs. Get a multi-industry perspective on the content development process & the challenges to succeed on an individual platform as well as that of taking stories across platforms. We also explore how creators & companies can think strategically from the inception of an idea. 

Brad Kushner, Co-Director of New Media Film Festival-SF Bay Area & Partner at Creative Convergence (Moderator)

Jan Johnson, Publisher, Red Wheel/Weiser Books/Conari Press

Jennifer Joseph, Publisher, Manic D Press

Brian Morrisroe, Chief Creative Officer & Co-Founder of Booyah!

Rob Tobin, Screenwriter & Author

5:00PM          Storytellers & Coders Unite: Creating Content for Mobile, ePublishing, iApps, iPad, Games, Interactive TV & Web

Who in our world can translate between those who speak the language of story & those who speak the language of code? Join us as we bring together those who write in code & in mythical structures to get the conversation started on how to unlock the untold possibilities that can come from working together. 

Ben Parr, Co-Editor, Mashable (Moderator)
Daniel Steiny, Senior Manager, Market Development, Motorola

Amzat Tanauli, Co-Founder, Magnicode

Hung Nguyen, Director of Client Services, Sharethrough

Tom Higgins, Product Evangalist, Unity Technologies

Jason Matthews, Writer/Author

TRACK TWO

11:30AM        Get Published! Your Story as a Book for the Writer or Non-Writer

If you’ve always wanted to write a book & haven’t gotten past the blank page, or have roughhewn notes on your hard-drive or a manuscript in your closet this will give you the inspiration & action plan you need to get it done. 

Mahesh Grossman, CEO, AuthorsTeam

Ralph Scott, Owner & Freelance Editor, Credit the Edit

12:30PM        Ask an Expert: Open Forum with Gaming Executive

Connect with experts in an informal Q&A discussion. 

1:30PM          Leading Edge Technology Platforms in Action

Tom Higgins, Product Evangelist, Unity Technology

2:30PM          Ask an Expert: Open Forum with Publishing Professionals

Connect with experts in an informal Q&A discussion. 

3:30PM          Ask an Expert: Filmmaking & Production

Connect with experts in an informal Q&A discussion. 

OPENING NIGHT FILM & VIP AFTER PARTY (VIP PASSES)

7:00PM          Opening Night Film

RIP: A Remix Manifesto: Web activist & filmmaker Brett Gaylor explores issues of copyright in the information age, mashing up the media landscape of the 20th century & shattering the wall between users and producers

9:00PM          VIP After Party

 The Best of New Media: What’s New, What’s Next…Honoring Stories Worth Telling      

SATURDAY, November 6th, 2010

9:30AM          Coffee Chat: Make the Perfect Pitch to Silicon Valley & Hollywood

Exchanging Different Perspectives & Gleaning Lessons from Lean Start Ups & Filmed Media Pilots

Neil Vasant, Technology Venture Capital & Investment Professional

John Adcox, Author, Screenwriter & Integrated Marketing Specialist

Michele Turnure-Salleo, Director of Filmmaker Services at San Francisco Film Society

10:30 AM       Web Series with Q&A

1) Alpha Planet: Episode 2
2010 | USA | 6:34 | Dir. Mike Darling

World Premiere
The year is 2256. For 200 years the entire human civilization has lived on the A.R.C. refuge ship & supplies are running short. Four explorers have been sent back to Earth in search of signs of new life.
2) Little Hollywood: Episode 1
2010 | USA | 6:54 | Dir. Steve Condon

Northern California Premiere

Two failing writers (D-Squared and Pati-O) are posing as Big Time Hollywood producers in Nashville, Tennessee, conning a major network into producing their script.
3) FCU - Fact Checkers Unit: Episode 8
2010 | USA | 6:48 | Dir. Dan Beers

World Premiere
FCU: Fact Checkers Unit follows the antics of two enthusiastic celebrity fact checkers who work at Dictum Magazine. In this episode: Does Alex Trebek, the true fact master, shave against the grain? Russell & Dylan search out their hero to get to the bottom of his facial hair.

4) Growing Up Guide Pup - Episode: Pier 39

2010 | USA | 5:30 | Dir. Matt & Amie Chapman

World Premiere

Growing Up Guide Pup is a weekly video series that documents the process of raising guide dogs for the blind. The first season focuses on the Chapmans’ 10th dog Ricki who is well on her way to success.

* The creators, hosts & Guide Pups live in the San Francisco Bay Area

5) Keeping Up With The Downs

2010 | USA | 14:48 | Dir. Andrew Spieler

World Premiere

Keeping Up With The Downs follows three brothers forced to coexist, after years of  separation, amidst the harsh realities of life in Los Angeles.

*One of the producers is from the San Francisco Bay Area

6) Cartera, Episode 2

2009 | USA | 4:37 | Dir. David O’Brien

World Premiere

Cartera is the web's first gay and lesbian interactive superhero webseries. It’s the story of a group of gay & lesbian college students who discover their inner super human strengths.

7) The_Source

2010 | USA | 1 Minute | Dir. Marc D’Agostino

In this world, the ragged people at Survivor Post 332 must learn to trust one another & discover the secrets that can bring humanity together to save the world.

*The executive producer of The_Source lives in San Francisco.

12:00PM        Documentary Feature

Second Bodies

2009 | Canada | 46 Minutes | Dir. Sandra Danilovic

World Premiere

Second Bodies features the personal stories, reflections & explorations of three women and their respective avatars in the virtual reality world of 'Second Life'. Sandra Danilovic, the filmmaker, is the first subject and narrator framing the other two stories of her Second Life real life friends, Michele & Annette. This film poetically self-reflects on what it means to be human, a woman, an avatar, a person with a disability, someone who suffers from bipolar disorder & depression & a woman in unrequited love.

*The Second Life Headquarters are located in the San Francisco Bay Area.

1:00PM          Shorts with Q&A

1) TELEPHONEME
2010 | USA | 2:49 | MK12

Northern California Premiere
Charts, diagrams, never-before-seen footage & accurate historical & scientific context  play on letters & phrases previously thought to be benign.

2) Red Princess Blues
2010 | USA | 11 Minutes | Dir. Alex Ferrari

Northern California Premiere-Shot on RED
In this twisted modern day fairy tale, a young teenage girl is lured into an after hours carnival tent by the sleazy rock n’ roll carnie Rimo, where she gets more than she bargained for. It is up to the mysterious Princess, the star of the new knife show at the carnival, to pull her out of the wolf’s den that she has fallen into. (not in competition)

*Lead Actor, Richard Tyson is partner in a Sacramento Company
3) The Lifter Upper
2009 | USA | 11 Minutes | Dir. Micah Chambers-Goldberg

Northern California Premiere
Due to an absurd series of family tragedies, Olive is depressed. Jack, a concerned neighbor calls a Professional Lifter Upper of Spirits to remedy the situation. The Lifter Upper finds that Olive may be his toughest case yet.

4) Skip Listening
2010 | USA |11 Minutes| Dir. Christopher Shawn Shaw

What is the difference between Skip Stonewall & a room full of Deaf people? The Deaf people can hear better! However, due to a providential mishap, Skip is forced to hear like he never thought possible, with special thanks to the Deaf Community.

*Producer/Director Christopher Shaw lives in the North Bay Area.
5) Martha & Dee Visit the 5^th Dimension
2010 | USA | 9:30 | Dir. Noelle Foster

World Premiere

When Martha runs away from home, she brings her invisible friend, Dee, along.  The two girls discover answers to life & the universe, including the nature of the Fifth Dimension.

*This film was made in Sacramento with local crew.

2:30PM          Panel Discussion

Social Media, Alternative Distribution...Trials & Tribulations of Releasing Independent Films

Get the inside story on successful festival circuit film “Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone” & recently released independent film “Get Low”

Ron Merk, President, Premiere Pictures International Inc. (Moderator)
Joey Rappa, Executive Producers of “Get Low” starring Bill Murray, Robert Duvall, Lucas Black, Sissy Spacek & Bill Cobbs
Chris Meltzer, Director of “Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone” & “Plagues & Pleasures of the Salton Sea”.  Director/Executive Producer at Tilapia Film

3:30PM          SRC - Socially Responsible Content & Animation with Q&A

1) Fear Itself

2010 | USA | 6 Minutes | Dir. William Wonders

After a year in sabbatical, a pastor returns to the same pulpit where he was shot by a young man. Fear has made a home in this man's life, affecting both he & his family. The pastor will have to face his fear as he takes to the pulpit once again.

2) Please

2010 | Philippines | 9:32 | Dir. Ngoc Phuong Vu

World Premiere

Please tells the story of two beggars living a harsh life on the street. When one of them falls ill and passes out, the other has nothing to do but ask for help from people passing by. Based on the true story.

3) The Journey Home

2010 | USA | 9 minutes | Dir. James Gambone

Northern California Premiere
The Journey Home presents a provocative & controversial vision of elder care in the future. Shot primarily in black & white, (with a surprise color montage) the viewer will enter a world of gray scale––a world where one can exist, but not fully live. It is a place where technology replaces a strong social & personal network.

*Idea for this project came to being while traveling through SF Bay Area

Animation Program

1) Bot

2010 | USA | 3:35 | Dir. Mustafa Lazkani

World Premiere

In a world where all is good, a wicked 19th century scientist (Dr. Leonardo Van Uitvinding) brings Evil. After bringing life to his 19-foot tall robot invention (Bot), Dr. Leo readies himself to take over the world. He has brought life to metal in order to have metal destroy life. But Dr. Leo soon realizes that his newly born robot has no evil but rather an innocence that must be taught evil. In an unlikely tale of spirit & soul, an evil genius struggles with his very own creation of good.

*Director Mustafa Lazkani lives & works in San Jose.

2) Swing

2010 | Taiwan | 4 Minutes | Dir. Yen-Ting Kuo

This story is about how living people influence the perspectives of people on the brink of death. If there was a choice for unconscious patients to decide to live or die, how would their surroundings influence that impossible choice?

5:00 PM         Best of LA 2010/2011
Best of LA 2010/2011 Screening Program

1) Video Magnet Poetry

2010 | USA | 1 Minute | Dir. Amanda Poore

Video Poetry Magnets is a short film made with an iPhone at the Univer­sity of Texas at Arlington. People said a single word into the camera and then their words were arranged like magnet poetry.

2) When Lynch Met Lucas

2010 | USA | 2 Minutes | Dir. Sascha Ciezata

In this hilarious animated short shot entirely with an iPhone 3G, director David Lynch recollects the time he met with George Lucas about directing Return of The Jedi.

3) The Ballad of Mary & Ernie

2010 | USA | 5 Minutes | Dir. Robert Stadd

About a full-sized sheriff in a miniature Western town. All of his friends are roughly 8 inches high, including the woman he’s going to marry. But then he meets a full-sized woman...

4) The Final Breaths of a Main Character

2010 | USA | 5 Minutes | Dir. Raul B. Fernandez

After being swept out to sea, surrounded by vultures, divers & the blaz­ing sun, a boy finds himself hallucinating through what could be the final moments of his life.

5) Superstitious

2010 | UK | 4 Minutes | David Magnier

Set in a pop-up book world, this is the story of Ted, a lonely & isolat­ed man, who becomes obsessed with changing his luck after break­ing a mirror.

6) The Rise

2010 | USA | 17 Minutes | Garret Williams

The Rise is a story in the not-so-distant future about a generation letting go of the American Dream & a new generation adapting to life on the edge.

7) Beautifully Esther

2009 | USA | 23 Minutes | Dir. Ricardo Korda

Esther’s (85) lifeless routine is disrupted when her husband collaps­es, sparking a journey that will change her attitude towards old age. Esther must decide how she wants to spend the rest of her days.

8) Goodbye Shanghai

2010 | China / USA | 13 Minutes | Dir. Adam Christian Clark

After embezzling $14 billion for the US Government, two Western bankers must survive one last night in Shanghai. Goodbye Shang­hai explores the effects of Western imperialism on m