Across the Mediaverse

Are we ready for 3D television?

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:19:34 +0700

The success of James Cameron's 'Avatar' has pushed 3D technology from the realm of geek discussion and the I-Max documentary into the forefront of a possible resurgance for cinema.

For years cinema had been facing off it's biggest challenger - the home theatre, but 3D cinema has enough pull to prize us away from our ginat plasma screens and lounges and into the auditorium again. 'Avatar' doesn't have the greatest story or acting - but it's visually wonderous - showcasing the possabilities of 3D cinema far more than previous documentaries or animations have.

Yet no sooner have cinemas found their potential saviour than the home version arrives, in the USA 3D televisions and cable channels are just around the corner. But will 3D techology only work for content that is spectactular? Sure the World Cup in 3D sounds appealling, but does anyone want to see 'Sunrise' with David Koch is 3D, or the Lotto results in 3D?

It's going to be called a Vook

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 20:54:43 +0700

For a while now we've been talking about the opportunities between the worlds of publishing and video production. Books with accompanying videos. Apparently these things shall be called vooks. Go forth now, 10 points for the filmmaker and novelist who get joint funding from the Fremantle Press and ScreenWest to make W.A.'s first vook.

Futuretainment

Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:12:27 +0700

If you've not been keeping up to date with the changing media world, if the phrases cross media, new media, platform agnostic and multi-platform storytelling are totally foreign to you then you're joing the conversation a little late.

Not to fear, a great new book has just hit the shelves that provides a great overview of recent media changes, on top of it relevancy it's also extremely pretty with great design. Mike Walsh's 'Futuretainment' is a great book, even if your totally up to date with recent changes you'll appreciate the suncinct overview and nice layout.

You can find out more at the book's website or at Mike Walsh's blog.

Follow the White Rabbit

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 12:20:37 +0700

Cherryflavour has highlighted an interesting promotional campaign that makes use of website interuptions, live street performance, social marketing and light grafitti to promote the latest adaptation of 'Alice in Wonderland'. Dive into their world.

New Ways of Telling Stories

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:06:18 +0700

Take a look at this new website from HBO, it has a series of short films that are shot from all four sides of the room and then presented on a cube. To get the full story you need to watch each side of the cube.

There's nothing really revolutionary in this though, the four scenes could just as easily been presented in a linear fashion, one after the other, as many stories have been on the screen. It would be interesting to see a story like this presented in a physical space, all four stories projected on to the walls so the audience could run around and see where the action is.

Multimedia Books - Nick Cave

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:09:44 +0700

While the film world continues in it's struggle to become cross platform and multimedia, it's reassuring to see that other mediums such as the traditional book face the same challenges.

Nick Cave's just released a new book 'The Death of Bunny Munro' and it comes with a selection of music and an i-phone application as well.   The combination of Cave as an author and a musician is an obvious one, but could more books utilize music in their promotion and delivery?

Music and film is a natural match, soundtracks are a given, and novelizations of movies are common place. Could you create a series of short films to go with a literary release? - that's an idea that Susan Taylor Suchy explored at the FTI animation centre last year - and one that has great merit.   Could a publisher release a book that is accompanies by a series of short films or animations, a series of video portraits of the main characters maybe?

Source: Pitchfork

Celebrity Social Networking

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:47:49 +0700

The other day Liz highlighted the blogging attributes of Danny DeVito and it immediately made me thing of the online presence of Jane Fonda.

The actress is active as both a blogger and on Twitter, where she first began posting about the rehearsals of a play which marked for her return to Broadway earlier this year. Once the play finished though Fonda has kept on posting proving updated on her new love life, her travels and clarifying false rumours.

I wonder how long it will be before the social networking activities of actors will have an effect on them getting hired? Does an actor with a big online following bring an audience with them? Will future contracts have clauses written in to them requiring actors to post a certain number of posts during production and the promotional campaign? Or will online profiles damage our ability to believe the actor is the character their playing?

Could an online strategy of this nature work for a small production within unknown performers?

Social Networking News

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 09:54:42 +0700

Remember the old days? We had to rely on Who Weekly reporters to publish embarrassing photos of celebrities. Well now, thanks to Social Networking, celebrities are doing it themselves! You may have seen this already, but Danny DeVito has set the Twitterverse alight with his brand new Twitter page. The real Danny DeVito. Not just because he posts pearlers like "Don't follow the fake "DiVito" twitter! I know how to spell my name and I don't suck at photoshop!". Danny doesn't know how to 'verify' his account. Apparently if you're a celebrity, you need to take this step so that the average person knows that you're not an imposter. So Danny went one further and established a Facebook Fan Page, complete with a video so that you know it's really him. Check it out.

If Danny inspires your inner curmudgeon, you may want to check out this site. YouSTFU encourages people to share their rants with the world. Particularly like someone's rant? You can order it on a coffee mug. Brilliant.

It's all good laughing at celebrities or letting off steam, but what if you have a real problem and your Facebook friends can't help you? Then Solve My Task is for you. I've already learnt how to form a Hip Hop group, paint Zebra walls and much more. Now, where's that page on running the WA Screen Awards?

Create Your Own Book Cover

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:59:31 +0700

Douglas Coupland author of 'Generation X' has a new book coming out, it's called 'Generation A'. his publisher is running a competition that allows readers to create thier own cover for the book, a personalised copy.

This reminds me of Penguin producing books with blank covers and encouraging readers to create their own cover artwork.

Hw could this idea work for televison... I'd quite like to make my own opening credits for CSI Miami, each week a diffferent viewers credits could run.

The Gruen Transfer has of course already treaded in this area when they provided fottage for people to make their own advertisements.

Source: Galleycat via Mr Trivia

'Neighbours' characters begin to twitter

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:51:23 +0700

THe character's on Neighbours have begun to twitter each afternoon in the lead up to the show. What a pity Harold's not there anymore, I'd have like to be able to turn to him for advice.

Also on ABC's 'Q&A' and 'News Breakfast' they are quite twitter savy, with calls for viewers to hashtag their tweets, so the whole online audience can follow the discussion and comments.

If your a twitterer, you can follow FTI on Twitter too

Source: TV Tonight

TV Ratings Shake Up in 2010

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:47:34 +0700

OZTAM the company that supplies the TV rating is having a major change in 2010 when it will begin to report on time shifted viewing. At the moment the ratings only include what people watch on live TV, not included is the use of digital recorders such as TIVO.

This will have a major effect on commercial television business as we may discover some not so popular shows have a huge audience who watch it at a later time.

Source: TV Tonight

Perth Fashion Festival

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 14:27:16 +0700

The 2009 Perth Fashion Festival (4 - 11 September) kicks off with the launch of POPSICLE!, a vintage bus and mobile retail space stocking clothes, accessories and books from emerging WA designers.

Visit onwilliam.com.au/popsicle for all the details.

Watch behind-the-scenes footage of the bus under construction and more exclusive content - runway shows, style events and backstage mayhem - on Perth Fashion Festival's Official Video Blog, brought to you by Cut & Paste.

Plus Minus

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 08:13:33 +0700

Plus Minus was awarded 'Best Film' at Revel-8, the Super 8 Film Competition which screened as part of the Revelation Perth International Film Festival programme.

This year's theme was 'audacity'.

Shot entirely on super 8mm stock and edited in-camera, it features the talents of FTI's Production Support department.

Production Support Manager Yvette Coyne co-directed the short film with Stephen McCallum and Chris Trappe, and Production Support Officer Nat Eaton stars alongside Adam Kroll.

Plus Minus also features a haunting score by composer Sean Bernard.

Post It Stop Motion

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 06:06:38 +0700

This is a simple but inspiring piece of stop motion animation. it's by Bang-Yao Liu and was created at the Savanah College of Art and Design.

See how they made it in this 'behind the scenes' film.

Carpark Movie Pirate Arrested

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:17:28 +0700

From AFACT (Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft)

FOUR PIRACY SEIZURES IN FOUR MONTHS IN BANKSTOWN AREA

Sydney: A 36-year-old woman was arrested by New South Wales Police in Bankstown late yesterday and charged with copyright offences in relation to possessing for sale pirated movie DVDs.

Police discovered the woman selling the illegitimate movie DVDs from the rear of her parked car in Bankstown's Brandon Avenue Carpark. Officers seized around 2,500 pirated movie DVDs, including copies of Land of the Lost and Angels and Demons which have only just been released in cinemas across Australia. Other titles included copies of Valkeryie, which is not yet legitimately released on DVD.

Following the arrest, Neil Gane, Director of Operations for the Australian Federation Against Copyright Theft (AFACT) said: "We commend the work of the New South Wales Police for putting a stop to the sale of these pirated movies in our communities. Legitimate suburban businesses like cinemas and DVD rental stores have enough challenges in these tough economic times without having to compete with criminals."

The operation yesterday represents the fourth seizure of pirated DVD movies in Bankstown in the past four months. Over 7,000 pirated DVD movies, with an estimated street value of $35,000, have been seized in these operations.

Police enquiries are continuing and further charges may be laid.

Penalties for copyright crimes are up to $60,500 and/or 5 years jail per offence.

"What are you really burning?" - AFACT's anti-piracy campaign.