LAST YEAR

BOSTON

DIY DAYS is coming to Boston

This event is FREE thanks to
Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Professional and Continuing Education,
From Here to Awesome and The Workbook Project

SPECIAL SCREENING of FROM HERE TO AWESOME films
Friday, October 3, 2008
Tower Auditorium
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
621 Huntington Avenue, Boston
Directions Link: http://massart.edu/x474.xml
7pm to 9:30pm

DIY DAYS CONFERENCE
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Trustees Room, 11th Floor Tower Building
Massachusetts College of Art and Design
621 Huntington Avenue, Boston
Directions Link:: http://massart.edu/x474.xml
10am to 6:30pm

Event schedule:

10:00
DOORS OPEN

10:15 to 11:00
AN INVESTOR’S PERSPECTIVE ON INDIE FILM AND DIGITAL MEDIA
Todd Dagres has a unique perspective on the funding of film and digital media. As a founder and General Partner of Spark Capital, he’s led Spark’s investments in Veoh Networks, Menara Networks, Verivue, EQAL, Covestor, Tjet, and Intune Networks. Mr. Dagres’ Entertainment and Media endeavors include establishing two film and television production companies (Prospect Pictures and Ealing Studios) that together have produced over 10 films and TV shows since 2003. He has also been involved in the production of several films including Pretty Persuasion (2005 Sundance Film Festival) which was released by Samuel Goldwyn and Sony Pictures Entertainment and TransSiberian (2008 Sundance Film Festival) which was released by First Look Studios.

Fireside chat - Todd Dagres, Scott Kirsner, Lance Weiler

11:00 to 12:00
IF IT DOESN’T SPREAD, IT’S DEAD: CREATING VALUE IN A SPREADABLE MARKETPLACE
Xiaochang Li and Ana Domb from MIT’s Convergence Culture Consortium look at how media content spreads in the current landscape and how the audience engages with it. Moving away from the “viral” metaphor that strips the user of its agency, they examine the shift away from a “sticky” model to a “spreadable” one. This notion of spreadability is intended as a contrast to older models of stickiness which emphasize centralized control over distribution .This presentation is the result of research project developed over the last year with Dr. Henry Jenkins.

12:00 to 12:30
SHOW ME THE MONEY – Slava Rubin
As today’s global financial markets struggle, the U.S. presidential candidates are raising over $1,000,000 a day online in sub $1,000 contributions from individuals. In other industries, companies like Prosper, Kiva and Sellaband are eliminating the middlemen and democratizing fundraising as well. The secret is crowdfunding and fan participation. Through a direct connection (i.e. social networks, email, distribution outlets, blogs, house parties, twitter, chat) and a call to action, each case study is converting niche audiences into their fundraising and promotional base. “Show Me The Money” discusses the trends, the tools, and the companies pioneering DIWO (Do-It-With-Others) Funding and Filmmaking. From widgets to VIP perks, this presentation is for the independent artist interested in engaging their audience to raise money.

12:30 to 1:30
LUNCH

1:30 to 2:00
THE ERA OF DIGITAL CREATIVITY: OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES - Scott Kirsner
We’re living in the era of digital creativity: ideas can take shape and reach audiences with unprecedented ease. The tools of production and the channels of distribution have been democratized. And yet… the old forms — half-hour TV shows, hour-long dramas, 90-minute feature films — don’t seem like they work quite as well in this new environment. What forms and story-telling strategies will replace them? How will creators build audiences for their work, and earn a living?

2:00 to 3:00
MODERN FILMMAKING- Arin Crumley
What are the new story telling tools? How can technology enhance the creative process. What new styles and techniques of filmmaking are now possible? What are the new ways to create collaborative films? What does it mean to be a director immersed in a reality in which everyone has a camera and is their own director? What’s the potential for two way filmmaking conversations between creators and audiences? How does this new media landscape effect the timing of how content is ideally released, democratic availability to all and being sustainable for the creative teams that play a role in making these new films?

3:00 to 4:00
NAVIGATING THE DISTRIBUTION DIVIDE – Lance Weiler
Much has been written about the erosion of the independent film business over the last year. We’ve seen the shuttering of various distribution companies, poor box office for specialty films, a reduction of shelf space - not to mention the complete saturation of films in the market due to the democratization of the tools. We all know the problems, but where are the evasive new business models? How does one advance beyond first mover advantage, marketing gimmicks and press hooks? Where are the models that can be operationalized and developed into real options for all filmmakers? We’ll look at the traditional, hybrid and DIY opportunities.

4:00 to 4:30
NETWORKING BREAK
Members of the audience discuss and share the projects that they are working on.

4:30 to 5:30
FROM HERE TO AWESOME FILMMAKERS ROUNDTABLE
Join From Here to Awesome filmmakers for a discussion on how social media is working for them. How has the FHTA experiment changed the ways they think about making and releasing their films? What have they learned from “day and dating” their films?

Discussion leader Arin Crumley - Roundtable: Matt Von Manahan, Zeke Zelker, Raffi Asdourian, Javier Prato, Fritz Donnelly

5:30 to 6:00
BRAINSTORMING SESSION – David Tames
Can giving something away lead to a profit? David Tames opens up his strategy for releasing his latest doc Smile Boston Project. The film profiles artist Bren Bataclan and his hybrid model of giving away artwork for free and how it has lead to a profit. In this special brainstorming session David layouts out his releasing plans and welcomes audience feedback.

6:00 to 6:30
AN OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT WORKFLOW – Andy Williams
The process of making and releasing a film can be a difficult process but a clear workflow path can ease the pain. What do you need to know and how do you best prepare for the various formats, transfers, and deliverables that digital and traditional outlets require. This open session will take examples from the audience and break them down step by step and provide suggestions.

Parking details:

Park in the Ward Street lot

MassArt is at 621 Huntington Avenue. Boston, 02115

The Tower Building is on the corner of Huntington and Evans. It’s a modern thirteen story tower. Hard to miss in the area. The Ward Street parking, however, is tricky to find.

The Ward Street Parking Gate will be open Saturday, October 4th
from 7am until 2pm. THIS MEANS THAT YOU JUST NEED TO ENTER BETWEEN 7am and 2pm. AFTER WHICH YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE AFTER 6PM.

Here are detailed directions for people driving to the Ward Street lot:

COMING WEST ON HUNTINGTON AVE
If you’re traveling west on Huntington Avenue towards MassArt, as you pass the main campus on your right, take a left at the light onto Longwood Avenue, crossing over the trolley tracks. Go straight to the stop sign and turn left, then immediately turn right onto Ward Street. MassArt’s parking lot is short distance ahead on the left. See the Google Map of the area if you need visuals.

COMING EAST ON HUNTINGTON AVE
If you’re traveling east on Huntington Avenue towards MassArt, right at the light onto Longwood Avenue, then a quick left and right and you’re on Ward Street. MassArt’s parking lot is short distance ahead on the left. You can’t turn right onto Ward Street from Huntington avenue, so if you miss the intersection, you’ll have to take a long loop around the blog. See the Google Map of the area if you need visuals.

We’re looking for volunteers to help with the events. If you’re interested please contact us at info [@] workbookproject dot com

We need the following:

1. people to help with setup, collecting tickets, registration, breakdown and cleanup
2. folks with cameras and audio gear to help document the events
3. editors to help edit, encode and upload the footage
4. live blogger to document the conference

LA

This event is FREE thanks to

Current TV, From Here to Awesome and the Workbook Project

LOS ANGELES
Saturday, July 26th
9:30am to 7:30pm
Under Spring / Not A Cornfield
1745 North Spring #4
Los Angeles, CA 90012
http://www.notacornfield.com

DIY DAYS
How do we sustain ourselves as filmmakers and storytellers in this day of shifting film distribution systems? How do we monetize our film and get the word out? Presented by From Here to Awesome the Workbook Project and Current TV - DIY DAYS aims to answer these questions with a day of panels, roundtable discussions and workshops: A look at how to fund, create, distribute and sustain.

SCHEDULE

9:30 AM - registration

10AM - 10:45AM
OPENING KEYNOTE
Robert Greenwald (Outfoxed, Wallmart the High Cost of Low Price, Iraq for Sale)

10:45 AM - NOON
Panel #1: THE REALITIES OF DIY
There’s been much discussion about the democratization of the tools but what’s really involved in taking your film from a concept to something an audience will pay to see? How can you fight your way through the clutter and what are the pitfalls to avoid when you decide to go it on your own?

Discussion Leader: Mark Stolaroff (producer and founder of the No Budget Film School)
- Arin Crumley (Four Eyed Monsters)
- Ondi Timoner (DiG, Join Us, We Live in Public)
- M dot Strange (We Are the Strange)
- Hunter Weeks (10 MPH and 10 YARDS)

NOON to 1PM - LUNCH

1PM to 1:45PM:
Arin Crumley - FOUR EYED MONSTERS case study

1:45PM - 2:30PM:
Lance Weiler - EXTENDING THE STORYWORLD case study

2:30PM - 3:15PM
KEYNOTE
Marshall Herskovitz (Blood Diamond, Quarterlife)

3:15PM - 4:30PM
Panel #2: MOVING BEYOND THE SCREEN
With a steady stream of new platforms and devices emerging - story now has the ability to move beyond one screen. But how does this new paradigm effect the way that stories are funded, created and told? In a world of user-gen content and shrinking attention spans how can one build stories that have emotional impact while working within this new fragmented media environment?

Discussion Leader: Lance Weiler (Head Trauma, The Last Broadcast)
- Marshall Herskovitz (Blood Diamond, Quarterlife)
- Tommy Pallotta (A Scanner Darkly, Waking Life)
- Femke Wolting (filmmaker, cross-media producer and designer)
- Mark Pellington (Henry Poole is Here, Arlington Road and Mothman Prophecies)

4:30PM - 4:45PM
Break

4:45PM - 5:30PM
M Dot Strange - WE ARE THE STRANGE case study

5:30PM - 6:45PM
Panel #3: WHEN THE AUDIENCE TAKES CONTROL
The future of independent film is not in content aggregation, which is quickly becoming commoditized, but in audience aggregation. Sustainability for filmmakers lies directly in the hands of the audience. Direct to audience models have shaken the core of the music industry. But the power of Kevin Kelly’s “1,000 true fans” seems good in theory but where do you start? What are the steps to building an audience around your work and most importantly how do you keep the conversation going?

Discussion Leader: Saskia Wilson-Brown (Current TV)
- Arin Crumley (Four Eyed Monsters)
- M Dot Strange (We Are the Strange)
- Miki Krimmel (expert in social media and online community)
- Alex Johnson (digital media strategist / filmmaker)
- Lance Weiler (The Last Broadcast, Head Trauma)
- YOU

6:45PM
Closing Remarks

7PM - 8PM
Social Hour @ Mountain Bar

ALL DAY:
Video Presentations from all over the world

We’ve lined up a diverse group of speakers from all sides of the industry.

Speaker List
Robert Greenwald - Outfoxed, Wallmart the High Cost of Low Price, Iraq for Sale
Tommy Pallotta - producer of A Scanner Darkly and Waking Life
Mark Pellington - director of Henry Poole is Here, Arlington Road and Mothman Prophecies
Marshall Herskovitz - Blood Diamond, Quarterlife
Lance Weiler - The Last Broadcast, Head Trauma
Arin Crumley - Four Eyed Monsters
M dot Strange - We Are the Strange
Ondi Timoner - DiG, Join US, We Live in Public
Saskia Wilson-Brown - Current TV
Micki Krimmel - expert in social media and online community
Mark Stolaroff - producer and founder of the No Budget Film School
Alex Johnson - digital media strategist / filmmaker

Video presentations by:
Christy Dena - cross-media strategist and designer
Matt Hanson - filmmaker and founder of A Swarm of Angels
Timo Vuorensola - director of Star Wreck and co-founder of wreckamovie.com
Brian Chirls - Indie Nerd Filmmaker (Director, Distributor, Technologist). Working on: Four Eyed Monsters, Honeydripper

Check back as we’ll be adding more in the coming days

SUGGESTIONS, SPEAKERS AND VOLUNTEERS
If you have a suggestion of something you’d like to hear discussed or a speaker that you think should take part, or if you’re interested in volunteering please email us at info [at] fromheretoawesome [dot] com with the subject “DIY DAYS” Since this is a open source project we’re looking for the following in terms of volunteers.
- People to help with setup and general staff issues
- Shooters
- Folks good with sound gear
- Editors
- Web folks to help with encoding and live streaming

Thanks in advance!

SAN FRANCISCO

This event is FREE thanks to

Current TV, From Here to Awesome and the Workbook Project

Schedule for the day

10am
Doors Open / Registration

10:30am to 10:50am
INTRO: Open source filmmaking
An overview of the current landscape presented by Lance Weiler

11:00am to 11:30am
CASE STUDY: The Tribe
Tiffany Slain on the production and distribution of her short .

11:45am to noon
CONVERSATION: What are you working on?
Open discussion & networking

Noon to 1pm
LUNCH

1pm to 2pm
ONE ON ONE: War Stories
Arin Crumley (Four Eyed Monsters) and Caveh Zahedi (I’m a Sex Addict) have a candid discussion about the process of getting their films made and distributed. What really goes on behind the scenes? Join us as Arin and Caveh compare battle scars.

2pm to 2:15pm
CONVERSATION: What are you looking for?
Open discussion & networking

2:15 to 3:15pm
PANEL: The art and science of crowdsourcing
There is power in the crowd. When they rise up they can fund, create, distribute and promote. But how do you turn an audience into an active community where members become collaborators? Panelists: Slava Rubin (indieGoGo), Skot Leach (Lost Zombie), Jason Harris (Mekanism), Bryan Kennedy (Mobmov.org), Blair Erickson (Millions of Us) Discussion Leader: Lance Weiler

3:15 to 3:30pm
BREAK

3:30 to 4:15pm
CASE STUDY: Plagues & Pleasures on the Salton Sea
Chris Metzler & Jeff Springer on the production and distribution of their feature.

4:15 to 4:45pm
ONE ON ONE: Cinema and the singularity
Exponential growth of technology has brought on a paradigm shift in the nature of cinema that has yet to be fully understood. How can we anticipate changes in the coming years, and what can media artists do to take an active role in innovation that shapes the art and business of storytelling?
Brian Chirls and Jerry Paffendorf discuss.

4:45 to 5pm
CONVERSATION: How can you help?
Open discussion & networking

5:00 to 6pm
PANEL: Content is King but are the outlets and services listening?
As the landscape changes new outlets and services are emerging. With so many choices what is a filmmaker to do? But most importantly what are they going to do for you? The system is in flux and there are no rules. This is your chance to let your voice be heard: have a say in how outlets and services think about working with you and for you. Panelists: Scilla Andreen (indieFlix) Alex Afterman (Heretic Films), Sara Pollack (youTube), Tom Hicks (Caachi), Saskia Wilson-Brown (Current TV), Mark Rotblat (TubeMogul) - Discussion Leader: Arin Crumley

6:15pm
BAR OPENS

6:15 to 6:45pm
HOT SEAT: M Dot Strange
M dot Strange takes to the hot seat to go one on one with random people from the audience.

6:45 to 8pm
SPEECH BLITZ
Attendees stand up and talk for 3 minutes to offer their insight on how we take the industry “from here to awesome.” In other words, what’s broken and how do we all fix it?