Lance Weiler

Lance Weiler is a storyteller, entrepreneur and thought leader. An alumni of the Sundance Screenwriting Lab, he is recognised as a pioneer because of the way he mixes storytelling and technology. WIRED magazine named him “one of 25 people helping to re-invent entertainment and change the face of Hollywood.” Always interested in experimenting with new ways to tell stories and engage audiences, Lance has designed experiences that have reached millions of people via theaters, mobile devices and online. In recognition of these storytelling innovations, BUSINESSWEEK named Lance “One of the 18 Who Changed Hollywood.” He sits on a World Economic Forum steering committee for the future of content creation, is part of a think tank on the future of film at NYU and teaches at Columbia University on the art, craft and business of storytelling in the 21st Century. He is the founder of the WorkBook Project, an open creative network for storytellers, and the co-founder of DIY DAYS, a roving conference for those who create. Since 2009, he has written a column for Filmmaker Magazine on the collision of storytelling and technology entitled Culture Hacker. Lance is currently working on a trilogy of participatory storytelling projects the first of which launches this Fall and includes an actual space launch.

What Lance will be doing at DIY DAYS

Listen as your Story talks to the Internet

Without a doubt, this is an amazing time to be a storyteller. We have moved beyond the simple democratization of storytelling and production tools. Funding, marketing and distribution solutions are commoditized, providing storytellers numerous opportunities to bring their work to an audience. And now a new phase is arriving, one that merges technology with the creative process. Storytellers will soon be able to take advantage of a world of connected objects in what has been termed the “Internet of things.” And in this environment, as always, there will be a need for good storytelling to provide a level of understanding, entertainment and social value.

DIY DAYS asks Lance

What are you currently working on that you’re excited about?

I’m very excited about our new participatory storytelling project Robot Heart Stories www.robotheartstories.com. The first in a trilogy of experiential learning projects that will cover air, land and sea. In addition I’m working on a story slate of game, film and TV projects that are positioned well for the 21st century.

What are some of your favorite sites and / or mobile apps and brief why?

I enjoy music discovery blogs www.leftasrain.com, http://yvynyl.tumblr.com. A number of the projects coming from the NFB/interactive are very interesting Bla Bla and Welcome to Pine Point jump to mind. On the app front I’m always using flipboard, read it later, evernote, and tripit.

What are you currently watching, reading or playing?

Watching Army of Shadows, Walking Dead,

Recently Read – Art of Immersion, Little Bets, The Ten Faces of Innovation

For More on Lance and his work visit

Twitter:
@lanceweiler
Sites:
www.lanceweiler.com
www.robotheartstories.com
www.workbookproject.com
www.buildingstoryworlds.com a site for the course I’m teaching at Columbia University on Building Storyworlds.
www.textoflight.com a blog where a place things I <3