Screenwriting Workshop with Matthew McDuffie

Several of you had a chance to see Matthew McDuffie in action during the recent NM Media Industries Conference -- so we're very glad to welcome him back for a small group Screenwriting Workshop at ARTS lab on February 21st and 22nd. More info below: 

Matthew McDuffie, an instructor in the Dramatic Writing Program at the University of
New Mexico, and a professional screenwriter who has written for HBO, Showtime,
Warner Brothers, and the producers of ER, Capote, and Six Feet Under, will lead an
intensive and intimate workshop for novelists, playwrights and screenwriters who are
determined to create stronger stories and characters. Participants are encouraged to bring
in their own work to develop over the course of the weekend event.

The workshop will be held at UNM's Arts Lab 131 Pine St. NE, Albuquerque, NM
February 21 and 22, from 10 AM to 4 PM. The cost is $225. Call
(505) 385-1323 or buzzblanco@comcast.net for more information and reservations.

"Matthew is a passionate storyteller. He lives for it. He understands that the problem
solving and puzzle-making of good story is to serve emotion and character, and
ultimately the audience. In this age of reality TV and internet immersion, Matthew has
not forgotten that entertainment is an art form."

Bonnie Curtis – Producer of Saving Private Ryan and Minority Report

--
Thanks to everyone who participated in New Mexico's 5th Annual Media Industries Conference -- "MIX" -- more info at http://www.nm-mix.org

Eric Renz-Whitmore, Program Coordinator
ARTS Lab
MSC04 2570
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
office:  505-277-2253
cell:     505-227-1086
http://artslab.unm.edu

MEDIA MIX GAME DESIGN CHALLENGE WINNERS ANNOUNCED

For Immediate Release
Contact: Eric Renz-Whitmore, ewhitmore@gmail.com / 277-2253

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The winners of this year’s NM Media MIX Mobile Game Design Challenge are Ellen Dornan (Queen Ellen Enterprises) and Webb Johnson (Vaughn Wedeen Kuhn) for iFootprint, a game that aims to reduce drivers’ carbon footprint through more efficient transportation. The winners receive the latest editions of “Story and Simulations for Serious Games” and “Digital Storytelling” from local game developers Terry Borst and Carolyn Handler Miller respectively.

Now in its fifth year, New Mexico’s Media Industries Conference typically concludes with a design challenge. This year, in keeping with conference emphasis on games and interactive media -- and New Mexico’s growing prominence as the “Energy State” -- the challenge was to develop and pitch a game idea on a theme of Energy that would use some of the capabilities of mobile devices such as the iPhone.

The MIX Design Challenge capped a day that emphasized games, web and software development, and business skills for new start-ups. Leading off the day, was Keynote Speaker Ian Bogost. Raised in New Mexico, Bogost has gone on to become one of the world’s leading voices on the power of games for education and social change.

Game Developer Bill Klein (Klein Computing) led an earlier panel in iPhone and Mobile Game Development and served as a judge for the challenge. “There is growing interest among developers and consumers to push iPhone and mobile games into new areas and utilize network and device features in clever ways,” said Klein. “The opportunities are incredible.”

Opportunities certainly represented by the iFootprint game from Dornan and Johnson as outlined below:


Title: iFootprint: Social Commuter
Target audience: Albuquerque drivers
Delivery platform: any cell phone with text messaging; web enabled & GPS a plus

Game Objective: Goal of the game is to reduce your personal carbon footprint through more efficient transportation

Core Gameplay:
• Players set up a profile with common destinations (home, work/school, shopping, other), and establish a carbon footprint for existing emissions
• goals for emissions reduction are set as a percentage of your base emission
• Players can earn carbon emissions reductions for accepting suggestions to use alternate transportation (or shorter routes) to their destinations; and for recruiting others who use alternative transportation
• Cell phones use GPS (or satellite triangulation) to check if you have gone to a destination without logging your transportation choice & send message reminder
• Decrease carbon load more quickly by recruiting others & being awarded bonus points when your recruits use alternative transportation
• Get notification of carpools within friends circle (or add friends if you join a new carpool)
• Get notification of other social commuting opportunities (bike groups, "walking schoolbus" groups)
• other players can penalize you when you fail to meet your emissions reductions goals: don't get "The Scarlet Polluter" tag!

Tools includes a running total of estimated savings for making better transportation choices

Proposed development tools:
• Map Interface based on existing social mobile map APIs (Socialight)
• Data layers of bus, horse, bike, walking routes drawn from existing GIS sources (from MRCOG)
• Integrate with Facebook & other social networking sites

MIX Design Challenge judges, Terry Borst, Bill Klein (Klein Computing) and Nick Flor (UNM Anderson Schools of Management) were impressed with the enthusiasm of the crowd, including a good-sized contingent from NMSU’s Learning Games Lab, students and others interested in games and mobile technology. Seven teams pitched in all.

For more information about the New Mexico Media Industries Conference, visit http://www.nm-mix.org

For more information about local game development and the Rio Grande IGDA chapter that organized the challenge, visit: http://www.igda.org/albuquerque

Business Sessions @ MIX

Given our current economic times, prospective new businesses and organizations need all the help they can get to succeed. This year's Media Industries Conference includes several sessions touching on business, but these three are focused on the essentials in starting new business, creating a healthy non-profit, as well as tips on what helps small companies and independent contractors succeed.

Conference info at: http://nm-mix.ning.com/

MORNING SESSION II (10:40 - 11:50 AM)

• WORKSHOP: BUSINESS BASICS FOR THE NON BUSINESS-MINDED


• Peri Pakroo | P-Brain Media
  
  This workshop will cover:

• the differences between business structures (sole proprietorships, partnerships, LLCs, corporations) and the pros/cons of each
  
• the tasks/hurdles such as getting a federal employer ID; filing LLC or corporate paperwork; opening a separate bank account
  
• hiring and managing employees or independent contractors, and how to ensure intellectual property issues are handled in work-for-hire contracts
  
• drafting a business plan and understanding basic planning tools such as budgets and profit/loss forecasts

• Peri Pakroo is a consultant and media developer, specializing in legal and start-up issues for businesses and nonprofits. She owns and runs P-Brain Media (www.pbrainmedia.com), a strategic consulting and communications firm that develops information-rich media for web, print, video and other formats. She received her law degree from the University of New Mexico School of Law in 1995, and a year later began editing and writing for Nolo, specializing in small business and intellectual property issues. She is the author of The Small Business Start-Up Kit (national and California editions) and Starting and Building a Nonprofit, and has edited such titles as Nolo’s Starting & Running a Successful
  Newsletter or Magazine; Getting Permission: How to License & Clear Copyrighted Materials Online & Off; Music Law; and How to Write a Business Plan. Peri teaches
  adult education courses at WESST (www.wesst.org) in Albuquerque, a nonprofit whose mission is to facilitate entrepreneurship among women and minorities in the state of New Mexico. She is active in supporting local, independent businesses and is a co-founder of the Albuquerque Independent Business Alliance.
  

BUFFET LUNCHEON SERVED (12:00 PM - 1:45 PM)

AFTERNOON SESSION I (12:00 PM - 1:10 PM)

• WORKSHOP: NON-PROFITS 101: HOW TO SET ONE UP AND BUILD AN EFFECTIVE BOARD
  


• Peri Pakroo | P-Brain Media
  
  This workshop will cover:

• the legal structure/status of nonprofits, including corporation basics; the process of creating a nonprofit corporation with the state; and an explanation of federal 501c3 status
• legal and practical duties of the Board, and its relationship with nonprofit staff/volunteers
• how to structure and manage paid and/or volunteer staff
• how to create a strategic plan and use it to monitor your nonprofit's progress and growth

AFTERNOON SESSION II (1:20 - 2:30 PM)

• BREAKING IN: THE BUSINESS OF DIGITAL MEDIA


• Elaine Montoya | Zocoloco Studios / animotion nm
• Chris and Trish Meyer | CyberMotion
  
• Carolyn Miller | Digital Storytelling
  
• Many people working in digital media areas like design, games and post-production operate by themselves as subcontractors or run a small business with two or three people.
  Learn some of the fundamentals of doing business for yourself in this interactive panel discussion.

Web & Software Sessions @ MIX

New Mexico Media: the Next Five Years

Web and Software design and development lies behind much of more advanced digital media -- and all the new ways that media is distributed today. In order for New Mexico to stay on the forward edge of media, our software development community must play a part.

INTRODUCTORY SESSION (9:00 - 9:30)

Introduction & recap of the state's Media Industries Strategic Plan, update from the Media Industries Summit, and Overview of the day's events.

MORNING SESSION I: KEYNOTE (9:30 - 10:30 AM)

• Games & Education | Ian Bogost

MORNING SESSION II (10:40 - 11:50 AM)

• SOFTWARE: BUILDING VIRTUAL COMMUNITIES

Web 2.X tools and social networking venues have become one of the best ways for making connections and building communities. Join us for a discussion on what works (and what doesn't) with a diverse set of efforts in building communities.

• Michael Odza | Uptime Institute
• Chantal Foster | Duke City Fix
  
• Chris Kenworthy | dreamincode.net
  
• Jack Moffit | Stanziq / Chesspark
• Christine Robinson | iminister

BUFFET LUNCHEON SERVED (12:00 PM - 1:45 PM)

AFTERNOON SESSION I (12:00 PM - 1:10 PM)

AFTERNOON SESSION II (1:20 - 2:30 PM)

• SOFTWARE PANEL: GROWING NEW MEXICO'S OPEN SOURCE COMMUNITY

AFTERNOON SESSION III (2:40 - 3:50 PM)

• GAMES: IPHONE AND MOBILE GAME DEVELOPMENT

AFTERNOON SESSION IV (4:00 - 5:00 PM)

• GAMES: MOBILE GAME DESIGN CHALLENGE

NM Media Industries Conference -- "MIX" -- Next Saturday!

Hi everyone...

I've sent a couple brief blurbs, but a few people have mentioned that I really haven't pushed it enough -- so apologies for the duplication.

Our fifth annual NM Media Industries Conference "MIX" is coming up next Saturday, January 17th at UNM with a pretty wide range of sessions and topics in animation, business, education, film, games, web/software and more.  We're also particularly please to have Ian Bogost for our lead-off talk that day.  After growing up in New Mexico, Ian's gone on to become one of the world's leading game educator/writer/producers, with a great ability to describe not only how interactive media is changing, but also how it can be used to better understand our world.

I think we're all concerned about the effects we'll see from the current economic situation, including decreased funding for many programs. However, the film and media industry is still a bright spot in New Mexico's economic landscape -- positioned to consolidate some of our gains and harness our talents for continued success.

We hope you can join us!

More conference info, with schedule and links to registration is at http://www.nm-mix.org / http://nm-mix.ning.com

WHAT:       NM Media Industries MIX
WHEN:      Saturday, January 17th 9AM - 5PM
WHERE:    UNM Student Union Building Ballroom B, UNM Main Campus
COST:       $50 Regular / $25 Students and members of supporting organizations* (includes buffet lunch and snacks, etc.)
HOW:        Register at http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaID=171155&CFID=13610872&CFTOKEN=30747945

*Full time students enrolled in degree-granting programs; supporting organizations include: The Art Center Design College, Rio Grande IGDA, NMITSA, CrewNewMexico.org

Special thanks to the City of Albuquerque and State of New Mexico for their support!

--
New Mexico's 5th Annual Media Industries Conference -- "MIX" -- is coming January 17th.  Sign up at http://www.nm-mix.org

Eric Renz-Whitmore, Program Coordinator
ARTS Lab
MSC04 2570
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
office:  505-277-2253
cell:     505-227-1086
http://artslab.unm.edu

Film Challenge Voting Ends Soon/Doc Challenge Registration Is Open &

I'm a sucker for competitions -- and glad to see one in the area of documentaries, but I want to send a special shout out on this year's New Mexico contender for the National Film Challenge.  (You might recall that Isaac Kappy and Rattlesnake Wash productions here in New Mexico won last time out with "Time Cougars".)

This year, there's another solid NM contender with some favorite local actors.  Super Atomic Commies from Ultimatum Productions is a blast.  Check it out if you have a chance.

>>>International Documentary Challenge News:

For the third straight year, The International Documentary Challenge
returns to the Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival
in Toronto! This year's challenge takes place March 5-9, 2009.

Registration is now open at http://www.docchallenge.org/
The first 300 teams to register will be accepted.

The Doc Challenge is a timed filmmaking competition where filmmakers
have 5 days to make a short non-fiction film (4-7 minutes.) All of
the registered participants make their films during the same time
period (March 5-9, 2009) and are required to ship the movie by the
deadline. In addition to being restricted on time, the filmmakers
must choose between 2 assigned documentary genres (such as Character
Study, Music, 1st Person, etc.) and are assigned a specific theme
(such as "Change") that will influence the content and direction
of their film. The top 12 films (determined by a panel of judges)
premiere at Hot Docs where the Winners are announced. Three major
awards (with cash prizes) will be presented: The P.O.V. Award,
The Documentary Educational Resources (DER) Award and the Best Film
Award. After the premiere, there are additional theatrical screenings
in major cities, possible television exposure and a DVD release of
the best films.

Check out the new Doc Challenge website where you can learn more
about the event, view films and hear directly from past participants
about their exhilarating experiences:

http://www.docchallenge.org/

The 2009 Presenting Partners include Hot Docs, American Documentary/P.O.V.,
Documentary Educational Resources and Typecast Releasing. Supporting
partners include the International Documentary Association, the
Documentary Organization of Canada, the Big Sky Documentary Film
Festival, Dokufest, Film Action Oregon and the 48 Hour Film Project.

>>>National Film Challenge News:

There is one week left in the voting for the National Film Challenge
Audience Award. Go to http://www.filmchallenge.org/vote/ to watch the
finalists and rate the films. The winning film receives a cash prize
and screens at the Miami International Film Festival with the 48 Hour
Film Project City Winners.


Happy New Year!

Doug Whyte
Director of Media Arts Programs
KDHX Community Media
St. Louis, MO | Portland, OR
http://www.docchallenge.org
http://www.filmchallenge.org
http://www.kdhx.org/mediaarts