DSF San Francisco 2005

Winning Hearts

This was a panel presentation moderated by J.D. Lasica
Panel Participants: Josh Goldman, Richard Prelinger, Ezra Cooperstein, John W. Higgins

• Digital Storytelling remains the best-kept secret in the media world. But new channels from Internet television to the Web to traditional cable offer a chance for digital storytelling to break through into the mainstream. Here's how to get visibility for your work.

JD introduced the Ourmedia.org site where any story can be stored with free bandwidth for ever. He was disappointed that there are only 15 digital stories out of 45 thousand works on the site. He is keen to work with storytellers to source more material

Much of the early discussion was about re-versioning existing work in new films. Richard Prelinger has an internet archive - the Prelinger Archives. Digital artists can download free archive footage while supplies to broadcast and commercial market are charged. He sees the potential to break the distribution gap. Serving the needs of independents. In this way work won't go out of print - others can take it and remix it, edit and reuse, it becomes part of the cultural fabric.

The principle of a Creative Commons was explained. It gives flexibility to the use of copyright material. The site is worth reading but it's still a difficult area.

Josh Goldman introduced the Akimbo Set Top Box. It downloads digital material in downtime and presents it on demand through a menu. A way of organising video blogs - similar to what iTunes can do for Podcasts. Bringing non mainstream digital content to the television

The digital set top box linked to the internet. Assets downloaded and stored on the hard drive in the set top box. Justin list of recently downloaded Video Blogs, digital stories, (including JD who appears in three contributions to the service.) Josh showed us a Steve and Carol Show - Beer Tasting.

There over 5,000 shows on the service which supplies a combination of personal and commercial programming - TCM is one of the major providers. Vlogs appear listed beside Discovery Channel.


John W. Higgins
Public Access Media projects. Handout - on website as .pdf

Ezra Cooperstein talked about current.tv Al Gore created this cable channel to offer anyone the opportunity to make their own TV. About 25% of the content is contributed, but would like it to be more.

Final discussion.
At the end the questions returned to issues about copyright. I don't think my view has changed since last year - one reinforced by Daniel Meadows at the start of the festival. Why do we need to rip off material from other people when we can create and make our own?

posted by Dawnriser @ 20:59