Thornhill News Digital Storytelling (TNDS)
Monday, November 14, 2011 – Week 47, Number 45
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Digital Storytelling As Documentary Process
Creating Programming For Digital Media
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TNDS
In Association With
Homewood Nation, www.homewoodnation.com
Presents
The New Video Marketplace
Moderator:
Andrew W. Thornhill
Friday, November 18, 2011 – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Location:
Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh
110 East Eighth Avenue - The Moose Building Ballroom
Homestead, Pennsylvania 15120 - www.youngpreservationists.org
Homestead, Pennsylvania 15120 - www.youngpreservationists.org
For Directions: (412) 205-3385
Only $20.00 Per Person – Registration Must Be Paid In Advance
25% Discount For Communications Professionals!
To Register Go To:
http://thornhillnewsdigitalstorytellingseminars19.eventbrite.com
Developing an agenda for the series The New Video Marketplace is a joy. The Thornhill News Digital Storytelling model has been to assist creative entrepreneurs in adding digital features and assets to their funding proposal for real-world documentaries.
We have surfaced examples to give a better feel for those companies or projects that have made it into production and even given some detailed sources for distribution and promotion.
Our latest wrinkle is to research the various programs designed to woo production companies to their town or city to employ the local crews, spend money on support services and create a positive impression in the eyes of others in the industry and future audiences.
Now comes our concept of the “Digital Metropolis” to describe a cluster of businesses, spaces, creatives and businesses working together to train, promote and, when successful, serve the new video marketplace by becoming their location of choice for shooting.
We are all storytellers. No matter if you are in the non-fiction or fiction world; film, television or branded entertainment. For each of us, I see a positive change in the way we view digital media.
Transmedia is the latest buzz to describe cross-platform media development, production, distribution and promotion. Linking many digital options together builds a sure winner in your presentations for financial support.
In addition to digital television as a media category, we are witnessing the emergence of digital storytelling as a business, creative and communications gusher.
Each level of interaction and financial support requires some proposal. It could be a casual meeting, ending with a verbal agreement and a handshake – or a fully-blown document with outlines, scripts, budgets, securities and multiple signatures.
Again, the film, television and branded entertainment options become easier to pursue if you are including an understanding of the digital realm.
The Documentary Proposal Seminar
If you are approaching the pursuit of dollars in a competitive way, it might be helpful to look at the winners and notice how many of them have extended capabilities in each phase through digital tools and digital media. We must each become familiar with the many options in the new video marketplace.
To that end, I work to assist documentary filmmakers by providing greater awareness of the importance of digital assets and features in business proposals. Including a raft of options and examples could turn the tide when a team is seeking dollars to produce a theatrical release, a television special or a series based on either.
The original concept of “50 Steps To Documentary Success” has grown to be a beneficial seminar and a printed program, TNDS NEWS, for each individual seminar date.
Production
In framing the concept, information gathering, storyboarding, and making the film, all production elements and post-production professionals are expected to use, if not rely on modern digital tools.
Distribution
The contemporary filmmaker has the benefit of multiple streams of distribution for their end product.
Certainly the Internet has opened many doors for product distribution.
For the last 20 years the changes in television were held back. But now, the traditional networks are viewing every offer for digital storytelling with new eyes. The biggest news is the emergence of “Digital Channels” and “Diginets” as television distribution discoveries.
Digital Cinema is more than distributing feature films via satellite. Digital Television is certainly more than the concepts of multicasting, centralcasting and secondary digital channels.
The Digital Metropolis
Are facilities important enough to create a true digital hub? Could it start with a training schedule? Would such an environment result in actual contracts? How expensive are these digital facilities and who would build or outfit them. Is there a plank in the local economic development platform to address such issues.
The New Video Marketplace series was developed in early 2011. Thus far the confirmed dates and places have been The Northwest Film Forum, Seattle (Saturday, October 1, 2011) and NextSpace Los Angeles, Culver City (Sunday, November 6, 2011.) After Pittsburgh we are confirmed for Kihei, Maui County (Friday, January 13, 2012) at the Mau Resource & Technology Center.
Special Thanks To
Pittsburgh Connections: Luminaria Productions, LLC, Morningstar Productions, Jazz Workshop, Inc.
Dan Holland, Chief Executive Officer, Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh
The 3 Hour Agenda
6:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Use the first 30 minutes to describe the marketplace - as I see it.
Present examples of many categories of storytelling from news, to movies, to television, to radio, to Webisodes to branded entertainment. Each is gaining wide acceptance in the new video marketplace.
There will be information sources for continuing review of examples, media outlets / leaders and well-respected money sources.
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
The second section is dedicated to a positive exchange in a workshop fashion to solve real problems, make suggestions to build successes and offer assistance to those attending. Where do we find the new tools, learn the new skills and get to try the new markets. How can I fix this?
Introductions, What’s Your Story? and “50 Steps To Documentary Success” are the basics.
8:00 PM to 9:00 PM
Not everyone comes to a seminar for solutions. Therefore, the last 30 minutes will be reserved for the classic question and answer period. This is the time for real challenges to current themes in the world of media finance. Let’s talk money sources – including funders, investors, sponsors, advertisers and corporate marketing clients. Investing in stories can be good business.
9:00 on – Open
Follow our presentation at a nearby spot with casual conversation – and a beverage - or additional examples from the digital evolution of film, television, radio, the Internet or other industry events.
Andrew W. Thornhill
Current Documentary Projects:
“A Tribute To The Rose”
“DTR Journey: Food & Beverage Stories”
“Inside DTR Media”
(206) 265-2279 - Cell
thornhillnews@hotmail.com
For Weekly Updates: http://digitalstorytellingseminar.blogspot.com
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November 14, 2011
In a few days I will take off for my hometown, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Any trip home is a pleasure, but this one has very specific business attributes.
It has been many years since I lived in Pennsylvania, yet I have traveled for business, lectures and meetings on a regular basis since 2004. I am witness to the growth, the new sophistication and the many accolades for being a “livable” city.
Because of my more than 40 years in the communications field, I have received a request from another town to spearhead a movement to develop, build and staff a digital communications studio.
I have visited with these good folks and they are very serious. However, before settling into deeper negotiations, I will visit Pittsburgh to share my experience and knowledge in hopes of stimulating some interest in a similar venture.
This space would produce multimedia properties, support multiplatform initiatives, information to documentary filmmakers, and teach local businesses to be much more competitive in, or using, the emerging transmedia (digital media) marketplace.
An exciting option like this takes about three years to evolve. Please don’t think that immediate answers are required, but paying attention would be a good idea.
I believe that 2012 will be your year. To make sure, there will be a quarterly review for Thornhill News, held in Bellevue, Washington. In this memo is a rough list of our current projects. Feel free to inquire about any of them, or plan to join us at the Thornhill News Quarterly Review – Q1 2012.
Travel
My schedule in Pittsburgh starts Thursday, November 17, 2011.
You Can Participate
- Let me know that you are interested in this or similar projects
- Refer this information to everyone you know who needs to be enlightened
- Attend, or sponsor ($100 each) of the scheduled item on Friday
- Attend, or sponsor, one or more of the social events being considered
With so much potential, it should be no surprise that I am seeking support for the overall package and for individual elements.
You can confirm your interest by e-mailing to tell me how you would like to join in. Where indicated you can register online.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, send your e-mail indicating what part of our package has your attention. You can pledge with an e-mail or a phone call to (206) 265-2279. Your pledge can be converted when I am in town.
Help to bring me to this brave point has come from a long list of family member, friends and associates in Pennsylvania. Although I am grateful to everyone, there are a few names that deserve a special mention they are: Patricia & Bob Jenkins, Sandra Jean Thornhill, Harold Young, Kevin Amos, Chad Washington, Rick Adams and Elwin Green.
And to be fair, let me also thank those companies who provided encouragement and inspiration over the last 7 years as I prepared for this step.
The list: The Carnegie Libraries, WQED Multimedia, The Pittsburgh Post Gazette and The Pittsburgh Arts Council.
Newsroom
The biggest news for 2012 is the quest for space to build a newsroom and studio. From there we will launch a public calendar, a new Internet Presence and plan for our Thornhill News Quarterly Review.
In the Homewood section of Pittsburgh an enterprising coalition has started on a development tiled Susquehanna Place. I have been told this is a possible location for our studio.
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Thornhill News
Modern Life & Roses
1971 - 2011
40 Years Of Communications, Innovation & Independence
(206) 265-2279
thornhillnews@hotmail.com
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A new property, The Thornhill News Radio Show,
launched in October 2011, has grown into a multiplatform experience.
Listen at www.1150kknw.com/podcast/media/AndrewThornhill_10-16-11.mp3,
or check www.linkedin.com/in/thornhillnewsradioshow.
thornhillnews@hotmail.com
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