TDS NEWS Digital
Thornhill Digital Storytelling (TDS)
Monday, January 9, 2012 – Week 3
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Digital Storytelling As Documentary Process
Creating Programming For Digital Media
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Writers, Filmmakers Funding Proposals
A Thornhill Digital Storytelling Documentary Proposal Seminar
And Introducing The Maui Video Marketplace Concept
Andrew W. Thornhill, Founder of Thornhill Digital Storytelling will present a detailed roadmap to enhancing your funding proposals for documentary film, television and interactive projects. In the distribution ranks, transmedia is the new buzzword. Creating a strategy to incorporate digital assets and features with qualified financial planning has been dubbed “Digital Storytelling.”
The date is set for Friday, January 13, 2012, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The location is The Maui Research & Technology Center (MRTC), Unit 119, 590 Lipoa Parkway, Kihei, Hawaii 96753.
The event is only $20 Per Person and registration must be paid in advance. Online registration can be completed at http://thornhillnewsdigitalstorytellingseminarsmaui1.eventbrite.com. For directions call (808) 875-5978
In support of local entrepreneurs, there is no charge for Maui Native Hawaiian Chamber Of Commerce members, www.mauihawaiianchamber.org) but advance registration is still required.
Documentary Funding Proposals
The focus of this leading-edge workshop is showing how to link the many necessary parts – from inception, through creative, technology and production, to traditional or digital distribution and real world business development. These are the elements that will make your funding proposal rise above all the rest.
In addition to the live presentation, a seminar printed program, TDS NEWS is included in the registration fee. This publication has background information, the “50 Steps To Documentary Success” checklist and resources to move a filmmaker into a higher level of participation in the film or television industry.
Many in film and video businesses have lamented the lack of leadership in the tradition-led industry around the world. A next goal for the seminar producer is to offer partners and sponsors an opportunity to train and work with a new generation of writers, media producers and businesses.
Los Angeles is still the hub for product development, but very few studios or venues are doing the blockbuster numbers of their former years. In the film business, ticket sales are down, in television, the digital transition and new means for digital distribution have caused disruptions in futures planning. In music, downloads have created financial havoc for the traditional labels and retailers and lastly, in the fine arts, the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs has suffered budget cuts and layoffs throughout 2011.
Upon his return from the January 13 seminar, Andrew will contact friends in digital media companies to ask for their support or to have them get in touch with funding sources to further this campaign. Fortunately, the sponsor community recognizes the value of these new ideas. (Sponsorship Blog - www.sponsorship.com/About-IEG/Sponsorship-Blogs/Lesa-Ukman/November-2011/New-Stories-in-the-Context-of-Sponsorship.aspx)
When connected, the campaign will be titled The Maui Video Marketplace. There has been years of research and trial events to get this started. This first Maui event is intended to open the doors for an ongoing series.
Contacts have been established in Los Angeles to begin a small-scale “shuttle” that would bring speakers and panelists to participate in individual events during the series run.
The culmination of the program will be an industry-supported major event. Maui is the perfect size for this new venture.
What’s Your Story?
The agenda for this brand of storytelling covers more than 50 items. Each one is offered in a way that shows how to be a winner in the specific category, yet still blend them all into a meld that guarantees continuity and continuous improvement.
Are you expected to integrate digital assets into your documentary funding proposal? If you, your organization, office or company are planning a film, television show, radio special, Internet presentation or an interactive photo essay, the answer is yes!
As we each grow beyond social media, Digital Storytelling is turning into a hotbed for collaborative development and ever-expanding production crews. Team members learn from one another and your end product gains from the combined intellect, energy and projections.
If your associates can’t relate to Digital Storytelling as a genre, try Multimedia, Transmedia, Webisodes, Branded Content or even Branded Entertainment. We offer these and many subcategories in the Thornhill Digital Storytelling Seminar.
The Agenda - 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
10:00 AM
Participants Self-Introductions
Andrew W. Thornhill - The Thornhill Portfolio, www.thornhillportfolio.com
10:30 AM
The Thornhill Design Laboratory – Business Design
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.
Our Venue: The Maui Research & Technology Center (MRTC)
11:00 AM
The Maui Video Marketplace
Researching the concept, building a series
Seeking support from Los Angeles and building a feeder system to include associates in New York, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Tampa / St. Petersburg.
Our video marketplace concept brings together all parts needed to build a film, or a production studio or a collaborative cluster of film-related businesses to grow the region.
The Maui Video Marketplace will grow from an idea to a location for training, serving clients and developing proprietary and contract media products. The choices will include live events, classes, print media, audio and radio, video and television, digital and Internet, plus film industry connections.
12:00 Noon
Lunch Break
1:30 PM
The Basics - 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?
Transmedia: Digital Storytelling
“50 Steps To Documentary Success”
Branded Entertainment Client Presentations
DTR Digital Channels: Dedicated Programming, Global Schedule
3:30 PM
The Future
Not everyone comes to a seminar for instant solutions. Therefore, the last 30 minutes will be reserved for the classic question and answer period. Sometimes conversations help.
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.
Local Production
The dream studio could manage events [including a series at the Maui Research & Technology Center (MRTC)], print, radio, television, transmedia (DTR Media), corporate films and branded content.
Clients looking for a complete facility would start with local businesses, then grow to companies across the United States and Global.
Economic Development
The Maui County Film Office has started the hard work translate creativity to economic development. This will take strong partnerships, marketing planning plus a competitive spirit.
The Maui Video Marketplace can contribute the feeder system for training, revenue with the expected multiplier effect and real growth through collaboration.
Andrew W. Thornhill talks about an eventual “Digital Metropolis” as a business and lifestyle cluster to support the Maui filmmaker, television production and talent community.
4:00 on – Open
Following the presentation a few will gather at a nearby spot for casual conversation – and a beverage.
Further information on Thornhill Digital Storytelling, The Thornhill Design Laboratory or any elements of the event can be gained by contacting Andrew W. Thornhill, c/o NextSpace Los Angeles,
9415 Culver Boulevard, Culver City, California 90232 or by email at thornhillnews@hotmail.com.
Special Thanks To:
Pamela Alesna, Marcus Realty, John E. Webb, Webb Industries Network
For Digital Storytelling Weekly Updates: http://digitalstorytellingseminar.blogspot.com/
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Are You Enjoying The New Year?
TDS has grown nicely since January 2011. To tell our own story, the initiative will be included in two Thornhill News review programs.
The first is the Andrew W. Thornhill News “Portfolio” publication -- to be revealed on January 14, 2012 in Hawaii. Our theme: “2012 Is Your Year.”
The second is the newly revised Andrew W. Thornhill Quarterly Design Review; to be re-inaugurated in 2012 in Bellevue, Washington. The dates are Thursday, February 16 and Friday, February 18.
The printed program, TDS NEWS has also contributed to the acceptance of the overall premise. Detailed, helpful information is distributed at each seminar in every issue. The publication is available only at the seminar and serves as the program for the event. There are many examples in the booklet as well as referrals. It has been very well received.
So well that the printed TDS News has been joined by this issue you are reading. The former “blog” is now TDS News Digital. And for 2012, the combination will have a new editor, a new designer and a very committed photographer. If you have an event or announcement, send it now to be considered for the TDS 2012 Calendar and possibly a Web site and mobile app.
The complete set of 2011 TNDS blogs are being tidied up for the archives. These will help at each review to show our progress.
The hard work of upgrading every part of TDS continues. You will see it in our presentations and publications, and probably notice our new venues and our higher prices.
A very helpful addition will be “The Interview Office.” When we open the “What’s Your Story” segment, the creativity, the unique presentations and the drama in these non-fiction narratives is overwhelming.
As a personal presentation, the storyteller usually does well. The Interviews will be available for those who don’t do as well in making the narrative come alive. The first interview will result in a brief bio, with bullet points indicated – and perhaps a timeline. The second interview will be conducted by a broadcast professional and recorded.
Story sources seem plentiful. However, it sometimes takes inspiration to get the storytelling engine going. I have recommended that our participants talk to family members. Engage the collective memory to bring out the funnier, or quirky, tidbits. One friend suggested that his family tales are triggered when he hears others reflecting at the barber shop. Could the salon work as well?
Museums are great storytellers. Take a walk around fine art, natural history or science exhibits to see how nicely they present their case.
To support these changes, and the broader impact, we are searching for space for our new Production Studio. The search is real; we have seen amazing spaces and will make an offer shortly. Please stay tuned.
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Documentary Production
From radio to bloggers to film to digital channel
The details are being worked out to collaborate with The Thornhill News Radio Show to develop a three part success. The radio show has monthly themes. For December the theme is Fashion. The title for the December 2011 show was What Are You Wearing New Year’s Eve? A lot of planning, research and time was put into this mission. The radio starter was developed over a year for the program.
The What are you wearing” has been promoted as “A Concept For Radio, Publication, Theatre & Television!” Listen at: www.1150kknw.com/podcast/media/thornhill_news.xml.
The recording will now be used by the Thornhill Digital Storytelling crew as an anchor to create multiple extensions on the compelling title. As this new form emerges, even the name has been changed to The Thornhill News Fashion Media Project.
Could this work? Could we follow this carefully researched theme from radio to bloggers to film to a digital television channel?
With the right partners, including retailers, we will find out. Check this: "Everybody works for free on the film, but everybody owns a piece of the pie, it's like an indie rock band approach." Better technology helps too. That from indie director Ed Burns…
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.
Paradigm Shift: Insuring maximum revenues for design and creative professionals in Digital Storytelling
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.
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In 2012, there will be change, growth and a new focus on revenue.
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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.
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 ($20 each) the scheduled seminar on Friday
- Attend, or sponsor, one or more of the social events being considered
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, join us at the quarterly design review, held in Bellevue, Washington on February 15 & 17, 2012. Our main venue is the Corporate Center for DeVry University.
Free registration at http://thornhillnews-quarterly-Q1-2012.eventbrite.com
Our purpose is to show you the many options available for future partners. 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.
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.
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The Andrew W. Thornhill
Quarterly Design Review – Q1 2012
Thursday, February 16 & Friday February 17 - 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Free To All With Advance Registration
To Register: http://thornhillnews-quarterly-Q1-2012.eventbrite.com
Main Venue: DeVry University, Bellevue Center
Bellevue Corporate Plaza, 600 108th Avenue Northeast, Suite 209
Bellevue, WA 98004 - www.devry.edu
Bellevue, WA 98004 - www.devry.edu
For more information,
thornhillnews@hotmail.com
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The Thornhill News Radio Show
A new property, launched in October 2011, has grown into a multiplatform experience.
Launch
Roses, the Official Floral Emblem of the United States
October 2011
The Essence Of My Dinner Party
November 2011
www.1150kknw.com/podcast/media/AndrewThornhill_11-13-11.mp3
What Are You wearing New Year’s Eve?
December 2011
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The Thornhill Design Laboratory
Andrew W. Thornhill
Culver City, California
Copyright © 1971 - 2012, Andrew W. Thornhill, All Rights Reserved
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www.thornhillportfolio.com