Reboot Day #2 summary

Today's session was lead by Evan Jones of StichMedia - a Halifax based cross-platform company (nominated for this year's Canada New Media Awards). StitchMedia is a great example of an innovative Canadian company who is making the most out of the potential of digital technology to tell stories. Evan's advice to mentors today echoed the advice of his presentation - avoid the "Technology Trap". Often people creating in new media are in the habit of describing technology first and the application of it second (if at all). Evan's advice is to let folks find the details later (especially funders). As in traditional documentary work, the story needs to come first. When was the last time anyone pitched a documentary by describing what system they would use to edit? Several of the projects had elements of Alternate Reality Games, or ARGs (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alternate_reality_game). Discussions focused on how to write for these story worlds, which often involves the same work and research an actor must do to prepare for a role - its about detailing as much of the back story as possible. Often times to create a rich story world, a creator will have to produce double the amount of work than what will show up on screen. And in the documentary context, this of course means research. Discussions also focused on the "promise" a creator makes with their audience. If you are asking for participation, what do you promise to give in return? Is it a shot to be on TV? Attention? Another level in a game? A sound? A coupon? Understanding the way these environments work, and planning for them, can be the difference between an audience participating and not participating. Also important for digital documentary is imagining its end point. As anyone who has built a website knows, they never end! At what point do you imagine the project being over? This is also important for the audience, to know where things are headed, to gauge how much they want to participate. Clear goals are a must, just like a business plan. Things can evolve and assumptions can be corrected, but you need to have them at the beginning, and have decision points along the way, to work towards success. Two new presentations were posted today - Evan's presentation, as well as author and blogger Scott Kirsner, whose recent book Fans Friends and Followers gives case studies of how independent artists are using new technologies to build audiences. Tomorrow the Reboot gang will meet with visionary filmmaker and story architect Lance Weiler who will focus the team on building their story world and mobilizing audiences.