On November 15, DGA members gathered in the Los Angeles boardroom to hear and discuss new ideas about storytelling in the technological world. Sponsored by the AD/UPM Council, West’s Cross Category Committee, the seminar Inspiration, Innovation, Initiative: New Directions in Storytelling featured discussions that explored new ways of thinking about and approaching storytelling in the technological world with a panel of media experts.
Following a welcome and introductions by Committee Co-Chairs Elaine Dysinger and Marc Newland and AD/UPM Council West Chair Marie Cantin, the seminar kicked off with summary remarks by each of the day’s panelists, interspersed with screened clips from their work and websites.
The panel discussion featured DGA Director-member Rodrigo García (Blue, Albert Nobbs, In Treatment), who is also the Co-Creator of WIGS, a digital drama channel that offers over 180 episodes of scripted content, and the Co-CEO of Indigenous Media, a next generation digital studio focused on producing original content for digital and emerging platforms worldwide; and DGA Director-member Ondi Timoner (We Live in Public, DIG!, The Nature of the Beast), who serves as Director, Producer, Founder & CEO of Interloper Films and A Total Disruption and produces and hosts BYOD (Bring Your Own Doc), the only talk show in the world focused solely on documentaries. Ms. Timoner offered a sneak peek at her immersive online workshop for filmmakers entitled Lean Content. Also on the panel were Liz Heller, the CEO and co-founder of Buzztone Inc., a company that facilitates community-building on behalf of brands in the cause, entertainment, media, and product industries; and Ingrid Vining, the Head of Community at Tongal, the world’s first studio on-demand.
With StoryTech™ Managing Partner Brian Seth Hurst serving as moderator, the panelists sought to answer such questions as: is the nature of storytelling at risk in a technological world; is there a new entertainment paradigm; is cross-over from traditional media in your future?
After the panel concluded their remarks, attendees asked questions and then had an opportunity to network.
AD/UPM Council West Cross Category Committee:
Co-Chairs: Elaine Dysinger and Marc Newland
Committee members: Jason Allen, Lee Blaine, Marie Cantin, Clark Credle, Buddy Enright, Katterli Frauenfelder, Scottie Gissel, Victor Ho, Victor Hsu, Jaime Ipson Burke, Mary Kane, Jill Maxcy, Jaysene Overton, Michelle Panelli-Venetis, Cynthia Potthast, Drew Ann Rosenberg, Liz Ryan, Redelia Shaw, Jaki West, Elaine Wood, and Susan Zwerman