Pixel Lab Diary - Day 5

FRIDAY 10th July 2010

Plenary Session: "The Games Industry and Cross Media" Ray Maguire

I can't ever really know what it feels like to live in an occupied country but this session gave me a flavour I think. Did Sony turn up in Humvee's? I don't know but it WAS like an invasion force with industrial strength power point tech and little scope for feedback or 'participation'. Interesting stuff mind you - they spent the most part demo-ing Heavy Rain which I have been mad keen to see as I was a big fan of the author David Cage's previous interactive game/film Fahrenheit.

I had a burning question which no b*gger would answer (probably because Ian Ginn who was sitting close by had given them such a roasting with the 1st question)...

Disturbing Fact #113: The internet accounts for 5% of global energy use and will soon eclipse air travel as the most un-eco activity for and on the planet.

...and the pitch gets closer.

Plenary Session: "Established Financiers, New Models"  Michel Reilhac, Paul Grindley and Lizzie Francke.

This was fun and interesting - especially Michel from Arte. He filled the room with beautiful quotes that inspire him in the shifting world of transmedia.

'I used to be normal but it drove me mad.'

In comparison Paul was conservative in approach but Channel 4 are heading in the right direction - he even suggested Michel should apply for the new controller's job at Channel 4 - I wish he would too.

Lizzie seemed to be buying into the transmedia idea more than the UK Film Council have previously. Having been around all these guys with AWP 2 years ago I think it's time to try again as the commissioners are catching up it would seem..

Then I had an individual meeting with Monique De Haas - she was great offering good advice and contacts - I hope to continue this conversation and would love to port some of our work into Holland

Group work -  practice the pitch - edit the pitch - practice the pitch - edit the pitch - practice the pitch - edit the pitch

Networking Lunch - Mel Exon gave me her iPad to look at Touching Stories - it's not great but I liked it - it reminded me how much I like good interactive video - stuff with agency (Touching Stories didn't have agency) - I guess I'm coming into transmedia with that as my thing - I really love audiovisual media delivered with pizazz(?) and enough attention to detail to make as compelling as a good console game.

Then the Project Pitches - I joined for the second half and pitched AWP - it seemed to go down quite well and there are lots of conversations following on.

Networking drinks - met Ian Tweedale from BBC interactive, Cardiff who is a great guy and I enjoyed talking to him.

Then food (with a tear in the eye - it's over....) and back to my room before the Welsh dancing started - but I still couldn't sleep!