The Mezzanine Terrace Georgian Court Hotel, Vancouver

12th-13th November 2014

 

storycentralLABS invites experienced creatives with a desire to experiment with narratives that cross platforms to participate in this

innovative & fun collaborative challenge.

Apply now for two days of brainstorming on and prototyping of an exciting new product with innovative US broadcaster SundanceTV.

DIGITAL EXTENSIONS STORY LAB

WHAT IS IT & HOW DOES IT WORK? The SundanceTV & storycentralLABS Digital Extensions Story Lab puts everything you know and love about Game

Jams and Hackathons into one experience then aligns it with an active commercial property.

 

With tangible goals, an innovative brief, and a ticking clock all coming into play, participants will form

multidisciplinary teams to prototype story extensions and digital companion experiences that integrate intuitive

technology with a sustainable strategy – all around a series from SundanceTV, home of such critically acclaimed

productions as Rectify, The Red Road, The Honorable Woman and Top of the Lake.

The project will focus on concepts around one of SundanceTV’s original scripted series (as yet undisclosed).

 

Conducted by Alison Norrington (storycentralLABS) in tandem with host Drew Pisarra (SundanceTV’s VP of Digital

Media & Marketing), this will be as much an exclusive master class as it is a collaborative lab with expert innovators

offering ongoing support and guidance.

 

Space is extremely limited to 10 teams of five (5) participants each, who must meet eligibility requirements

 

Teams will jointly develop a cross-platform experience -- around a SundanceTV series -- with specific commercial

deliverables that will embrace and explore virality, monetization and long-tail ramifications. Teams will experiment

and explore the intersection of storytelling and technology with the support of high-level industry mentors and a

series of hotspot presentations to keep things on track.

Most importantly, this is a collaborative and fun experience!

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

I’m really excited to bring together a diverse group of fun content creators for this 2-day collaboration with SundanceTV, our

amazing mentors, the Canadian Media Production Association and Merging Media Productions.

It’s driving me crazy trying keep secret the fantastic IP that SundanceTV are allowing us

to have some fun with and the exciting brief that has been set, but we’re not revealing that until the doors are locked on 9am on the

first morning of the Digital Extensions Story Lab.

It’s all a little ‘Charlie & The Chocolate Factory – the fun doesn’t really start until the groups are gathered and the doors are closed….

Alison Norrington, Founder & Creative Director, storycentralLABS

 

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* TV DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONALS * GRASS ROOTS STORYTELLERS *

* DIGITAL CONTENT MAKERS * DESIGNERS*

MEDIA PROFESSIONALS * UX DESIGNERS * BRANDING CREATIVES*

* SOCIAL MEDIA PROFESSIONALS OR MAVERICKS *

* SCRIPT WRITERS * PRODUCERS *

* DEVELOPERS * CAMPAIGN MANAGERS *

* EXPERIENCED MEDIA MAKERS WHO LIKE TO BRAINSTORM COLLABORATIVELY

ON COOL STUFF THAT IS REAL, TANGIBLE AND NOT PIE-IN-THE-SKY PROJECTS! *

 

 

MENTORS

   

Drew Pisarra VP, Digital Media &

Marketing, SundanceTV

Joerg Bachmaier EVP, Int’l Production,

BBC Worldwide 

Alison Norrington CEO & Founder,

storycentral

Alan Seiffert CEO,

Digital Smash Ent.

Esther Lim CEO,

The Estuary

Jesse Albert New Media

Counsel Board, PGA

Robert Pratten CEO & Founder,

Conducttr

Brian Seth Hurst CEO, The Opportunity

Management Company & Managing Partner,

StoryTech

Rochelle Grayson Co-Founder, ArtSites.ca 

Merging Media Productions is delighted to co-host this groundbreaking Digital Extensions Story Lab with the Canadian

Media Production Association, in collaboration with SundanceTV and storycentraLABS.

This unique Lab is designed for those who wish to gain invaluable

tools and insights into the process of building successful digital companions using the latest monetization strategies and

cross-platform storytelling techniques.

Presented in an environment of collaboration and teamwork, the Lab strongly aligns with activities and initiatives we organize to support the growth and development of our rapidly expanding

media industry.

Christine Lim-Labossiere Executive Director, Merging Media 5 Market & Talks

CEO/Founder, Merging Media Productions Inc.

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WEDNESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER DIGITAL EXTENSIONS STORY LAB BEGINS WITH PROMPT GATHERING

OF SUCCESFUL APPLICANTS AS DOORS CLOSE AND THE EXCITING SUNDANCETV IP BRIEF IS FINALLY REVEALED.

STORYCENTRALLABS WILL HIGHLIGHT 10 TEAMS IN A MEDIA RELEASE

ALONG WITH NEWS OF THIS INNOVATIVE, COLLABORATIVE LAB

* DAY ONE COMMENCES *

THURSDAY 13TH NOVEMBER

AFTER A SECOND DAY WORKSHOPPING, ALL 10 TEAMS WILL PITCH TO A JURY AND THE TOP 3 TEAMS SELECTED FOR A ‘LIVE’ PITCH ON THE STAGE AT MERGING MEDIA 5

* DAY TWO CONCLUDES *

FRIDAY 14TH NOVEMBER @ VANCITY THEATRE

TOP 3 TEAMS INVITED TO PITCH THEIR PROTOTYPES ON THE MERGING MEDIA 5 STAGE BEFORE AN ESTEEMED INTERNATIONAL JURY

INTRODUCED BY ALISON NORRINGTON AND HOSTED BY DREW PISARRA,

ONE SELECTED ‘WINNING TEAM’ WILL WIN A PRIVATE MENTOR SESSION TO DISCUSS THEIR PROTOTYPE WITH SUNDANCETV, STORYCENTRAL & MENTORS AND

THE TOP 3 TEAMS WILL BE FEATURED ON SUNDANCETV’S WEBSITE

SCHEDULE

We are thrilled to be working in partnership with storycentralLABS, The Canadian Media Production Association and

Merging Media Productions Inc. with creatives in this innovative environment.

SundanceTV is excited to highlight all successful participants

across our digital platforms and promote the final winning team.

Monica Bloom, SVP Marketing, SundanceTV

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©2014 Google - Map data ©2014 Google

DATE LAB: 12TH-13TH November 2014

LAB VENUE The Mezzanine Terrace Georgian Court Hotel, 773 Beatty Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2M4 Canada

PITCH 14th November (3 finalist teams only) Vancity Theatre, Vancouver International Film Centre

PARTNERS SundanceTV continues to sit at the cutting edge of emerging storytelling with innovative interaction through social media extensions and levels of immersion across a host of platforms that reach beyond television and traditional programming. storycentralLABS is an innovation and story incubator/accelerator founded by Alison Norrington - storycentral. Aimed at discovering, mentoring and developing robust storyworlds with strategic multiple entry points, 2-way narratives and a close eye to audience behaviours and trends. !The Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) is Canada's leading trade association for independent producers representing more than 350 companies engaged in the production and distribution of English-language television programs, feature films and digital media.  Merging Media Productions Inc. organizes programs and initiatives to promote the understanding of media, particularly in the digital media and convergent space, while providing strategic opportunities for partnerships to develop across media disciplines and international boundaries.

With support fromThe Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund and The British Council

Are you a storyteller with an appreciation for interactivity? Or are you a social media professional frustrated by narrow-minded thinking around audience engagement? storycentralLABS, SundanceTV and Merging Media Productions provide you with the perfect opportunity to have some fun with a very real (and very exciting) commercial property at their Digital Extensions Story Lab. Eligibility: Experienced Content Creators (traditional and digital natives are welcome) with an understanding and experience of storytelling, social media, design, creative technologies and experience design are invited to apply to attend. Individual participants or teams of 5 are encouraged to apply, on the condition that when applying as a team, each team should aim to include one storyteller, one social media professional and one technical lead. How the LAB works: Drawing on industry insights and techniques that have supported some of the most successful TV shows of the past decade, the Digital Extensions Story Lab will encourage storytellers, content creators, technology and social media specialists to work in teams on digital companion ideas and social extensions around an established TV show over two intensive days. Introduced by Alison Norrington and SundanceTV’s Drew Pisarra, the teams will be supported by expert industry mentors. The LAB will also include sessions on interactivity, audience behaviors, experience design, business models and pitch training. How to apply: 1.  Complete the online application form and email to story-lab@mergingmedia.ca 2.  Applications deadline is 5pm (PST) Friday 24th October 2014 or when the lab is full. (Capacity: 50 attendees) 3.  Successful applicants will be informed of preliminary acceptance within 48 hours of their submission. 4.  After preliminary acceptance, applicants will be required to show proof of age and successfully complete all

admission forms. 5.  Once accepted, registration and payment must be made at https://digitalstorylab.eventbrite.ca. Attendance is an

affordable $100CDN + 5% tax, not payable until your application has been successfully completed. When and Where: The Digital Extensions Story Lab will take place in conjunction with Merging Media 5 Market & Talks in Vancouver on Wednesday 12th and Thursday 13th November 2014. Top 3 teams will be invited to pitch on the MM5 Stage on Friday, Nov 14. Need more info? Contact Alison storycentralDIGITAL@yahoo.co.uk

ELIGIBILITY & APPLICATION FORM  

1.  The Digital Extensions Story Lab participants enter the lab to experience, brainstorm and have fun with digital ideas around a SundanceTV property, all the while following a brief set by SundanceTV.

2.  The purpose of the lab is to give participants a commercial experience around an actual property and an insider view of how a cable network approaches e-strategy and extensions around a particular series.

3.  SundanceTV will have the right to promote, distribute and exploit any ideas, material, etc. generated at the lab. 4.  Participants in the lab should be participating strictly for the experience of creation, not ownership. Participants

accept that they are brainstorming story extensions and/or digital ideas around a production that they do not and will not own. They are free to apply any ideas generated within the lab to other projects but can claim no ownership or rights to the creations/ideas surfaced in the lab on behalf of SundanceTV.

5.  Teams consist of five people. Participants can apply as individuals or as a team of five. Ideally each team will have at least one storyteller, one social media professional and one technical lead.

6.  Participants must be over 18 and Canadian (or Canadian residents). 7.  Anyone caught plagiarizing or knowingly replicating the work of others will be disqualified. 8.  Please note that these rules are initial guidelines and more specific rules will be detailed in the lead up to the event. 9.  While all applications will be considered storycentralLABS reserves the right to reject an applicant who does not

adhere to the stipulated guidelines or rules. 10.  Registration and payment for the Digital Extensions Story Lab must be completed before an applicant will be

allowed to take his/her place in the Lab. Register at https://digitalstorylab.eventbrite.ca 11.  Before entering the lab, all participants must have completed and signed the appropriate release forms.

Terms of Participation Agreement: It is our job to provide you with an incredible networking and learning opportunity. Our intention is that you meet some amazing people that you might actually collaborative with moving forward, build relationships with mentors, and learn from your peers. The event is intended to be a forum for sharing, learning, building, and having fun. As such, by registering as a participant, you acknowledge that any ideas shared by you or anyone else over the course of the event are contributions to the overall experience and community. If you, as a participant are worried about someone stealing your ideas, please reconsider your participation in the event itself or simply refrain from sharing specifics about your idea. As a member of your storycentralLABS community, you agree to to be inclusive of any and all people and their ideas. You agree to act professionally, treat everyone with respect, and treat the event facilities with proper care. You agree that you are responsible for any accidents or damages that you cause. You also agree to not hold storycentralLABS, SundanceTV, Merging Media Productions, CMPA, your mentors, or any of the event supporters liable for any loss, damage, injury, or any other unforeseeable incident.

RULES  

APPLICATION FORM  Name: Email: Phone: Occupation: Organisation: What do you hope to achieve by participating in the Lab: (other than working on an amazing and real IP and having lots of fun!): (200 words) Outline relevant skills as a storyteller, social media professional, designer, technology whizz kid, creative: (100 words) Provide your professional bio along with any interactive storytelling/project experience: (200 words) Link to any websites, social media pages or project URLS that you’ve worked on: How did you hear about our LAB: Return to story-lab@mergingmedia.ca- application deadline is 5pm PST Friday 24th October 2014 but successful participants will be informed within 48-hours of their application, at which time the $100CDN + 5% tax is payable.

As a Masterclass Trainer for Eurovision Academy (European Broadcasting Union), a judge for Publishing Innovation Awards, Banff World Media Festival and juror for numerous hacks, labs, and challenges globally, storycentralLABS was formed by Alison Norrington after being impressed and amazed at the energy put in by teams at various Hackathons. She would then see over 2 or 3 days (with little or no sleep), how teams would create extensions around a fictitious project/storyworld that had been handed to them as a ‘brief’, only to watch weak and exhausted pitches for this ‘pie-in-the-sky’ brief that, with all good intentions from burned out team members, rarely sees the light of day in the commercial domain. Identifying a problem Alison launched storycentralLABS with a view to partnering with commercial networks, broadcasters, publishers, game developers to allow participants to work their ideas on a tangible IP with a mutual win-win. The networks/publishers have direct access and introductions to emerging and fabulous talent and the participants gain experience and insight on working on ground-breaking (and often well known) IP in a fun, lab environment. storycentral has always been dedicated to embracing emerging technologies, moving the industry forward and seeking out, predicting and rising to the next forms of disruption. As such storycentralLABS team set about bringing the major players in broadcast on board and making this event happen. storycentralLABS ‘Digital Extensions Story Lab’ is a collaboration between SundanceTV and Merging Media 5 Market & Talks, CMPA-BC and Merging Media Productions, with support from The Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund and The British Council

ABOUT  

More info?

email: storycentralDIGITAL@yahoo.co.uk