New Narratives: Building An Interactive Storyworld

Fp19723

The landscape of interactive documentaries is exploding, so where are all the interactive narrative films on the web? Right here. ITVS, Murmur, Storycode & Ted Hope will discuss the emerging genre of interactive narrative film, next-gen web series, & how creating immersive storyworlds can build audiences for feature films.
We will conduct a case study on an interactive web series created by ITVS, designed by Murmur, featuring content from some of today's top indie filmmakers. We will feature the work of Storycode, a community that conducts story hackathons to create original cross-platform fictional narratives. We will discuss the recently launched ITVS Storylab, a next-gen web series incubator. And we will discuss how these efforts may help build a more sustainable filmmaking ecosystem.

Presenters

Aina Abiodun

Founder

Storycode

Aina is a storyteller, strategist and futurist, pioneering new narrative digital experiences. She co-founded and steers StoryCode, a global community for cross-platform and immersive storytellers which created the first ever Story Hackathon. Also an award-winning filmmaker, Aina holds degrees from Amherst College and UCLA’s graduate film program and currently lives in New York City.

Karim Ahmad

Sr Digital Content Strategist

ITVS

Karim is the Senior Programming Manager at the Independent Television Service (ITVS), where he oversees digital content initiatives and projects, including the groundbreaking sci-fi web series FUTURESTATES. He has served as creative consultant on over 100 documentary, narrative and interactive projects during his time at ITVS, including AMREEKA, GOODBYE SOLO, CITY OF BORDERS, Emmy-nominated THE OATH, and Oscar-nominated IF A TREE FALLS.

Karim is also producing a portfolio of independent feature films, comic books, and interactive documentaries. His last project, HARRISON MONTGOMERY, starred Oscar winner Martin Landau, was produced by Divisadero Pictures and Momentum Cinema and was released by IndiePix and FilmBuff in 2011.

Mike Knowlton

Partner

Murmurs

A digital veteran of 20 years, Mike Knowlton has always pushed the boundaries of storytelling and technology. As a Creative Technologist he founded and led numerous technology companies including user-interface design firm Nascent State, digital agency BASIK (www.basikgroup.com), and open-source Flash technology Frontal (www.frontalcode.org). Mike has led large multi-disciplinary teams in developing complex software applications for brands including Bath & Body Works, Epoch Films, Gucci, MoMA, New York Magazine, Philosophy, Theory, Tiffany & Co., and Victoria's Secret.

At his most recent venture Murmur (www.murmurco.com) he produces social films and consults with leading brands, studios, and networks on using social films to extend existing properties. Mike's background spans design, programming, advertising, and filmmaking. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Miami University.

Ted Hope

CEO

Fandor/Double Hope Films

A survey of Hope’s films-numbering close to seventy-includes many highlights of the last two decades. As generative as he is with movies, Ted is no less so in business; Ted co-founded and ran the 90′s production & sales powerhouse Good Machine, which he and his partners sold to Universal in 2002. Good Machine was honored by a retrospective at the Museum Of Modern Art in 2001. Hope subsequently co-founded the New York production company This is that with his former assistant Anthony Bregman and Anne Carey, whom Hope met on his first day at NYU Film School. In its eight years, This is That produced nineteen features, receiving numerous awards, including four Academy Award Best Screenplay nominations. Most recently, he founded Double Hope with his wife, filmmaker Vanessa Hope.

Hope is one of the film industry’s leading social media voices, posting regularly on his HopeForFilm blog. He also co-founded HammerToNail.com, a film review site focused on Truly Independent Film.