Unearthing the Atari Graveyard: The Search for ET

#sxsw #etburial

In May 2013, creative studio and game developer Fuel Entertainment was officially granted permission to excavate within a 100-acre landfill in the Alamogordo, New Mexico desert. The goal? Search for the fabled Atari E.T. Graveyard - the alleged 1983 dump site of the mother lode of video game overstocks. Along with this, they will document the process, the discovery, and the history of one of gaming's first major blunders.
In this presentation, join Fuel and the exciting soon-to-be-announced production partners involved in the dig (currently scheduled to occur within the next few months) to discuss the results, the experience, the motivations, and the mishaps of looking for the 'El Dorado' of video game culture.

This SXSW Gaming Session at the Long Center is FREE and open to the public. However SXSW Interactive, Film, Gold and Platinum badges gain priority seating.

Presenters

Jonathan Chinn

Co-Pres/Producer

Lightbox Entertainment

Jonathan is an Emmy Award winning non-fiction television producer and showrunner. Over the past 15 years, he has built up an eclectic body of work that runs the gamut from documentary to formatted reality that is unified by a sense of authenticity and character-driven narratives.

From critically acclaimed documentary series American High to in-depth documentary series such as The Discovery Channel’s The Residents and Showtime’s Freshman Diaries, Jonathan also produced some of formatted reality television’s most innovative series including CBS’s ambitious social experiment show Kid Nation and FX’s ground-breaking series 30 Days. Jonathan has served as the showrunner of several returning series including FOX's Hotel Hell, the Sundance Channel’s Push Girls, and a feature length documentary about the NBA Summer League with Mandalay Sports Media and CBS.

Jonathan recently joined forces with his double Academy Award winning cousin Simon Chinn to launch LIGHTBOX, a multi-platform media company which creates high quality non-fiction content for the international television and digital marketplaces. With offices in London and Los Angeles it is perfectly placed to exploit the opportunities to produce in and for both markets.

Mike Burns

CEO

Fuel Entertainment

In his role as a founding partner and C.E.O. of Fuel Entertainment, Mike Burns leads one of the most advanced creative studios, reaching today’s audiences with compelling digital experiences. In 13 years of leadership at Fuel, Burns has developed a reputation as one of the top creative minds in the industry. Spurred by the rapid change in online media and fueled by Burns’ forward thinking and creativity, Fuel grew from a boutique interactive agency into one of the most respected creators of original and branded entertainment, attracting a client list that is enviable even by Madison Avenue standards.
Burns currently leads the development of the company’s own IP, the first of which Fairies & Dragons, made its debut in 30 million McDonald’s Happy Meals across Europe, and has served as the creative force behind properties like Sideway for PSN, and the highly anticipated search for the buried Atari graveyard.