SXSW 2011 Guides: Balancing Film and Interactive

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Steve Jobs and Mike Markkula of Apple

Being both a tech geek and film enthusiast, I'm determined to find a balance between satisfying both interests during SXSWeek as the SXSW Interactive Conference overlaps with the beginning of the Film Festival and Conference. Luckily SXSW features several opportunities to explore both film and interactive industry topics.

Last year Slackerwood featured the "SXSW 2010 Guide: Balancing Film and Interactive" to help SXSW attendees know what was up. Although a lot of the core advice is the same, there are several significant changes this year.

SXSW Interactive-Related Films

In the past, SXSW has allowed Interactive badgeholders to get into certain film festival screenings with their badges ... but not so in 2011. Those attendees interested in films related to Interactive (IA) content will either need to have a Gold and Platinum badge or buy a ticket at the screening (based on availability 15 minutes prior).

Here are some screenings related to Interactive content:

  • Ain't It Cool News 15th Anniversary Screening (Monday, March 14, 10:15 pm, The Paramount) -- Granted, no one knows what movie will actually be screened. However, since this special event celebrates the popular cult web site Ain't it Cool News (AICN), it is worth mentioning. Take heed, online community management experts -- the dedication and participation of the AICN community is an interesting study of online social dynamics. If that's not "techie" enough, AICN even has an internet relay channel (IRC) for chat. Check out their panel as well on Monday, March 14, 3:30 pm -- see the "Panels" sub-section for more details.
  • PressPausePlay (Friday, March 11, 9:30 pm, Vimeo Theater) -- The digital revolution of the last decade has stimulated artists' creativity and talent with new and innovative ways. However, will this democratized culture lend itself to better art, film, and music or will it instead be lost in the digital noise -- or worse yet, lead to mediocrity? This documentary film addresses this question as well as the conflict for artists who are now able to create with the same technology that allowed pirating and subverted traditional industry models.
  • Something Ventured (Saturday, March 12, 8 pm, Alamo South Lamar) -- This documentary features the innovators in technology, including the entrepreneurs and venture capitalists behind such companies as Apple, Atari, Cisco, and Intel and others. The subjects of the film played a major part in the existence of the semiconductor and the Internet as well as modern biotechnology.
  • Life in a Day (Tuesday, March 15, 11:30 am, The Paramount) -- On July 24, 2010, thousands of people around the world uploaded videos of their lives to YouTube to take part in "Life in a Day," a historic cinematic experiment to create a documentary film about a single day on earth. Oscar-winning director Kevin Macdonald and a team of editors transformed 80,000 clips and more than 4,500 hours of footage into a 90-minute film. The result is the opposite end of the spectrum from The Klepto Kitty or Dramatic Prairie dog videos on YouTube. Watch this amusing teaser from the film below:

Visit the link to each film for additional screenings during SXSW, and check out what other films SXSW recommends for IA content.

A special event at SXSW this year combines a film screening and panel discussion with Emotional-Response Cinema...Plug In and Go Deep? (Sunday, March 13, 11 am, Alamo Ritz). A selection of audience members will be wired up for the world premiere of the Emotional Response Cinema project "Biosuite" and then screen the short horror film Unsound. A discussion of the results as well as possible future opportunities for affective computing and moving image production. Through the use of a direct emotional interface, an individual and group emotional state will have the ability to control the film content narrative.

SXSW Panels

This year the SXSW "crossover" panels are under a new Convergence category, recognizing those panels that focus on the areas where film, music and technology meet. These panels will mostly be held in Rm 18ABCD in the fourth floor horseshoe on the north side of the Austin Convention Center (ACC) and are open to Interactive/Film/Gold and Platinum badges. Here are some panels that should satisfy techie/film interests:

  • Artistic Collaborations via Skype: Turning Distance into Drama (Saturday, March 12, 9:30 am, Rm 18ABCD) -- Skype and other video conferencing tools can support projects for artists on the other side of the world from one another. Austin company "The Hidden Room" and London company "Look Left Look Right" are working on a cutting edge theater project together and will demonstrate a rehearsal via Skype.
  • Makers of Geek Documentaries: A Nerd's Life (Saturday, March 12, 12:30 pm, Rm 15) -- Featuring several female filmmakers who have focused their work on geeky subcultures, this panel explores what responsibilities documentary filmmakers have to their subjects. They will discuss the challenges and rewards of making documentaries about the untold triumphs of geekdom and how they approached the material, the people, and the choices they made. Get an idea of what will be discussed by checking out this SXSW interview with panel moderator Rachel Lovinger of Razorfish.
  • Star Wars Uncut: The Force of Crowdsourcing (Saturday, March 12, 5 pm, Rm 18ABCD) -- Through crowdsourcing, the Star Wars Uncut team was able to re-create an entire classic film in just nine months. The panel will discuss the technology involved as well as their crowdsourcing techniques and the cultural impact of the first site for a broadband-only production to win an Emmy.

SXSW will be featuring more panels as part of the Technology Summit at the Hilton on March 16 and March 17, and includes IBM's Smarter Planet Summit on Wednesday. One of the sessions will feature IBM's robotic machine Watson, which will be playing SXSW co-founder Nick Barbaro and others in "Jeopardy." Both of these events take place at the Hilton Downtown and are open to all SXSW badges.

SXSW Trade Show: The Exhibition for Creative Industries
(Monday, March 14 through Thursday, March 17, 11 am - 6 pm, ACC, Level 1, Exhibit Halls 3 & 4)


SXSW recognizes the convergence of the Interactive, Film and Music industries by introducing a new four-day Trade Show that covers all three conferences. This gathering of creative industries will provide opportunities to make new connections and look toward the future of new media and entertainment. Here are just a couple of highlights:

  • SagIndie -- SAGIndie is the Screen Actors Guild's outreach program for independent producers and is funded by a grant from the Screen Actors Guild-Producers Industry Advancement and Cooperative Fund. SAGIndie helps filmmakers produce their films and expands employment opportunities for performers.
  • Next Stage provides a place for registrants to discover new, creative trends and experience a few highlights from each industry every day from noon to 6 pm. The indieWire Afternoon Chat Series will take place from 2 - 3 pm each day and will feature festival talent including Joe Swanberg, Ti West, Jay Duplass and others.

Microsoft BizSpark AcceleratorMicrosoft BizSpark Accelerator
(Monday, March 14 - Wednesday, March 16- Hilton Austin Downtown)

The number of submittals doubled from last year, resulting in over 400 entries for  companies submitted their web-based products to the second annual Microsoft BizSpark Accelerator. In this final competition, 32 companies will attempt to dazzle a live audience and panel of judges with ideas,innovations, and products that provide a glimpse into the future of technology. Although many of these companies focus on social media and mobile applications, a few finalists are of interest to film and TV fans:

  • FlixLabs -- Flixlab instantly and automatically transforms raw video clips into visual narratives and embeds them in social graphs. Flixlab allows users to share their experiences by capturing video on a smartphone and then compile without complex editing.
  • Metabeam -- While watching a movie or TV show on the big screen, Metabeam apps gives viewers a personal control panel with relative content. The Expendables is breaking new ground with Ultimate Recon Mode To Go, a rich video commentary and interactive experience synchronized with the movie.
  • ViKi -- This international video site provides access to international TV and movies, translated into 100+ languages by a community of avid fans.

Parties and Lounges

Want to take a break from films and panels and focus on some networking at SXSW? There are lots of events and lounges to choose from, here are some highlights for 2011:

  • SXSW Film Opening Party (Friday, March 11, 10 pm, Buffalo Billiards) This well-attended opening night celebration is held annually at one of the largest SXSW party venues.  (Film/Gold/Platinum badges)
  • SXSW Meetups (Various times and locations) New for SXSW this year are official meetups during the conferences, where attendees can get together and discuss similar interests. I will be hosting two Newbie/Veteran meetups, and Turner Broadcasting is hosting a Convergence Meetup on Tuesday, March 15 at 12:30 pm in the Trade Show.
  • Nuclear Taco Night (Monday, March 14, 6 pm, Brushy Square Park) As one of the primary instigators, I have to plug our annual NTN. Free food and beverages, music, and a nuclear taco eating contest. Just remember: Nuclear Tacos may be free, but you pay in the end. (All badges)
  • Beacon: Lounge with a Conscience (ACC West Side, South End, Level 3, Rm 8BC) -- A relaxed and quiet escape amongst the non-profit Geekerati (Interactive/Gold/Platinum badges)
  • SXSW Samsung Blogger Lounge (Friday, March 11, 1 pm - Tuesday, March 15, 6 pm, 19AB) -- A more lively and crowded environment, hosted by the dynamic Stephanie Agresta and Brian Solis of TechSet. RSVP here to qualify for daily drawings. (Interactive/Gold/Platinum badges)
  • SXSW Film Closing/Music Opening Party (Tuesday, March 15, 9 pm, Maggie Maes) -- Enjoy complimentary food and drink at this party presented by YouTube. (All badges)

Pay attention to Twitter for the buzz as well as where the lines are forming or where "the cool kids" are gathering for a nightcap. As always, you can follow Slackerwood on Twitter as well as yours truly on Twitter or Gowalla

Want to maximize your experience? Get to panels and films early. If you are a Film badgeholder, concentrate your socializing on the SXSW film parties and lounges, and limit the free drink intake. Create your backup plans now, and be prepared for last minute changes. Stay tuned to Slackerwood for more coverage and updates.

Have some tips to share for balancing Film and Interactive at SXSW? Feel free to share in the comments.

[Photo credits: "Steve Jobs and Mike Markkula," copyright M. Markkula and courtesy of Something Ventured; Microsoft BizSpark Accelerator by Daniel Lewis, courtesy of SXSW]