remixable

WBP is growing by leaps and bounds. We just celebrated 3 years this past November. What started as a blog has grown to into a network both online and offline. 2010 promises even more growth as we expand our list of contributors, redesign our sites, and host a number of events here in the US and in Europe. WBP is an open creative network that is centered on assisting those working in film, music, gaming, design and software with resources and networking to fund, create, distribute and sustain from their creative work. We welcome your suggestions and if you’re working on interesting and cutting edge projects please let us know as we’re always looking for contributors. And finally we’d like to thank ALL the volunteers who help to make WBP possible. Many people share their time and talents and as a result we can do much with little. If you’d like to volunteer we’d love to hear from you work [@] workbookproject dot com

A look at the past year…

DIY DAYS

a roving conference for those who create – This past year DIY DAYS made two stops. DIY DAYS Philadelphia was our largest event to date with over 40 speakers and 22 sessions! Last month DIY DAYS traveled to LA for an evening of talks and networking. The videos for the LA event are now available online.

The world of discovery and distribution is changing by the moment. DIY and hybrid distribution is becoming the A option for many filmmakers. But how do you find the strategy that’s going to work best for you? How do you reach and engage audiences while achieving a degree of sustainability? Join Jon Reiss, award winning filmmaker and DIY distribution expert as he shares stories from the frontlines, much of which can be applied to those wishing to connect their creative efforts with an audience in meaningfully ways.

site: www.jonreiss.com
twitter: @jon_reiss

RADAR

a look at the cutting edge of storytelling and creativity – WBP Labs an agency / think thank / project producer launched its first project this year. RADAR a mobile / online series and offline experience which centers on interesting and unique creative and storytelling projects. Within the last year WBP Labs has produced 24 episodes of RADAR and staged offline RADAR experiences. Season 2 is now airing on Babelgum and Season 3 is in the works.

Illustrator Sophie Blackall has read thousands of missed connections posts. A self confessed addict of these intimate, fleeting moments described in haste and posted in public, she trawls through them daily to find the most visual, humorous, lyrical or wierd confessions or pleas, before creating a similarly spontaneous illustration she then posts to her blog. We talk to Sophie about the significance of shared moments between strangers, and create the moments that might have been.

NEW BREED

– Zak Forsman oversees a number of working filmmakers as they document their journey from script to screen. The contributors of the New Breed share their process, resources, and knowledge.

Recent posts include:

Ben Hicks – A Glimpse of the Future?

After tweeting, facebooking and e-mailing everyone on my contact list I successfully reached my $10,000 goal on kickstarter that I needed to finish up post production and to manufacture our first run of DVD’s. (which we pre-sold 250 copies of)

Once the film was completed we uploaded the film onto The Pirate Bay and a few other torrent sites and in its first year had been downloaded over half a million times. These downloads also had the VODO icon at the end of the film that links to our online store and provides fans an easy way to donate or support us by buying DVD’s, tee-shirts etc. You can also stream the film for free from our website, youtube, vimeo and a host of other channels which has resulted in additional exposure which helped get our film into over 200 film festivals and even helped us pick up some rewards. READ MORE

Zeke Zelker – Indie Film Capitalism #3

We’ve all heard from Hope, Weiler, Broderick, and many other sources exclaiming that indie filmmakers now-a-days need to sell things, besides their films, to sustain themselves. Filmmakers sell posters, soundtracks, t-shirts, etc. at screenings and off their websites to make a couple of bucks. I’ve been doing this for over ten years. My peers always looked at me strangely, why was I selling merchandise for my little indie film? I was making money! If I have a captive audience why not sell them as much as I can? Remember I grew up in an amusement park. READ MORE

CULTURE HACKER

– Nick Braccia oversees a number of game designers and transmedia practitioners who document interesting projects and share thoughts about the design of stories and entertainment experiences that move beyond a single screen or medium.

Recent posts include:

Haley Moore – Ten Interactive Story Ideas for Layar

Layar, the augmented reality browser that has been creeping up on Android phone users since May, hit the iPhone App Store last month. And yet, the Layar web site lists a big fat goose egg under the heading “Games.” I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop. I have dreams that start this way. Surely, someone out there has to be looking into Layar as a way to expand an ARG experience. While not as ubiquitous as phone or email, Layar is free to Android and iPhone users. The API is straightforward, and getting signed up to develop content for the system is as easy as submitting a good idea. READ MORE

Peter Katz – IGC Independent Game Conference

November 5-6 I covered the Independent Game Conference where game designers peddled their wares to buyers inside the halls of the Marriott Hotel in Marina del Rey. In between all this networking my friend Don Le filmed (later edited) my interviews with notable professionals and panels that explored subjects as diverse as building personal relationships through video games to new ways to purchase digital goods with micropayments. READ MORE

WBP discovery and distribution Award

– We’re excited to announce that the WBP discovery and distribution Award will be expanding beyond a single run in LA and to multiple screens here in the US and oversees. More details will be announced soon. For full details on how the Award will help films reach screens in theaters, living rooms, online and via mobile devices visit the WBP award site.