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October 06 2010
FINDING VALUE IN OPEN SOURCE
Every minute of every day successful, talented, intelligent and often technically brilliant people give up their extremely limited free time to contribute to open source software. In August this year there were 1.2 Million code pushes to social coding site Github. Since 2008 open source operating system Linux has powered over 60% of web servers on the Internet. And, as of today open source blogging platform Wordpress host 13.9 million blogs and have a further 13.8 million active installations of their self-hosted package.
In a post on our blog last week OpenIndie announced that I am to begin work on an open source self-hosted version of our request and screening tool. While in this post we discussed some of the benefits of taking this approach we did not explore in any great detail what open source is and what it means for a project such as OpenIndie. The numbers mentioned above are incredible, people are clearly passionate about contributing to and using open source software, but why is this and why have we decided to release OpenIndie in this way?
First up, what is open source? The term open source has come to mean a number of things but at it’s heart it describes a process of production where the source materials are made publicly available. In the case of my examples and OpenIndie this means the software’s source code is publicly released. However, the term has also come to stretch across many mediums from video and music to knowledge itself with Wikipedia. However, for the purpose of this post I will be focusing entirely on the term open source as it pertains to software production.
Unlike proprietary software there is less specificity in the agenda when developing open source software. There may be many concurrent but differing ideas about the agenda of a given project. Therefore, the emphasis is upon collaboration and democracy during production. Projects differ in terms of how they are organised and the process for contribution. However, all are alike in that you or I are as welcome to contribute bug fixes, original code or ideas as the project creator(s).
As you might imagine this lack of a central impetus can often cause disagreement in terms of a given software’s road map. This is what causes project forks. When a project is forked a splinter group of developers break away with a collective vision for the project. The original project continues alongside the new fork and as a result of their different visions they serve different needs. For example Drizzle is a fork of the extremely popular open source relational database MySQL. Drizzle’s focus is upon providing a lightweight SQL database for cloud applications. I imagine this mission was born out of a frustration with MySQL’s heavier components and reputation of scaling poorly.
So, in a nutshell open source software is code that is produced in a collaborative fashion, with many agendas and distributed without cost for anyone to use. That isn’t to say that open source software can’t be used commercially. There are many models that allow for a business to turn a profit and still open source their software.
Popular Linux distribution Redhat have for many years given their product away while charging for commercial support and training. Likewise, blogging platform Wordpress are successfully making money out of open sourcing their software. Automattic the company behind Wordpress offer two options. First, Wordpress.com a hosted solution for ametuer and pro bloggers alike. Wordpress have a freemium model for this option. They offer add ons at an annual or monthly cost such as domain mapping, or advanced customisation. This option is aimed at users looking for simplicity and peace of mind that Automattic are dealing with hosting and securing their blog. For non-technical or first time bloggers this is a great solution.
Automattic’s second option is called Wordpress.org and this is their open source option. The same software that powers Wordpress.com is released free of charge on their .org website and the code is made available so that anyone can contribute. This balance of open source and commercial means that Wordpress’ future is secured by the support of a commercial entity. However, it means that those contributing to the project are still able to steer its direction and fork the project for their own needs at any time.
It is this model that OpenIndie is adopting. By releasing a self-hosted open source version of the site it means that developers can contribute to the project and the filmmaking community can steer the road map for the project. This model will allow filmmakers to take an new specially adapted version of OpenIndie and deploy it on their own hosting package. There will be no OpenIndie branding and filmmakers will be able to skin the install to look exactly like it’s part of their existing site. All data will be stored locally to the installation and filmmakers will therefore have total control over the information they collect. Additionally, filmmakers will be given the option to broadcast information back to the Openindie.org API which will make the film appear in our listings on the site and should help drive traffic to the filmmakers site.
The impetus behind open sourcing our code is as practical as it is philosophical. As a one man development team my impact is limited but with the support of other dedicated developers we can finally begin to iterate on a regular basis and grow OpenIndie into something fantastic for indie filmmakers. Our passion for open source is born out of a belief that many of the greatest pieces of software in the world have been developed in this way and that it is a genuinely exciting opportunity for both us and our users.
Finally, I want to assure current users that this does not mean that OpenIndie.com will cease to be or will be the poor relation to the open source distribution. In fact OpenIndie.com will grow as a result of the new features and updates contributed by the open source team. The service we delivered on the 1st of March 2010 will continue and will be improved upon. This decision makes OpenIndie a more flexible, adaptable and in many cases viable option for many filmmakers who want ownership of their data and want to grow a following around their own site.
I hope that this post has given you some insight into the world of open source software and how it powers some of the Internet’s incredible resources. I will leave you with this quote from the creator of open source web framework Ruby on Rails and partner at 37signals, David Heinemeier Hansson:
“My core philosophy about open source is that we should all be working on the things that we personally use and care about. Working for other people is just too hard and the quality of the work will reflect that. But if we all work on the things we care about and then share those solutions between us, the world gets richer much faster.” — DHH
August 18 2010
TCIBR: Ted Hope and Katie Holly on creative producing [audio]
TCIBR returns with a special podcast featuring Ted Hope (21 Grams, Adventureland) and Katie Holly (producer of One Hundred Mornings ). Topics covered include creative producing, community curation, making films you’re passionate about as well as what it takes to sustain as a filmmaker in today’s changing landscape.
The WorkBook Project is proud to present One Hundred Mornings the winner of the WBP Discovery and Distribution Award. One Hundred Mornings opens Sept 16th at the Downtown Independent Theater in LA and will run for a week. Special thanks to our partners IndieFlix, Slamdance, The Downtown Independent Theater, Cinema Speakeasy, and CineFist.
June 26 2010
DIYDays NYC – Noah Harlan: How to build a mobile app [vid]
This workshop will take you through the process of conceiving, developing and releasing an app for mobile platforms including the iPhone, Android, mobile web and other platforms. We will take a close look at the process of designing User Interface and User Experience. We will also look at the evolution of human interface interactions and where we are headed. What is the future of mobile devices, including the iPad, netbooks and smartphones. Particular focus will be on augmented & alternate reality design and building immersive worlds and transmedia integration.
For more on Noah Harlan
@noahharlan
www.noahharlan.com
June 16 2010
DIYDays NYC – Brian Chirls [vid]
In the media industry, gatekeepers traditionally wield extraordinary power over creatives, as they hold artists’ dreams in their hands. This imbalance has led to a bizarre set of standard deal terms and practices that would seem absurd in any other industry. Now that artists have the power to reach their audiences directly, these old ways are obsolete. Before entering the film business, Brian Chirls worked in finance and construction and attended business school. In this session, he applies his “real world” experience to the problem of negotiating with investors, distributors and platforms, sharing stories of deals good and bad.
Workshop: “Who does business this way?!” – Lessons From the Real World
For more on Brian Chirls
www.chirls.com
@bchirls
DIYDays NYC – Brian Chirls [vid]
In the media industry, gatekeepers traditionally wield extraordinary power over creatives, as they hold artists’ dreams in their hands. This imbalance has led to a bizarre set of standard deal terms and practices that would seem absurd in any other industry. Now that artists have the power to reach their audiences directly, these old ways are obsolete. Before entering the film business, Brian Chirls worked in finance and construction and attended business school. In this session, he applies his “real world” experience to the problem of negotiating with investors, distributors and platforms, sharing stories of deals good and bad.
Workshop: “Who does business this way?!” – Lessons From the Real World
For more on Brian Chirls
www.chirls.com
@bchirls
June 14 2010
DIYDays NYC – AR & Geolocational storytelling [vid]
The ubiquitous nature of smart phones and location aware devices means transmedia storytelling can become a local and dynamic experience for the masses. This workshop by Ethan Rublee will serve as a rabbit hole into the technology behind AR and geo-locational platforms. Open source software, some programming gumption, and off the shelf hardware is all that is needed to experiment. Android phone app development will be thoroughly evangelized. Ideas on using local space to connect distant users will be explored. Show and tell includes AR on the Android, hacking the wiimote, anaglyph 3D, browser based AR, video see through head mounted displays, Google Maps api, and more.
DIYDays NYC – AR & Geolocational storytelling [vid]
The ubiquitous nature of smart phones and location aware devices means transmedia storytelling can become a local and dynamic experience for the masses. This workshop by Ethan Rublee will serve as a rabbit hole into the technology behind AR and geo-locational platforms. Open source software, some programming gumption, and off the shelf hardware is all that is needed to experiment. Android phone app development will be thoroughly evangelized. Ideas on using local space to connect distant users will be explored. Show and tell includes AR on the Android, hacking the wiimote, anaglyph 3D, browser based AR, video see through head mounted displays, Google Maps api, and more.
June 07 2010
DIYDays NYC Anita Ondine & David Beard [Vid]
How is transmedia production and distribution different from film, tv, video and game distribution? Join Anita Ondine and David Beard as they deliver a practical overview of the process of producing and distributing transmedia experiences. From budgeting and scheduling to designing an integrated workflow to the distribution of transmedia works across a broad range of delivery platforms – “How to Design Transmedia” provides an overview of how to integrate transmedia effectively into your production and distribution process.
More on Seize the Media
@anitaondine
www.seizethemedia.com
DIYDays NYC Anita Ondine & David Beard [Vid]
How is transmedia production and distribution different from film, tv, video and game distribution? Join Anita Ondine and David Beard as they deliver a practical overview of the process of producing and distributing transmedia experiences. From budgeting and scheduling to designing an integrated workflow to the distribution of transmedia works across a broad range of delivery platforms – “How to Design Transmedia” provides an overview of how to integrate transmedia effectively into your production and distribution process.
More on Seize the Media
@anitaondine
www.seizethemedia.com
May 01 2010
DIYDays NYC Jeff Gomez [vid]
Jeff Gomez and his company Starlight Runner Entertainment are leaders in the transmedia space. Jeff was instrumental in helping to establish a transmedia producer credit with the PGA (Producers Guild of America). During his talk at DIYDays NYC he gave a heartfelt presentation about his own background and what lead him to transmedia storytelling.
TRANSMEDIA STORYTELLING: CREATING BLOCKBUSTER WORLDS – JEFF GOMEZ
Growing up in the projects of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Jeff Gomez dreamed of fantastic realms full of strange creatures, amazing heroes and high adventure. Today, as the President and CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Jeff engages audiences around the world by producing spectacular transmedia storylines for Disney, 20th Century Fox, Hasbro, Microsoft and Coca-Cola. DIY Days invites you to hear Jeff tell his remarkable tale, and learn about a vanguard form of writing, creative development and production that is taking the entertainment and advertising worlds by storm.
For more on Jeff
twitter @Jeff_Gomez
Starlight Runner
Special thanks to Raffi Asdourian and his team for all the help with documenting the event
http://twitter.com/zaffi
DIYDays NYC Jeff Gomez [vid]
Jeff Gomez and his company Starlight Runner Entertainment are leaders in the transmedia space. Jeff was instrumental in helping to establish a transmedia producer credit with the PGA (Producers Guild of America). During his talk at DIYDays NYC he gave a heartfelt presentation about his own background and what lead him to transmedia storytelling.
TRANSMEDIA STORYTELLING: CREATING BLOCKBUSTER WORLDS – JEFF GOMEZ
Growing up in the projects of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Jeff Gomez dreamed of fantastic realms full of strange creatures, amazing heroes and high adventure. Today, as the President and CEO of Starlight Runner Entertainment, Jeff engages audiences around the world by producing spectacular transmedia storylines for Disney, 20th Century Fox, Hasbro, Microsoft and Coca-Cola. DIY Days invites you to hear Jeff tell his remarkable tale, and learn about a vanguard form of writing, creative development and production that is taking the entertainment and advertising worlds by storm.
For more on Jeff
twitter @Jeff_Gomez
Starlight Runner
Special thanks to Raffi Asdourian and his team for all the help with documenting the event
http://twitter.com/zaffi
April 25 2010
DIYDays NYC Brian Newman [vid]
This week we’ll be rolling out more of the vids from DIYDays NYC. In the following talk Brian Newman (former CEO of Tribecca Film Institute and founder of SpringBoard Media) gives a talk on innovation within the media space. The following is from the program.
REINVENTING INNOVATION – BRIAN NEWMAN
The future of media is being invented today, but it is increasingly being defined by the terms of the old models for media production and consumption. This is for the worse, because instead of a new era of innovation we are in danger of a new era of sameness. The future of media is not just about new distribution models and building a fancy new TV that can show 3D, pull down an endless library of content and let us chat with our neighbor about which products to buy. This is precisely what passes for visionary by those controlling the future of media now, and unless media artists take an active role in creating the future, that may be the best we get. What would true innovation look like and what are the historical models we can turn to for innovative thinking about the future of the field?
Slides from Brian’s presentation
For more on Brian Newman
www.twitter.com/bnewman01
www.springboardmedia.blogspot.com
Special thanks to Raffi Asdourian and his team for all the help with documenting the event
http://twitter.com/zaffi
DIYDays NYC Brian Newman [vid]
This week we’ll be rolling out more of the vids from DIYDays NYC. In the following talk Brian Newman (former CEO of Tribecca Film Institute and founder of SpringBoard Media) gives a talk on innovation within the media space. The following is from the program.
REINVENTING INNOVATION – BRIAN NEWMAN
The future of media is being invented today, but it is increasingly being defined by the terms of the old models for media production and consumption. This is for the worse, because instead of a new era of innovation we are in danger of a new era of sameness. The future of media is not just about new distribution models and building a fancy new TV that can show 3D, pull down an endless library of content and let us chat with our neighbor about which products to buy. This is precisely what passes for visionary by those controlling the future of media now, and unless media artists take an active role in creating the future, that may be the best we get. What would true innovation look like and what are the historical models we can turn to for innovative thinking about the future of the field?
Slides from Brian’s presentation
For more on Brian Newman
www.twitter.com/bnewman01
www.springboardmedia.blogspot.com
Special thanks to Raffi Asdourian and his team for all the help with documenting the event
http://twitter.com/zaffi
April 08 2010
Reflecting upon the DIY DAYS NYC Startup Incubator
Some time shortly after Sundance ‘10 we were fortunate enough to be asked by Mr Lance Weiler of the Workbook Project, Head Trauma and many other notable projects to take part the DIY DAYS NYC Startup Incubator.
DIY DAYS is a roving series of conferences for those who create and it’s part ofthe WorkBook Project an open resource created by Lance to support the community. The purpose of the incubator was to subject OpenIndie to the scrutiny of a room full of experts in various fields relevant to our business and what we’re trying to do. During a four hour process the group discusses various salient issues and then produce a presentation or pitch to be delivered to the conference attendees at the end of the day. Arin and I jumped at the chance to put OpenIndie under the nose of such respected folks in the industry for such a concentrated amount of time and the process began.
In the week leading up to the conference neither of us knew exactly what to expect but Lance kindly set up a Skype call with Matt Johnston of Kinetic Fin who was our Entrepreneur In Residence and facilitated the conversation on the day. He immediately set Arin and I at ease and got us really excited about the potential for the day. In just a one hour conversation Matt equipped us with a shared metaphor for how to think about what we were trying to achieve, drew out of us some key issues we wanted to address and gave us really valuable feedback about the challenges that he felt were ahead of us.
As I am based in the UK I Skyped into the conference on the day. I initially thought this would be fine as Arin and I are used to Skyping all our conversations. However, as the day went on the Skype situation became increasingly frustrating from my point of view. While I felt I had a great deal to contribute to the conversation the Skype lag caused me to start talking and discover I was interrupting someone. I also got the impression that the folks in the incubator found it hard to understand what I was saying due to the distortion. As a result of these issues I didn’t personally feel like I was as useful as I could have been and this was really frustrating. However, that shouldn’t reflect negatively in any way upon either the folks taking part in the incubator or the people organising DIY DAYS, it was something that always had the potential to be a problem.
The day began with Matt laying out the format for how we’d proceed and everyone introducing themselves. Our group of experts was made up of:
Matt Johnston – Entrepreneur In Residence (COO at Kinetic Fin)
Karol Martesko – Film Industry Expert (SVP / General Manager at Babelgum Film)
Brian Newman – Business Development (Founder at Sub-Genre and former CEO of Tribeca Film Institute)
Joseph Williams – Design
Bradley Farrell – Branding (CEO at Kinetic Fin)
Karin Chien – Producer / Distributor (The Exploding Girl (2009))
I’m sure you’ll agree this is a formidable team of experts and I for one was really nervous about the potential feedback they were going to have about OpenIndie. I can say, again from my perspective, that the feedback and discussion was incredibly constructive and while the process could have turned into a group of industry experts picking holes in a new platform that didn’t happen at all. This was partly down to the fantastic people Lance and his team had found to help us but also because whenever someone criticised it was always constructive. Nobody said “this sucks” or “you’re kidding yourselves” arguments were reasoned and based on years of experience.
In short, the group’s feedback was incredible and I would go as far as to say that the process has been totally transformative for OpenIndie. Some key takeaways from the day were that we need to improve our messaging, we’re not yet effectively explaining, clearly and concisely, what it is we do and how we do it. Our filmmaker bias was also very evident. This, in some respects, is natural because Arin is a filmmaker and our source of financial support has come from filmmakers. However, we need to reorientate the business to focus upon to the audience requesting films and the hosts organising screenings. This isn’t to say that the filmmakers aren’t vitally important but the focus upon generating an audience and screenings will benefit the filmmakers most in the long-term.
We were also challenged about our $100 per film per year fee and some good discussions came out of the suggestion to open the site to all for free or to curate the films on the site. Right now that $100 a year is our only source of revenue and is paying our hosting costs etc. However, all three options are still on the table and you will know as soon as we do about how we plan to proceed. The decision we make on this topic will depend greatly upon the level of success we have in the search for investment.
The day ended with Arin giving a fantastic presentation that Matt and Joseph helped us put together. It was impressive to see how Matt took the salient points from our discussions and drew them together with us into a presentation that was incredibly successful. At one point Arin had the whole audience on their feet shouting “I’M AS MAD AS HELL AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE” a phrase made famous by the 1976 film Network and repurposed by us in our fundraising campaign in November last year.
Upon reflection, I think the day broke us down and built us up again. It drew out of us our biases that were clearly holding us back in many respects. It made us rethink our business model and reevaluate the decisions we’d made. It enabled us to compare OpenIndie to businesses that we would never have drawn comparison with previously. And, it brought to our attention an entire world of potential competitors that we hadn’t considered in our planning. I think the term transformative is very apt, we aren’t the OpenIndie that went into the DIY DAYS Incubator. We’re more knowledgeable, refocused and have a better understanding of our priorities moving forward.
We would like to thank Lance for this incredible opportunity and his entire team at DIY DAYS NYC for volunteering and making this vitally important event possible. Finally, we would like to thank Matt, Brad, Karol, Brian, Joseph and Karin for your time, your knowledge, your support and your incredibly constructive criticism. We’re very fortunate to have been afforded this opportunity.
We’re seriously excited about the future of OpenIndie and the potential for this platform. We hope you guys are too!
Kieran Masterton
OpenIndie Co-Founder
Photo credit: Raffi Asdourian - “Packed Audience for Openindie”
April 02 2010
DIY DAYS NYC schedule
This Saturday DIY DAYS comes to NYC with our biggest event to date. We’ll be streaming live and you can follow along via the conference dashboard.
The day is full of talks, workshops, open presentations and a new section called incubator. Here’s the full schedule for the day.
DIY DAYS NYC schedule
This Saturday DIY DAYS comes to NYC with our biggest event to date. We’ll be streaming live and you can follow along via the conference dashboard.
The day is full of talks, workshops, open presentations and a new section called incubator. Here’s the full schedule for the day.
March 27 2010
DIY DAYS INCUBATOR
One of the new additions to DIY DAYS NYC is an incubator that provides two media service Startups with the opportunity to think tank their concepts. Over the course of the day the Startups meet with a group of industry experts from various fields (biz dev, legal, funding, branding, design). The day will conclude with the Startups making a presentation to DIY DAYS attendees, after which the audience is encouraged to provide their feedback about the model.
We’re please to announce that the following two Startups will be part of the DIY DAYS NYC Incubator.
Gigaplx
founder Mark Schoneveld
gigaplx is an online software service for indie bands and music artists that will serve the needs of managing and monetizing professional independent tours in the united states.
gigaplx is a dynamic, robust but simple toolset for building relationships that make executing a successful club-to-club schedule easy.
gigaplx is an opportunity for reputation building and networking as well as tapping into a dynamic collective knowledge base.
gigaplx will include several marketing solutions for bands on tour, but also offer on-point services and sundries to keep the show on the road.
finally, gigaplx will make selling merch a snap with great deals on new band swag from partner dealers with discounted preferred customer rates.
OpenIndie
founders Arin Crumley and Kieran Masterton
OpenIndie is a site where anyone can request a local screening of a movie they want to see or put on a screening of any of the films on the site. Upon the creation of a screening on the site email are automatically sent to anyone in the area that have also requested a screening of the film in question.
In November 2009 the site received over $12,000 in donations via Kickstarter.com from over 250 backers eager to see the site exist. On March 1st 2010 OpenIndie.com launched in public beta and dozens of films have been added to the site.
The next step is to build the quantity of films on the site, allow users to leverage their existing social networks to promote films they like and build a network of theatrical venues to screen OpenIndie films. The next major feature release planned is OpenLicense which will allow filmmakers to have greater control over how they let the community distribute their film and ensure that OpenIndie is design to augment existing distribution channels.
OpenIndie imagines a future where audiences can travel to a town or city other than their own and immediately receive geo-centric pre-programmed alerts of screenings of films they’ve requested. Likewise, OpenIndie would like to provide a mobile application that would allow screening attendees to donate to filmmakers or buy film branded products right from their seat at the venue.
The over all goal of OpenIndie is to reinvent the cinema experience by bringing audience, filmmaker and exhibitor together in one simple, easy to use, space.
DIY DAYS INCUBATOR
One of the new additions to DIY DAYS NYC is an incubator that provides two media service Startups with the opportunity to think tank their concepts. Over the course of the day the Startups meet with a group of industry experts from various fields (biz dev, legal, funding, branding, design). The day will conclude with the Startups making a presentation to DIY DAYS attendees, after which the audience is encouraged to provide their feedback about the model.
We’re please to announce that the following two Startups will be part of the DIY DAYS NYC Incubator.
Gigaplx
founder Mark Schoneveld
gigaplx is an online software service for indie bands and music artists that will serve the needs of managing and monetizing professional independent tours in the united states.
gigaplx is a dynamic, robust but simple toolset for building relationships that make executing a successful club-to-club schedule easy.
gigaplx is an opportunity for reputation building and networking as well as tapping into a dynamic collective knowledge base.
gigaplx will include several marketing solutions for bands on tour, but also offer on-point services and sundries to keep the show on the road.
finally, gigaplx will make selling merch a snap with great deals on new band swag from partner dealers with discounted preferred customer rates.
OpenIndie
founders Arin Crumley and Kieran Masterton
OpenIndie is a site where anyone can request a local screening of a movie they want to see or put on a screening of any of the films on the site. Upon the creation of a screening on the site email are automatically sent to anyone in the area that have also requested a screening of the film in question.
In November 2009 the site received over $12,000 in donations via Kickstarter.com from over 250 backers eager to see the site exist. On March 1st 2010 OpenIndie.com launched in public beta and dozens of films have been added to the site.
The next step is to build the quantity of films on the site, allow users to leverage their existing social networks to promote films they like and build a network of theatrical venues to screen OpenIndie films. The next major feature release planned is OpenLicense which will allow filmmakers to have greater control over how they let the community distribute their film and ensure that OpenIndie is design to augment existing distribution channels.
OpenIndie imagines a future where audiences can travel to a town or city other than their own and immediately receive geo-centric pre-programmed alerts of screenings of films they’ve requested. Likewise, OpenIndie would like to provide a mobile application that would allow screening attendees to donate to filmmakers or buy film branded products right from their seat at the venue.
The over all goal of OpenIndie is to reinvent the cinema experience by bringing audience, filmmaker and exhibitor together in one simple, easy to use, space.
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