Apart from getting ready for some Halloween fun, October pretty much marks the start of gloomy winter days - so to pep things up, 4Talent is bringing back the highly successful Inspiration Sessions.
What are they for?
From 23-26 October as part of Birmingham's Hello Digital festival, we are putting on four FREE events that will bring together 14 of the top names in the digital space from the UK and the US.
How can I get involved?
There will be room for just 20 attendees per session, who get the chance to spend the whole day working with some of the most exciting digital industry professionals - sharing ideas, discussing working practices and learning from the best in the business.
What are the sessions?
Day 1 – October 23 – Thursday – Online Drama and Comedy: They're watched by millions, allow new levels of interaction with audiences, and require a different set of writing and film-making skills. Online dramas and comedies can also pull in big sponsors and be lucrative if you get them right - our panellists share their views.
Confirmed speakers: Luke Hyams (Head writer KateModern, creator Dubplate Drama, writer LG15), Dan’l Hewitt (Director of Digital Content, Bebo), David Bausola (Creator Where Are The Joneses?) and Robert Wulff-Cochrane (Channel 4 Head of Drama Development).
In association with Televisual.
Day 2 – October 24 – Friday – Alternate Reality Games (ARGs): More than just a gimmick, alternate reality games are for serious players, often funded by major brands. So how do you create a successful ARG?
Confirmed speakers: Dan Hon (The Beast for Microsoft, Perplex City for Mind Candy, We Tell Stories for Penguin), Hazel Grian (The Sky Remains for Hewlett Packard) and Alex Fleetwood (Producer Hide and Seek, The Soho Project for the London Games Festival).
Day 3 – October 25 – Saturday – Computer-Generated (CG) Animation: Behind the official merchandise and brilliant taglines are the blockbuster hits and the groundbreaking adverts. Technology has come a long way since the first fully CG film was released nearly fifteen years ago.
Confirmed speakers: Michal Makarewicz (Pixar), Andrew Proctor (Aardman), Jeff Pratt (Escape Studios) and Adam Gee (Channel 4 New Media Commissioner, Factual).
In association with Broadcast and Broadcast Freelancer.
Day 4 – October 26 – Sunday – Online Communities: Attracting thousands to join up daily, how are online communities developed, grown and sustained? What does the future look like for the major social networks and for niche communities, and how could you create one?
Confirmed speakers: Heather Champ (Director of Community, Flickr), Emma Monks (Safety and Education Officer, Habbo), Ed Mitchell (community consultant) and Ally Branley (Channel 4 Community Manager).
Each session will take place in a central Birmingham location, starting at 10am and running through 'til 6pm. Lunch will be provided so all you need to bring is your enthusiasm and plenty of notepaper!
How do I apply?
Because spaces are limited, we'll need everybody to submit an online application, which must reach the 4Talent team by Wednesday, 1st October 2008. If you're in, we'll let you know by Monday 6th October.
Sessions are subject to change; please check channel4.com/inspiration for updates.
The Inspiration Sessions are supported by 4Talent, Hello Digital (Advantage West Midlands, Birmingham City Council) and Business Link.