Genius+Power+Magic

The Chicago Television Industry meet-up

The Chicago Television Industry Group from The Chicago Convergence is hosting their first meet-up. 

THIS EVENT HAS REACHED CAPACITY AND IS NOW CLOSED - 10/1/08

Mark's goal: I'd say that I would like to build a strong Chicago based professional/social networking group that shares the common interest of producing great television, whether its for network, cable or web. A community of professionals that share a passion to develop/create content. One of the outcomes is to build a database of services/skills that members can then utilize to help reach their professional goals.

When:
Thursday, October, 16th 6:30 - 9:30 PM.
NBC Tower, 454 N. Columbus Drive, Chicago

Free and Open to the public. You must RSVP, 50 Seat Capacity 

Host: Mark Luciano, The Chicago Convergence TELEVISION Group Leader.  He is the Manager of IT and Digital Media for NBC 5 Chicago

To attend, please RSVP your name and company to: "Luciano, Mark (NBC Universal, WMAQ)" <mark.luciano@nbcuni.com>  to have badges pre-made and available at the NBC security desk.

The agenda of the meeting will be a chance to meet-up, promote yourself, your business or content.  Mark will provide a projector and internet connectivity and a laptop if you would like to showcase anything you do.  We are open to any suggestions as to ways to 'collide' with each other.  Mark says "For those who can't make it, we can find a way to get your information, etc. In any case, shoot me an email if you want to attend and if there are any other topics you'd like to discuss."

One Convergence member comments:

"Hey Mark,
Excited to hear about the upcoming TV group meeting. Do you think it would be a good fit for people who want to produce a TV or web show? I currently produce and host a multimedia variety show every week and it's going well but I would like to go to meet people to see what the next step would look like in regard to broadcasting the show. Thanks! -Adam" 

I met up with Mark at The Chicago Convergence after Party, Sept 19th, hosted by Trax Record Label Diva Rachael Cain.  Mark and I talked about the future of the television industry and the digital changes happening soon.  The conversion from broadcast to digital will open many additional channels for the networks.  The questions we discussed are:

• What will the networks do with all these channels?
• Where is all this new content coming from?
• Are there enough advertising dollars to fund new content on these additional channels?
• Will all these channels saturate the market and dilute ad dollars?

While none of us have any answers, these meetings are the first opportunity to collaborate on solutions (anyone want to lease a Network Channel with me? - just a thought).

Wired NextFest Premier VIP Party: Experience the Future

The Wired NextFest Premier party was a gala attraction attended by Managing Editor, Chris Anderson and Mayor Richard M Daley.  I was there with The Chicago Convergence Co-founders Malachi Leopold and Bruce Montgomery.  I saw many: CNMS08 Presenters Mike Samson of CrowdSpring and Rod Rakic of WhittmanHart, Scott Muprhy of Pixel Brothers, Fred Hoch, President, Illinois IT Association, CNMS Launch Panelist Brandon Copple, Managing Editor Crains Chicago Business, and many more.

We talked with Chris Anderson and Wired Staffers about the upcoming collaborations between The Chicago Convergence, The Microsoft PhizzPop Challenge, Ogilvy and the Chicago 2016 Olympics.  They are very anxious to hear more.

September 27 - October 12, 2008 Millennium Park, Chicago WIRED NextFest is the premier showcase of the global innovations transforming our world. 

Now in its fifth year, WIRED's gallery of the future includes unique and bold exhibits of sustainable design, next generation healthcare, interactive art and games, humanoid robotics and more. Join us at WIRED to experience the provocative, fun, groundbreaking work of 21st-century visionaries.

WIRED NextFest is FREE and Open to the Public. 

HOURS: Monday Closed Tuesday - Wednesday 11-7 Thursday 12-8 Friday - Sunday 11-7

Saturday, September 27 - Sunday, October 12

WIRED NextFest
Open to the public.
Check Hours | Millennium Park

LEARN MORE

Wednesday, October 1

Alinea Event
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Millennium Park
By Invitation Only

Tuesday, October 8

WIRED Brain Bowl
6:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Millennium Park
FREE and Open to the Public.

LEARN MORE

When will I see the Video content filmed at CNMS08?

At this moment, the video shot at The Chicago New Media Summit (now The Chicago Convergence) is being edited by Pixel Brothers, Inc., the production company sponsor of The Chicago Convergence.

While this is happening, Microsoft's Chris Bernard is working with us to stream this content, using Silverlight technology.

Mr. Bernard is posting the highlights reel, sponsor and launch event in a high-res format (similar to what was used on the NBC Beijing Olympics site) so we can see samples and engage additional sponsors.

One of the biggest corporate sponsor opportunities still available is to own the pre-reel position on the presentations shot at CNMS08 (34 in total) plus all additional presentations shot throughout 2009; Microsoft PhizzPop, etc.  Similar to any TED Video (where Autodesk or BMW holds the pre-reel spot), our content will begin with The Chicago Convergence brand motion graphics, a 10 second pre-reel spot, then the edited content from the summit. This will be marketed through the participants and companies involved.  Important stats to date: Google "Chicago New Media Summit" and you will see over 25,000 pages of content, comments, blogs and tweets.  We expect the video content to increase exposure to Chicago and The Chicago Convergence significantly.

The site where this content will ultimately live is being built in a partnership with PrimeMover, Microsoft and Cramer-Krasselt. As this is being completed and there are new talks to see, we will let our members know through the weekly newsletters.  If you are not already a member of The Chicago Covnergence, you can sign up to network with the community (1800 and growing) and recieve the newsletter.

Help Collide: Share this with any sponsors you think would be interested in this position.

The Chicago Convergence; Where talent, ideas and code collide.

ABC NEWS blog 'Ahead of the Curve', Airs New Media Minute on CNMS08

This news report is important for several reasons, a) Daisy continues to drive home the unique opportunity for Chicago content producers to develop relationships with the Advertising Agency fire-power to prevail as branded entertainment central and b) news about Chicago told by people on the West or East coast is paramount to the success of Pioneering Chicago as a New Media Capital.

I also appreciate the work of Thatcher Kamin connecting with The New Media minute to report from inside Chicago. 

Smart and savvy by both Daisy and Thatcher.

From Daisy Whitney's New Media Minute

Sept 24, 2008 8:19AM PST

In this week's edition of the New Media Minute, I'm mixing it up a bit.  I visited the set of Web studio For Your Imagination in New York last week, so you'll learn a bit about a new comedy channel FYI just launched that includes some of the best sitcoms on the Internet.

Then I'll toss to Chicago-based new media reporter Thatcher Kamin.  He attended the Chicago New Media Summit and offers a quick recap on the news and insight shared by ad agencies such as Draft FCB and ad technology firms such as MediaBank at the event.

Note: The Chicago New Media Summit announced it's new brand at CNMS08:

The Chicago Convergence; Where talent, ideas and code collide.

Our Next Collision: The 2009 Motion Graphics Festival

The Chicago Convergence is continuing to look for ways to promote the events that forward our general intent: "Where talent, ideas and code collide", and we are working with the Motion Graphics Festival and festival founder, Mason Dixon, to expand the reach and awareness of the festival.

The Convergence is 'open arms' to these kinds of partnerships and this is in fact the point of our existence.  Not only will we have our annual event (Scheduled for September 21-23, 2009 at the Museum of Contemporary Art), but we are supporting grassroots to large-scale events in 2009.

Nov 20th is the Microsoft PhizzPop Challenge and next June is the HD Expo, were The Convergence collides with this annual event to create a landmark networking event.  There is also talk of a grassroots think tank emerging for a December Forum.

Here is the latest from MGFest Founder Mason Dixon:

You are cordially invite you to the 2009 Motion Graphic Festival pre-planning meeting/party. We'd love to hear what you've got to say.

The planning meeting will be the place to share your ideas/wishes/opinions/support in both a group and one-on-one setting for the upcoming MGFest09 Chicago launch as well as the 5 City Tour. Plus it's a way to connect with an ever evolving group of amazingly talented creative professionals.

We are committed to making this year the best ever, and want to know how we can make the festival be the best you can imagine.

So come join us next week for a MGFest meet-up by emailing Mason@MGChicago.com

Check out http://www.mgFest.com & see what we're currently up to.
The Motion Graphics Festival will soon be in Orlando, Florida from October 13-17th, 2008 and we just recently added the

MGFest09 :: Call For Entry

MG:09 Call For Entry - 3 Ways to Enter!

[ Easy ]
Simply enter a link to a video you think is really good!

[ Medium ]
Send us a DVD of a video you made.

[ Hard ]
Suggest a presentation topic, performance or installation.
 
Motion Graphics Festival 2009 Tour

In its 6th year, MGFest stands as the premier US event showcasing creative motion picture design. The festival presents a year-long, regionally focused program of events. The 5-city tour focuses on motion design, sound design, and film & video technology by hosting: art showcases, exhibits, workshops, classes, panel discussions, studio tours, theater screenings and industry mixers.

Chicago : January 2009
Boston : March 2009
Austin : May 2009
Atlanta : June 2009
Washington DC : November 2009

The PhizzPop Tour at The Chicago Convergence: Challenge? Chicago's 2016 Olympic Bid

In late 2007 and early 2008 Microsoft inaugurated an event called The PhizzPop Design Challenge in the United States.

The goal? To enable some of the best design studios and agencies in the US to demonstrate innovation and design thinking at the intersection of business and technology using Microsoft technology and tools. Events were held in San Francisco, LA, Chicago, Austin, Boston and NYC, with a grand finale that culminated at the SxSW Interactive and Film festival.

If you attended the Chicago New Media Summit on September 15th and 16th you had the opportunity to see the winner of last year's challenge, Cynergy. In each city teams received training on Microsoft's emerging technology and platforms and were presented with a 'challenge' that they had three days to solve. Cynergy's challenge was to create a collection of online tools and services that could enable and enlighten citizens about issues and topics around the upcoming presidential selection. It was only one of 35 great examples that were created through the challenges throughout the US.

This Fall the PhizzPop Design Challenge returns as the PhizzPop Tour that will occur in San Francisco, LA, Minneapolis, New York City and Miami. Once again the finale will be held during SxSW in Austin. But the PhizzPop Tour also will make a stop in Chicago on November 20th at the Chicago Cultural Center (pictured) and will partner with The Chicago Convergence to solve a special to-be-revealed challenge around Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid.

"the PhizzPop Tour also will make a stop in Chicago on November 20th at the Chicago Cultural Center and will partner with The Chicago Convergence to solve a special to-be-revealed challenge around Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid."

Mark your calendars now to watch an invited collection of design partners and luminary judges put their best efforts towards helping Chicago deliver a media and technology vision that can secure Chicago's future as the place 'Where talent, ideas and code collide'. Future announcements will point you to the PhizzPop Tour registration site where you can learn more about the PhizzPop Tour and it's online companion PhizzPop Online (and an additional online design challenge open to all), attendance is free but space will be limited, as soon as we're ready to start taking registrations we'll let you know in this newsletter.

The PhizzPop Tour in Chicago provides a great opportunity to showcase world class innovation with that will be showcased by some of the best design and technology talent that Chicago can offer. Sponsorship opportunities for the PhizzPop Tour and the Chicago New Media Summit are available.

WBEZ 91.5 FM Chicago Public Radio, Eight Forty-Eight CNMS08 Interview

Listen Here

Whether it’s connecting with loved ones in an emergency or getting out the vote on Election Day so-called “new media” is changing the way people communicate. The electronic ether is full of text messages from Barack Obama, YouTube videos of Sarah Palin, Tina Fey as Sarah Palin, Gina Gershon as Sarah Palin, and the news that Sarah Palin once dressed up as Tina Fey for Halloween. Now, a coalition of area organizations hopes to capitalize on all the technological possibilities to make Chicago the “new media” capital of the world. 

The Chicago New Media Summit began its two-day conference yesterday at The Museum of Contemporary Art. Eight Forty-Eight Friday show host Alison Cuddy checked in with summit founder John Patterson after the first day of presentations on topics ranging from personal branding to social change. But Patterson says, first, change needs to come in Chicago’s image.

Thank you Chicago, The Summit was a huge success!

Thank you for a hugely successful Chicago New Media Summit.  

If you have not already heard the news, CNMS08 unveiled its new name at the end of the Summit (seen here).  Although this is not the final logo, the point is made and we will continue to include you with news about the future.

Launching this event helped make history.  Plans are well underway to bring a groundswell of talent, ideas and code together nationwide to support not only our country's bid for the Chicago 2016 Olympics, but well beyond.

'The Chicago Convergence' next event will take place the evening of November 20th, 2008 at the Chicago Cultural Center as we showcase the Microsoft PhizzPop Challenge; a design challenge to solve a special to-be-revealed challenge around Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid.

Without you, this would not have been possible and we graciously thank you for a job well done.

Together, we hit the ball out of the park.

With gratitude and heartfelt thanks,

John Patterson

Founder and President

The Chicago Convergence

The Chicago Convergence is the property of Chicago New Media Summit Council, which has applied for private 501(c) 3 nonprofit status, and will continue to foster and award projects and presentations that unite diverse industries and individuals in new ways to encourage regional and global contributions.