DATA and Ryerson University are hosting the RTA Transmedia Centre’s inaugural Digital Innovation Lunch & Learn session on Friday, January 27th.

This session is open to anyone with an interest in digital innovation and is intended as an experience exchange offering research insights.

To view the agenda and to register, please go here: http://digitalinnovationv1.eventbrite.com/

Every second Wednesday of each month, mDot hosts a gathering of mobile developers and designers. Come join us for guest speaker presentations and a chance to network with people working in the industry.

For our first presentation (since moving to the new location), co-manager Andy (@andychiang) will be speaking about the importance of Mobile user Experience design. We will first examine the difference in designing apps for iOS, Android or BlackBerry devices. We will then look at some of the latest trends in mobile app development.

The monthly events are free for DATA members and only $5.00 for Non-DATA members (or $2.00 for students). Doors will open at 7pm and there will be FREE pizza!

Join our Facebook page for event updates and industry news!

Location:

The Dovercourt House
805 Dovercourt Road
Lower Level
Toronto, Ontario

Directions:

Dovercourt House is located at 805 Dovercourt Road. (1 block North of Bloor). From Ossington Subway Station, take the Delaware exit (from the underground level), then walk 1 block North to Northumberland St., 1 block West to Dovercourt Road. Turn North and the building is adjacent to the Salvation Army Parking Lot (East side of Dovercourt)

FITC along with its partners in the Ontario Long-form Interactive Narrative Initiative (INI) is pleased to present the winners of the Storytelling Project Competition.

Elizabeth Littlejohn with her project Tourist, Local, Traveler

And

Michael Stewart with his project Insyde Story

We thank all those who applied and would like to congratulate to the five companies that were select to present at Storytelling x.1. All the projects were great, and we wish the presenters the very best in their endeavors.

Please join us on June 22nd at our new location for an open house!. You can check out our new digs and meet the new MDOT Managers. After Effects will be presenting RealFlow’s RealWave.

Date: June 22nd
Time: 7pm onwards
Location: The Dovercourt House – 805 Dovercourt Road
The new location has a bar and we will be serving some pizza!
So come out and check out the new space!
Click here to RSVP!

The DEADLINE is now closed.

FITC along with its partners in the Ontario Long-form Interactive Narrative Initiative (INI) is pleased to present the Storytelling Project Competition that will provide a maximum of $10,000 in contributions towards the development of no less than two Ontario-based long-form interactive narrative projects–up to the point where they are ready for production financing. This competition is a part of the Storytelling X.1 event

This Storytelling Project Competition is intended to seed the development of individuals or companies to create new long-form interactive narrative projects and to provide opportunities for emerging writers, producers, designers, and producers to develop their interactive narrative ideas and establish financial strategies for producing their projects.

Projects supported through the Storytelling Project Competition will receive cash contributions of no more than $5,000 per project, based on a negotiated schedule, between the time the contribution is agreed to and August 30, 2011.

Objectives
FITC will provide cash contributions to seed the development of long-form interactive narrative projects.
The goal of the Storytelling Project Competition is to get a couple of long-from interactive narrative projects through the first phase of development. This means that the projects will get to the point where they are beyond the conceptual phases with a demonstrable path to market and/or monetization.

SPONSORING Partners
FITC
DATA
Writers Guild of Canada
Women in Film and Television

The Storytelling Project Competition is made possible with the support of the Ontario Media Development Corporation on behalf of the Ministry of Culture

Applicant eligibility
The Storytelling Project Competition is open to Ontario-based entrepreneurs that form partnerships to create project teams. Eligible partners include the following:
Video content company or individual (i.e. a film or television producer)
Digital media technology company or individual
Writer

Project teams must consist of no more than four partners and no less than two, and may consist of any combination of eligible partners.

A project team must have one partner that is designated as the key contact.

Project teams may submit more than one application, but the key contact must be different.

The project must focus on the development of proprietary property that is based on a long-form interactive narrative format. Therefore, it must include the use of long-form video or animation content.

On acceptance into the Storytelling Project Competition, all project team partners will be invited to pitch their project ideas during a “Dragon’s Den” pitch at Storytelling X.1 on June 20, 2011.

PROJECT ELGIBILITY
The Storytelling Project Competition is looking for the best long-form interactive narrative project ideas that need financial contributions to cover the cost of developing (not producing) innovative projects.
Projects must be completed by the end of August 2011.
The Storytelling Project Competition program will NOT support the creation of the following projects:
Projects that are primarily intended to promote companies and corporate agendas
Projects that are created on a fee-for-service basis

BUDGET REQUIREMENTS
The Storytelling Project Competition will provide a contribution up to $5,000 per successful team. The contribution is non-repayable. Additional financing above and beyond the Storytelling Project Competition financial contribution is permitted.

The contribution is tied to the following three deliverables:

• Concept Document
• Concrete Prototype
• Business, Financing, and Distribution or Exploitation Plans

Deliverables must be finished before the end of August 2011. The due dates of the deliverables will be negotiated with Sponsoring Partners based on an approved work plan.
The contribution is intended to cover supplier fees such as consulting, legal, and accounting while the team develops their project.

Decision criteria

• Applicants will be assessed on the following criteria:
• Extent to which they meet the applicant and project eligibility criteria
• Viability of the project
• Quality, originality and creativity of the project
• Market strengths of the project
• Motivation and skills of the partners
• Extent to which the project team’s objectives for participating fit with the program

WHAT SUCCESSFUL PROJECT TEAMS GET
Financial contributions of up to $5,000 per team. The contribution will be drawn down over the course of the development process as project teams reach established milestones.

Individual consultations with advisors who will provide guidance to assist project teams in positioning themselves for attracting production financing. Program sponsors will consult with participating project teams to secure appropriate advisors

TIMELINE AND APPLICATION PROCESS
The competition’s administrators will assess applications for eligibility and weigh them against the decision criteria. Applicants will be notified as to whether their project was short-listed. No more than six teams will be invited to pitch. The Sponsoring Partners will then publish the shortlist of potential projects on the Digital Narrative Group blog at www.digitalnarrative.ca and the Storytellingx.com website. Teams representing those projects will be invited to pitch their projects in a “Dragons Den” type situation during FITC’s Storytelling X.1 on June 20, 2011.

The key contact must be present at Storytelling X.1 to pitch the project to the “Dragons.”

The “Dragons” will be potential buyers of interactive narratives. These may include (but will not be limited to) the following:

Canadian broadcasters
Cable and satellite providers
Film distributors
Major brands
Advertising agencies

After the pitch, the “Dragons” (with input from the Storytelling X.1 audience) will select the winning teams eligible to receive the contributions. All decisions are final. FITC reserves the right to cancel the “Dragons Den” should applications be insufficient in overall quality or quantity to warrant it. Applicants are not to direct any questions or comments to the Sponsoring Partners in advance of Storytelling X.1 or following the “Dragons Den” decisions.

The timeline for the program is as follows:
Applications must be completed online at www.digitalnarrative.ca by 5 p.m. on Monday June 13, 2011
Successful applicants will be notified of the status of their applications within one week
Projects must commence development July 1, 2011
Projects must be completed by August 31, 2011

Applicants are required to deliver the following items as part of their application package:
Completed application form
Rights agreement(s) showing the project team partners have the right to produce the project (if applicable)

SUCCESSFUL PROJECT TEAMS
Successful project teams will be required to sign an agreement covering the terms of their contribution. The agreement will outline specific deliverables.
FITC must be notified of any significant changes in the project as defined in the contract and if applicable, changes will require consent.
Participants will be required to provide feedback on the results of their participation in the Storytelling Project Competition.

HOW TO APPLY

The deadline is now passed for applications.

FURTHER INFORMATION
If you have any questions regarding your project’s potential eligibility, please contact:
Kathleen Webb Project Manager, Interactive Narrative Initiative 416-878-8876 email

Each month FlashinTO hosts a monthly ‘gathering’ of people. Designers, developers, and anyone else interested in chatting and seeing some cool presentations and mingling and meeting some others in the industry. All are welcome and its free for DATA Members and cheap for Non-DATA members $5.00 and only $2.00 for students! So come out and join us! And as always, its cheap beer, and FREE pizza!

Location: Function13, 156 Augusta. Toronto
From 7pm onwards

This Month’s Speakers are:
Colin Moock
Code Walkthrough of Multi-Player Pong
moock.org

Rick Mason
Overview of CS5.5
egnaro.com

More Speakers to be announced shortly!
Check here for more details!

In addition to watching the great presentations you will also have the chance to be in a movie!
Hugh Elliott, the director of Influential – The Age of Digital will be onsite with his laptop and camera and recording your submissions in 1080p HD! This is your chance to be a part of a movement to discover the popular roots of the digital world.
For more information check out the movies website influentialmovie.com or Hugh’s blog blog.wheniwas19.com!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Each month FlashinTO hosts a monthly ‘gathering’ of people. Designers, developers, and anyone else interested in chatting and seeing some cool presentations and mingling and meeting some others in the industry. All are welcome and its free for DATA Members and cheap for non-DATA members $5.00 or $2.00 for students! So come out and join us! And as always, its cheap beer, and FREE pizza!

Location: Function13, 156 Augusta Ave Toronto
Date: Wednesday March 30th, 2011

Come by at 7:00pm to Mix and Mingle with the group.

Presentations begin at 7:30pm

Here are a few of the speakers you will see!

Jason Thomas
redblox.ca
RedBlox CMS

Kerry Williams
creativelegal.ca
Copyright law and some basic contract issues that often arise

Alkarim Nasser & Jason Broughton
bnotions.ca
Eightshit.me

RSVP Here!

MEIC (Mobile Experience Innovation Centre) is having its inaugural AGM on April 5th from 6-8pm at OCADU.

The Mobile Experience Innovation Centre (MEIC) is a recently incorporated not-for-profit association that has grown out of an industry/academia consortium, founded by OCAD University in 2007, to form Canada’s only organization focused on design leadership and experience innovation in the mobile industry to accelerate sector growth in mobile content, services and computing.

MEIC now offers the first mobile-focused design incubator in the Greater Toronto Region operating on OCAD University’s campus at 205 Richmond Street West.

The association offers applied research and commercialization support, advisory services, conferences and workshops, and international outreach and the AGM will be a great opportunity to learn more about MEIC and what it offers and to meet others working in the mobile industry.

For more information about the AGM or to RSVP click here!

After a few months of not having meetings, we are back next week on Thursday March 10th. Please note that this month it is on a Thursday night, and that it is starting at 6:30pm.

We have two great presentations lined up:

Mega Jump is a #1 selling app. It was developed by Toronto’s own Get Set Games. Matt Combe will be coming in to talk about that project and answer your questions about how to create an app that rocks!

We will also be having Anil Bhole, a patent and trade-mark lawyer who specializes in mobile devices and mobile applications. We’ll be having a discussion with him about what patent and trade-mark issues are facing mobile developers.

So come on out!

We now have a sponsor, which means the free pizza will be flowing, and cheap booze will be on hand.

RSVP here!

Where:

Rich Media Institute/FITC Offices
156 Augusta Ave
Toronto, ON