VOTE NOW!! SXSW PANEL PICKER--Voices Carry: Why Authentic Brand Voices Matter
REMINDER TO VOTE NOW!!!
Voting Closes Sept. 2!
Voices Carry: Why Authentic Brand Voices Matter
A well thought out, authentic, and strategic digital content program is more important than ever for driving social media strategy, increasing user engagement, and building syndication relationships. This panel will debate and discuss the business case for well crafted editorial and video content as well as the necessity for authenticity, properly marrying a brand's voice with SEO and the defining line between farmed, borrowed and genuine expert Branded Content. The panel will feature executives from Amos Content Group, CAA, Associated Press and will be moderated by What's Trending co-host Melissa Rowley.
- Shawn Amos – Amos Content Group
- Sarah Passe – CAA
- Melissa Rowley – What's Trending (CBS)
- Michael Dutton – Associated Press
XTR3D To Unveil "iZi"-- Touch Free Gesture Control for PC Laptops at GDC
XTR3D To Demo Touch-Free Gesture Control App "iZi" for Laptops at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) March 2-4, 2011
San Francisco, CA — Extreme Reality (‘XTR3D’) Ltd., provider of touch-free Gesture Control and Motion Capture Interfaces, will demonstrate at GDC, its new touch-free gesture control interface for laptops, “iZi” (pronounced ‘easy’). XTR3D’s iZi allows gamers to easily control PC games and applications using body gestures and/or movement.
iZi utilizes a laptop's built-in camera to capture the body movement of a single and or multiple users. Gestures are then associated with system events to control a game or other application. The iZi demo at GDC will feature pre-installed games from XTR3D’s growing number of game partners and will also be customizable for additional games and software applications.
“XTR3D's application development tools, such as iZi, satisfy three different types of audiences," says XTR3D CEO Dor Givon; “the laptop vendors transform their machines into gesture-controlled computers using iZi Pro for laptops, while the application developers utilize iZi Pro’s technology to implement gesture control to any application or game command they offer. Inevitably, the End users benefit the most, enjoying a compelling gesture-controlled experience on their laptop. XTR3D's suite of motion-capture gesture-control software reinvents the way users interact with CE devices and in-home entertainment."
The introduction of XTR3D's iZi app serves as a steppingstone to execute the company’s strategic penetration into the laptop market with an emphasis on touch-free device control. XTR3D will be meeting with game and application developers interested in implementing gesture control capabilities to their offering.
iZi will be demonstrated at GDC in meeting room BMR 346. For more information on iZi, please visit: www.izipc.com.
ABOUT Extreme Reality (XTR3D) Ltd.
Extreme Reality Ltd ("XTR3D") is a privately held company established in 2005. The company develops motion-capture gesture-control software that enables developers and mobile, TV and laptop vendors to add gesture control to an application, game and/or a device command. XTR3D enables simple touch-free gesture control of consumer electronic devices. iZi software runs on any laptop given a regular 2D camera is connected to the device. For more information, regarding iZi and other XTR3D products and services, please visit http://xtr3d.com.
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PutItOn Picture Show Annual Online Film Festival Presented by PutItOn.com and the New York Film Academy Accepting Short and Feature Submissions Until December 31, 2009
PutItOn.com Offers Artists in Film, Fashion, Music and Art a Global Stage to Showcase Their Talents, Discover Other Artists and Engage in eCommerce
PutItOn.com, the first online portal enabling artists from four artistic disciplines to display their talents and gain worldwide exposure, is proud to announce its first annual film festival, PutItOn Picture Show Presented By PutItOn.com and the New York Film Academy. The PiO Picture Show is open now and accepting entries until December 31, 2009. The festival marries PutItOn.com’s unique web-based platform with the spirit of creativity fostered in a film competition. Filmmakers and artists worldwide are encouraged to compete.
“We are excited to launch The PutItOn Picture Show in partnership with the New York Film Academy,” said Max Fraser, British co-founder of PutItOn.com. “This festival is an important part of our vision for creating a grassroots path for emerging artists around the world to take their work from the ‘garage’ to the global marketplace. PutItOn.com’s web platform was designed by artists for artists and it is intended to help foster the next generation of creative leaders.”
PutItOn.com is accessible in 10 languages and offers users 1 free gb of virtual storage space, no transaction charges when purchasing or selling work, online chat and the ability to live stream audio and video. A cutting-edge mobile application will be available across five platforms in the later this fall.
About The PutItOn Picture Show
The PutItOn Picture Show is co-sponsored by the New York Film Academy and is open to artists around the globe.
All entries are welcome, except for those that are exclusively pornographic in content or unethical, such as films based on acts of hate. Each entrant is allowed to submit one film into the contest. Prizes will be awarded for Best Feature, Best Short and Best Achievement in Acting.
The first round of the competition for best feature film and best short film will be decided by a global Internet vote, which will narrow the entries to a list of the top 10 finalists per category. At the second and final stage of the competition, the finalists for these two categories will be judged by a panel made up of one member of The New York Film Academy, PiO's Max Fraser, and an industry professional yet to be named. The award for best achievement in acting will be decided separately by the panel of judges, with all submissions automatically entered for consideration.
The competition is open for new entries until December 31st. Public voting will continue until January 28, 2010 and winners will be announced on February 18, 2010.
Winners in each category will receive a two-tiered prize: a free scholarship to the New York Film Academy and a cash prize of $5,000 USD. If a winner has already attended the New York Film Academy, or another film school, they can opt-out of the scholarship and choose to only receive the cash prize and an alternative award. The second place winners in the best feature film and short film categories will each receive an HD 'Pro-sumer' digital video camera.
In addition to the film festival, PutItOn currently has plans to launch a U.S.-based online song competition this fall. The company will release additional details shortly.
For more information about PutItOn or the film festival, visit: www.PutItOn.com.
About PutItOn.com
PutItOn.com – “The Home to the World’s Undiscovered Artists” – offers a revolutionary, grassroots approach to helping unknown artists take their work from the “garage” to the global marketplace where fans can connect with them directly. Leveraging an online platform for showcasing and marketing art, music, fashion and film, PutItOn.com helps undiscovered artists from around the world become both artistically and financially successful. Through PutItOn.com artists have the freedom to break out into the marketplace at NO COST with complete intellectual and creative control. For more information about PutItOn or the film festival, visit: http://www.PutItOn.com
SXSWorld Magazine
If anyone happens to have a copy of SXSWorld Magazine, please proceed directly to page 26. I submitted an edited excerpt from my post-sxsw blog and they published it! Yeah! Go team. xop
SXSW--oBLOGatory Post Fest Recount
"This room is non-smoking, right?" I meekly inquire in a voice barely audible. The receptionist looks back at me, distracted and hesitating, "yes." I don't believe her. As I walk down the hall to room 106, slip the key card into the door, and step into the nicotine soaked air of my smoke-free room, I mentally wave a white flag and recall the tea bar I saw on my way in. Even the peppermint can't soothe away the days of beer, salsa and salted meats from my tender throat. Each swallow shreds and grates, summoning flashbacks of the previous nights, of me, enthusiastically shouting over crowds and bands and singing every word to every song before wooooing both the bands performance and my own.
The misadventures of my delayed arrival feel like weeks ago but still sting a bit nonetheless. I walked away from the Hilton, wounded by bad timing and with bags in tow to Emo's Jr. to see The Ponys; damned to let the annoyances of my travels further interfere with my evening. Now after midnight, my luggage served as my badge and I immediately sent texts alerting my friends of my whereabouts and continued on with the boys of OSLO to the Blender Bar for Albert Hammond, Jr., then... and so on before retiring back to the band house for a morning nap. Unlike last year, I didn't plan out every moment of my day and night, nor race from showcase to showcase. I simply happened upon many great performances and people, sharing moments with friends old and new, running into many serendipitously. SxSW is great that way.
MUSIC.COM had a successful adventure with the launch of the music download and ringtone store, a great day party and a warm reception from artists at the convention center. All four of OSLO's performances went well, Waves (Upstairs) particularly. The night sky was warm and open to us, and the room full and driven, with the band invigorating the audience and audience reciprocating the energy. Saturday's shows seemed to resonate with me better than any of the other nights, Kings of Leon at Stubb's standing out most among them.
The HEEB party was fun (HEEB parties always are), as were the SPIN and FILTER sponsored events. BLENDER House was nice, once we passed the pretense of the door shenanigans. Each night saw the beginning of the next day. Upon word the Maxim party was shutdown, an impromptu gathering with Music.com, Oslo, YOUTH GROUP, and several of our friends who had also found themselves at the Driskill, punctuated the pleasantries of the day by enabling conversation among us all. Seeing the live shows is what we were here for, but the opportunity to actually converse with, rather than shout over, those you were partying with, was an unexpected treat.
Today, with most everyone gone, the few of us lingering aimlessly wondered 6th street before inevitably retiring home for naps and comfort or to enjoy time alone. To end my adventure, I grabbed dinner and a drink at Chuy's with Arrica Rose, a Dot, and some Los Angeles ex-pats before leisurely strolling through the beautiful night back to the band house to pack up my things. The river was black and silent beneath my feet and the last bit of spontaneity in me wished I would cannonball the stillness of the water and that of the town. It's an amazing transition how quickly Austin returns to itself only hours after the chaos. There was a lull to the day today that left me sleepy and content and ready for home.
Cows, Hootenanny and OSLO, Oh My!
The question eliciting the shortest response this week would be "What ISN'T happening right now?" So much brewing...
GLEN WEXLER is currently featured on APPLE.COM's Start Page highlighting his new book The SECRET LIFE OF COWS. 
We hand delivered a 6' print of an image from the book, featuring a cow in a trebuchet about to be launched over a castle wall, to the Grail Theatre at the Wynn Las Vegas. The print will hang in the main hallway amidst the Monty Python artwork for the duration of Spamalot!!
MUSIC.COM, who you'll see in every peticab you get into at SxSW this week, will release their Artist-controlled music download / mobile download and customizable ringtone store Thursday (March 15). It rules, and makes it possible for the ARTISTS to get the most money for their music sales! 
MUSIC.COM has a booth at the convention center where bands will be performing and are sponsoring the High Wire Hootenanny day party Thursday at Habana Calle 6 from 12-5p.
OSLO, who just played an amazing show at The Viper Room in Los Angeles Monday, has new tracks posted to their MySpace and is down at SxSW (isn't everyone??) playing several shows this week:
Mar 15 2007 9:00P Waterloo Icehouse
Mar 16 2007 3:15P Music.com @Convention Center
Mar 17 2007 3:00P Dirty Dog Bar
Mar 17 2007 11:45P Waves (upstairs)/Texas Rock Fest
The album cover for Oslo's forthcoming release "The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate," shot by Glen Wexler is nearly complete.
Here's a fun wrap pic of a very disheveled me, Photographer Glen Wexler, "the talent" and Vu Ong from the set (shot by Carsten Steinhausen):
Reports from Austin soon...
OSLO Posts New Songs to MySpace
OSLO has posted 2 new songs off their forthcoming album "The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate," to their MySpace site!!! With the new album in the can and renowned photographer GLEN WEXLER shooting the album cover, "The Rise and Fall of Love and Hate" should garner a lot of attention lyrically, musically and visually!
Before embarking on their journey to Austin, TX for Texas RockFest and SXSW next week, Oslo will play BLAKES in Berkeley, CA on March 9 and the VIPER ROOM in Los Angeles on March 12th (10pm) as part of Indie 103's Presents.