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media cluster,” said Shea. “The synergies created by these projects will inspire others and will help shape our burgeoning knowledge economy.” Other unique projects include: Toronto Green Screen, an initiative that will enable Toronto (and eventually all Ontario) film and television productions to be independently certified as environmentally-friendly; Virtual Music Community, an Ottawabased project of l’Association des professionels de la chanson et de la musique (APCM) to help FrancoOntarian musicians sell music on the Internet using i-Tunes-linked Select Digital service; and Game ON! a set of programs and services that brings together Ontario’s leading video games industry leaders, educators, trainers and government agencies for the purpose of “powering ON” the Ontario games industry. Among other provincial new media initiatives, BC-based content creators and producers are competing for a spot in the inaugural Digital Development Labs project, designed to support the creation of new internet activities and original interactive entertainment. The Digital Development Labs are made possible by grants from the CBC Regional Program Development Fund and BC Film with support from New Media BC. The winners of the CBC development awards will be announced in May. The finalists for the Interactive Entertainment Lab, developing new kinds of interactive entertainment are: Poke Tag Empire - Annie Spencer and Justine Warrington An internet series and interactive website that explores how people are using social networking tools to empower themselves, their communities and their planet. Coma State - Dwayne Beaver and Rudy Thauberger A science fiction thriller mystery in webisodic format, to be developed and solved by viewers. Follows the psyche of a prisoner held in a coma state by a robot “caregiver” as punishment for a murder. The Healer - Hugh McClelland, Baird McLelland Bioengineering creates a young man with strange powers. He and the online audience must unravel the truth about his healing ability and the promise it holds for the future - before its power destroys him. Moments - Brian Livesay and David Montie, Digital Zoaria A creative collaboration space for people to share and explore a digital web of “moments” contributed by themselves and others in an attempt to express things that have profoundly affected their lives. 12 www.mediacastermagazine.com
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Four Walls - Brian Johnson and Trish Dolman, Screen Siren Pictures An ensemble piece with four characters, four converging narrative threads, four acts, four simultaneously visible screens and music — all controlled by collaborating users. The finalists for the Interactive Functionality Lab, developing new activities for users of CBC.CA/BC are: The Green Pages - Erica Hargreave, Kris Krug and Boris Mann, Ahimsa Media and Raincity Studios An environmental “channel” for the CBC BC website, featuring videos, environmental events, “greensumer reports”, green listings, stories and community blogs. Code Green - Rick Beairsto and Tracy Major, Laughing Mountains Communications An interactive website based on the TV series Code Green — with tools to assess home energy consumption as well as helpful “how to” information. The site will help homeowners reduce their ecological impact, and save money in the process. Escape Vancouver - Gosia Kamela and Elizabeth Yake, True West Films An interactive, multi-player, first person game based on navigating an escape route out of Vancouver and a contingency plan for survival in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. Local Heroes - Deepak Sahasrabudhe, Soma Television An interactive website where heroic British Columbians can be nominated, ranked by popular vote and honoured on CBC’s website and radio and television programs. What’s for Dinner BC? - Todd Allen An interactive website featuring archives and daily menus, cooking tips, and tasty ideas from a wide variety of BC Chefs (professional and non-professional). “It’s great to see the variety and depth of ideas from the BC technology and interactive community around online service, functionality and content offerings,” says Nicholas W. Jones, Creative Director, CBC Digital Programming & Business Development. “The submissions we received confirm that we have a robust technology hot-spot here in BC. I am looking forward to working with the lab participants to flesh out and refine their proposals.” “I expected the submissions to be innovative and provocative and they were,” says John Kalangis, Executive in Charge of Original Interactive Programming for the CBC. “What stood out for me was how rich with personality, passion and skill they all were. These qualities are the most important to me as they ultimately separate the good from the great.” m