Clare Hodge, Programmer, Digital Media Forum
Clare Hodge is a Producer and Project Manager in film, television and interactive with more than 20 hours credited as producer. Hodge produced the feature film “Love and Other Dilemmas” (Maple Pictures) which was theatrically released across Canada in 2008. She acted as Multi-platform Project Content Manager of “Ice Pilots NWT” website and Creative Manager of two online video venues affiliated with Super Channel, producing the cross-platform production “Super U Winners Showcase”. She has produced numerous award-winning short dramas and acted as Associate Producer on the film “Saint Monica” and the network TV series “Alice, I Think” (CTV/Comedy Network). Hodge has held positions including Business Analyst at British Columbia Film’s Tax Credit Program and Operations Manager of Women in Film.
FOCUS ON INNOVATION
Moderator: Justine Bizzocchi
Panellists: Rochelle Grayson, Rae Hull
As a Technology Manager at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia Canada, Justine Bizzocchi works with faculty researchers specializing in new media, entertainment technology and e-learning systems. Justine is a graduate of the University of Michigan in Film and Television. She has over 30 years experience working in film, television and new media both independently and with such organizations as the Banff New Media Institute (HorizonZero), the National Film Board of Canada, KCTS Television, and the Centre for Image and Sound Research. She was a key member of the start-up team for both Vancouver Coop Radio and Cineworks Film Production Coop.
Rochelle Grayson, CEO of BookRiff, is a consumer and digital media executive with 20 years of business, technology, and entertainment experience. She has led and launched several innovative digital media initiatives, working with a combination of both highly analytical and creative individuals. Rochelle is equally comfortable discussing digital media business models, social media trends, online community building, and internet and mobile technologies. Since 2008, Rochelle has been nominated as one of Canada's Top 100 Most Powerful Women, named “The New Executive Cool Hunter”, awarded Vancouver’s Top Forty Under 40, and listed as one of Vancouver's Top 10 Technology Women.
Rae Hull is a media expert whose extensive career has seen her in both front of - and behind the camera – and as a senior executive leading the development of new television and online content. She has worked for CBC and CTV, on projects for PBS, Discovery and the History Channel and most recently as Creative Director of CODE, the Cultural Olympiad’s digital edition where she developed an unprecedented series of digital content projects for the 2010 Winter Games, working with several teams to see them realized. In 2001, she led the development and production of ZeD for CBC Television, one of the world’s first multi-platform interactive series. Her work has been recognized with several awards and she is a recipient of WIFVV Woman of the Year.
NEW TRENDS IN SOCIAL MEDIA
Moderator: Sarah Muff
Panellists: Nadia Aly, Rebecca Coleman, Nimisha Mukerji
Sarah Muff describes herself as a transdisciplinary creative. Her work experience intersects art, audience, education and change through the public sector. Her current projects include MAX: Metro Vancouver’s new online arts and culture guide and programming for Knowledge. Sarah has worked as a curator, manager, marketer and educator for Canadian Images at the Vancouver International Film Festival, Reel 2 Real International Film Festival for Youth and Cineworks Independent Filmmakers Society. She holds a Bachelor of Media Arts from Emily Carr University and a Master of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University.
Nadia Aly says she “can’t let Vancouver go”. Born in Toronto, the 26-year-old self-described social-media guru is an online community manager for Microsoft. She works out of the computing giant’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, but resides in both Vancouver and Seattle. Aly also sits on the board of W2 Community Media Arts, whose website she developed, and runs People Vancouver, a Ning-based community site. Her latest projects are Canada Cheers 2012, a site for Canadian bloggers covering the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and London Games 2012. In 2009, Aly earned a master’s degree in digital media from the University of British Columbia, Simon Fraser University, Emily Carr University of Art and Design, and B.C. Institute of Technology after studying at Great Northern Way Campus.
Rebecca Coleman has been a freelance arts publicist for 10 years, primarily in theatre. An actor, writer and producer, she is also very passionate about helping artists to be better businesspeople. A blogger and writer, she has written a book called The Guide to Getting Started With Social Media for Artists and Arts Organizations, which helps newbies create a marketing plan using social networking as a tool. She is the publicist for The Beast of Bottomless Lake, an independent feature film, and administrator for The Babz Chula Lifeline for Artists Society.
Nimisha Mukerji is a Gemini nominated producer/director based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. Her debut feature was the critically acclaimed documentary 65_RedRoses, which was officially selected for Oprah Winfrey’s Documentary Club and will have its American broadcast premiere on OWN. For her work on the film Nimisha was awarded the 2010 Don Haig Award for Emerging Filmmakers, the 2010 Mendocino Award for Emerging Filmmakers and the 2009 Artist Merit Award from Women in Film Vancouver. Nimisha also received a nomination for Best Direction in Documentary Program at the 2010 Gemini Awards. 65_RedRoses is currently being distributed by PBS International Worldwide, and won the 2010 Banff World Television Award for Best Canadian Program, following its broadcast premiere on CBC’s The Passionate Eye. Nimisha’s latest documentaries, The Coconut (recipient of the 2009 Omni Cultural Diversity Award) is currently in development and Blood Relative (Canadian broadcaster Knowledge) has an anticipated release date in fall 2011.
START UP UPSTARTS
Moderator: Danika Dinsmore
Panellists: Kirsten Forbes, Angel Pui, Moyra Rodger
Danika Dinsmore is a writer, filmmaker, and educator with a diverse creative background. She is also inexplicably attracted to producing and managing events. A former WIFTV President, she was Chair of the 2007 & 2008 Women in Film Festivals, BC, as well as coordinator for their inaugural New Media Forum.
Kirsten Forbes, C.O.O., Silicon Sisters Interactive Inc.
Kirsten Forbes has been making videogames since 1997. As Executive Producer at Radical Entertainment she led teams of up to 100 developers to ship 11 high-profile console titles including the multi-million sellers CSI and Crash Bandicoot. Known as an advocate for girl gaming preferences, Kirsten recently partnered with Brenda Bailey-Gershkovitch to launch Silicon Sisters Interactive, Vancouver’s first female led game development studio. Silicon Sisters’ mission is to develop high quality, inspirational games with a decidedly female focus - games for us. The Silicon Sisters team is currently working on their first game, to be released this spring.
Angel Pui has launched various innovative products and tools in the wedding vertical: My Wedding Notes, first online collaborative wedding planning application, The Wedding Notebook, online customization design tool, Wedding Soiree, an interactive wedding showcase that's formatted like a wedding. Our newest product, Weddingful, is the most comprehensive search and information on wedding vendors, connecting brides to vendors through relevant detailed search and quick communication system.
Moyra Rodger has always been a “Digital Dame” even in the coal-burning years before the Internet became a proper noun. Prior to launching her newest entrepreneurial venture, MAGNIFY Digital, Moyra trotted the globe producing award winning television programming via her first company, Out to See Entertainment. eMarketing strategies, web content, and measurable online accountability and profitability are all part of the suite of offering at MAGNIFY. Now, Rodger is pulling back the curtain on ALERT™, the system her team developed to produce high impact strategies for clients including the 2010 Cultural Olympiad Digital Edition, Whistler Film Festival, and a wide range of corporate brands. ALERT™ is the world's first turn key solution for PR, Marketing and Ad Firms looking to grow their bottom line by providing digital strategy services. Magnify’s newest web app, ALERT™-TV enables broadcasters and producers to drive audience engagement online and off.
NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT
Moderator: Dina Grskovich
Panellists: Bryna Dabby, Bonnie Jean Mah, Melissa Wood
Dina Grskovich, CHRP
Strategic Change Consultant
Founder of DMG Business Strategy, Dina studied Information Technology and Management Systems at BCIT. In 2008 she obtained her CHRP designation from the BCHRMA. Working with Creative Design Firms she likes to apply organizational development and strategic change plans in order to further facilitate sustainable growth patterns. A strong advocate for community involvement Dina is a 2 time member of the Board of Directors for Wired Woman Society and a Workshop Facilitator for Business Mentoring for the Arts.
Bryna Dabby, Producer, has been working in the video game industry for the past 12 years, beginning at Electronic Arts Canada working on multiple projects, including the NHL, FIFA and Need for Speed franchises, and Def Jam Vendetta. Following EA, Bryna was a Producer on The Bourne Conspiracy for High Moon Studios (Activision-Blizzard). Bryna has also worked with local studio United Front Games as a project manager, as a Senior Producer for iPhone developer Genius Factor Games, and most recently as a Producer at Smoking Gun Interactive working on Kinect Adventures, a first-party XBOX Kinect launch title for Microsoft.
Bonnie Jean Mah is a Narrative Designer and writer at Relic Entertainment, which is part of international game publisher THQ. Before joining Relic, she worked as a writer, producer and director on diverse projects in the television and film industry. Bonnie Jean is now working on the AAA action title WARHAMMER 40,000: SPACE MARINE, launching on Xbox360, Playstation 3 and PC later this year.
Melissa Wood is a web content editor and social media marketer based in Vancouver, BC. Graduating from Langara College’s Journalism diploma program, Melissa used her print-based education as a catapult for a career in digital media. With almost ten years’ experience working in online environments, Melissa looks forward to continuing to find the most efficient ways to communicate through digital technology.
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