Grad reflects on winning an Emmy in interactive media

For Emmy-award winning graduate, Adrienne Clapperton, although the fast-paced, ever-changing and forward-thinking digital world of entertainment is a whole new frontier, it is still about storytelling.

“I have always been a storyteller,” says Clapperton, graduate from The School of Communications, Media and Design and now Director of Digital Platforms for GlassBOX TV, which owns and operates BITE TV and AUX TV.

“There is so much opportunity with this platform,” she says. “In the last five years what I have seen on the digital landscape has far exceeded what I thought imaginable five years ago.”

Here’s our Q+A with our Emmy-winning and future-thinking grad.

Q: What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

A definite highlight is working for a company who won an Emmy! Personally gratifying has been being a part of this company since the beginning and watching it grow from one channel and a few people to what it is today.

Q: What was it like to win an interactive Emmy?

Exciting! It was really nice to see our hard work acknowledged with such a highly coveted award. It sits in one of our offices in clear view so when needed we are reminded of what we did with far fewer resources and that we were considered on the cutting edge for a television company even then.

Q: What have you learned about yourself in this career path?

I am passionate about what I am doing and I have to learn to give myself a break if a concept fails especially in digital media – the one time the concept or idea takes off could be the ONE time my idea reaches success. We learn valuable lessons from failures, maybe even more than with each win.

Q: What is the most challenging part of your job?

I would have to say the rapidly changing pace of the digital landscape. Technology moves so fast, there is always something new to consider developing as part of our strategy to complete the experience. It is a similar story when it comes to content as well. A media company must be nimble to be successful now.

Q: What are you most proud of, in terms of projects you have developed in your career?

I’m extremely proud of the television stations that I work with. Bite has gone through growing pains and is now positioned for great success. And AUX, is the first Canadian television channel to launch from a website which is a great story too and I played an instrumental role in this. Our television channels are expanding as we have added a travel channel and I look forward with great anticipation, the development and cultivation of the potential of building this new channel’s brand.

Q: Why do you like working at Bite TV and AUX?

It is a great environment, my colleagues are amazing and the partners we have collaborated with too. There is so much opportunity, we are given room to grow and encouraged to learn. Everyone I work with has ideas…great ideas. It is cliché to say but we truly do work together as a team.

Q: What advice would you give to anyone just starting out in this career path?

Take chances and be open to opportunities that may not necessarily seem a perfect fit for your career profile to date. If you have an idea, make sure someone hears it. Your career path may not be straight from point A to B – there maybe many side roads along the way which is okay as long as you keep building new skills, it all adds to you being better at what you do.

Q: How did your time at Centennial help you in your career?

Centennial really prepared me for a career, not just a job. The small class and curriculum that required teamwork is great preparation for the workplace. The internship offered was well thought out and a great fit…in fact a perfect fit as I still work there!

Q: What’s the most important thing people should know about you?

I am passionate. It is important to me that I am passionate about my job and I am surrounded with other passionate people – what a difference in your quality of life this can make.

—View the original

Next April 14-18, 2010 marks the 10th Anniversary of ReelWorld Film Festival! Call for submissions starts now and ends December 4th, 2009.

If you have a feature, documentary, short, music video or animation from the Aboriginal, Asian, Black, Latino, Middle Eastern, South Asian or other multi-racial community, submit NOW! Go to http://reelworld.ca/_bin/festival/submissions/submitNow.cfm to fill out the submissions form.

Founded in 2001 by Actor Tonya Lee Williams, ReelWorld Film Festival is one of Canada’s premiere not-for-profit film festivals.  The festival celebrates the achievements and excellence in film and video by showcasing and promoting the work of filmmakers of diversity, both Canadian and international, and to provide year-round skills and professional development training and networking opportunities for working and aspiring filmmakers.

In addition to screening films, the festival is also a forum where Canadian filmmakers, video makers and other industry artists can market skills and pitch ideas to producers and investors who seek fresh product or innovative concepts.

For more information on ReelWorld Film Festival industry/media accreditation go to www.reelworld.ca. For more information on submissions go to http://reelworld.ca/_bin/festival/submissions/guidelines.cfm.

Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival Opens this week, Nov. 11-15.

The Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (Reel Asian) celebrates its 13th year as Canada’s premier showcase of contemporary Asian cinema!  This year’s festival presents 49 East/Southeast Asian titles from 14 countries, including Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), Singapore, Germany, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, and the USA.

With over 30 Asian Canadian titles, this year’s festival presents the biggest and best selection of recent Asian Canadian films, videos and new media works, including the world premiere of THE ACHE by Toronto-based director Keith Lock; REX VS. SINGH, a collaboration between Ali Kazimi, Richard Fung, and John Greyson; and an installation by Jin-Me Yoon.

For more info: 416-703-9333, www.reelasian.com.

The Canada Media Fund today announced that Max Valiquette will fill the seventh and final seat on the funding agency’s 2009-2010 Board of Directors. Appointed by the Canadian Coalition for Cultural Expression (CCCE), Mr. Valiquette is the founder of Youthography, a youth marketing and research firm.

“Mr. Valiquette’s appointment rounds out the expertise of the CMF Board,” said Louis Roquet, Chair of the Board of the CTF. “His experience serving on the boards of various not-for-profit organizations and his knowledge of the digital and new media sectors will be an asset to the organization.”

Mr. Valiquette is one of North America’s most sought after speakers on youth and pop culture. Over the course of his career, he has worked on some of the biggest, most recognized youth brands in the world, including Nike, MTV, and Nintendo. Mr. Valiquette was the Marketing Chair for the AIDS Committee’s 2008 Fashion Cares event and currently sits on the advisory board for Mediacs, a youth media literacy advocacy group.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2009/07/c4895.html

Montréal, October 8, 2009 – Telefilm Canada, in partnership with the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), is delighted to announce that 15 projects have been selected under the Featuring Aboriginal Stories Program.

Twenty-seven projects from all regions of the country were submitted for the June 29, 2009 deadline.

Participants will benefit from a combination of training, professional development and personalized mentorship activities, and whenever applicable receive a development advance.

http://www.telefilm.gc.ca/data/communiques/rel_1040.asp?lang=en&

Centennial College is once again partnering with the Reel Asian Film Festival and programming an industry panel.

Children’s entertainment is a multi-billion dollar industry around the world, and having an Asian perspective and knowledge can give you huge advantage in the film and TV industry of children’s entertainment. From Power Rangers to Ni Hao Kai Lan and the anime explosion, there is a long history of co-production and cross-cultural exchange between East and West in this exciting area of the entertainment industry.

Hosted by Centennial College’s Children’s Entertainment: Writing, Production & Management programme, the only one of its kind in Canada, this panel discusses emerging markets and trends in children’s entertainment.

WITH:

Sarah Haasz, Production Executive/Original Programming, Family Channel and Playhouse Disney Canada
Brenda Nietupski, Director of Programming, Treehouse TV
Caroline Tyre, Director of Programming, Teletoon
Matt Wexler, Executive Producer, Spin Master Toys

MODERATED BY: Suzanne Wilson, Program Coordinator, Centennial College

http://www.reelasian.com/index.php/industry/industry-series-schedule/details/52-tap-into-the-childs-mind

STUDENT NIGHT AT 401 RICHMOND

Wednesday, November 4, 2009
6:30 PM – 9:30 PM
401 Richmond Street West
Toronto

Participating Venues
A Space (Studio 110) – www.aspacegallery.org
Gallery 44 (Studio 120) – www.gallery44.org
Prefix (Studio 124) – www.prefix.ca
Trinity Square Video (Studio 376) – www.trinitysquarevideo.com
Vtape (Studio 452) – www.vtape.org
YYZ (Studio 140) – www.yyzartistsoutlet.org

On Wednesday, November 4, 2009, a number of galleries and art venues in the 401 Richmond building will extend their hours to facilitate visits from Toronto-area students and faculty who have evening classes. All are welcome (even if you aren’t in a class)!  Take your learning out of the classroom, explore the galleries in the building, and see great art!

Faculty: If you plan to bring your class, please email Marissa Neave at mneave@yyzartistsoutlet.org with the estimated size of your group.

CINEMA KABUKI FESTIVAL SCREENS TWO HD CANADIAN PREMIERES IN NOVEMBER
November 11-15, 2009
Scotiabank Theatre Toronto
Tickets: $23.00 (tax included)

Cinema Kabuki returns to Toronto with two Canadian premieres of Kabuki theatre and dance for the silver screen November 11 – 15, following its successful spring debut.

Using multiple HD cameras and six-channel sound, Cinema Kabuki premieres the dance spectacle Triple Lion Dance and the theatrical ghost story The Peony Lantern Sat. Nov. 14.  The special one-time-only screenings feature Japan’s most renowned Kabuki dancers and actors.  Repeat performances of three presentations which premiered last March round out the six-performance programme at Scotiabank Theatre Toronto.  All films are subtitled in English.

Seating is limited, so act now and purchase your tickets at www.cineplex.com or at the Scotiabank Theatre Toronto, 259 Richmond St. W.  (Step-by-step instructions for purchasing online tickets below.)

For more information contact The Japan Foundation, Toronto at:
416-966-1600 x229
info@jftor.org
www.jftor.org

ED is a consortium of educational institutions, associations and professional group will provide 2 days of interactive exhibits, hands-on workshops, and seminars. Keynote presentations will be provided by internationally recognized design professionals and design celebrities.

The full range of design disciplines will be represented including video/game design, furniture design, architecture industrial design, textile design, fashion design, interior design, graphic design, and the dozens of other design disciplines.

Learn more:

www.exploredesign.ca

MONITOR 6: New South Asian Film and Video.DEADLINE: November 16, 2009

SAVAC (South Asian Visual Arts Centre) invites submissions for its sixth annual experimental short film and video screening program, Monitor 6. Selected works will be screened at the sixth annual short film and video program, Monitor 6 on 24th March, 2010 at the National Film Board of Canada, Toronto. Monitor 6 will be curated by Toronto-based video artist and cultural critic Richard Fung in collaboration with a MONITOR Jury (TBC).

Works must be under 20 minutes and produced between 2007 – 2009. Submissions from first time directors are welcome. Artists’ fees will be paid. Send all materials to: SAVAC – MONITOR 6 401 Richmond Street West, Suite 450, Toronto, ON Canada M5V 3A8

Inquiries can be sent to Monitor 6 is dedicated to the presentation of experimental short films and videos by and/or about South Asians from Canada and around the world. We invite independent and innovative short films and videos that explore the aesthetic and form of the moving image and its relation to narrative. Monitor 6 encourages new experimental work that takes risks and beckons the viewer’s active engagement.