We are also planning the first public demo of what we’re calling the SaskApp. Don’t know what it is? Come find out.

Thursday, May 16
Slow Food Pub, 2124 Albert Street, Regina
7pm – 10pm
UPSTAIRS at Slow Food
no admission

We’ve applied for some funding to get our ideas off the ground. Last week, SIMA received $19,550 from the Saskatchewan Arts Board as part of the Creative Industries Transition Fund. We’ll be using that money to create a new way of networking for the Saskatchewan interactive industry. So far, we’re calling it the SaskApp. It’s been described as a virtual rolodex, but that only scratches the surface. Imagine a place where Saskatchewan interactive industry folks can find each other to collaborate on projects, trade skills, do informal hallway testing, and band together to market our industry.

We are also currently revamping our website, and we’re getting more active on Twitter and Facebook. Find us and follow us, and please send us local industry news that we can share with our membership and the public.

The recent development of Creative Saskatchewan is exciting for the interactive industry. We’ll be poised to help our creative brothers and sisters bring their projects to the web, and the world. We have been told to watch the news on Wednesday, March 20 for a budget announcement. You should too.

One last note about communications. We’re sending a regular newsletter again, and you really will want to sign up. Sign up for our newsletter »

Related:

Read the Saskatchewan Arts Board funding media release

Date: Saturday, October 16, 2010 from 2:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Location: Louis’ Pub on the University of Saskatchewan campus

Attendees should sign up here: http://barcampsaskatoon10.eventbrite.com/ to register. Please encourage your colleagues and friends to come out for the event.

Visit our blog: http://www.barcampsaskatoon.org for updates. Our wiki to sign up to speak, hear, or volunteer and join the Facebook group http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4699661153 and follow us http://twitter.com/barcampstoon for the latest info!

This year’s event will be better than ever before with discussions, demos and interaction from participants.

Your only job is to show up ready to help make this BarCamp the best it can be for all of your fellow participants.

There is no obligation to speak (but it would be great if you did). No topic is too big or small, it’s wide open and a great opportunity to hone your public speaking skills in front of a forgiving audience.

Share, engage in the discussion, help out with blogging, tweeting, photos, video, set up, tear down, etc. (you’ll have a chance to indicate what you’re willing to contribute on the wiki ).

BarCamp topics this year will be organized into 3 broad streams; Science, Business, Art.

Call for entries (Game developers)

In line with its objectives of fostering international sales, promotion of Canadian talent and development of the interactive digital media industry, Telefilm Canada offers support to Canadian video game development companies conducting international business at the 25th edition of the Game Developers Conference and/or Game Connection America 2011.

Under certain conditions, financial assistance of up to $1,500 will be granted exclusively to Canadian game developers in support of their international sales activities at these events. The financial aid can be attributed to a maximum of 30 developers and is applicable to expenses related to international business development during the Game Developers Conference and/or Game Connection America 2011.

Held in San Francisco from February 28 to March 4, 2011, the Game Developers Conference http://www.gdconf.com/ (GDC) is the world’s largest industry-only event dedicated to the advancement of interactive entertainment. In 2010, organizers announced an all-time record attendance of 18,250 game industry professionals including 140 Canadian companies.

Taking place during the Game Developers Conference, Game Connection America is an international marketplace for game developers, service providers and publishers looking to expand their network and find business partners. Game Connection America operates with an online meeting planning system that allows buyers and sellers to meet in a private meeting room or in shared facilities. Depending on each participant’s agenda and the chosen package, companies can book as many as 15 meetings a day.

Application deadline for this initiative : November 29, 2010

For further information, please contact Isabelle Marazzani mailto:marazzi@telefilm.gc.ca at 514 283-0838 or 1 800 567-0890.

National and International Business Development Telefilm Canada, Montréal 514 283-6363

On behalf of our Platinum Sponsors and the MODSIM WORLD CANADA organizing
committee, we would like to launch our official call for speakers and
papers.

MODSIM WORLD™ is a unique multi-disciplinary International Conference &
Exposition for the exchange of knowledge, research experience, and
technology in modelling and simulation (M&S) across industry, government and
academia.

MODSIM WORLD Canada will take place on June 20-22 in Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada.

The MODSIM World Canada 2011 theme:

MODELLING AND SIMULATION: ENABLING VISIONARIES TO DEVELOP THE NEXT
GENERATION OF PRODUCTS AND PROCESSES.

In preparation for the 3rd Canadian edition, the Advisory Board is seeking
submissions from top level professionals and academics from the M&S and
Distributed Learning industries and any affiliated sectors, such as serious
games, e-learning, and the technology sector.

Submissions should address the application of modelling and simulation in
one of the following 4 conference tracks:

Defence and National Security
Aerospace and Engineering
Health, Medical, and Biotech
Distributed Learning Technologies

Please see our web site for the track themes for more precision. The
attachment presents all major dates and deliverables required to be able to
participate.

For more information please visit http://www.modsimworldcanada.com/

For questions, contact MODSIM WORLD Canada at 514-995-2830 or by email at
mailto:info@modsimworldcanada.com.

Thanks and see you in Ottawa from the 20th to the 22nd at MODSIM World
Canada 2011!

in partnership with SMPIA’s Digital Media Initiative

PRESENTS

From the Margins to the Mainstage
Understanding, Developing & Financing Webseries and other Digital Strategies

WHEN: February 10, 2010
TIME: 1:00pm – 5:00pm
COST: $25 for SMPIA members, $50 for non-members

The financing landscape for Canadian film and television has changed dramatically. Digital media extensions and original content are part of the new reality. With this in mind, the Bell Broadcast and New Media Fund, the CMPA and Zeros 2 Heroes Media are continuing the digital strategy seminar series that has been held in cities across the country.

With the advent of such webseries as Sanctuary, Riese and The Guild – as well as the commitment of the Independent Production Fund for the development of new webseries – independent producers also have an entirely different (and entirely viable) path to developing exciting new properties. Webseries offer the potential to kick-start a new show, build buzz around the property and grow an enthusiastic online audience… all of which can add up to a major network deal.

Bringing together producers and financiers that have shown success in the digital space, this seminar will lay out the essentials for those interested in developing such properties. These speakers will share their “in the trenches” experience and sudden success, providing the inside track on how best to advance your production. There are a LOT of questions to be answered in what is a new and lively field. We will address the following:

* What are some Business and Distribution Models?
* What are the practical implications for my production?
* How do I build my team?
* What are the top five ways to engage with my audience?
* How does development differ for webseries?
* Who do I talk to in order to take my webseries to the next level?

This event will be held in Regina. Attendance is limited, so please RSVP early to secure your seat.

To register, contact SMPIA’s Digital Media Initiative:
Phone: 306-565-2002 Email: mailto:nova@smpia.sk.ca
About the Presenters

Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin
Zeros 2 Heroes

A passionate advocate of convergence in the entertainment space, Jessica Leigh Clark-Bojin has focused the last several years of her career on helping entertainment executives in the traditional disciplines of film, television, and games capitalize on new opportunities made possible by digital media. In her capacity as a founding executive of Zeros 2 Heroes Media, Jessica has worked with CBC, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN), Seven24 Films, Halifax Film, BioWare, Rainmaker Entertainment, and many others to develop strategies that capture increasingly fragmented audiences, take advantage of emerging revenue models, and in several cases, garner industry awards. In addition to more than 30 comic properties for clients as diverse the Canadian International Development Agency, the Province of New Brunswick, and ATB Financial, Jessica has also produced an original digital media pilot for CBC (Solar Flair) and a television series for APTN (Animism). Jessica is the co-author of “Digital Strategies for Film and Television Properties” aimed at demystifying the digital world for film, television, and broadcast executives, and is currently working on a second publication for independent filmmakers with a major American book publisher. Jessica has spoken at seminars and festivals throughout North America, including lecturing at San Diego’s Comic-Con International and the Toronto International Film Festival as a featured new media consultant.

Ryan Copple
Riese Productions, Ltd.

Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, Ryan relocated to Vancouver to pursue a career in film and writing. His first short film, “Awkward Silence”, screened at theatres in four continents. In addition, “Time Before the Light”, a highly stylized fusion of dance and puppetry, which he wrote and directed, has been nominated for two Golden Sheaf awards and four Leo Awards. Currently he is working on “Riese: Kingdom Falling”, a sci-fi/fantasy web series he co-created and executive produces with Kaleena Kiff, which has recently been nominated for four Streamy Awards and a Leo Award. Additionally, “Riese: Kingdom Falling” is currently airing on SyFy.com with an eye towards television development. Ryan is also a co-owner of the post production facility FrameRate Creative Services and the production company Radius Squared Media Group in Vancouver.

BANFF 2011 offers you two great opportunities to have your work seen and honoured by the biggest names in the television & digital media industries!

In less than a month, the fifth incarnation of the renowned nextMEDIA Digital Launch Pad will open.The Digital Launch Pad connects emerging content producers and technology developers with digital agencies, broadcasters and publishers hungry for new ways to reach out to wired audiences and consumers.  The Banff World Media Awards is also proud to honor the best in international digital media.  Submit your cross-platform project, branded entertainment or online program for your chance to receive a coveted Rockie Award at BANFF 2011.

Submissions are now open.

Enter today!

Participants will learn how to navigate the US border, investigate issues, understand legal matters, set strategies and be better prepared for customs and compliance.
It consists of short presentations and Q&A break-out sessions with experts to address issues in exporting to the US. For more information see enclosed poster, or contact Memory McLeod @
tel. 306 780 7387
memory.mcleod@international.gc.ca mailto:memory.mcleod@international.gc.ca

Preparation Event: “A Guide to U.S. Customs and Border Protection for Canadian Exporters”

An free online webinar providing “best practises” on exporting to the USA relating to US customs and border protection. Topics include selling on a duty delivered basis, customs compliance transportation and logistics. January 27, 2011. 12:00 – 1:00 PM

Register at http://www.tradecommissioner.gc.ca/eng/document.jsp?did=112709

Seminar Deliverables

- discover local service providers to help export to the USA;
- learn how to cross the border and sell product in the USA; and
- get solutions to your problems from local and international experts. (lawyers, freight forwarders, customs, trade, financing, transportation and others).

Cost & Registration http://www.international.gc.ca/canadexport/articles/100521c2.aspx Cost: Free
Lunch Provided. Register online at http://duesouth.eventbrite.com/

This event is open to all businesses of interest. Please register early as seating is limited.

This event is brought to you by

The Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade Canada,
Trade Commissioner Service &

Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Markets & Trade Division