XML Perth slated for 15-17 April, Last week to submit projects and ideas

Perth, Western Australia will host an esteemed collection of global digital strategists, mobile content specialists and successful digital entrepreneurs from emerging and traditional media centres as part of the inaugural X|Media|Lab Perth from 15 – 17 April 2011.

With high-profile speakers from creative hubs as diverse as Bangalore, Los Angeles, Cape Town and Toronto, X|Media|Lab Perth is expected to reveal the most cutting - edge digital media strategies for brand building and audience engagement.

X|Media|Lab Perth will be held over three days, which includes a Pro Day Conference of insightful presentations by world renowned creative experts, and a two day Lab of invaluable one-on-one mentoring opportunities for selected project teams.

“X|Media|Lab Perth will be a vibrant meeting place where entrepreneurs, artists, media practitioners, researchers and public institutions can connect with their international contemporaries, share ideas and build lasting creative networks,” said John Day, WA Minister for Culture and the Arts.

Focusing on the concept of Storytelling in a Digital Age, X|Media|Lab Perth will give participants an opportunity to develop, tell, produce and distribute interactive experiences using storytelling or narrative techniques to more effectively engage modern audiences.

“We are very excited to present X|Media|Lab in Perth. Western Australia is already home to some of Australia’s leading digital media companies and the State’s strong relationship with Asia means that it is uniquely placed to become a new global centre for digital media exchange and creation,” said X|Media|Lab Director, Megan Elliott.

 “This event is an invaluable opportunity for digital media and creative industries professionals from across the region who are looking to enhance their international networks and understandings of the latest developments in interactive storytelling and immersive media experiences.”

The closing date to submit a project to the Lab is 8 April 2011. Digital media projects selected for X|Media|Lab Perth that include at least one Western Australian arts practitioner will also have the opportunity to receive a X|Media|Lab Perth Development Award. A grant of up to $20,000 will be awarded to up to three projects, judged by the Lab mentors on completion of the 2-days of workshops.

Confirmed Speakers and Mentors include:

Poonacha Machaiah – CEO at Shekhar Kapur Digital Media, the new company of the Academy Award winning Director of Elizabeth and The Golden Age (Bangalore)

Emma Kaye – Board member of the Mobile Entertainment Forum; One of the world’s top 50 women in mobile entertainment; and Africa’s leading interactive media entrepreneur (Cape Town)

Kaz Brecher – Interactive Strategist, Cross-platform Story-teller and Cloud Computing Expert; previously Interactive Producer with multiple award winning WPP agency Schematic (Los Angeles)

Ed Lantz – World Pioneer in immersive media experiences and large format digital cinema (Los Angeles)

Ana Serano – Director of the CFC Media Lab, the world renowned new media research, training and production facility at the Canadian Film Center (Toronto)

Marshal Vandruff – Interactive Storyteller and Artist who works with MAD Magazine, Warner Borthers, Rockstar, Blizzard Entertainment, Hanna-Barbera, Nickelodeon and many more as well as with over 40 advertising agencies (Laguna Beach)

Esther Lim – Digital Marketing Leader, Transmedia Producer, Social Media Strategist and Game Analayst – CEO and Founder of boutique firm The Estuary (San Francisco)

Kat McCallum – Transmedia Producer, Writer and Qrtist; ex VP Creative Development at Paramount TV (Los Angeles)

Peter Shiao – Founder and CEO of Orb Media Group, a high-profile entertainment company based in Los Angles and Beijing (Los Angeles/ China)

Robyn Kershaw – Producer of Bran Nue Dae, one of Australia’s most revered independent film and television producers (Melbourne/Perth)

Professor Duane Varan – New Media Expert and Director of the Interactive Television research institute at Murdoch University (Perth)

Dominic Knight – The Chaser and author of Disco Boy and Comrades (Sydney)

Following a full day conference and two days of intimate lab workshops, the team of international mentors will select up to three digital media projects to receive development grants of up to $20,000 each. Projects eligible for the grants must include at least one West Australian media practitioner in the team.

“With the deadline for project submissions rapidly approaching, we encourage anyone interested in digital media and new technology to get their application finished immediately,” said Megan Elliott, Director X|Media|Lab Perth.

“This is a very rare opportunity to get practical and intelligent advice from the biggest and most successful names in global media industries including film, gaming, mobile technology and advertising.”

The closing date to submit a project to the Lab is 8 April 2011. Visit the XML website to submit a project to the Lab and to purchase tickets for the Pro Day Conference:

www.xmedialab.com