Village Gamer

Branded Entertainment is seldom understood outside the marketing industry, yet it could pave the way to greater collaboration in the creation and financing of original Canadian screen content. The second white paper in a three-part study, released today by the Canadian Media Production Association (CMPA) as a prelude to discussions at their annual conference Prime Time in Ottawa next week, explores the issues faced by Canadian content creators when it comes to working with brands as this trend increases towards integrated, cross-platform campaigns. The report is also available in a French version provided by the Canada Media Fund. Read the rest of this entry »

Northumberland CFDC, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing financing and strategy for entrepreneurs has issued a call for entrants for its 2014 N100 competition. N100 is a competition for startup companies with the potential to grow, innovate and create jobs in Northumberland, Ontario. There is no need to be currently located in Northumberland to participate, and a $100,000 in investment capital is available. The competition runs through three rounds and features a high-level power panel. Further details are listed below, but please see the N100 website for complete information. Read the rest of this entry »

Computer graphics professionals and students have an opportunity to network with world-renowned local and international film and television producers at a job fair on Friday and Saturday. The job fair is part of Spark [FWD] 2014, the premier annual visual effects and computer graphics (CG) event in Vancouver. Presented by the SPARK Computer Graphics Society and sponsored by the B.C. government, SPARK [FWD] fosters innovation within the visual effects and CG community and helps attract talent and companies to British Columbia. Read the rest of this entry »

Enterprise Information Management (EIM) developer OpenText™ has announced innovations to the OpenText Tempo product line that deliver advanced capabilities as part of OpenText’s Project Red Oxygen. With the innovations announced today, OpenText Tempo becomes the first and only application in the market to offer an enhanced work experience providing: social collaboration; note-taking and organizing capabilities; enterprise file synchronization and share; plus the inherent security of Enterprise Content Management (ECM). The bundled offering includes Tempo Box 10.5, Tempo Note, and Tempo Social 8.5. Read the rest of this entry »

The Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC) and the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC) have unveiled a white paper which outlines the crucial necessity of global workers in Canada’s Information & Communications Technology (ICT) and digital media industries. The paper details recommended actions and also calls on the federal government to put in place measures to help highly-skilled and well-paying industries access critical competences from abroad that will help fuel growth, employment and drive innovation here in Canada. Read the rest of this entry »

On the cusp on the 2014 Berlin International Film Festival (February 6-16), Telefilm Canada has announced its Ten Canadians to Watch list. The diverse list is comprised of both established and emerging filmmakers and talent from across the country who are making an impact, either on the creative or business side of the film industry domestically and internationally. All selected individuals will be present at the Berlinale and/or the European Film Market. Here is the Ten Canadians to Watch list in alphabetical order: Read the rest of this entry »

TVOKids ignites children’s imaginations through storytelling with the launch of the new interstitial series Story Explorers and companion website. This new multiplatform series includes 26 two-minute episodes featuring short stories created, designed and told by Ontario kids. From flying machines to hidden treasure, the episodes inspire kids to go online to the Story Explorers companion website to create their own tales while learning how to improve their reading and writing skills. Produced by Story Planet Media, Story Explorers airs on TVO in TVOKids’ afterschool block The Space Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:55 pm ET. Read the rest of this entry »

Via Xbox Wire: Microsoft Studios has acquired the rights to the “Gears of War” franchise from Epic Games, including rights to all existing and future games, entertainment experiences and merchandise. In addition, Microsoft announced that Black Tusk Studios in Vancouver will take over development of the “Gears of War” franchise and that Rod Fergusson, former Director of Production at Epic Games on the “Gears of War” franchise, will join Microsoft and play a key studio leadership role at Black Tusk on the development of the franchise going forward. By the way, Black Tusk is hiring. Read the rest of this entry »

Edmodo, a California-based developer of free primary and secondary social learning platform connecting more than 30 million teachers and pupils, has announced the extension of premium educational applications to the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada at BETT 2014, the leading global learning technology event. Available in the Edmodo Store for purchase, these premium apps are offered in addition to free apps, which have been accessible to teachers and pupils internationally since August 2013. Read the rest of this entry »

Michael Uslan, Executive Producer will kick off the fifth version of Spark [FWD] on Wednesday, February 5th with a keynote address titled From Fan To Filmmaker. Festivities begin with a mixer at the 6 PM in the Citytv Atrium Lounge at VanCity Theatre. It will be followed by a presentation from comic book and Batman expert Michael Uslan. Mr. Uslan purchased the film rights to Batman in the late 70s and has been an integral part of the “Batman” films, executive producing all of the film adaptations including 1989’s “Batman” and, most recently, Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight Trilogy.” Read the rest of this entry »