At press time, noted director Bob Giraldi of bicoastal Giraldi Media, and the School of Visual Arts (SVA) in New York–an artists’ education institute for which he’s served on the faculty since 1968–were reaching out to advertising agency creatives to play participatory roles in the Out of Hand International Festival, an inaugural showcase and competition for innovative digital content created by students worldwide and intended for playback on a mobile, PDA or other handheld device.
Aspiring artists, designers, filmmakers and creative thinkers are invited to enter original content into competition using an online entry form by Dec. 31. A public screening and awards presentation is scheduled for March 19, 2009, in New York City.
The festival’s website–www.outofhandfestival.com–is designed to be a window into a competition of digital content, each entry being three minutes or less, created by students 17 or older. Visitors can view, rate and comment on submissions, and find inspiration for their own projects. The site features editorials and interviews with individuals on the leading edge of digital video and wireless technology. A grand prize of $5,000 will be awarded to the winner, along with other prizes to the runners-up, including a summer residency at SVA.
The main competition is open to those enrolled in a college, university or other degree-granting institution, regardless of major or concentration. Submissions will be considered by a distinguished jury of artists and media leaders for awards in the following categories: Design; Games; Art+Animation; Short Film; and Advertising.
Giraldi and SVA are reaching out to leading agency creatives on several fronts–for one, as possible jurors. Agency creatives are also being sought to be part of Fest-related webinairs which are being scheduled to help educate and inspire students. And ad shop creatives are being asked to enter content they think is new and innovative into the Inspiration section of the Out of Hand Festival website. This Inspiration section is being developed as a dynamic platform for agency artisans to show their work and convey their thoughts, ideas and observations about the present, past or more importantly the future of mobile technology and communication. Where is it going? What, in their dreams, will mobile communication do for them in the future? How do they use it now? What would they like it to do for them? (Work, an essay or anything that creatives deem relevant to the digital world can be submitted to Giraldi Media producer Patti Greaney at patti@giraldi.com.)
The Out of Hand International Festival grew out of discussions between SVA founder Silas H. Rhodes and Giraldi. The now since deceased Rhodes was a pioneer in recruiting creative professionals from advertising, publishing and the arts to join the faculty. He had approached Giraldi about launching a festival. Giraldi and longtime collaborator, media producer Greaney, devised a competition encouraging budding talent to explore the new frontier opened up by “the fourth screen” found on wireless devices like mobile phones and PDAs.
“Small screens are quickly emerging as a major means of communication and expression,” observed Giraldi.
“We wanted to create a festival of content in your hand. Think of it as bringing the festival with you.”
Review: Director Jon M. Chu’s “Wicked”
It's the ultimate celebrity redemption tour, two decades in the making. In the annals of pop culture, few characters have undergone an image makeover quite like the Wicked Witch of the West.
Oh, she may have been vengeful and scary in "The Wizard of Oz." But something changed — like, REALLY changed — on the way from the yellow brick road to the Great White Way. Since 2003, crowds have packed nightly into "Wicked" at Broadway's Gershwin Theatre to cheer as the green-skinned, misunderstood Elphaba rises up on her broomstick to belt "Defying Gravity," that enduring girl-power anthem.
How many people have seen "Wicked"? Rudimentary math suggests more than 15 million on Broadway alone. And now we have "Wicked" the movie, director Jon M. Chu's lavish, faithful, impeccably crafted (and nearly three-hour) ode to this origin story of Elphaba and her (eventual) bestie — Glinda, the very good and very blonde. Welcome to Hollywood, ladies.
Before we get to what this movie does well (Those big numbers! Those costumes!), just a couple thornier issues to ponder. Will this "Wicked," powered by a soulful Cynthia Erivo (owner of one of the best singing voices on the planet) and a sprightly, comedic, hair-tossing Ariana Grande, turn even musical theater haters into lovers?
Tricky question. Some people just don't buy into the musical thing, and they should be allowed to live freely amongst us. But if people breaking into song delights rather than flummoxes you, if elaborate dance numbers in village squares and fantastical nightclubs and emerald-hued cities make perfect sense to you, and especially if you already love "Wicked," well then, you will likely love this film. If it feels like they made the best "Wicked" movie money could buy — well, it's... Read More