Digital Horizons
This training and development programme concluded in May 2008. See the invite to register for its equally innovative successor - Digital Horizons 2012. Early bird discounts apply if you register on, or before, 31st August.
Following the introductory networking event at BAFTA in June, the DIGITAL HORIZONS participants met again on 26th July at the Brighton Metropole Hotel for the first full day’s seminar of the year-long training and development programme.
A key SEMN project, our partners are Screen South, Wired Sussex and Skillset, with support from SEEDA (South East England Development Agency), together sharing the vision that leading digital media practitioners and companies will be able to meet, learn and share their areas of expertise, thereby allowing them to fully explore, develop and capitalise on all the opportunities that cross-platform digital media affords.
With 44 individuals representing 38 south-east companies, across seven counties, the day heralded the start of one of our most wide-ranging and exciting ventures to date.
The seminar today was Games Innovations and Opportunities. All DIGITAL HORIZONS participants were also able to enjoy full entry to the prestigious DEVELOP Games Conference & Expo, which was also taking place over three days at the hotel.
The panel consisted of:
Julian Lynn-Evans – Consultant, Ex Vice President, Activision
Jason Avent – Games Director, Disney Interactive Studios
Ed Daly – Studio Head, Zoe Mode
Dave Ranyard – Sony Computer Entertainment Europe
Jon Weinbren – Creative Director, Imaginary Productions
The panellists each opened with a lively and insightful discussion of their own work and experiences within the industry before throwing the floor open to questions from the audience, the focus being on how other sectors of digital media – film, music, etc – may converge with games.
Stuart Perry is a scriptwriter. He says: “"As a luddite screenwriter, I'm part of DIGITAL HORIZONS to learn more about worlds I know nothing about - gaming, interactive media, and so on. I'm keen to see how these worlds can influence filmmaking, and how filmmaking can return the favour. The most interesting part of the session on July 26th was finding out the future directions of gaming: social and emotional gaming sound very intriguing, and seem to offer more scope for filmmakers to add value."
The second part of the day consisted of directed, individiual advice in the one-to-one sessions and concluded with a most enjoyable networking event in the hotel bar.
The next DIGITAL HORIZONS event, in early September, is an industry exchange – again in Brighton – looking at creative solutions and an interactive exploration of issues faced by industry exchange companies and how they can be addressed.