Author: Christy

The Joyful Fight

Christy

I’ve been sorting out old files and came cross one of my favourite quotes. I thought I’d share it with you. It is from a book written by Victor Sanchez, a book that illustrates lessons from Carlos Castaneda’s books on Yaqui sorcerers. In this section, Sanchez is explaining the difference between a warrior who goes to war and the “donjuanist” warrior:

The warrior is so called because he or she is always struggling against personal weaknesses and limitations; against the forces that oppose the increase in knowledge and power; against the forces that are driving us to our destiny as ordinary men and women, forces determined entirely by personal history and circumstances. The warrior wants to rescue the possibility to choose how to be and how to live. It is a struggle for harmony and tranquility. It is a struggle for freedom, knowing that this struggle begins inside, projecting itself from there toward everything that makes up the world of actions. It is a quiet, gentle, joyful fight. (23)

Sanchez, V. (1995) The Teachings of Don Carlos: practical applications of the works of Carlos Castaneda, Bear & Co., Santa Fe, N.M.

Wikipedia’s collection of Carlos Castaneda quotes

Some great interactive narrative workshops

ChristyOne Comment

Excellent line-up at sagasnet:

Developing Interactive Entertainment Workshop

Headed by: Greg Roach / Guest Speaker (on ARG): Dave Szulborski/ March 03 2006 – March 09 2006, Academy for TV and Film Munich, Germany

In this intensive workshop the relationship between storytelling, visual media techniques, game design and interactivity will be explored in depth. Participants will learn to apply their knowledge of media and narrative to the new arena of digital technology by developing their own ideas for an interactive product, which are then processed in a group design and presentation phase. Participants will develop, in teams, presentations for an interactive narrative product which is then discussed and evaluated by the entire plenum. If you need to apply for a scholarship for attending this course, please (there is a limited budget available, only) apply before February 20 2006.

Developing Narrative Games/ On-line Worlds Workshop

Headed by: Ernest Adams / Guest Speaker: Jessica Mulligan / March 31 2006 – April 06 2006, Academy for TV and Film, Munich

In this intensive five-day workshop, the participants will work both alone and in teams to develop a design treatment for a narrative game/an online world. They will begin by studying the fundamental principles of computer game design, and then go on to explore the relationship between interactivity and narrative. There will be a few lectures, but most of the activities will be fully hands-on, involving brainstorming, discussion, and presentations from the participants to the group. If you need to apply for a scholarships for attending this course, please (there is a limited budget available, only) apply before March 14 2006.

Developing interactive narrative content seminar

In 2006 the Developing Interactive Narrative Content Seminar is foreseen to take place, again, in Stuttgart, Germany – parallel to and in cooperation with the fmx/06 from May 1 – May 7 2006.

During the Developing Interactive Narrative Content Seminar up to 10 pre-selected interactive narrative projects in development (no limitation on media, genre or target audience) will be provided in parallel with up to ten high-profile face-to-face consulting sessions (on financing, project management, marketing, story structure, interaction design…). Consultants will be chosen according to the needs of the selected projects.Application deadline for the seminar plus consulting sessions is February 20 2006. 2006 sagasnet selection board: Sean Dromgoole, Mark Stephen Meadows, Brunhild Bushoff 

UGC & Broadcasters in Oz

Christy

I’ve still got UGC (user-generated content) on my mind as I’m writing an article on the topic at the moment. Something I forgot to mention in my last UGC post: Australia’s “multicultural and multilingual public broadcaster”, the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS), is starting a UGC site called Freeload. It launches on 20th Feb.

Freeload will bring together, as well as create a network of multimedia producers and showcase their digital portfolio to the whole world, irrespective of their level of proficiency, age, background, experience etc…
It’s Freeload’s aim to give everyone the chance to exhibit their work online and let punters and experts view it, rate it, comment on it and share it.

If you’re into music, film, animation, fashion, video, art, then become a freeloader!

Some items will be picked for broadcast on their digital channel. SBS have been involved with the production of, at least, three projects that have UGC: Swapping Lives (yay Sohail!); Straight Up and Sum of Our Parts (which we — LAMP — developed!).

Word on the street is that ABC is about come out with their own UGC project…they’ve being involved with many projects such as: Us Mob and Video Lives. What the commercial channels, 7, 9 and 10, are doing beyond offering wallpaper and ringtones to download, the ability to vote, to buy merchandise, to search the web via their sites, to let companies brand your child’s learning,  I have no idea… Let me know if there is something wonderful I’ve missed.