One Man Enters, Two Men Leave (Kinda)
By Josh Futrell | August 27, 2008
It’s not quite Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome - there are no chainsaws, no axes, and no high pitched whistles - but the recently developed and now-on-the-market Aguru Dome does make things interesting.
A person enters the dome. Bright lights flash. A cornucopia of photos are taken. Many, many computers think. And, Bob’s your uncle! A digital, 3D model of their face is created. A rendering so good, it can be then used to create incredibly realistic digital effects in film (think action sequences), video games, and so on.
Now, I’m not a CGI expert, so you can get better details from the BBC article I read (thanks to artsJournal), this DV.com article, and the Aguru Images Web site. However, I have been known to be an actor from time to time. The Aguru Dome makes me feel just a wee bit uncomfortable. Why in the world would I step into that thing? (Not that anyone would want a 3D model of my face.) I get in, and you get a digital copy of my face that, theoretically, can replace me so well that people won’t notice the difference. And you have it forever.
There has been debate about whether CGI could replace live actors for some time now. There have been cases of actors and their performances being digitized, but facial rendering has been one of the weak suits of CGI. This technology seems to get us closer to technicians being able to animate the human face, without needing a live actor to do anything other than sit still for a few minutes.
I wonder if the actors’ unions have started talking about this yet. The Aguru Dome ships out to customers in September 2008.
Topics: Art Meets Tech, Philosophizing | No Comments »
Building a Web Site for Zero, Zilch, Nada, Nothing…
By Brad Stephenson | August 25, 2008
The Center for Arts Management and Technology receives calls and emails all the time from artists interested in creating a Web site for free. My first piece of advice is, “Check out WordPress.com.”
WordPress.com is the hosted version of the popular WordPress blog software, and they offer free accounts. The only caveat is that your site has to use the WordPress.com domain. (Hey, what’s a domain?) For instance, my site would have to be something like bradstephenson.wordpress.com. However, you could throw a little cash at your site and use WordPress.com’s custom domain. You can read more about that here. But that’s not why you’re here… you’re here because you want it free. You’re cheap, and I love you.
So I decided to set up a 100% free Web site for myself to demonstrate that it can be done. One thing that should be mentioned up front… If you have no interest in learning anything new with regard to technology, you should stop here and pay someone to set up your Web site. The virtual world is like the real world in that you cannot do something new without investing at least a modicum of effort.
Topics: Cool Sites, Product & Service Info | 1 Comment »
Scholarship Opportunities for Technology in the Arts 2008
By David Dombrosky | August 24, 2008
Thanks to the generous support from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, we will be offering a limited number of registration and travel scholarships exclusively for artists and arts administrators living and working in Pennsylvania.
- Scholarships are available exclusively for artists and arts administrators living and working in Pennsylvania.
- Two types of scholarships:
- Full registration:
- Covers registration expenses for the general conference as well as the hands-on training workshops
- Eight of these scholarships will be awarded in 2008
- Available to both previous and new conference attendees
- Full registration plus travel expenses:
- Covers registration expenses for the general conference as well as the hands-on training workshops
- Also reimburses travel and lodging expenses up to $700
- Allowed expenses include: air or train fare, taxicab, car rental, gas, mileage, and hotel accommodations.
- Five of these scholarships will be awarded in 2008
- Available ONLY to new conference attendees
- Full registration:
- Applicants will be evaluated on their ability to articulate how attending the conference will assist them in their work and professional development.
- Applications MUST be submitted online.
- Applications MUST be submitted by Monday, September 15, 2008.
- Applicants will be notified of their status by Friday, September 19th.
Questions? Contact David Dombrosky.
Apply Online Now!
Topics: Announcements, Conferences | No Comments »
Technology and the Media Arts
By David Dombrosky | August 23, 2008
Earlier this week, Southern Arts Federation posted a podcast conversation in which Allen Bell and I talk about tools for new media and the impact technology is having on independent film and the media arts.
Listen Now: SAF Podcast #38 - Technology and Independent Media
This conversation is a companion piece to an article that Allen and I co-authored for the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture about the only remaining organized tour of filmmakers in the U.S.
Topics: Art Meets Tech | No Comments »
Like a Moth to a Podcast
By Josh Futrell | August 21, 2008
I’ve just discovered and started listening to The Moth podcast. The Moth, for those of you who don’t know, is a non-profit storytelling organization that brings in people - actors, playwrights, comedians, poets, personalities, and the average Joe - to tell a story from their own lives. No notes. Just a performer, a story, a microphone, and an audience. The Moth has several different live performance series and programs around the country.
Now, The Moth has been around since 1997, but I’d never heard of them until a few days ago. Why? Because 1) I live in Pittsburgh, instead of New York or LA, 2) I’m not hip, and 3) I often struggle to get my recommended daily allowance of culture.
Point is: I found them eventually. I found The Moth through iTunes. I found them through their podcast.
And now? I know for a fact that I will continue to listen to the podcast. I’ve enjoyed their podcast so much, I’m considering buying CDs and other schwag through their site. I’m writing a blog about them. I’ve told two friends about them. And so on…
It is so very important to have as many points of entry into your organization and its services as possible, and a quality podcast can be one. We’ve got a podcast tutorial here on Technology in the Arts. There are tons of resources and guides out there. It is worth the effort, the equipment, the navigation of the waters of rights and copyright, and the time to create a new point of entry to your organization to gather fans you never knew you had, like moths to a flame.
Topics: Community Building, Cool Sites, Marketing | No Comments »
Podcasting: Keep it Legal
By Brad Stephenson | August 18, 2008
I was recently directed to a great guide to ensuring that your podcast is legal. The Podcasting Legal Guide is hosted on the Creative Commons wiki and provides an overview of legal information every good little podcaster should know and understand.
The Guide was created by the following parties:
Colette Vogele, Esq.
Vogele & Associates
http://www.vogelelaw.com/index.html
Stanford Center for Internet And Society
http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/
Mia Garlick
Creative Commons
http://creativecommons.org/
Stanford Center for Internet And Society
http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/
The Berkman Center
Clinical Program in Cyberlaw
http://cyber.harvard.edu/
Also, remember that we have a Podcasting Fundamentals Tutorial available that will teach you the basics of creating and publishing your very own podcast.
Topics: Community Building, Legal Issues, Policies & Practices | 2 Comments »
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