Imagine a world where your community, your friends, your assets, and all your creative freedoms were suddenly expelled by a corporation or government. Now consider the same corporations and governments pulling the plug on Facebook, 4Chan, Twitter, or other online communities you may belong to. A frightening thought. But is it really that far off? When considering the totality of creative expression and human connection found in online communities – arts, beliefs, thoughts, emotions – we are well beyond the simple definition of community, we are now entering the realm of culture. As online cultures continue to aid and develop human connections, serious moral questions arise. Is it time to start considering the ethical responsibilities of platform controllers who create and maintain these unique cultures? Should they have the right to determine the destiny of these cultures, or should the people have a right to self govern, free from the fear of complete annihilation? As online communities continue to blur the line between virtual and true reality, is it time to critically consider a Universal Declaration for Avatar Rights?

I have submitted this idea to the SXSW (South by South-West) Interactive conference in Austin Texas to present next year.

If you like the idea, please go to the website and vote for it. You don’t have to attend the conference in order to vote, so it would help me a great deal either way.
Questions I aim to answer:

Also:

Check out these other panel ideas from colleagues at Proximity, please vote for them too!

• Andrew Bailey ” What does Google TV mean for advertising industry?”
  This panel will explore what Google TV means for the advertising industry, what it will take to produce award winning and effective creative and how creative will have to evolve to meet the demands of Google TV.

• Matt DiPaola “Branded Entertainment: Do Brands Hurt Good Storytelling?”
  This panel is for anyone who lives to tell a story. Content producers will learn how to assess brand participation in their project, navigate new funding models, and bullet proof their elevator pitch.

• Jeff Vermeersch “I’m a Flash Developer. Now what?“
  On this panel we’ll discuss the future of Flash developers now that it’s “dead”.

Tags: Andrew Bailey, avatar rights, collin douma, Jeff Vermeersch, Matt Dipaola, SXSW

Marketing Facts Night: Discover Your Industry Identity
Host: UofT – Management & Economics Student Association (MESA)
Keynote: “Don’t Follow, Lead” with Collin Douma of Social Media Group.
January 28th, 2008 – Grand Baccus, Toronto Ontario (Scarborough)

Event video:

From MESA

Who knew that dancing silhouettes could sell MP3 players? Or talking beavers would generate massive mobility sales? In this continuously changing marketplace landscape, it is important to understand the key trends that are happening to make sure that you don’t fall behind the pack. Learn about the trends that are occurring in the industries today and discover which industry best represents your capabilities. Don’t Follow. Lead.

Find out how tapping into key trends can help you find the job you’re looking for, then hear how these key trends are affecting leading Toronto marketing industries today. With passionate and motivating speakers from Canada’s most marketing oriented companies, this is your chance to discover your marketing identity.

Tags: collin douma, Events, Grand Baccus, Guest Lecture, Management, MESA, radical trust, Talk, Toronto, University of Toronto, UofT

Tracey: Re-Fragmented makes available all the footage from the shoot of the film for users to download and re-edit their own related projects including music videos, new trailers or to re-edit the entire movie themselves. The creative commons licensed initiative also makes available the score of the movie by indie collective Broken Social Scene.

There’s money where that mouth is; four branded “Bit Torrent” links complete with script, readily available for download. The page continues:

The re-editing initiative also has a competitive element with Bruce McDonald and his editors selecting the best from the projects from Canada to win an Apple Final Cut Pro prize pack. The winning project will also appear in the bonus features on the DVD release of the Tracey Fragments.

The site also offers a comic book PDF-download version of the story and a blog which chronicles film-related events, awards, openings, press etc. Bruce McDonald explains.

“The Tracey Fragments is a film that fully embraces experimentation and teamwork. I wanted to find out if that experience exists on the Internet and give others the chance to experiment and play with some beautifully shot footage of a world class actress in a free form environment. I hope people make their own feature films, short films, rock videos, trailers, experimental films and personal manifestos out of The Tracey Fragments.”

Once again Bruce McDonald demonstrates his “Rock and Roll” ability to snuff convention, jar creativity and define a new storytelling technique… I can’t wait to see the movie!

A radical do.
Official Movie Trailer

(Thanks for pointing it out Bill )

Mentioned in post:

Tags: bit torrent, blog, Bruce McDonald, cinema, ellen page, film, movie making, movie marketing, movies, open source, Reviews, social media, Social media strategy, storytelling, Tracy Fragments

Sponsorship is becoming a very cost effective way to enter the social media space. How do sponsors get into this space and remain credible? This and many other topical questions will be explored in an upcoming talk by Collin Douma at the Strategic Sponsorship Marketing Summit in Toronto on November 6th.

Strategic Sponsorship Marketing: The Canadian Summit
“A one-day interactive seminar that will lead you through a successful sponsorship sales strategy. Topics covered will include market research, asset identification, pricing, packaging, sales, and managing the relationship between sponsor and sponsored property. This highly practical seminar is designed with sponsorship seekers squarely in mind. Every presentation will make a solid contribution to fulfilling the purpose of the day: to help you attract and keep corporate sponsors.”

Presenter Collin Douma 1:30 – 2:30
My Space is Your Space: Sponsorship and Social Networks
The internet is the most measurable form of marketing that has ever existed, and what do these measurements tell us? That push advertising no longer works. Social Media is more about attitude than it is technology. Sponsors must be nimble, open minded and willing to trust your consumer to pull them to your messages and services. Drawing on stories from his experience as a Creative Director, Social Media Strategist and Blogger, Collin Douma will present insightful, often surprising case studies that demonstrate successful outcomes using social media as the primary “media channel”.

Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Sutton Place Hotel , 955 Bay Street, Toronto, ON

full agenda | details | registration

Tags: canada, collin douma, Events, radical trust, social marketing, social networks, Speaking Engagements, strategic sponsorship marketing, sutton place hotel

There are still tickets available for next Tuesday’s keynote “Social Media and the Age of Dialogue” I will be giving in Toronto.

I hope to see you there!

Here are the details:

Facebook. MySpace. Web 2.0 Flickr …..What’s all the buzz about Social Media?

Social media is changing the landscape and mindscape of doing business in advertising, journalism, public relations and broadcasting. It’s challenging traditional perceptions about working and inspiring new ways to approach business; facilitating conversations between peer-to-peer and consumer-and-brand. No longer the domain of the tweens and youth demographics, what we are seeing is a growing older demographic embracing social networks such as FaceBook.

Join Collin Douma, Strategist with Social Media Group and your CWC colleagues for a lively season opening event.

“I intend to challenge this audience to think about their own solutions to the limitations and obstacles they encounter in making social media work for their companies”, says Collin Douma. “The Age of Dialogue takes many forms, and in the case of this presentation, it should be a lively discussion.”

Don’t miss your opportunity to get in front of the curve and share ideas at CWC GTA Chapter’s season opening event.

We’ll start with a drink and passed hors d’oeuvres from 5:30 to 6:30, then gather for the presentation and Q&A session until 8:30. Afterwards, we’ll share ideas with Collin and networking over coffee and dessert.

Registration & Event Details

Please visit the CWC website: Registration is online only, and payment must be made by credit card in advance. Tickets will not be available at the door.

Date: Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Location: Velma Rogers Theatre, 333 Bloor Street East
Price: CWC Members $60.00 Non-members: $70.00
Time: 5:30 -9:00 p.m.
Agenda:
5:30 – 6:30 Wine/Beer and passed hors d’oeuvres
6:30 – 8:30 Presentation and formal Q&A session
8:30 – 9:00 Coffee/tea and sweets
Parking: Free in the Rogers Campus after 5:00 for registered guests.
TTC: Get off at Sherbourne Station and walk west on Bloor St. to the southeast corner of Jarvis and Bloor. Entrance on Bloor Street.

Tags: Canadian Women in Communications, collin douma, CWC, Event, Keynote, radical trust

Good news! I will be speaking at the 4th Annual MARKETING to MOMS Conference in Toronto on the topic of Internet Advertising to Moms. I hope you can make it out on the short notice.

See you June 6th, at 2:30
- That’s tomorrow! ahhhhhhh!

Event Overview

4TH ANNUAL MARKETING TO MOMS
The 24/7 of Mom: When, Where, & How to Connect

Moms are one of the most profitable and sought-after consumer segments. However, marketers have a challenge in reaching this elusive and dynamic market. While most decisions are driven by rational, practical thoughts, others are more heavily influenced by emotions and maternal instincts – abstract expressions that are often hard for marketers to predict, understand, or influence. At the most basic level, marketers need to target moms through moms’ language – this revolves around core needs such as safety, convenience, and value. This conference will help you to establish a rapport with moms through products, services and advertising that complement her complex lifestyle.