ABC projects announced for second LAMP Residential Lab

The Australian Film Television & Radio School�s newly established Laboratory of Advanced Media Production (LAMP) recently announced that eight high profile cross-media projects would be developed for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). This marks the second Residential Lab to be conducted by the AFTRS� media production initiative.

The ABC-LAMP workshop will be launched on Sunday December 4, with an opening address by the new ABC Head of Development for New Media and Digital Services, Dan Fill at the Australian Graduate School of Management in Sydney.

Team members will be joined by Australian and international mentors with specialist skills in design, writing, production and technical aspects of cross platform media. The week will be spent developing concepts and service prototypes for delivery on mobile devices, television, interactive television, broadband, games consoles and beyond.

The teams will also have the opportunity to pitch their projects and showcase their prototypes to VIP�s from the Australian media industry.

Mentors for the initiative will include BBCi pioneer and LAMP Director Gary Hayes; AFTRS Lecturers Catherine Gleeson, Jackie Turnure and Peter Giles; Christy Dena, University of Melbourne; Sohail Dahdal, 6 Moons Interactive; David Gurney of Blue-Rocket Productions; Jonathan Marshall, ex BBC Technical Development Manager as well as a range of strategic guest speakers including Mark Meadows, Louise McCann, Ric Holland & Mark Pesce.

LAMP Director Gary Hayes said the LAMP approach had been tailored to meet the needs of Australian creative teams.

�The structure is based on international models which have been employed at the BBC and other broadcasters in the UK and at the American Film Institute in the US,� he said.

�They are successful as the model is primarily designed to broaden the media horizons of linear producers while also being production focused.

�For example Celebrity Mole II, The L Word and Queer Eye in the US and Walking with Beasts, Antiques Roadshow and X-Creatures in the UK have developed successful mass market cross platform services and formats which began in prototyping labs similar to LAMP.�

Peter Giles, Head of Digital Media at AFTRS said it was time for TV producers to make the shift and take note of where the audiences are spending more and more of their time: broadband internet and games platforms.

�It’s about building new partnerships and thinking outside the square to tailor a message that works on multiple platforms,� he said.

�This is what we are trying to encourage through the LAMP process and it�s part of our on-going commitment to continuing professional development in the screen industries.

�We’ve found that the intensive workshop model is extremely effective in developing high-level skills for career professionals working in a dynamic global media environment.

�AFTRS will be applying this approach to an increasing number of its activities into the future.�

ABC Director of New Media & Digital Services Lynley Marshall said the ABC was excited by the LAMP initiative and saw it as a way to kick start new formats and ideas

�We look forward to seeing these cross platform concepts developed during this intense and focused workshop,� she said.

�We are committed to developing and supporting programs that encourage strong and innovative cross platform screen projects, and the ABC is proud to be involved in this event.�

If your company would like to take part in an exclusive LAMP workshop or residential LAMP program tailored for your needs contact lamp@aftrs.edu.au or visit www.lamp.edu.au