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Proscenia
Newsletter:Events -News - Jobs
January 12, 2003 With this issue there comes yet another change. Ken and I have decided to begin a new section on the Proscenia web site that will provide information of interest to media students beyond our Intern and affiliate group. We have collected a wide range of material that Ken has designed for his courses and that I have written related to careers in media. Putting all of this material in one location will be a goal for us in the coming weeks and months. We will announce the new URL once we have it online. However, for now, the former Proscenia Information Post will now become the Proscenia Newsletter and future issues will be archived on our web site. As always, if you'd like to be removed from this list please let me know. Cheers, Gary DISCUSSION:CREATIVITY I've always found the creative process being much like play. Discovering new ideas comes about by being engaged in the exploration of processes, techniques, concepts, and analyzing the work of others. The off beat and crazy ideas one comes up with often lead the creative process in unexpected directions. Albert Einstein once said, "If at first an idea isn't absurd, there is no hope for it." So, take off the gloves and challenge your creative potential. I've found two web sites that may be of interest to those wanting to explore the creative process. Being Creative by Example provides a discussion about the creative design of web sites. The author surveys a number of sites of professional designers to see what the future of mainstream web design might look like. The design aspects that the author has chosen for this study are layout and typography where the design-oriented sites exhibit the best of the designer's creativity. A second web site, Learning to Learn's Web course on Creativity is an open entry extended course on the creative process and provides one with many opportunities to challenge one's creative side. I would encourage anyone to at least explore some of the activities if not undertaking the complete course. FEATURED STUDIO: VINTON STUDIOS - Portland Oregon Vinton Studios, is one of the world's leading dimensional animation studios located in Portland, Oregon. It has been breathing life into award-winning characters since 1975, delivering unmatched performances in stop-motion, clay and computer animation, including The PJs, the M&M's and the California Raisins. Over the last five years, Vinton studios has evolved into a premiere studio for all forms of stop-motion and CGI-based character animation. In addition to designing and animating The PJs and Gary & Mike, both recent prime-time stop-motion animated series, the studio is actively expanding its original programming with a variety of film, television and location-based entertainment projects. Individuals interested in the field of animation should check the Vinton Studios Opportunity board for possible openings. TECHNOLOGY NEWS: REALNETWORKS INCORPORATES DRM TECHNOLOGY RealNetworks will include its Helix DRM (digital rights management) software in its digital media streaming technology, enabling movie studios and music labels to protect their digital content from copyright violation. Helix DRM is designed to support various digital content standards, including RealAudio, RealVideo, MPEG-4 and MP3. "This breaks the stranglehold that tied a content owner to using a given format if they wanted to use DRM," says Dan Sheehan, VP of media systems at RealNetworks. The move was welcomed by the film and music industries, according to a company statement: "Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, Starz on Demand and Triggerstreet.com as well as by music label EMI Recorded Music (which includes the EMI, Capitol, Virgin and other record labels) and several Internet media services [will use Helix DRM]." (Reuters 9 Jan 2003) http://shorl.com/bemukyjohobra Source:NewsScanDaily 'REALITY' CRAZE INVADES VIDEOGAMES Silicon Valley startup There Inc. has spent $17 million and more than four years developing a virtual world in which players use simulated avatars to chat, flirt, and earn play money that they can spend on virtual homes, entertainment and goods. The game offers many of the same types of experiences that other virtual communities do, but There has added a bit more "reality" to its game. The shopping feature offers players the opportunity to try on and buying a pair of virtual sneakers from a virtual Nike store, or they can click through to the real online store to buy real shoes. In addition, There has introduced a novel feature: Users will be able to trade real money for play currency, using credit cards to buy additional "Therebucks" to boost their virtual spending accounts. The company decided to make the currency sales a key revenue source after a user trial involving 300 players found that "Something like 50 or 60 of them converted some or all of their $100 to buy more Therebucks," says There CEO Tom Melcher. "We were astonished." Several rival game developers decried the currency sales feature, with an Electronic Arts spokesman noting that The Sims "rewards players for what they create within the community, not for the wealth they hold in real life. The fun is in building up your character, not in buying a happy ending before you start." Philip Rosedale, CEO of Linden Lab, which offers an online community game called Second Life, says, "The greater majority of people would lose interest, because then the experience would start seeming like a bad copy of real life." (Wall Street Journal 8 Jan 2003) http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1041984605975254824.djm,00.html (sub req'd) Source:NewsScanDaily EDIT LIKE A PRO. With Final Cut Express. Available for just $299, Final Cut Express offers digital video enthusiasts, multimedia producers, web designers, educators, and DVD authors access to the same Emmy Award-winning interface as Final Cut Pro. To get started, you need only connect your FireWire-equipped DV camcorder to your Mac to capture video. Final Cut Express, optimized for the DV25 format, offers professional editing tools with seven types of edits, provides over 150 video filters and effects; includes a full range of audio tools, filters, and effects; and lets you output your video to tape, QuickTime, or DVD. In fact, Final Cut Express works seamlessly with iDVD and DVD Studio Pro. Be sure to visit our website for complete product details: http://www.apple.com/finalcutexpress/ Source: Apple eNews. HUNTING FOR THE FASTEST MAC BROWSER? Stop beating the bushes and download Safari--Apple's turbo browser for Mac OS X. Available now as a public beta, Safari launches faster and loads web pages faster than any other web browser available for the Macintosh. Ever. What's more, Safari simplifies the process of naming and managing bookmarks and offers an array of features that will make browsing the web an absolute pleasure, including: * Built-in Google searching * SnapBack--an easy and efficient alternative to hitting the Back button repeatedly * Built-in blocking of pop-up ads * Compatible with a wide range of Internet standards and plug-ins * Simplified downloading http://www.apple.com/safari/ Source: Apple eNews. DIGITAL PHOTO LIBRARIAN IMAGE EDITOR 4.0 http://www.oneilsoftware.com/ For persons hoping to catalog and modify extensive digitized photo collections, the Digital Photo Librarian application will be a welcome addition to their software library. The application allows users to manage large photo collections, along with providing the capability of supporting a variety of image formats. Additionally, users can use the application to create CD-ROMs of their photos, modify their images, or remove "red-eye" from photographs. The Digital Photo Librarian is available for use with operating systems utilizing Windows 95 and higher. Source: The Scout Report WEB LOG EXPERT LITE http://www.weblogexpert.com/ Designed to collect information and statistics about Web sites, the WebLog Expert will be a useful tool for those users who are looking to know more about the use of their site. The Lite version of the application collects basic statistics about visitors to a Web site, how many times they visited, and which pages and files they accessed. Additionally, the Lite version collects data on the operating systems and browsers of visitors to the site. WebLog Lite is available for use with operating systems utilizing Windows 95 and higher. Source: The Scout Report RADIO
COMPANIES LAUNCH DIGITAL BROADCASTING Major radio companies, including
Clear Channel Communications and Cox Radio, are set to begin digital broadcasts
in 40 markets in the next few months. At the same time, manufacturers
are expected to begin offering digital-radio receivers to retailers, which
should be on the shelves this spring. Initially, the receivers will be
geared toward after-market auto installation and high-end stereo systems.
According to iBiquity Digital Corp., a broadcaster-backed firm that licenses
digital-radio technology, about 100 stations are expected to launch digital
versions in the first quarter of this year. The digital stations will
be received at the same place on the dial as their analog counterparts,
but will offer superior sound quality, along with text information such
as song titles or sports scores. "For us, this will be an opportunity
to enhance our listener experience and bring radio into the digital age,"
says David Field, CEO of Entercom Communications. (Wall Street Journal
10 Jan 2003) http://online.wsj.com/article/0,,SB1042148364672006544.djm,00.html
(sub req'd) Source:NewsScanDaily EVENTS: Southwest Oregon Chapter of the American Marketing Association. January 13, Eugene. Event: "Usability: The Best Test of Your Web Site" will be held at the Valley River Inn from 11:45 to 1:15 p.m. The cost is $15 for students. Call Bonnie at 342-3464 for reserving a place. Michael Harding, a Seattle-based expert who tests web sites for their usability, will be the speaker. If you build web sites and wonder why people don't return this is the session for you. IPN - January 14, 2003 Six Sexy Success Stories from Portland Oregon What does it take to survive almost two years of recession? Join six outstanding Internet business leaders for a panel discussion about how they and their companies took ideas and turned them into unique Internet success stories inspite of the tough times. The panelists represent some of the more dynamic Internet companies in the Pacific Northwest, and will provide you with insight into what has helped them achieve their milestones. Visit http://www.ipn.org/ProgramDetail.asp?id=20 for more details. Scott
Ross - Digital Domain February 5, 2003 5:00 - 8:30 PM The NW Film
Center 1219 SW Park. The
Backstage Pass Series with Digital Domainıs Scott Ross, presented
by Oregon 3D. Digital Domain was conceived by Ross (formerly with Industrial
Light & Magic), four-time Academy Award-winning creature-creator Stan
Winston, and Academy Award-winning writer, producer, director James Cameron.
Digital Domain is one of the
worldıs foremost special effects studios, creating inspired content and
visual imagery for films like ³What Dreams May Come,² ³Apollo 13,² Titanic,²
³X Men² and ³The Time Machine." The event will be held at The NW Film
Center, at 1219 SW Park. Please join us for no-host cocktails, light hors
dıoeuvres, music and networking, at 5:00 PM in the Portland Art Museumıs
Sunken Ballroom. At 6:30 PM weıll move into the Whitsell Auditorium for
the eveningıs presentation from Scott Ross. Tickets are $30 per person
and seating is limited. JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS - IN STATE Graphic Artist wanted for freelance work with successful retail/online company. More information at healthylegs.com No phone calls please Published in The Oregonian on 01/12
Graphics/Architectural Production Artist Fast-paced, in-house publications
department seeking print production artist with basic understanding of
architectural and drafting conventions. Must have 2-year Associates Degree
in Graphic Arts/Design plus 1 year minimum preparing PC-based electronic
files for professional printing. Proficiency in Quark, Illustrator, PhotoShop
& Acrobat required, as well as basic familarity with AutoCAD and AutoDesk
programs. Send resume, three professional references, and salary expectations
to: Human Resources Touchmark Living Centers 5150 SW Griffith Drive Beaverton,
OR 97005 E-mail resumes@tlcmail.com
www.touchmark.com No phone inquiries,
please. Touchmark is an equal opportunity employer that maintains a workplace
free from drugs/alcohol. Post-offer drug/alcohol test and background investigation
required. JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS - OUT OF STATE Graphic Designer. GiftTree.com in Vancouver. Print exp & knowledge of design programs req'd. Attention to detail, analytical, & creative skills a must. Candidates must be able to provide nonreturnable samples. E-mail resume (or for more info) to: personnel@gifttree.com Published in The Oregonian on 01/08) Graphic Designer. Seattle: WhitePages.com. The Opportunity We are seeking an experienced graphic designer to lead in the creative and production process for the Companyıs online and off-line graphic design needs. Position will initially report into the Product Development group and be assigned on projects as needed. Over the next 3 months, Graphic Designer will transition into the Marketing organization. The Company WhitePages.com, Inc. is a profitable, diverse, and rapidly growing company that is a leader in providing online directory assistance and data services. WhitePages.com serves millions of users each month, and we are consistently a top-ranked Web property. Our offices are located in downtown Seattle, and we provide a work environment that is casual, yet challenging and fast-paced. Responsibilities Work with business unit owners to establish and maintain Company standards for logos, icons, fonts, colors and all other creative items. Design and manage production of all off-line materials including sales collateral, booth graphics, signage, business cards/letterhead, presentations, media kits, advertising, etc. Coordinate with Web Producer to design and produce graphical images, icons, buttons, etc. for all Company web properties and partner sites. Drive creative aspects from concept to completion with minimal supervision. Qualifications 3 to 5 years graphic design experience preferably with design experience in both online and off-line environments. Strong creativity balanced with pragmatic approach when business objectives conflict with pure creative integrity. Outstanding design skills in both consumer and business-to-business environments. Proven skills and experience in: web-optimized graphic creation for both PCs and Macs animated and rich-media graphic creation print-ready production management of project printing resources presentation skills understanding of corporate identity and branding strategies vector-image creation HTML & JavaScript Experience working with the following tools: Adobe Acrobat Illustrator Photoshop InDesign & related products PowerPoint Positive attitude and team player Strong work ethic, well organized, strong time management skills and able to meet deadlines with minimal supervision. We are currently interviewing local candidates only. Please submit resume and work samples (or portfolio link) to jobs@whitepages.com.
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