Lebron James isn’t a great basketball player because he wears Nikes. And just like the shoes don’t make the player, the equipment doesn’t necessarily make the storyteller. Sure, I like nice equipment as much as anyone but a camera is just a tool.
The UW Pocketmedia Film Festival was born out of a conversation between Hanson Hosein, director of the MCDM program, and Harry Hayward, MCDM alum and Director of Electronic Media at UW. A few years back, both had just discovered the Flip video camera and thought, “wouldn’t it be great to create a festival using only these small cameras?” It was as simple as that.
Video capture technology has become smaller, better, and cheaper to the point that you can buy an HD camera that fits in your pocket for under $200. This has opened doors for the citizen journalist, the home-movie maker, the aspiring videographer, and many more. With a small investment almost anyone who wants to can have access to a powerful storytelling tool. It’s leveled the playing field for multimedia content creators. The barrier to entry is very, very low.
Free, in this case. There’s no charge to enter the Pocketmedia festival and there’s a lot of “pocket technology” available to borrow on campus, either through Classroom Support Services or the Communication Department. Or check your own pockets. I bet your cell phone has a camera. By limiting camera technology the festival encourages contestants to focus on more important things: content, style, and creativity. It’s not about what camera you have it’s how you use it.
In 2009, the first Pocketmedia festival was launched to start a conversation within the UW community, to open doors for anyone (well, not just anyone: UW students, faculty, staff, and alumni) who wants to share their story. In this second iteration of the festival the idea of community, brought forth through collaboration with the UW Common Book, has transformed into the theme of the contest. What are the voices in your community?
Enter a short video on the theme by January 31st to compete for prizes such as an iPod touch or Final Cut Studio. For more information please visit the UW Story blog. Spread the word and have fun!
