Peercasters

Video blogging, alternative distribution, peer-to-peer: these are phrases that set the TV, Film and music industry quaking in their boots... but needlessly. Like 'home taping', VCRs and DVD recorders, these technologies are not bogeymen, they are business opportunities.

These workshops will focus on how to create, promote, fund and distribute film totally on-line, without the cumbersome middlemen of the distributors and promoters - until your film gains sufficient notoriety for it to go mainstream, of course!

Technical Workshop, led by Adnan Hadzi:

The workshop will introduce participants to all the tools, technologies and available services for encoding, uploading and sharing their films and video blogs online using free and open source software such as Bittorrent, Broadcast Machine, and (possibly) Cinelera. Participants will also be shown how to use Apple technology to encode and prepare their movies (Final Cut Pro), in conjunction with smarter, faster free encoding tools that they can download and take home with them.

Production Workshop, led by Penny NagleThe production workshop will introduce participants (briefly) to the terminology and areas of interest they'll need to understand to manage projects in this area. It will then delve into the business issues involved in using p2p technologies - the advantages, dangers, and possibilities it opens up. There will also be an overview of the kinds of business models that are flourishing online, with examples of cross-overs between established film-industry and new, emerging markets in online distribution.

Masterclass leader biographies:

Adnan Hadzi:

Currently Adnan Hadzi is working on a practice-based PhD with the title 'The author vs. the collective' Goldsmiths College, that will focus on the influence of digitalisation and the new forms of distribution ondocumentary film production, as well as the author*s rights in relationto collective authorship. It is an interdisciplinary research that will combine sources and expertise from the fields of media and communication, computer studies and architecture. He is a co-founder of Liquid Culture (http://liquidculture.cc), Deptford TV(http://deptford.tv), and http://www.copyleft.org.uk/

Penny Nagle

Featured recently in Screen International, Penny Nagle is one of theUK's rising independent producers. Penny started life in the musicindustry as an IP lawyer and migrated across to film and new media as a producer and distributor. Most recently she has set up a joint venture with Shooting People called WORD OF MOUTH FILMS, a distribution company committed to distributing films you want to tell your friends about - and nurturing new filmmaker talent.

Shooting People is the UK''s premier independent filmmakers'' networkthat has transformed the way independent film is being made, with over 26,000 members signed up to the organisation in the UK and in New York City.

The launch of Word of Mouth Films distribution label by Shooting People aims to both mobilise and inspire new audiences for films, as well as transform, challenge and expand distribution opportunities forindependent cinema. A catalyst for change, growth and innovation, Shooting People helps members get their films made and find the audiences they deserve. The Shooting People team are also filmmakers - a mixture of writers, producers, directors and other creative folk.