Digital Games 101: Social Impact for Indie Filmmakers
Presented by Michelle Byrd

February 23, 2012
New York Foundation for the Arts

The journey from independent filmmaking to independent games is being explored in new and dynamic ways. As funders encourage filmmakers - especially those with social issue-based projects - to identify and engage broader audiences in deeper conversations, how can filmmakers working on limited budgets best leverage their storytelling know-how to now coordinate outreach campaigns, collaborate with game designers, social media experts and everyone else needed to make their project whole?

Bio
Michelle Byrd is currently Co-President of Games for Change, an organization which catalyzes social impact through digital games. Prior to joining Games for Change, for 12 years Michelle served as Executive Director of IFP (Independent Filmmaker Project). Games for Change serves as a convener (9th Annual Games for Change Festival taking place June 18 - 20), executive producer (the PBS multi-platform project Half the Sky, based on Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn's best seller) and curator (100+ "games for change" showcased on its site). Michelle will provide a brief overview of "games for change" and how they face many similar challenges to independent films but also how they vastly differ in terms of how many of them are funded and published. She will also share some insights from the past 18 months of bridging the gap between the independent filmmaking community and its interest in games and apps to drive engagement.