“Digital Storytelling” is the fifth annual seminar on the creative use of technology in film and television instigated by the founders and the Norwegian Film Institute in 2006.

Digital Storytelling is arranged in a partnership with Norwegian Film Institute and the founders of the seminar series: Angela Amoroso; project manager for the seminar, Kim Baumann Larsen; VFX evangelist and partner at Placebo Effects and Eric Hanson; VFX designer and CEO at XRez.com.

The visual identity for the seminar series is created by graphic designer and illustrator Marius Renberg.

NFI: Ivar Køhn , Production and Development, Elin Erichsen Production, Nedin Mutic, Production and Development

Filmens hus: Head Projection Department: Jan Eberholst Olsen, Chief Projectionist: Geir Friestad

Cinema Coordinator: Nikolai Fuglerud

Exhibition and Museum Manager: Svein Kojan

CREATING A CROSS-DISCIPLINARY ARENA ON THE CREATIVE USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN FILM AND TV
“Digital Storytelling – Visual Effects and the Story World” will be the fourth seminar in what has become an annual event at Filmens Hus in Oslo, Norway. The seminar has grown from a one day gathering into a multiple day day conclave where Norwegian film and design professionals meet with colleagues from around the world to discuss how visual effects and CGI can be used to produce better and more original films.

The idea to create a cross-disciplinary seminar evolved four years ago around a blazing campfire in the California High Sierras. Norwegian architect Kim Baumann Larsen was among a group of international CGI professionals attending Eric Hanson’s and xRez Studio’s annual post-SIGGRAPH hike. They talked about how much they missed the now defunct 3D Festival in Copenhagen and wondered if it would be possible to create a new meeting place for filmmakers and CGI professionals – in Oslo for example?

The answer came a few months later when Kim approached me with the idea of an international visual effects seminar. As Project Manager for Norwegian Film Development I had already organized numerous educational conferences, seminars and workshops in a more traditional forum. As a writer and science fiction fan I was fascinated by how digital technology could be used in storytelling. After some serious email exchanges between Kim, Eric and myself the event took form, and the first seminar Digital sets and environments for film was held in April 2006, followed by Digital Fiction: Innovative filmmaking in 2007. Professionals from seven countries found their way to Oslo, bringing their expertise in filmmaking and communications, digital arts and science, architecture and design. We were happily overwhelmed.

So thank you Eric for sharing your expertise and your extensive network, and for helping to bring international VFX luminaries to Oslo. Thank you Kim for your energy, insight and the time that you have given toward the creation of these seminars. We are truly indebted to Placebo Effects who have allowed you to spend countless hours in making our shared vision a reality. We also want to thank our event partners for their contribution and encouragement.

But at the end of the day, the driving force behind these seminars is the filmmakers and VFX artists who bring their expertise to this arena each year. Together we can continue to explore relevant and cutting edge topics which will inspire us to achieve new levels of excellence – and to keep the campfire burning.

Angela Amoroso, Project Manager and co-founder