Susan Johnston is a distinguished media futurist and the founder and director of the New Media Film Festival®, established in 2009 to honor revolutionary storytelling throughout numerous media platforms. She additionally serves because the president of Select Services Films, Inc., an award-winning manufacturing firm.
Johnston’s profession within the leisure business is in depth, encompassing roles as an actress, producer, and casting director. Her early publicity to movie units, notably assembly Robert Redford in the course of the manufacturing of “The Great Gatsby” whereas her father managed vintage vehicles, sparked her ardour for the humanities.
Under her management, the New Media Film Festival® has turn out to be a worldwide platform that merges storytelling with technological developments, that includes classes like 3D shorts, internet collection, and digital actuality. The pageant is acknowledged for its inclusivity, accepting submissions from creators of all ages and cultures, and presents over $45,000 in awards.
Redefining storytelling collectively
Her revolutionary strategy continues to affect the evolving panorama of media and know-how, fostering a neighborhood that celebrates numerous and rising types of storytelling. We sat down with the lady behind the juggernaut New Media Film Festival® to speak life, films and the pageant.
Vision and Evolution
What impressed the creation of the New Media Film Festival®, and the way has its mission developed since its inception?
There was turmoil within the media and leisure business in 2008 in the course of the financial disaster. I had at all times labored each studio stage and impartial stage and I noticed how exhausting it was for studio stage to re-coup their jobs/livelyhood on the time if in any respect. Many leisure individuals had been shifting to Atlanta GA to construct an infrastructure and dwell in a way more inexpensive state on the time. I dug deep to determine how I might assist, requested colleagues and mentors what might propel individuals of their careers no matter what stage they had been at and a blueprint was created of what was referred to as a “creative sandbox” on the time. Connections had been made, individuals had been employed, content material was showcased and monetized by means of distribution. The mission of the pageant has at all times been the identical, Honoring Stories Worth Telling for all ages, all cultures, all media since 2009.
Balancing Tradition and InnovationWith a mix of basic and technology-driven classes, how do you make sure the pageant stays a platform that honors conventional storytelling whereas embracing cutting-edge improvements?
As extra technological advances had been being made, we would have liked to not solely merge some tech classes collectively, but additionally clearly delineate we have now basic and tech classes. We additionally add or take away classes primarily based on many elements, up to date on our submit web page www.newmediafilmfestival.com/submit
Global InclusivityThe pageant emphasizes inclusivity throughout cultures, ages, and media. Can you share some standout moments or tasks that embody this ethos?
What is absolutely thrilling about our pageant being open to all is, who exhibits up. One we had a 2 12 months previous actress on the crimson carpet and a 93 12 months previous director of a 3D Film. One of my oddest and now one in all my favourite moments was a person got here as much as me on the finish of the present, excited and loud saying this, to which I requested if I might quote him “
John Carstafrphen and his spouse.
Writer, Producer, Director
As an African American filmmaker, I’ve by no means felt extra relaxed or impressed at a movie pageant. While #OscarsSoWhite is trending in Hollywood the New Media Film Festival 2016 has quietly proven the world honor content material makers from throughout each self-discipline conceivable – and each ethnicity – with out sacrificing its core identification. That’s a tremendous feat, worthy of imitation. I feel the New Media Film Festival is the way forward for movie festivals. Congratulations!
Role of TechnologyWith classes like AI, AR, and the metaverse, how do you envision the function of rising applied sciences in shaping the way forward for storytelling and media? Lots of people have no idea, I used to be a tester of know-how in highschool, out of highschool with a pdp 1134 and in Los Angeles with gear from Panasonic, RED and dealing below the fabulous Chief Technology Office Chuck Haifley. What was thrilling was their belief in me with this new gear and listening to the notes and making changes the place they thought needed. I discovered a lot from these experiences. If a know-how can play properly with different know-how, have safeguards for the creator proudly owning their creation and be accessible to many, it has an opportunity to revolutionize the world. If proprietary, solely people who have entry, pay entry or quit rights can use it, that in essence is limiting though be an enormous cash maker for a company. What was magical was the DP’s and cinematographers that had been pals of Chuck’s (he shot footage in area) would come into the studio once we weren’t booked and convey their gear and see how they may have them work with different gear, they did superb issues that the businesses by no means thought their merchandise might do.
Engagement Across PlatformsAs a hybrid occasion, what methods do you employ to create significant connections between in-person and on-line audiences?
We ask creators if they need in individual or on-line and do our greatest to accommodate, we provide shock company, we raffle gadgets and provide a Q & A with creators after their screening. Each and each nominee is obtainable on-line participation to community with one another and help one another, so it’s in case you are there, wherever that’s 😊
Collaborations and AlternativesThe Grand Prize consists of conferences with HBO and Marvel. How do these collaborations improve alternatives for creators and align with the pageant’s targets?
Since the pageant’s targets are “what could propel people in their careers regardless of what level they were at” by honoring tales price telling, our judges are from a lot of the majors – PBS, BBC, ABC, EMMYS, GRAMMYS, Simon & Schuster, BMI and others. So even when you don’t win the grand prize, submissions are being reviewed by individuals from corporations that may propel careers ahead. We have had many successes for submitters through the years, here’s a pattern. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAOSyDym0Yo
As for How do these collaborations improve alternatives for creators, we provide alternative, it’s as much as the creator to be ready, skilled, hear and be able to construct knowledgeable relationship and do enterprise.
Nominee ExpertiseThe nominee perks embrace eco-friendly crimson carpets and networking occasions. How do you curate these experiences to foster significant business connections?
We always re-evaluate, modify and implement as society is in a state of flux. It is essential for nominees to take part, to be human, have a collective expertise, share and be taught.
Award and Recognition Process & Future TrendsLooking forward, what traits in media and know-how are you most excited to include into future editions of the pageant?With such numerous classes, what’s the judging course of like, and the way do you guarantee equity and recognition for each sort of submission?
Crafting integrity by means of expertise
Since I studied with Uta Hagen and he or she says, by no means give away your secrets and techniques, what I can let you know is – we’re proud to be recognized for our integrity, nobody can decide somebody they know or have labored on.
Impact on CreatorsCan you share a selected success story the place a participant’s profession was considerably boosted after being a part of the New Media Film Festival®?
Here are some off the highest of my head:
Unlocking new alternatives
A script submitter, was given a publishing deal
A visitor on the VIP Soiree was supplied an audition and booked a collection
A VR artist discovered a funder for his mission
Funding sparks contemporary visions
2 totally different contributors that we all know of, invited potential backers to their screenings (keep in mind they get a Q & A) and received funding
One of our photographers met individuals linked with Hitchcock and did a guide on it and extra.
Thank you for this chance. Susan Johnston Founder/Director New Media Film Festival®
CALL FOR ENTRIES! – www.NewMediaFilmFestival.com
The New Media Film Festival® represents a convergence of know-how and custom, providing a hybrid platform that caters to each in-person and on-line audiences. This revolutionary occasion showcases a various vary of classes, from the basic to the cutting-edge, reflecting the pageant’s dedication to embracing the evolving panorama of media. With a deal with boundary-pushing content material, the pageant gives a singular area for creators to current their work in numerous codecs, together with conventional screenings and experiential shows. This strategy not solely honors the storytelling craft but additionally celebrates the function of know-how in shaping new strategies of media consumption and interplay. The pageant’s inclusive ethos is obvious in its big range of classes, making certain that there’s a place for each type of inventive expression.
The 16th New Media Film Festival® June 4-5 2025 Los Angeles. Their mandate is to be honest to all creators, in all ages, all cultures and all media.
Categories
A beneficiant mixture of basic and know-how classes to select from for screening or experiential experiences relying on mission sort. Classics embrace animation, documentary, characteristic movie, shorts, trailers to call just a few. Tech classes embrace AI, AR, VR, 360, 5D, metaverse, NFT and extra. The New Media Film Festival is a singular occasion that celebrates revolutionary and rising media throughout numerous classes. With a deal with tales price telling, the pageant options basic media alongside cutting-edge know-how classes, showcasing works that combine movie, TV, podcasting, augmented actuality (AR), and synthetic intelligence (AI). It’s an thrilling platform the place creatives from all backgrounds can current their work, compete for awards.
Awards
Grand Prize Award, priceless. Includes conferences with HBO and Marvel, together with studio time in Los Angeles, and numerous manufacturing & Mongo Media Solutions companies, and a Filmustage package deal, amongst different perks.
All class winners are awarded a customized hand-painted wooden movie slate and a Filmustage package deal, worth $1000.00
Top 3 Scripts are awarded a certificates for a Filmustage package deal, worth $1000.00, Script Reader Pro & Scriptwriters Network packages.
Awards legitimate for 1 12 months from pageant date, non-transferable.
Nominee Perks
A nominee move for the title accepted. Classic content material, the director. Scripts, the author, Tech content material, the creator. With this move, nominees can take pleasure in an Eco pleasant crimson carpet expertise, interact in a Q&A block after their screening, networking and extra. The move additionally consists of promotional press alternatives, social media mentions with a major attain, and on-line recognition of the solid and crew. Additionally, there are monetary incentives like visitor low cost codes and the potential for distribution on a big selection of platforms. This move represents a worthwhile alternative for business professionals to realize visibility and consideration for his or her content material.
FULL DETAILS are on www.newmediafilmfestival.com/submit
What others are saying.
“Worth The Entry Fee”
– Movie Maker Magazine
“Makes The Cutting Edge Accessible”
– Huffington Post
“I thank NewMediaFF for what they’ve done for young filmmakers”
-Roger Corman
” The function of this fest is bringing the Best in New Media to the World”
-Festival World
“Stories that exemplify the power of the cinematic arts to inspire and transform” – Hero Complex – The Los Angeles Times
Plenty of time to affix the enjoyable. Get your entry in early, use code WOW to avoid wasting 20% Put your revolutionary work ahead and be a part of the distinctive neighborhood of content material creators at New Media Film Festival® – submit at this time! https://www.newmediafilmfestival.com/submit/
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