Commissioning The Future Lab – 21st-25th March 2012 Manchester, UK

The first Commissioning The Future Lab is to be held in Manchester, UK from 21st-25thMarch. Open to 24 European and UK broadcasters and funders from TV, film and online departments, Commissioning The Future is a unique, five-day intensive training event specifically designed to provide fund managers, commissioners and broadcasters with the confidence and skills to commission and executive produce across multiple platforms.

The lab, to be run by Heather Croall (Director Sheffield Doc/Fest), Mark Akin (Producer Crossover Labs) and Donata von Perfall (Director Documentary Campus) will provide clarity in an over-complicated media environment by using simple building blocks, methods and tools to provide a profound understanding of what works online, and how to maximise audiences by understanding how they behave.

Follow-up labs are planned for April and May. Details to be announced. (Photo by PhillipC CC BY 2.0)

Greenlit: Hippo: Wild Feast Live, Channel 4

Hippo: Wild Feast Live (1 x 90′ + live streaming online) – A multiplatform event that reveals what happens to a hippo after death. The hippo carcass in question is located in Zambia’s Luangwa Valley by a section of the Luangwa river frequented by a range of predators and scavengers including leopards, lions, Nile crocodiles, [...]

Is this the hottest funeral director in the world?

RJ Williams is a funeral director and skate dude. And possibly the hottest funeral director in the world. Watch the video:

Historical Facebook

Ever wonder what the world would have been like if Facebook had been around hundreds of years ago? Me neither. But someone obviously has. Check out updates from God, Abraham Lincoln and the Titanic here.

I Know What Drugs You Did Last Night: Ketamine Kid

Three Billion dug up this video of a guy at a party and suggest it could be the best anti-drugs video ever. Decide for yourself:

Hot Chocolate for Bedouins

Filmmaker Sebastian Lindstrom aims to raise awareness about issues around the world using documentary, but appears to do so with a rare wit and sense of the absurd. His documentary Hot Chocolate for Bedouins promotes camel milk as a healthy alternative to cow’s milk.  The documentary is part of his work his nonprofit foundation What [...]

India Outsources Call Centres to the USA

The Washington Post reports that rising wages in India have led Indian outsourcing companies to staff their call centres with workers in America. The workers, largely uneducated African Americans earn around $12-14 an hour plus bonuses, which is four times the wage for a similar worker in India. They get dress-down privileges and free lunch [...]

Is Your Library Under Threat? Here’s a Solution

James Econs is a phone box vandal with a ‘Big Society’ conscience. Spotting a disused phone box in Horsely, Surrey he had an idea. A few hours later he’d installed shelves and books and turned it over to the community as a free book exchange. He’s now known as the ‘Banksy of carpentry’. Read more [...]

360-Degree Lens For Your iPhone

Kogeto, a NYC design company is about to launch a 360-degree lens attachment for the iPhone that can capture video in the round wherever you are. They crowdfunded it via Kickstarter raising more than $60,000 with 36 days still to run on the campaign (and a goal of just $20,000). Watch the video here:  

Hey NYC, What Song Are You Listening to?

Ty Cullen went out on to the streets of NYC to ask random strangers what songs they were listening to and compiled them into a soundtrack of the city. Watch the video: via PSFK