“Take a one-eyed filmmaker, an unemployed engineer, and a vision for something that’s never done before and you have yourself EyeBorg Project. Rob Spence and Kosta Grammatis are trying to make history by embedding a video camera and a transmitter in a prosthetic eye. That eye is going in Rob’s eye socket and will record the world from a perspective that’s never been seen before.”

So I went to the EyeBorg site to see what was there. It opens with the short promo that he showed at the pitch. It conveys the humour, and gives you a sense of what a traditional documentary could be.

What I found in short supply from his site, was that so present at the pitch, energetic presence of Rob himself.

As one person tweeted during his pitch, “I think i’m in love with @eyeborg. ” (sorry, A, you can’t take that back now ;). Now it might have had something to do with the fact that Rob was naked for the pitch – or at least he claimed to be – we could only see a head and shoulders shot of him on screen.  But I don’t really know if women are easily impressed by nakedness (the eye-patch maybe). Maybe she was a friend, or even a seed. But for me, I think it was Rob’s character that sold me on the project. Ok, the eye-patch and the headphones might have helped.

But one of the reasons why I thought this was such a good project was because it had that hit of outrageousness that people are drawn to. He has one tag line that got attention during the pitch but since it’s not on the site I won’t share it here. But enough to say that the outrageousness was perfect for the web.

Having worked in digital marketing for several years, and dreading every time I saw “viral” listed as a tactic (I’m sorry, “viral” is not a tactic), I know that its not enough to have a good idea online to attract people to your site. And before you start accusing me of being too marketing centric, think about what you share. We share what is remarkable. If people are talking about it, that’s a pretty good measure of success.  The tag line opened up a world of discussion for me.  Which… um, not sure I can discuss.  Yet.

But the real question is, of course, how can you convey that roller coaster journey of hilarity and seriousness that would be in the EyeBorg documentary in an interactive digital environment? I am not sure I have the answers because, although I remember there being some interesting digitals initiatives pitched, I think the picture I took home from the pitch was of a linear story. And perhaps this is why it didn’t get chosen at ReBoot.

Strangely enough – because I should sure know better – as soon as I hear interactive these days, I think of a game-like environment and someone with a mouse, click, click, clicking, or typing something in, or whatever. I can’t help but think that this clickity-click is the direction that people think we are “supposed” to go in the online space with that word. But I wonder if perhaps that is a early adopter thing when value of innovation and novelty is still very high and therefor required.

In fact, I even think there is tons of potential for a game-like environment for EyeBorg. As a second tier roll out. In other words – I’d think of it the same way as I would something like merchandising. As in – after the fact. After all the tech heads and geeks have been saying, you got to see this! or creating their own avatars, even. As in – forget the game for now.  It won’t tell the story.  Ok, so there are a million other ideas.  But how does this idea live digitally?

This is the big question that is pushing into the lives of documentary filmmakers that have spent years honing their skills crafting the linear story.

For me, now that the internet can deliver such high quality video, I am moving away from the click click journey aspect of online and more towards an experience. This is purely subjective of course, and maybe a result of my television deprivation. And may be at odds with documentary somewhat because we are somewhat suspicious of documentaries that causes us to feel (think manipulation, think propaganda). A balanced view means we push out of the emotional realm and into the intellectual.

Experience doesn’t necessarily exclude interactivity, but I am not sure yet, that interactivity should be at the top level of considerations.  I am not sure yet that interactivity doesn’t impact the illusion of story telling, the same way self-reflexive techniques in film making (seeing the crew, disruptions to the editing etc.) can interfere with the suspension of disbelief we desire to make stories meaningful.

I just think we need to be cognizant of the fact that we have an audience that has access to plenty of other interesting things, including Facebook when they are on your site.  So I don’t have the answers yet.  Its an element I am currently struggling with on my own journey of creation. Perhaps I just have a biased view of what documentary are supposed to be at the moment.

But if it were me directing it, I’d like to see the EyeBorg Project more like David Lynch’s Interview Project.  (without the advertising)

Not exactly like that, because the interface of that site is pretty traditional.  But as soon as you play one of the videos, you hear that record needle, you are in the world of David Lynch.  And then David Lynch introduces the videos, and those simple introductions for me, sets the tone of how to read the video.

If it’s a single destination, I’d like to see a sparseness with the EyeBorg site.  Emblematic videos.  That David Lynch rack focus into a heightened awareness, and for EyeBorg perhaps that twitchy, awkward, I don’t know whether I should laugh or not, can’t quite believe he’s doing it, can’t believe he thinks that way without self-consciousness kind of thing.

I’d like to see a series of videos, or even a vlog with Rob. Without all the traditional explanation that you see on sites, updating you about every last detail, and making the world ordinary. I don’t want ordinariness. I want mystery. I want to see a different world, I want to experience a different reality. I want short videos.   I’d like to see his whole post of Sep 6, 2009 strung out into a series of short films.

If someone feels there should be a behind-the-scenes, let his entourage do it (create an entourage). Let Rob remain a character, a celebrity in his own world. I’d like to see someone else do a blog on him… “Rob had the audacity to bang on my door and wake me up after a measly three hours of sleep…”

But there you go. That’s my vision, not Rob’s.  If I had an eye socket I could stick a camera into, and Rob’s charisma and comfort level with attention, maybe that’s what I would do.

But EyeBorg – I’d like to know why you haven’t set up a Facebook Fan Page??

(we do crowd-sourced spelling around here – if you catch a typo let me know.  thx!)

Over the summer of 2009 we have seen funding opportunities to get documentaries made in Canada rapidly dry up as broadcasters struggle to deal with the economic times.  This has been a serious concern for Canadians as one of the things we are known for world-wide is our documentaries.

It is especially a concern for those trying to make their living as documentary filmmakers who have not made a lot of money following their passion to begin with.

The Canadian Media Fund is one avenue to apply for funding.  But now applications need to be more than a straight broadcast project.  A bit daunting for those long time industry professionals who’s focus has been on filmmaking, and not on digital story-telling.

Through ReBoot, the Documentary Organization of Canada is creating a great opportunity for select projects to get mentorship.  This is a great opportunity for documentary filmmakers who have had little experience creating cross-platform projects.

In addition, as part of ReBoot there will be a week long conference including caase studies and presentation in February for DOC members that the public will be able to follow via twitter and facebook for daily updates and insights.  More detail for the call for proposals below:

Deadline extended: Feb 4th

The Documentary Organization of Canada / l’Association des documentaristes du Canada (DOC) is pleased to announce a call for proposals for ReBoot, a 3 day project lab incorporating skills-based training, mentorships and presentations from leading experts in cross-platform production. DOC aims to assist its members in transitioning to digital documentary and to successfully position documentary filmmakers and producers in the rapidly changing broadcast environment spurred by the Canada Media Fund.

DOC is seeking proposals for cross-platform documentaries that are conceived for two or more media. Preference will be given to projects in the development stage incorporating an interactive, participatory methodology in additional to a linear/broadcast one-off or series. Selected projects will receive one-on-one mentorship from industry professionals over a one week period, culminating in an online pitch session during DOC’s ReBoot event in February. A jury of media professionals will select one project which will receive further mentorship for a three month period. The continued mentoring will be provided by the award winning team at EyeSteelFilm, as well as a group of industry professionals specializing in various aspects of new media production. Interested creators are invited to send proposals to info@docorg.ca.

Proposals should be a maximum of 2 pages and should include:

1. Name(s)
2. Contact Information
3. Project Title
4. Description of Project
5. Project Status
6. Short description of the platforms that will be explored.

Proposals should be for a multiplatform documentary and should describe the experience that a user would have on the website or digital platform, as well as a sense of the documentary or series that would be created in tandem. In writing the proposal, creators should address the following questions:

• Can your story be told in more than one way? Can it exist as a traditional documentary, as well as a non-linear story?
• Can your documentary have multiple versions? Can it be substantially different online, in theatres, and on television? How can you harness the strengths of each medium?
• Does your subject matter and approach lend itself to the opportunities of participatory / social media?
• Above all, how can your audience participate in the project? How is it an interactive experience that they can be an integral part of?

Please note that while we encouraging a linear component in addition to new media, we do not require a broadcaster commitment. DOC is actively encouraging members to produce for new platforms and new models of distribution.

Submissions are only open to DOC members. Without exception, selected applicants must be available for 2 hour sessions from February 16th to February 19th in order to participate.

Note: all participation will take place remotely via teleconference – selected candidates will require a web cam and high speed internet connection. Selected candidates should also be comfortable sharing their creative process and work in progress with the public.

Submission deadline is FEBRUARY 4th. Please send proposals to info@docorg.ca

For more information on the Reboot event, please visit here.

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