MIP Nov. 15, 2000 Meeting Announcement

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Place: The Olive Garden, next to The Wiz at the Mercer Mall complex on Route 1 in Lawrenceville. 3345 Brunswick Pike - Route 1, Lawrenceville, 609-987-9207

Admission: Members free. General public only $10.

Every form of media imposes its own constraints on content. And that's certainly true of interactive media. But since interactive media also encompasses virtually every other form of media - print, video, graphics, and animation - writing for interactive media poses a host of new issues for the writers. Is there one tried and true way to structure content and write for interactive media? That, and many other issues regarding writing for interactive media are what our panel of distinguished interactive writers and interactive professionals will discuss. The panelists include John Loven,Victor Davis, Lena Lattanzi and Robert Gengerke.

John Loven is a true Interactive Multimedia pioneer, designing his first interactive program for Strawbridge and Clothier stores in 1983. Since then he has produced and/or designed over 160 interactive multimedia programs. John has been writing about multimedia, presenting at conferences and appearing in the media since the mid-eighties. Since he not only writes, but designs and programs interactive media as well, John is an excellent position to talk about the kind of scripts he likes to see when he is programming someone else's content.

Victor Davis is a veteran writer/producer who has made the successful transition from video to interactive media. He began his career in technical operations at NBC in 1974. Later he became a producer at NJN, and then spent many years as a corporate video producer for companies such as GE, Unisys and Lucent, Victor has won many awards along the way and now considers himself to be equal parts, writer, producer, director and instructional designer. He too is well qualified to talk about interactive scripting from a number of different perspectives.

Lena Lattanzi is a interactive industry veteran who has held positions in program development, graphic design, project management, quality assurance and instructional design. She has taught seminars on user interface design. She credits her success to being able to provide ideas and solutions that take ALL of aspects of interactive multimedia production (and many more) into account. She has worked successfully with writers to create engaging programs for many Fortune 500 companies including GE, Lockheed Martin, Delta Airlines, Prudential and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Robert Gengerke, a writer/producer/director, is owner of New York-based Magic Box Communications. His experience with interactive multimedia began in the mid-1980s, when he co-produced Sperry's first interactive videodisc series. Since then he has produced interactive programs for training, public relations, and trade shows. Clients include AT&T, Lockheed Martin, Bell Atlantic, Pfizer International, Parke-Davis, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, General Electric, Walt Disney Productions, Lucent Technologies, Decision Data, ADP, Pepsi and American Express.

Moderated by Andy Kienzle, Director, Content Solutions for RAC Productions the discussion will cover the following topics:

1. What are the key differences between writing for interactive media and print, video, live presentation?
2. What are the steps used to organize the material?
3. How much technical knowledge of programming techniques is required to write effectively?
4. What are your preferred script formats for communicating the information to programmers?
5. What are some of the key challenges in repurposing information from another media?
6. What are the main differences between CD-ROMs and web sites?
7. What are the elements that make effective web sites?
8. As a writer, do you get involved in flow-charting and structuring the site?

As always, audience questions and participation will be a big part of the evening. Join us for an enlightening look at a topic that's critical to today's new media production.

SPECIAL NOTE

This meeting will feature table service and a sit-down pasta meal! Because we view these meetings as a service to the community, we don't charge anything near market rates. Based on the quality of the presenters, you might expect to pay $100 or more for such a meeting. Given the level of the information, the opportunities to network, the food, and the friendly welcoming atmosphere of our meetings, there is no better value anywhere.

Directions to the Olive Garden

The Olive Garden is located in the Mercer Mall Complex at the intersection of Quakerbridge Rd. and Route 1. It's right on Route 1 next to The Wiz.

From the South and West. Take either 295 North or 95 North to the junction with Route 1 North. (On 95 North there are two intersections with Route 1 North, one in Langhorne, PA and one in Lawrenceville, NJ, either one will do as long as you're on 1 North as you head into Lawrenceville.) Once on Route 1 North go past Quakerbridge Mall on your right, past Circuit City, and take the exit just under the overpass for Quakerbridge Rd.

From the North and East get yourself to Route 1 South. Olive Garden is on the right just after the Quakerbridge Rd. overpass. Be sure to get in the right most lanes, following signs to the malls, when 1 divides briefly into local and express lanes.