Susan Johnston is a distinguished media futurist and the founder and director of the New Media Movie Competition®, established in 2009 to honor modern storytelling throughout various media platforms. She additionally serves because the president of Choose Companies Movies, Inc., an award-winning manufacturing firm.
Johnston’s profession within the leisure business is intensive, encompassing roles as an actress, producer, and casting director. Her early publicity to movie units, notably assembly Robert Redford throughout the manufacturing of “The Nice Gatsby” whereas her father managed vintage automobiles, sparked her ardour for the humanities.
Below her management, the New Media Movie Competition® has turn into a world platform that merges storytelling with technological developments, that includes classes like 3D shorts, internet collection, and digital actuality. The competition is acknowledged for its inclusivity, accepting submissions from creators of all ages and cultures, and provides over $45,000 in awards.
Redefining storytelling collectively
Her modern strategy continues to affect the evolving panorama of media and know-how, fostering a neighborhood that celebrates various and rising types of storytelling. We sat down with the lady behind the juggernaut New Media Movie Competition® to speak life, motion pictures and the competition.
Imaginative and prescient and Evolution
What impressed the creation of the New Media Movie Competition®, and the way has its mission advanced since its inception?
There was turmoil within the media and leisure business in 2008 throughout the financial disaster. I had at all times labored each studio stage and impartial stage and I noticed how onerous 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 reside in a way more reasonably priced 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 “inventive sandbox” on the time. Connections had been made, individuals had been employed, content material was showcased and monetized by distribution. The mission of the competition has at all times been the identical, Honoring Tales Price Telling for all ages, all cultures, all media since 2009.
Balancing Custom and InnovationWith a mix of basic and technology-driven classes, how do you make sure the competition 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 in addition clearly delineate we have now basic and tech classes. We additionally add or take away classes primarily based on many components, up to date on our submit web page www.newmediafilmfestival.com/submit
International InclusivityThe competition emphasizes inclusivity throughout cultures, ages, and media. Are you able to share some standout moments or initiatives that embody this ethos?
What is absolutely thrilling about our competition being open to all is, who exhibits up. One we had a 2 yr outdated actress on the purple carpet and a 93 yr outdated director of a 3D Movie. One in all my oddest and now considered one of 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.
Author, Producer, Director
As an African American filmmaker, I’ve by no means felt extra relaxed or impressed at a movie competition. Whereas #OscarsSoWhite is trending in Hollywood the New Media Movie Competition 2016 has quietly proven the world how one can honor content material makers from throughout each self-discipline possible – and each ethnicity – with out sacrificing its core identification. That’s an incredible feat, worthy of imitation. I feel the New Media Movie Competition is the way forward for movie festivals. Congratulations!
Position of TechnologyWith classes like AI, AR, and the metaverse, how do you envision the position 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 tools from Panasonic, RED and dealing beneath the fabulous Chief Know-how Workplace Chuck Haifley. What was thrilling was their belief in me with this new tools and listening to the notes and making changes the place they thought mandatory. 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 those who have entry, pay entry or quit rights can use it, that in essence is limiting though be an enormous cash maker for an organization. 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 tools and see how they may have them work with different tools, they did superb issues that the businesses by no means thought their merchandise might do.
Engagement Throughout PlatformsAs a hybrid occasion, what methods do you utilize to create significant connections between in-person and on-line audiences?
We ask creators if they need in particular person or on-line and do our greatest to accommodate, we provide shock company, we raffle objects and supply a Q & A with creators after their screening. Each nominee is obtainable on-line participation to community with one another and help one another, so it’s if you’re there, wherever that’s 😊
Collaborations and OpportunitiesThe Grand Prize contains conferences with HBO and Marvel. How do these collaborations improve alternatives for creators and align with the competition’s objectives?
Because the competition’s objectives are “what might propel individuals of their careers no matter what stage they had been 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 now 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, pay attention and be able to construct knowledgeable relationship and do enterprise.
Nominee ExperienceThe nominee perks embody eco-friendly purple 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 necessary for nominees to take part, to be human, have a collective expertise, share and study.
Award and Recognition Course of & Future TrendsLooking forward, what traits in media and know-how are you most excited to include into future editions of the competition?With such various 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 expertise
Since I studied with Uta Hagen and he or she says, by no means give away your secrets and techniques, what I can inform you is – we’re proud to be recognized for our integrity, nobody can choose somebody they know or have labored on.
Impression 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 Movie Competition®?
Listed below 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 undertaking
Funding sparks recent visions
2 completely different individuals that we all know of, invited potential backers to their screenings (bear in mind they get a Q & A) and bought funding
One in all our photographers met individuals linked with Hitchcock and did a guide on it and extra.
Thanks for this chance. Susan Johnston Founder/Director New Media Movie Competition®
CALL FOR ENTRIES! – www.NewMediaFilmFestival.com
The New Media Movie Competition® represents a convergence of know-how and custom, providing a hybrid platform that caters to each in-person and on-line audiences. This modern occasion showcases a various vary of classes, from the basic to the cutting-edge, reflecting the competition’s dedication to embracing the evolving panorama of media. With a concentrate on boundary-pushing content material, the competition offers a novel area for creators to current their work in varied codecs, together with conventional screenings and experiential shows. This strategy not solely honors the storytelling craft but in addition celebrates the position of know-how in shaping new strategies of media consumption and interplay. The competition’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 Movie Competition® June 4-5 2025 Los Angeles. Their mandate is to be honest to all creators, in all ages, all cultures and all media.
Classes
A beneficiant mixture of basic and know-how classes to select from for screening or experiential experiences relying on undertaking sort. Classics embody animation, documentary, function movie, shorts, trailers to call a couple of. Tech classes embody AI, AR, VR, 360, 5D, metaverse, NFT and extra. The New Media Movie Competition is a novel occasion that celebrates modern and rising media throughout varied classes. With a concentrate on tales price telling, the competition 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. Contains conferences with HBO and Marvel, together with studio time in Los Angeles, and varied manufacturing & Mongo Media Options providers, 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
High 3 Scripts are awarded a certificates for a Filmustage package deal, worth $1000.00, Script Reader Professional & Scriptwriters Community packages.
Awards legitimate for 1 yr from competition date, non-transferable.
Nominee Perks
A nominee move for the title accepted. Basic content material, the director. Scripts, the author, Tech content material, the creator. With this move, nominees can take pleasure in an Eco pleasant purple carpet expertise, interact in a Q&A block after their screening, networking and extra. The move additionally contains promotional press alternatives, social media mentions with a big attain, and on-line recognition of the solid and crew. Moreover, there are monetary incentives like visitor low cost codes and the potential for distribution on a wide selection of platforms. This move represents a useful 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.
“Price The Entry Price”
– Film Maker Journal
“Makes The Reducing Edge Accessible”
– Huffington Put up
“I thank NewMediaFF for what they’ve carried out for younger filmmakers”
-Roger Corman
” The position of this fest is bringing the Finest in New Media to the World”
-Competition World
“Tales that exemplify the ability of the cinematic arts to encourage and remodel” – Hero Advanced – The Los Angeles Instances
Loads of time to affix the enjoyable. Get your entry in early, use code WOW to save lots of 20% Put your modern work ahead and be part of the distinctive neighborhood of content material creators at New Media Movie Competition® – submit immediately! https://www.newmediafilmfestival.com/submit/
