When you work with Across Borders, you also support our involvement in Media that Matters: an initiative that helps support content creators from all facets of the media by giving them the ideas, perspectives, and camaraderie they need to better help society and the planet.

It started as a conversation on a windy evening on Haida Gwaii, 15 years ago. Bill Weaver (Across Borders Media) and Patricia Sims (Canaz West), were collectively wishing that media professionals from all disciplines had more chances to connect, compare notes, and take their conversations a bit deeper than the usual industry mixer.

As a result, Bill founded Media that Matters in 1999. Held at Hollyhock on Cortes Island, this yearly gathering has evolved into an open source, transmedia, user-generated haven for developing concepts and collaborations — steeped in nature and anchored in a supportive and ever-expanding community.

Innovative projects and coalitions continue to come out of these yearly “collaboratories”.  To name a few:

MAKING FILMS, MAKING A LIVING a workshop aimed at helping filmmakers better navigate market uncertainty by giving them the tools and support they need to stay viable and continue to create quality content for television and theatrical distribution.

3.0 a quarterly transmedia mixer for aimed at building new alliances and ideas across a broad range of professional content creators.

GOOGLE EARTH OUTREACH CANADA (TidesCanada.org)  the dots were connected at MtM for a perfect partnership between Google EarthOutreach and Tides Canada.  As a result, they recently launched an initiative with 60 Canadian NGOs, so that they can more effectively use Google Earth to raise awareness of their campaigns around environmental and land claim issues. David Suzuki was on hand to help kick it off.

OPEN CINEMA (www.opencinema.ca) Mandy Leith conceived this innovative, interactive Victoria microcinema with the reflection and support of her peers at MtM in 2002 and 2003.

THE MIDWAY PROJECT (www.midwayjourney.com) Internationally acclaimed photographic artist Chris Jordan’s multimedia journey that witnesses the plight of the albatross  - and the powerful metaphor it offers for humanity. The development, documentary, and social media teams are principally MtM alum.

LUMINOUS UNIVERSE (www.thehomegalaxy.com)  A massive transmedia project aimed at shifting humanity’s perspective in a way that will encourage a more sustainable future.  The primary creative partnership for this initiative was forged at MtM.

Over the years, co-facilitators of Media that Matters have included Leif Utne, Stephen Silha, Ruth Ozeki, Sue Biely, Tracey Friesen, Pravin Pillay, and Stina Brown. If you’re interested in attending, email us at applications@mediathatmatters.org

 

photography: Bill Weaver, Chris Jordan