Corus Entertainment and marblemedia recently announced the winner of the 2010 Innovative Storytellers Award: James Robert Caswell. The $20,000, five-year educational initiative was launched in 2008 by marble and Corus in conjunction with Ryerson University’s Master of Arts in Media Production program. The award celebrates an outstanding Ryerson graduate student whose thesis explores the connection between content, new technologies and audiences.
Caswell’s winning thesis, Creating the Audience: Developing Monster Mashup Televison, illustrates a website prototype where entrepreneurs use free Web tools to develop cost-effective video content. What’s unique about this business model is that it helps build audiences by enlisting them to help create and shape the content for future production and distribution on all media platforms.
For over 25 years, Caswell has operated a freelance production service that focuses on creating effects for animation and live-action content, with an emphasis on storyboarding for both traditional and digital formats. From producing to directing and designing effects, he has worked on a variety of projects for companies such as Corus’ Nelvana Studio, Cuppa Coffee Animation and Walt Disney Television Animation.
“James has a firm grasp of the rapidly-changing media landscape, and his thesis demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to engaging audience participation in the cross-platform content creation process,” said Mark Bishop and Matt Hornburg, Executive Producers/Founders, marblemedia, and Ryerson alumni. “We’re proud to present James with this award, and we look forward to working with him to help shape and further develop his ideas.”
The Innovative Storytellers Award-winner receives a grant in addition to mentoring sessions with Corus Entertainment and marblemedia executives. These sessions offer guidance for the award-recipient’s thesis as well as greater insight into the content creation industry. Mentors are selected from the areas of creative production, broadcasting, technology, legal, and sales and marketing.
“Winning this award is a validation of the business case for the development of concepts through low cost media and online distribution,” says James Caswell, 2010 Winner of the Innovative Storytellers Award. “I appreciate the consultations with executives from Corus and marblemedia,” adds James. “I have already received, and look forward to their further advice on developing the specific content application of the thesis business plan: Monster Mashup Television.”
“Jim Caswell comes from a traditional animation background, and arriving with that past experience into our program, truly pushed the boundaries in realizing a viable transmedia storytelling business model,” says Dana Lee, professor, School of Radio and Television Arts, Ryerson University. “His prototype, Monster Mashup Television, explores the concept of breaking out of traditional proposal pitches, and into a new world of developing story ideas independently,” notes Lee. “Through innovative use of user-generated mash-ups and other low cost media applications, Jim has shown that there’s more than one way to move forward on a successful property. The Masters in Media Production program congratulates Jim Caswell on his being awarded the Innovative Storyteller’s Award and wishes him continued success in his future endeavours.”