Judy Gladstone

Judy Gladstone knows short films.

Having been the executive director of Bravo!FACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent) since 1997, the largest funder of "shorts" in Canada, she has been directly involved in awarding $13 million dollars in grants for the production of over 1,000 short films across the country.

Frequently honoured at film festivals, broadcast in Canada on CHUM Television channels, and distributed to international broadcasters, Bravo!FACT-funded shorts have been screened and won awards at the most prestigious festivals around the world, including Cannes, Sundance and the Toronto International Film Festival.


Questions:

1. Judy, you've been involved with mobile content since 2004. What was it about mobile that captured your imagination?

When I realized that video cell phones were in use abroad in 2004, I recognized the potential for the exposure of Canadian shorts on the portable medium.


2. One of your first mobile projects was "Phone Call From an Imaginary Girlfriend" with Don McKellar. Can you tell us about the idea behind this project? What has the audience reaction been like? Will we see more "imaginary girlfriends" soon? If so, where?

The first multiple-platform project initiated by Bravo!FACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent) was "Shorts In Motion", funded and produced in collaboration with The National Film Board of Canada.

Four filmmakers were approached (Sook-Yin Lee, Sudz Sutherland, Don McKellar and Mark McKinney) to create shorts. They were given complete artistic freedom - while asked to keep to a maximum running time of 4 1/2 minutes. In order to assist them in keeping in mind the fact that the short would be seen on tiny and large screens, each filmmakers was provided with a loaner video cell phone. After consulting with his producers, Jennifer Weiss and Simone Urdl, Don decided to use his loaner phone as camera and microphone, and to deliver to us two 2 1/2 minute films, each consisting of a "Phone Call from an Imaginary Girlfriend". Don, it appears, has imaginary girlfriends around the world. I anticipate seeing more calls from these imaginary playmates on the web, television and available for download on video cell phones in 2008.


3. In your opinion, what makes a good mobile movie?

A great mobile movie, like all film, tells a compelling story. In addition, it is short, focuses on close-ups, and avoids overlapping dialogue.


4. Distribution seems to be the biggest stumbling block to the mobile film industry. Why is this? And do you see things changing anytime soon?

The video cell phone industry is undergoing constant change, leading to evolutions of the distribution models. I expect the changes to continue at a quick pace in Canada during the coming year.


5. Earlier this year, you won the "Best Made for Mobile Video Service" at the 3GSM World Conference in Barcelona for "Shorts in Motion: The Art of Seduction". Can you tell us about this project? What were the particular challenges in making shorts that would look good on mobile -- and on television screens?

Winning the 3GSM Award in Barcelona in February 2007 for "Shorts In Motion - The Art of Seduction" (another join initiative with The National Film Board of Canada) was very exciting! The ten participating filmmakers were each asked to create a two-minute short on the theme of seduction. The theme has universal appeal and the range of subject matter for the shorts (from a politician, shot on an Ericsson video cell phone, seducing voters, to an animated short detailing the power of being seduced by the sights and food of Japan) displayed the potential for shorts on all media.


6. Tell us about the additional functionality that was built into "The Art of Seduction" experience (for example, text submissions). What has been the response from the audience? Where they more or less open to disclosing their secrets with other users?

Visitors to www.shortsinmotion.com have indeed posted secrets in the "confessions" section, which can be read by anyone. As well, we have seen the "What's Your Seduction Style" quiz circulating online in various blog communities.


7. To date, how many people have downloaded "The Art of Seduction" mobile videos?

The number of downloads can be measured in thousands : somewhere between 10 to 20,000 folk have watched the shorts on mobile devices. Many, many, more have watched the shorts on CTV's Bravo! and A-Channels.


8. Canadians produce great mobile content. Why is that?

Canada is recognized for the ground-breaking work being produced here in the interactive and mobile areas; the funding that is available (the Bell New Media Fund, Telefilm, the Ontario Media Development Corporation) and initiatives such as "Shorts In Motion" jointly funded by a private-sector organization (CTVglobemedia's Bravo!FACT (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent) and the public-sector National Film Board of Canada.

9. Is there a place for quality content in the "on-the-go" market?

As the owners and users of hand-held devices containing video capability emerge from a teen-age demographic to include an older, sophisticated audience, the demand for quality content shall increase.