In 1997, Nora Barry was working on the launch of AT&T's first dial-up videoconferencing service and saw how video could be transported across phone lines. One year later she launched the first Internet site for web film, The Bit Screen. The video site was an international success and Barry formed Druid Media for the purpose of creating and producing video-based web content. Druid Media's web firsts include production of the first live, networked film in 2003, and the first collaborative game-film developed with universities on three continents, working together via an open-source videoconferencing program, AccessGrid, over the Internet2. Since 1998 Druid Media has produced more than two dozen video-based websites for clients in the U.S. and Europe.
Some of these include:
American Film Institute. Consulted for AFI’s client, the Independent Television Service (ITVS), a CPB-funded documentary company, on how to bring their message online and capture emerging documentary filmmakers.
The Big Picture Alliance. Developed a launch and implementation plan for an online, Internet2, networked classroom for The Big Picture Alliance, a non-profit organization that teaches filmmaking to inner city students.
The Dame Domain: Women Online. Developed beta site geared to women, 30-60. The focus of the site was popular and performing arts: viral videos, books, exhibitions and links to local events. Performed market research and analysis and worked with multiple vendors to create and supply content.
Descent: A Game-Film on the Internet2. Managed a sixteen month project, involving 100+ people in ten locations around the world. Project involved the development of an online videogame as well as the establishment, via the Internet2, of a multi-point, online studio. Developed the project and game site, building partnerships with Apple Computer, EB Games, the Internet2 Consortium and the Futures Lab at Argonne National Labs at the University of Chicago. Managed the software development of the game, from narrative framework and art direction to code; coordinated the IT for newly deployed Apple servers with new, open source software (Access Grid) and coordinated the IT for the Internet2 at eight locations around the world.
Arabella Magazine. Created concept and design for launch of the website of a women's romance magazine site.
Streaming Cinema. Developed a venue based event for the Philadelphia Film Festival and took the event on tour to seven cities around the world in three years. Project Management included festival programming and planning through marketing and public relations. Developed and managed the website. Raised over $100,000 in funding from foundations and organizations including: the William Penn Foundation, the Philadelphia Foundation, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, the Pennsylvania Department of Commerce and Economic Development, the Department of Commerce for the City of Philadelphia. Sold multiple corporate sponsorships to: Avid, the Ben Franklin Technology Partnership, Innovation Philadelphia, Real Networks, Macromedia, J&J Snack Foods and WHYY Television. Publicity about Streaming Cinema appeared on National Public Radio, in the Associated Press and on the Independent Film Channel, among others.
Story Streams. As part of the 2003 Streaming Cinema, Developed and launched the first live, networked film. Using the studios of the Philadelphia PBS affiliate and connected via Real Broadband Networks, Linked directors in Philadelphia, Paris, Montreal and Mexico City for a simultaneous live upload, live mix and live distribution of a short film. Project managed the event, overseeing all IT for the live event (during which nothing crashed) and worked with the film directors to create the filimic narratives.
Kurtz Film Kanal. Developed and launched a film channel for satellite DSL company, Europe Online, which streamed to Germany, France, Luxembourg and Belgium. Worked with corporate management to identify a target audience (German language audience) and develop channel concept. Hired film programmers and created publicity for the launch. Worked with IT to support film distribution.
Cinema Lounge. Created the first regional network of community sites for Media One cable. The sites (twelve total) launched in Los Angeles, Boston, Detroit and Atlanta, among others. Worked with community groups at the State and local level in each of the twelve locations to establish contact, develop programming, and draw users to the sites. The Boston site shot to number one in the system within two weeks of launch. I worked with corporate to design the website and user interfaces, as well as the community areas of the sites.
The Bit Screen. Launched in early 1998 for then Comcast @Home. Designed and developed the site and programmed the site for four years. Worked with corporate to publicize the site in each community. The first of its kind, the site generated press in USA Today, Forbes, Rolling Stone, Wired, the New York Times, the UK Guardian, Der Spiegel and Le Monde, among others.
