flashforward 2001

[red penguin]

For all all of you out there...

"...inspiration is everywhere..."

Here is a compiled list of presenters from this years flashforward in Amsterdam. Most of them will put up files relevant to what they presented sometime this week or next depending on schedules...If anything, you should visit these sites and explore...
this is by no means a complete list of the people at flashforward!
Instead, these are the people I chose to explore and learn from as it was impossible to attend every workshop/lecture...
Some of these people are "tech-heads"(denoted with *) and others more artists...So, if you are seeking questions, these are the people you should explore...Of course, there is a fine line between the two, so I'm not saying that these guys aren't artists!

hehehe

BUT...learn from these guys!
==============================================
Joshua Davis {D.C. Praystation}
www.praystation.com
www.once-upon-a-forest.com
www.dreamless.org

Creativity on the brink...images and sound...how does one influence the other?
Stresses simplicity...investigate the simple things...relationships between things...
==============================================
Brendan Dawes {U.K. Magnetic North}
www.brendandawes.com
www.saulbass.net

"we need to get back to ideas"...
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Hoss Gifford {Scotland Flammable Jam}
www.flamjam.com
www.h69.net
www.limmy.com

learn to take criticism...both good and bad...
do it for yourself...user testing IS important
==============================================
*Branden Hall {U.S. Fig Leaf Software}
www.chattyfig.figleaf.com

flash coders list...into optimizing code within Flash...creates apps using Flash...
ACK...creates event listeners...available for use...
"don't be intimidated...by us"
"yes...I'm a geek...code is sexy!"
==============================================
Robert Hodgin {Boston Flight404}
www.flight404.com
www.flight404.com/source

Simplicity...investigate tangents until you have followed every possible aspect
organic movement..."take the leap"
==============================================
*Colin Moock {Canada ICE, Inc.}
www.moock.org/webdesign/lecturenotes

Stressed the basics and followed through examples for a quiz...5 versions...
XML and externalizing data...using XML Sockets...
author of Actionscripts the Definitive Guide...
==============================================
Erik Natzke {Milwaukee Fourm}
www.natzke.com

images..."understand where the other guy is coming from"...photography as inspiration...
find inspiration everywhere...study relationships...sketches...
==============================================
*Andries Odendaal {South Africa Wireframe}
www.wireframe.co.za
www.wireframe.co.za/FF2001
www.com-ebusiness-de

isometric 3D environments...
==============================================
James Paterson {Canada Presstube}
www.insertsilence.com
www.presstube.com
www.halfempty.com/james

artist...partners with Amit Pitaru...music as an influence on the art...relationship of the two...
"by limiting yourself, you open doors"...
==============================================
Amit Pitaru {Israel/N.Y.C. Pitaru}
www.pitaru.com

musician...partners with James Paterson..."limitations within the box"...
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*Samuel Wan {Michigan Method}
www.samuelwan.com/flashforward/amsterdam/

XML and it's uses...data separate from display...white space stripper...needed only for
ver 30...41 & 42 have "ignoreWhite" attribute...
function stripWhiteSpaceDoublePass(XMLNode)...from Moock
==============================================
*Sasha Wolter {Germany Flashforum}
www.flashforum.de

OOP...XML and the cushion between which is FOM (Flash Object Model)...inheritance
==============================================

I would have to say the main theme of this years flashforward was...SIMPLICITY...
What does that mean?

Any idea is based on simplicity...by keeping things simple, we aren't making things too complex...(duh!)...
Start with a basic concept and explore it until you are bored with it or have explored it to it's fullest...
Step by step approach...get one thing down and then move on...organization...From presenter to presenter, we kept hearing this idea of simplicity...Think about it!!...

After the conference, I asked a few people what they learned and these are some quotes...
"simple == likeable"
"don't be intimidated"
"satisfy yourself and no one else"
"I am good enough to do what I want"
"It's nice to see the people who are making the most impression on the community and their process behind creation"
"to have had the opportunity to hear about the principle behind the concept"

Personally, I would have to say I was most impressed with Eric Natzke and Robert Hodgin followed by James Paterson and Amit Pitaru...amazing stuff...just thought I'd throw that in there!

Any questions/comments appreciated...

-red penguin

[pixelwit]

Some day...
I will be able to afford to go to one of these damn things.

Some day...
I will be "featured" at one of these damn things.

Some day...
I will rule the world...

Some day...
I will stop dreaming.

Untiil then, I'll keep my eyes and ears open. Thanks for the links and info. Simplicity huh??? That's something I've been trying to achieve for a while now.

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixelwit.com

[red penguin]

I will join you on your day...

it's all about the simplicity...

[vilehelm]

I looked through every single link and was really sucked into just about everything I saw. Some of it I've seen before and a lot of it was new. (That wireframe thing has had coming soon on it for a year now). It's funny when you talk about simplicity. I see a lot of stuff that relates to art made in the 50's, 60's and 70's. I think of Fluxus and other Trans AvantGarde type movements. A lot of very eccentric artist who became fixated on small motions, acts and thoughts. Barry LeVa's work comes very strongly to mind

Most of the work has very little to do with anything outside of itself. I'm not sure if simplicity is what I really see rather than a hermeticism and self absorption. I think conceptually these artists (I think it's fair to call them that) are covering ground that's been covered but in a new medium with new social implications. It will be intresting to see how this evolves.

That was a very intresting, helpful post, thanks.

[Jesse]

Thanks for the synopsis Red. Glad you enjoyed it

[red penguin]

vilehelm: You've got a great vision there...What you are saying is quite true...I hope that I can be a part of this evolution.
Jesse: Yeah, I sure did!!

[20 Ton Squirrel]

Vilehelm, despite the afro, you are one trancendental mo-fo. Your posts are always an interesting read, if nothing else to see how you poke fun at my moniker! *sniff, sniff*

Truly, though, I agree about the thought on an artist's sense of self-absorption. Being one myself, I must say that's the point of artistic expression - to draw the onlooker into a little facet of your mind, your vision. It's a bit of narcissism in many respects.

While I can't sound educated and rattle off names of famous artists, I can mention a couple of my favorites - Larry Elmore, Joseph M. Linsner, Keith Parkinson, and Adam Warren. However humble their origin, each of these artists draws you into a little part of their world with every work.

An author I met once said, "I don't care if I'm a famous writer. If I can entertain or inspire one person then I'm doing my job right."

I've been watching this revolution with Flash since the tail-end of Flash3... it's come a long way and almost evolved into an entirely different beastie. I've gone from loving it in F4 to being addicted to it in F5. Imagine what the future holds!!!

In closing to my rant, check out this rather interesting article about Flash design concept. I often go back and re-read this just to keep my head on straight when designing stuff.

To think... I still have YET to make my own webpage to show off my expertise (or lack thereof). I'm such a poser.

[pixelwit]

there is nothing new
everything is based on events in the past
art is a reflection of life
life is defined by the act of consumption
art is crap
beauty is truth
consumption is the root of evil

Hey Look! Prozac! Mmmmm... Yummy yummy Prozac....

-PiXELWiT
http://www.pixelwit.com

[20 Ton Squirrel]

Oh GREAT, now I'm all depressed... or is it confused?! Ugh...

Take me to the specialist
The specialist won't hurt me
He's not like the nuns
He's got a lot of pretty pills
I think I'll take some yellow ones
- The Dead Milkmen

I think I posted that before and it was even less funny then. *snicker*

[20 Ton Squirrel]

Or even better...

Nothing is static
Everything is evolving
Everything is falling apart.

This is your life
And it's ending one minute at a time

You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake
You are the same decaying organic matter as everything else
We are all part of the same compost heap
We are the all singing, all dancing crap of the world!

You have to give up
You have to give up
You have to realize that someday you will die
Until you know that, you are useless

I say let me never be complete
I say let me never be content
I say deliver me from swedish furniture
I say deliver me from clever art
I say deliver me from clear skin or perfect teeth.
I say you have to give up.
I say evolve, and let the chips fall where they may.

Welcome to Fight Club.
If this is your first night, you have to fight.

If you ain't seen it, RENT IT. Werds ta live by... *grin*