It was seen by over a thousand music business workers and students in three showings in Sydney, Melbourne & Adelaide last week and caused an enormous reaction and polarizing of opinion about music copyright. It comes to Newcastle Monday May 25 for a special music industry screening.

In conjunction with the Music Managers Forum Newcastle Branch which is holding this special night, we invite managers, musicians, agents, label & music industry workers, mini-moguls and music business students to attend this once-only screening.

With an hour for networking drinks before the 90 minute film screens, RIP is followed by a ninety minute panel discussion with questions and comments from the audience. The screenings are limited to music industry professionals and workers as well as music business course students, but NOT for the general public. Seats can be reserved and proof of music credentials will be required due to the limited license for one off free screening in each city venue.

The Film

In “RiP: A Remix Manifesto“, Web activist and filmmaker Brett Gaylor explores issues of copyright in the information age, mashing up the media landscape of the 20th century and shattering the wall between users and producers. The film’s central protagonist is Girl Talk, a mash-up musician topping the charts with his sample-based songs. But is Girl Talk a paragon of people power or the Pied Piper of piracy? Creative Commons founder, Lawrence Lessig, Brazil’s Minister of Culture Gilberto Gil and pop culture critic Cory Doctorow are also along for the ride.

View the film trailer http://video.sxsw.com/2009/mov/rip_a_remix_manifesto.mov and more info at http://www3.nfb.ca/webextension/rip-a-remix-manifesto/

The Panel

• Marianna Annas – General Manager Music Industry Piracy Investigations and former Business Affairs Manager for Sony/BMG Music and EMI Music
• Marcus Wright – Partner in Big Apachee Booking Agency, Reign Records and Bigtix online ticketing company
• Grant Walmsley – Musician leading Agents of Peace, former member Screaming Jets and music business course instructor at Hunter TAFE Newcastle
• Nick Milligan – Editor Reverb Magazine

The film is presented by IMMEDIA! & the MMF; moderated by Phil Tripp, Managing Partner IMMEDIA! & SxSW Representative

For reservations and further information, contact IMMEDIA! on (02) 9557 7766 (Jessica Kalucy) or email jessica@immedia.com.au. Those reserving places must be in the venue 30 minutes prior to showtime or their reservation will be voided and space allocated to others.

The seminars are directed at the issues of two events that IMMEDIA! is promoting over the coming months. The first is the AustralAsian Music Business Conference that will be held in Sydney August 20-22 with over 50 speakers and which is the largest most successful music industry event for the past 18 years, held every other year. The panel gives a compelling sample of the content and issues to be discussed at the AMBC.

The second area being discussed is the 2010 South by Southwest Music, Film & Interactive Festivals being held in Austin. Texas in March which will open for artist showcase submissions August 3 as well as film applications. Comprising over 1800 showcases, hundreds of panels and speakers as well as major trade fairs and stands, SxSW has become a vital marketing and networking global event for the Australian content industries.

For those wanting to attend either or both industry events, this seminar will be crucial to strategising participation and maximising outcomes. The AMBC in Sydney will have room for 660 attendees with registrations already started while SxSW had over 50 AustralAsian bands perform last month and more than 240 attendees from our part of the world among over 25,000 global registrants.

Newcastle Monday 25 St Stephens Hall, Brunker Road, Adamstown
Opens at 5.30pm, film 6pm sharp, panel 8pm

Don’t forget to RSVP to Jessica@immedia.com.au or (02) 9557 7766 and arrive no later than 6pm!