I’ve been looking at my FACEBOOK friends list a lot lately. The collection of accomplished individuals is staggering. Movie Makers. Comic Book Makers. Tech Wizards. Corporate Consultants. Brilliant Thinkers. Not to mention the all ‘round creative types just waiting for the chance to play with the big dogs.
So where is the toolset that will allow virtual networks like this to collaborate? How can we make a movie together? A comic book? A video game? Etc. Do we really need to wait for Internet 2 and the Semantic Web? Or are there ways that the power of existing networks can be tapped beyond FREE RICE clicking, and SCRABBLE?
My pals have an amazing website called JACKET FLAP. It’s a community for people interested in the world of Children’s Book Publishing. They’ve managed to attract an impressive number of professionals from that industry, along with hundreds of thousands of aspiring writers and illustrators. Think of all that potential waiting to be unleashed. With the right leadership, tools, and the will to make stuff — there is no reason the Jacket Flap community shouldn’t be cranking out original material on a regular basis. Publishing their works to the web, and into pulp-space via sites like CREATESPACE.
Distribution is no longer an issue. Anybody can make something at their desktop, or in their garage, and put it out there. But in this competitive world — the power of virtual collaboration will be key to making content that reaches more than a niche audience on You Tube, and exists as a sustainable business model.
UPDATE: My pal Keith Boesky thinks KLUSTER is doing great things with collaboration on the web. I wonder if they make a widget, or facebook app, that could integrate with my existing network — rather than forcing me to join theirs.
Excellent observation and well put!
Just joined up with Jacket Flap. I’m hoping it’s more community based than Redroom.com and Mediabistro.com. I’m itching to collaborate with some illustrators on a comic or kids’ zombie book! Thanks for mentioning the site, Jesse!
Jessie – heard your post Emmys interview this week (congrats!) – speaking of children – what are your thoughts of a transmedia title geared toward children? I’m talking younger than Hannah Montana stuff. Seen/heard anything? Reason I ask is I’m working on something and wondering if I’m barking up the wrong tree or there’s stuff out there that I haven’t come across yet.