01-09-2008

MIPCOM KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED

    CREATIVE KEYNOTES ANNOUNCED AT MIPCOM:
    INTERNET STAR ZE FRANK AND GARY CARTER, FREMANTLEMEDIA

    Ze Frank ;;;;;;;;;;;Gary Carter

    Paris, 29 August 2008 - Ze Frank, Internet legend and pioneer, comedian, presenter and lecturer, and Gary Carter, President, Creative Networks and Chief Creative Officer, FMX of FremantleMedia, will deliver a joint keynote on creativity at MIPCOM 2008, on Tuesday 14 October in cooperation with the Entertainment Master Class, The Format Academy for Entertainment Television.

    Entitled "A Million Dying Flowers: Popularity, the Network and the Next Big Thing," the two will explore the digital divide between old and new media. Lobbing bombs across this no-man's land, and some at the audience, they will discuss ways in which new technology is enabling a new public creativity, and try to imagine business models which will enable, not shut down, new forms of content. Together, Ze Frank and Gary Carter will try to ascertain, once and for all, if there is a difference between ‘traditional' and ‘new' media.

    Ze Frank made his name creating viral web content after the surprise success of an online birthday party invitation entitled "How to Dance Properly." His personal site, zefrank.com, has garnered a Webby and has been featured in Time Magazine, the NYTimes, and many other publications around the globe. His daily video blog "The Show" has seen a similar success. He has twice spoken at TED, and has taught widely, including at ITP/NYU, and Parsons School of Design.

    According to Gary Carter, Ze Frank's success is due to his capacity to bypass traditional players: "His work online has been a fascination of mine for some time, so you could say I've been a stalker of his for a while - that's how I introduced myself to him when he was speaking at TED. Thanks to the web, we are seeing an expression of creativity from people who previously had neither tools nor access to distribution."

    Paul Johnson, Director of Television at Reed MIDEM, adds: "I am delighted to welcome original talents like Ze Frank and Gary Carter to MIPCOM because their way of tackling new sources of creativity is stimulating for all participants. Creativity remains the key to success, particularly in a world where the public has ever more power to choose and interact."