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I attended Pitch Market 2010 this past weekend at the Four Seasons in Vancouver and had a great time.

I sat on a panel discussing “Pitching for Multiple Platforms” with two local industry friends, Catherine Warren, President of FanTrust Entertainment Strategies, and Phillip Djwa, President of Agentic Communications. I wasn’t sure how it was going to go but it turned out to be the best panel I’ve spoken on in a few years. Our varied backgrounds produced a lot of complimentary insights and opinions, and our familiarity with each other made challenge and debate easy.

Then again it might have all been due to our amazing moderator, Laurie Scheer, Film Professor at Tribeca/Flashpoint Academy in Chicago. She really drew the conversation out and directed it in positive ways. She also did a great job bringing the audience into the discussion. We hung out afterwards and talked about Hyde Park (my old neighbourhood in Chicago). She is super nice and whip smart. I hope to run into her again one day.

During the panel discussion we talked about how to pitch for new platforms and what to be aware of when selling within the social networks and new media environments. We also discussed multi-platform planning and how to pitch to traditional studios/networks while keeping web-based versions of your material in mind.

The rest of the conference was good too. People pitching some pretty cool film and TV ideas, an interesting panel on Web series, and a swanky post-conference Oscar party.

Something I’ve meant to do for years is go to the Whistler Film Festival. This year I finally had my excuse when I was asked to be part of The Forum at Whistler, an industry conference organized to address issues of concern to the film, digital media and television production industry in Western Canada.

The conference focused on the changing landscape of content creation. New technology, trends and opportunities were explored. Content producers got advice about competing in the international marketplace. Business opportunities were promoted by bringing together industry executives, producers and creators.

Had lots of fun, met lots of nice people, didn’t see a single film. I also got photographed by Google Street View. Can you spot me? I’m to the left of the lady in green, looking at the camera.